Richmond founded COACh in 1999 to support and promote the careers of women in the chemical sciences. To date, over 1,100 women faculty and students in science departments around the country have participated in COACh professional development and leadership programs.
"Geri had the vision to found COACh, an organization that has impacted the professional lives and status of many chemists and chemical engineers, recently further reaching out to all women scientists and engineers in all three sectors, primarily academia but also in industry and government," said Esin Gulari, professor of chemical engineering and material science at Wayne State University. "I am so happy that the Council for Chemical Research, a leadership organization, is recognizing Geri's leadership in highlighting the gender issues emerging from under-representation of women in academic ranks in sciences and engineering in a very bold and clear fashion."
The Council for Chemical Research is a leadership organization whose membership represents industry, academia and government. The mission of the council is to enhance research in chemistry-based sciences, engineering, and technology that benefits society and the national well-being through productive interaction among industrial, academic, and governmental research sectors. The diversity award recognizes a person whose leadership has had a positive impact on advancement within chemistry-based sciences and engineering, minorities, women and underrepresented groups through recruitment, retention, mentoring and increasing access to research careers.
Richmond's research program uses laser-based spectroscopic techniques to understand important chemical, environmental and technological processes that occur at surfaces and interfaces. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2006, received the Spiers Medal from the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2004, and was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2003.
The award will be presented May 1 during the Council for Chemical Research annual meeting. Richmond will receive an engraved award and a $3,000 check to be given to a program of her choice in a chemistry-related field which has demonstrated significant achievements in advancing and promoting diversity.
Source: Geri Richmond, (541) 346-4635, richmond@uoregon.edu
Links: http://richmondscience.uoregon.edu/
http://coach.uoregon.edu/