SAN DIEGO, March 27, 2012 -- More than 300,000 different metals, plastics, coatings, cements and other forms of material create the important underpinnings of our modern society. In recognition of the vital role that scientists at universities and other research institutions play in advancing chemistry and materials science research, AkzoNobel, in collaboration with the American Chemical Society (ACS), today launched a major new science award.
The new biennial AkzoNobel North America Science Award aims to recognize outstanding scientific contributions by an individual in the fields of chemistry and materials research conducted in the U.S. or Canada. The award winner, to be announced in February 2013, will receive a $75,000 cash prize honoring their achievements. The call for nominations will be conducted online at the ACS website at www.akzonobel.acs.org and will be open from March 28, 2012, through July 6, 2012.
While AkzoNobel will provide the funding and the scope of the areas of science covered by the award, the ACS will have an independent role in administering the award process and selecting the AkzoNobel North America Science Award recipient. This collaboration between AkzoNobel, the world's largest global paints and coating company, and ACS, the world's largest scientific society, represents a powerful example of how corporations and nonprofit organizations can work together to recognize the people helping to create a more sustainable future through scientific research.
A presentation of the 2013 AkzoNobel North America Science Award will be made at the ACS' 245 th National Meeting & Exposition, to be held April 7-11, 2013, in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the ACS typically recognizes more than 60 scientists and engineers with 56 of its national awards.
"Materials are the substances that make up everything in the world that we use, touch, see and experience in everyday life," said Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Ph.D., ACS' 2012 president. "Research in materials science has triggered creative waves of invention and innovation, and prompted technological breakthroughs that once were inconceivable. AkzoNobel's generosity and foresight will recognize those achievements and foster further progress in the years ahead."
The AkzoNobel Science Award was first bestowed in the Netherlands in 1970 and then extended to Sweden (1999), China (2010) and the U.K. (2012). Now, it is being further extended to North America with an award in 2013.
"For more than 40 years, the AkzoNobel Science Award has recognized individuals for their innovative contributions to scientific research," said Dale Steichen, vice president of research, development and innovation for AkzoNobel in North America. "We are proud to now bring this award to North America and honor those who are undertaking big, bold research that may help deliver tomorrow's answers today."
Guided by the principles and practices of sustainable chemistry, the AkzoNobel North America Science Award is bestowed for scientific research with proven or potential significant societal or user benefits in one of the following fields of chemistry or materials science:
A call for nominations will be issued biennially in Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly news magazine, on the ACS website at http://www.akzonobel.acs.org and through the relevant ACS technical divisions.
For more information, visit http://www.akzonobel.com/scienceawards .
Background: AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel is a Global Fortune 500 company and is consistently ranked as one of the leaders on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. With operations in more than 80 countries, its 55,000 people around the world are committed to excellence and delivering Tomorrow's Answers Today™. AkzoNobel supplies industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and is passionate about developing sustainable answers for its customers. The AkzoNobel portfolio includes well-known brands, such as Glidden, Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka.
Background: American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 164,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. Nominations are open for ACS' 2013 National Awards . An ACS video series, Prized Science , celebrates how the scientific discoveries honored in the society's national awards improve everyday life.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society contact newsroom@acs.org .