Awards

SCI America recognizes the achievements of those in the chemical enterprise with three awards:  

  • Chemical Industry Medal – for lifetime excellence in management and contribution to the industry; given in New York City in March. 
  • Perkin Medal – for lifetime technical achievement; given in Philadelphia in September. 
  • Gordon E. Moore Medal – for significant technical innovation by an individual who is 45 years old or less; given at Innovation Day in Philadelphia in September. 

The award dinners are always well attended by CEOs and senior executives from across the industry and provide excellent opportunities to network and renew acquaintances. Proceeds benefit SCI America’s scholarship programs.   

Chemical Industry Medal

History and Purpose:

The Chemical Industry Medal, established in 1933, replaced the coveted Grasselli Medal, which had been sponsored by the Grasselli Chemical Company and awarded by SCI America for more than a decade. Presentation of the Chemical Industry Medal is made annually to a recipient who has rendered conspicuous service to applied chemistry and is selected by the SCI America Executive Committee. The Chemical Industry Medal is a testimonial to men and women whose leadership, foresight, and contributions to applied chemistry have been, to a considerable degree, responsible for the growth of that industry. A desire to honor such people, those who have made a personal contribution to the advance of society and economy through technology, is at the core of the America Group’s identity. For over 100 years, leaders of the Group, all of whom operate at the highest ranks of American industry, have been enthusiasts for the excitement of the possibilities that can flow from marrying science with industry. The medal has attained distinction by reason of the outstanding achievements and caliber of those who have been honored The Chemical Industry Medal is conferred at a special banquet held in honor of the winner at New York’s famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Throughout the 20th century, and now in the 21st century, these events have been regarded as ‘must attend’ occasions.

2023 Chemical Industry  Medalist

2023 Chemical Industry Medalist

Bhavesh V. Patel

Chief Executive Officer

Bhavesh (“Bob”) Patel is the Chief Executive Officer at W. R. Grace & Co.; a position he’s held since January of 2022. Grace, a Standard Industries company, is a global leader in specialty chemicals with two industry-leading business segments—Catalyst Technologies and Materials Technologies—that provide innovative products, technologies and services that enhance the products and processes of customers around the world.

Prior to joining Grace, Bob served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at LyondellBasell, one of the largest chemicals, plastics and refining companies in the world. Bob joined LyondellBasell in 2010, serving as senior vice president and then executive vice president of the Olefins and Polyolefins (O&P) Americas, Europe, Asia and International (EAI), and technology business segments.

He was subsequently appointed CEO in January 2015.

During this tenure as CEO, LyondellBasell embarked on a period of growth. Under his leadership, the company built new world-scale production facilities, expanded its market presence in Asia and made a number of strategic acquisitions, including A. Schulman, Inc. which made LyondellBasell the largest manufacturer of compounded materials in the world.

Prior to LyondellBasell, Bob held positions of increasing responsibility at Chevron Corporation and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company for more than 20 years. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership positions based in the Netherlands, Singapore and the United States.

Bob earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Temple University. He serves on several boards, including the Houston Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Halliburton Company and is a member of the Business Council. He is also on the external advisory council of the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University and the Board of Visitors of the Fox School of Business at Temple University.

Past Chemical Industry Medalists
YearNameCompany
2022Mark P. VergnanoChemours
2021Craig A. RogersonHexion
2020Christopher D. PappasTrinseo
2019Neil A. ChapmanExxon Mobil Corporation
2018Cal DooleyAmerican Chemistry Council
2017Andreas C. KramvisHoneywell
2016James L. GalloglyLyondellBasell
2015Stephen D. PryorExxonMobil Chemical
2014Sunil KumarInternational Specialty Products
2013Andrew N. LiverisDow Chemical
2012David N. WeidmanCelanese Chemical Company
2011J. Brian FergusonEastman Chemical
2010Michael E. CampbellArch Chemicals
2009Jeffrey M. LiptonNova Chemicals
2008Dennis ReilleyPraxair
2007Raj GuptaRohm and Haas
2006Jon M. HuntsmanHuntsman Corporation
2005Daniel S. SandersExxonMobil Company
2004Thomas E. ReillyReilly Industries
2003Whitson SadlerSolvay
2002Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr.Eastman Chemical
2001William S. StavropoulosDow Chemical
2000Vincent A. CalarcoCrompton
1999J. Lawrence WilsonRohm and Haas
1998Edgar S. Woolard, Jr.Dupont
1997J. Roger HirlOccidental Chemical
1996John W. Johnstone, Jr.Olin
1995Robert D. KennedyUnion Carbide
1994Keith R. McKennonDow Corning
1993W. H. ClarkNalco
1992H. Eugene McBrayerExxon
1991Dexter F. BakerAir Products
1990George J. Sella, Jr.American Cyanamid
1989Richard E. HeckertDupont
1988Vincent L. Gregory, Jr.
1987Edwin C. HolmerExxon
1986Edward G. JeffersonDupont
1985Louis FernandezMonsanto
1984James AffleckAmerican Cyanamid
1983Paul F. OrreficeDow
1982H. Barclay MorleyStauffer
1981Thomas W. MastinLubrizol
1980Edward DonleyAir Products
1979Irving ShapiroDupont
1978Jack B. St. ClairShell
1977F. Perry WilsonUnion Carbide
1976Harold E. ThayerMallinckrodt
1975Leonard P. PoolAir Products
1974Carl A. GerstackerDow
1973Ralph LandauScientific Design
1972Jesse WernerGAF
1971Carroll A. HochwaltThomas & Hochwalt, Monsanto
1970William H. LycanJohnson & Johnson
1969Charles B. McCoyDupont
1968Harold W. FisherStandard Oil of New Jersey
1967Chester M. BrownAllied
1966Monroe E. SpaghtShell
1965Ralph ConnorRohm and Haas
1964Leland I. DoanDow Chemical
1963Max TishlerMerck
1962Kenneth H. KlipsteinAmerican Cyanamid
1961William E. HanfordOlin Mathieson
1960Hans StaufferStauffer
1959Harry B. McclureUnion Carbide
1958Fred J. EmmerichAllied
1957Clifford F. RassweilerJohns Manville
1956R. Lindley MurrayHooker Electrochemical
1955Joseph G. DavidsonUnion Carbide
1954Ernest H. VolwilerAbbot
1953Charles S. MunsonAir Reduction
1952J. R. Donald; C. H.GreenewaltDuPont
1951Ernest W. ReidCorn Products
1950William M. RandMonsanto
1949William B. BellAmerican Cyanamid
1948James A. RaffertyUnion Carbide
1947George W. MerckMerck
1946Willard H. DowDow Chemical
1945Sidney D. KirkpatrickChemical & Metallurgical
1944Bradley DeweyDewey & Almy
1943John J. GrebeDow Chemical
1942Harrison HoweAmerican Chemical Society
1941Elmer K. BoltonDupont
1939Robert E. WilsonStandard Oil of Indiana
1938John V. N. DorrDorr
1937Evan J. CraneChemical Abstracts
1936Walter S. LandisAmerican Cyanamid
1935Edward R. WeidleinMellon Institute
1934Floyd G. MetzgerAir Reduction
1933James G. VailPennsylvania Quartz
Chemical Industry Medal Award Rules

The Chemical Industry Medal

1. The Chemical Industry Medal may be awarded annually, at the discretion of the Executive Committee of the Society of Chemical Industry America Group. The recipient of the Medal shall be a person who, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, has rendered conspicuous service to applied chemistry.

2. Any nominee should have been an active guiding force in the management of his/her company during periods of maximum growth or development of new chemical or allied fields.  Generally the award is made for lifetime achievement.

3. Nominees for the Award shall be proposed by the Medals Committee of the Executive Committee following a careful screening of the qualifications of all candidates, provided that all SCI Members shall be invited to submit one or more candidates for consideration.  Nominees should not include active officers or Executive Committee members of the Section.  Nominees not selected for the award in any given year may continue to be considered for two years after the original nomination.

4. The Chairman of the Medals Committee shall submit a slate of nominees to the Executive Committee prior to its regular September meeting, at which meeting the Executive Committee shall select a single nominee by an affirmative ballot vote of a majority of Executive Committee members present or having cast absentee ballots.  In case a majority choice cannot be obtained, the Chairman of the Medals Committee shall call for a second ballot, among Executive Committee members present, limited to the two leading candidates, as determined by votes cast on the initial vote except that if two or more candidates are tied for second place, the ballot shall include the first place candidate and all second place candidates. The Chairman may conduct additional ballots if, in his/her opinion, a winner will be selected.  If a majority vote cannot be obtained, the Chairman shall mail a letter ballot to all members of the Executive Committee, following the Letter Ballot Procedure below.

The incumbent Medals Committee shall complete the selection process prior to assigning their responsibilities to the new Medals Committee.

5. Letter Ballot Procedure (same as used in Perkin Medal balloting):

(a) The Chairman of the Committee shall send to each member of the Executive Committee a copy of these rules and a list of all nominees and the reasons for their nominations, presenting these in the form of statement submitted by their proposers, but withholding the identification of the latt(b) The Chairman of the Medals Committee shall request a letter ballot showing both “First Choice” and “Second Choice” votes.  The candidate receiving a majority of the “First Choice” votes cast shall be considered nominated.  In case a choice shall not have been made on the first letter ballot, the Chairman shall request a second letter ballot limited to the two leading candidates, as determined by “First Choice” votes cast on the first letter ballot, excepting that if two or more candidates shall be tied for either first or second place, the second letter ballot shall include any and all first and second place candidates.  If this selection does not eliminate at least one candidate from the second letter ballot, the Chairman shall determine a weighted average vote for each candidate by assigning two points for each “First Choice” vote and one point for each “Second Choice” vote case on the first letter ballot.  The candidate(s) with the lowest weighted average shall not be included on the second letter ballot.  All voting may be done electronically by email.

The Chairman may call for additional letter ballots if he/she believes progress in selecting a candidate can be made.

6. The nomination and voting process shall be scheduled roughly as follows:

  • Mid-April:  Medals Chair requests nominations from all SCI Members
  • Early June:  deadline for nominations
  • June/July:  Medals committee selects candidates for Executive Committee vote
  • August: nomination packages sent to Executive Committee
  • September:  Executive Committee meeting and vote

7. Immediately following the selection of a nominee by the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Section shall notify the nominee of his/her selection.  On receipt of the nominee’s acceptance, including his/her agreement to deliver an address at the time of the award, his/her selection shall be official.  Until these conditions are met, the nomination shall not be made public.

8. In the event the nominee selected by the Executive Committee declines to accept the award, the Executive Committee shall be polled by the Chairman to select a new nominee.  The Executive Committee may, if necessary, call upon the Medals Committee for a new slate of nominees.

9. The presentation of the Chemical Industry Medal shall be made by the Chair of the Section at the following March meeting of members of the America Group, to which non-members of the Society shall also be invited to honor the Medalist.  In the absence of both the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, the Executive Committee shall designate a past or present officer to make the presentation.  Following the presentation, the Medalist shall deliver a lecture on a subject of his/her own choosing.

10. The medal may not be received in absentia except under conditions of grave emergency approved by the Chairman of the Section.

11. The Executive Committee of the America Section shall have the power to amend these rules or to decide any matter not specifically provided in them.

How to Nominate

Nomination Form – Download here
Contact SCI America at
sci-america@sciencehistory.org 

Perkin Medal

History and Purpose:

The Perkin Medal was established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of mauvene. Today it is widely acknowledged as the highest honor in American industrial chemistry. Perkin was a founding Member of SCI and this Medal was first presented in New York to Perkin himself.

Since 1906 SCI America has honored many inspiring and brilliant scientists in Perkin’s name. Ranging from Edward Acheson of graphite and carborundum fame to Carl Djerassi who developed the first contraceptive pill, awards have demonstrated the contribution of science to today’s world. Names like I Langmuir, Glen Seaborg and Heinman Hass sit alongside those of Arthur D Little and Milton Harris, who transformed the way research and whole enterprises were managed.

The award is presented in September in Philadelphia, as a capstone event to Innovation Day. Attended by a wide range of scientists and executives from science-based industries, it provides an excellent opportunity to network with those working to advance modern industrial chemistry.

Sir William Henry Perkin:

Sir William Henry Perkin (1838-1907) at the age of 18 created the world’s first synthetic aniline dye, which revolutionized color chemistry and opened up new possibilities for a whole range of industries; most notably, textiles and clothing.

Perkin was born in England and entered the Royal College of Science at 15. At 18, in private experiments attempting to make quinine, he inadvertently created a dye. Just six months later mauve was being used in a London dyehouse. He enjoyed international acclaim and went on to more discoveries and opened his own factories. He ‘retired’ from industry to focus on ‘pure science’ at the age of 36.

2023 Perkin Award Medalist

2023 Perkin Award Medalist

Frances Arnold

Frances Arnold is the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018 for pioneering directed enzyme evolution and has used directed protein evolution for applications in alternative energy, chemicals, and medicine. In 2021 Arnold was appointed cochair of President Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Other awards include the Charles Stark Draper Prize of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (2011), the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2011), and the Millennium Technology Prize (2016). She has been elected to the U.S. National Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering, and was appointed to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in 2019. Arnold cofounded three companies in sustainable chemistry and renewable energy (Gevo, Provivi, Aralez Bio) and serves on the boards of several public and private companies. She earned a BS in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University and a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Frances Arnold will receive the 2023 Perkin Medal at an award ceremony being held in her honor at the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia on September 12, 2023.  

Past Perkin Medalists
YearNameCompany
2022Dennis LiottaEmory University
2020Jane FrommerCollabra Inc.
2019Chad A. MirkinNorthwestern University
2018Barbara H. MinorThe Chemours Company
2017Ann E WeberKallyope
2016Peter TrefonasDow Chemical Company
2015Cynthia A. MaryanoffJohnson & Johnson
2014John C. WarnerWarner Babcock
2013Bruce D. RothGenentech
2012Robert S. LangerMIT
2011Rodney BanksNalco
2010Ronald C. BreslowColumbia University
2009Richard B. SilvermanNorthwestern University
2008Ian ShanklandHoneywell Specialty Chemicals
2007Herbert W. BoyerGenentech
2006James C. StevensThe Dow Chemical Company
2005Robert W. GoreW.L. Gore & Associates
2004Gordon E. MooreIntel Corporation
2003William H. JoyceHercules
2002Paul S. AndersonBristol-Myers Squibb
2001Elsa ReichmanisLucent Technology, Bell Labs
2000Norman N. LiNI Chemical Technologies
1999Albert A. Carr HoechstMarion Roussel
1998David R. BryantUnion Carbide
1997Stephanie KwolekDuPont
1996Marion D. FrancisProcter & Gamble
1995Delbert H. MeyerAmoco
1994Marinus LosAmerican Cyanamid
1993Lubomyr T. RomankiwIBM
1992Edith M. FlanigenUOP
1991Miguel A. OndettiBristol-Myers Squibb
1990John E. FranzMonsanto
1989Frederick J. KarolUnion Carbide
1988James F. RothMonsanto, Air Products
1987J.P. HoganR.L. Banks Phillips Petroleum
1986Peter RegnaPfizer, Squibb,Harrington
1985Paul B. WeiszMobil
1984John H. SinfeltExxon
1983N. Bruce HannayBell Labs, AT&T
1982Herbert C. BrownPurdue University
1981Ralph LandauScientific Design Company
1980Herman F. MarkPolytechnic University of Brooklyn
1979James D. Idol, Jr.Ashland Oil
1978Donald F. OthmerPolytechnic University of Brooklyn
1977Paul J. FloryDuPont, Cornell University
1976Lewis H. SarettMerck
1975Carl DjerassiSyntex, Stanford University
1974Edwin H. LandPolaroid
1973Theodore L. CairnsDuPont
1972Robert Burns MacMullinMathieson, MacMullin Associates
1971James F. HydeDow Corning
1970Milton HarrisHarris Research Labs, Gillette
1969Robert W. CairnsHercules
1968Henry B. HassPurdue University, GAF
1967Vladimir HaenselUOP
1966Manson BenedictM.W. Kellogg, MIT
1965Carl S. MarvelUniversity of Illinois
1964William J. SparksEsso
1963William O. BakerBell Labs, AT&T
1962Eugene G. RochowGeneral Electric
1961Carl F. PruttonFMC
1960Karl FolkersMerck
1959Eugene J. HoudryHoudry Process, Sun Oil Company
1958William J. KrollConsulting Metallurgist
1957Glen T. SeaborgUniversity of California – Berkley
1956Edgar C. BrittonThe Dow Chemical Company
1955Roger WilliamsDuPont
1954Roger AdamsUniversity of Illinois
1953Charles A. ThomasThomas & Hochwalt, Monsanto
1952Robert M. BurnsBell Labs, AT&T
1951Henry HowardMerrimac Chemical
1950Eger V. MurpheeStandard Oil Development
1949Carl S. MinerMiner Laboratories
1948Clarence W. BalkeUniversity of Illinois, Fansteel
1947Robert R. WilliamsBell Labs, AT&T
1946Francis C. FraryAlcoa
1945Elmer K. BoltonDuPont
1944Gaston F. DuboisMonsanto
1943Robert E. WilsonMIT, Standard of Indiana
1942Martin IttnerColgate
1941John V.N. DorrDorr
1940Charles M. StineDuPont
1939Walter S. LandisAmerican Cyanamid
1938Frank J. ToneUnion Carbide
1937Thomas Midgeley, JrGeneral Motors
1936Warren K. LewisMIT
1935George O. Curme, JrUnion Carbide
1934Colin G. FinkGeneral Electric, Columbia University
1933George OenslgerB.F. Goodrich
1932Charles F. BurgessUniversity of Wisconsin
1931Arthur D. LittleA.D. Little
1930Herbert H. DowThe Dow Chemical Company
1929Eugene C. SullivanDow Corning
1928Irving LangmuirGeneral Electric
1927John E. TeepleConsulting Chemical Engineer
1926Richard B. MooreUS Bureau of Mines, Dorr
1925Hugh K. MooreMoore Process
1924Frederick M. BecketUnion Carbide
1923Milton C. WhitakerColumbia University
1922William M. BurtonStandard Oil of Indiana
1921Willis R. WhitneyGeneral Electric
1920Charles F. ChandlerColumbia University
1919Frederick G. CottrellUniversity of California – Berkley
1918Auguste J. RossiConsulting Metallurgist
1917Ernst TwichellEmery Candle
1916Leo H. BaekelandBakelite Corporation
1915Edward WestonWeston Electric Meter
1914John W. HyattCelluloid Manufacturing
1913James GayleyU.S. Steel
1912Herman FraschUnion Sulphur
1911Charles M. HallAlcoa
1910Edward G. AchesonCarborundum
1909Arno BehrMathiessen & Wiechers
1908J.B.F. HerreshoffGeneral Chemical
1906Sir William Henry Perkin
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Perkin Medal Award Rules

Overview of Perkin Award Process:
Step 1: SCI selects its nominee
April – SCI Medals Chair solicits nominees from SCI members
August – SCI Medals Committee narrows field to 2/3 candidates
September – SCI Executive Committee votes to select SCI nominee

Step 2: Nominees from SCI, ACS, AIChE, and Science History Institute are considered by selection committee who chooses winner.

Perkin Selection Committee consists of: SCI Chair, SCI Vice Chair, Immediate Past SCI Chair, ACS President, AIChE President and Science History Institute President. SCI Secretary is non voting member of selection committee and conducts process
November – Solicit nominations from ACS, AIChE and the Institute to go along with individual selected in Step 1
December/January – Nomination packages collected and distributed to selection committee
January/February – Vote conducted
March – Winner announced at SCI Executive Committee meeting and notified by SCI

RULES FOR THE AWARD OF THE PERKIN MEDAL
Founded in Commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Coal Tar Color Industry, 1856 – 1906

1. The Perkin Medal may be awarded annually, at the discretion of the Perkin Medal Committee, for outstanding work in applied chemistry.

2. (a) The Award may be made to anyone residing in the United States of America who is actively engaged in the chemical profession in the judgment of the Perkin Medal Committee for outstanding work done at any time during his/her career, whether this work proves successful at the time of execution or publication, or becomes valuable in subsequent development of the industry.

(b) To be considered for the Perkin Medal Award, a candidate should have done applied chemical work resulting in outstanding commercial development. His/her contribution may represent either personal scientific accomplishment or leadership of group effort. It should not have been primarily administrative or promotional, or limited to a role in initiating the activity. His/her contribution should have clearly played a major role in the success of the development.

3. The Medal may not be received in absentia, except under conditions of grave emergency, approved by the Chairman of the America Section of the Society of Chemical Industry.

4. The Medal, when awarded, shall be presented at the regular September meeting of members of the America Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, to which non-members shall also be invited to honor the Medalist. The presentation shall be made by the senior officer of the Section present at the meeting. Following the presentation, the Medalist shall deliver a lecture on a subject of his/her own choosing.

5. The Perkin Medal Committee shall consist of the following:
• Chair The Chair of the America Section of the Society of Chemical Industry.
• Vice Chair: The Vice Chair of the America Section of the Society of Chemical Industry.
• Secretary: The Secretary of the America Section of the Society of Chemical Industry. The Secretary shall have no vote except under Rule 11 (c) below

Members at Large:

(a) The Immediate Past Chair of the America Section of the Society of Chemical Industry.

(b) The President of the America Chemical Society.

(c) The President of the America Institute of Chemical Engineers.

(d) The President of the Science History Institute.

6. (a) The Chairman, Vice Chairman and each member at large shall be entitled to one vote on the Committee. In the event that one person occupies two or more of the offices mentioned, his/her vote shall be assigned to the Society of which he/she is an officer first mentioned in the foregoing list: and his/her place and vote in the Society latter mentioned shall be assigned to a person designated by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors of the latter group.

(b) No employee of any of the above organizations may serve on the Perkin Medal Committee.

7. The Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman or on written request of a majority of the Committee submitted to the Secretary in writing.

8. (a) Each member of the Perkin Medal Committee, as set forth in Rule 5, shall be certified in writing to the Secretary of the Committee by his respective Society on or before April 1. Certified members shall serve from April 1 to March 31 following, inclusive.

(b) Vacancies due to inability of designated persons to serve may be filled by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors of their respective organizations and such replacements will be recognized on receipt of written certification by the Secretary of the Committee.

9. (a) The Secretary of the Committee shall notify, in the month of November, the Societies or Sections (listed under Rule 5) through an appropriate officer and shall request each of these organizations to submit to him/her the name of one candidate residing in the United States whom they consider worthy of the Perkin Medal. Each organization may adopt its own procedures for selecting a candidate, and nominees may be re-nominated as desired.

(b) The request shall state that such names must be sent to the Secretary of the Perkin Medal Committee before December 1 and that the names must be accompanied by a statement setting forth the reasons for proposing each candidate, including a description of the work the candidate has done, and evidence as to how this work meets the criteria set forth in Rule 2(b) and shall bear no indication of their origin.

10. Members of the Perkin Medal Committee shall be uninstructed and left solely to their own individual judgment in voting.

11. (a) The Secretary of the Committee will conduct the voting process which may utilize written or electronic mail.

(b) The Secretary of the Committee, before January 15, shall send to each member of the Committee a copy of these rules and a list of all candidates and the reasons for their nominations, presenting these in the form of statement submitted by their proposers, but withholding the identification of the latter.

(c) The Secretary of the Committee shall request a letter ballot showing both “First Choice” and “Second Choice” votes. The candidate receiving a majority of the “First Choice” votes cast shall be considered nominated. In case a choice shall not have been made on the first ballot, the Secretary shall prepare a second ballot by assigning two points for each “First Choice” vote and one point for each “Second choice” vote case on the first letter ballot. The two candidates with the highest total points shall appear on the second ballot.

In the event any ballot results in a tie, the Secretary shall cast the deciding vote.

(d) The Committee may, at its discretion, require of the proposers through the Secretary that they furnish, at their own expense, additional information concerning the candidates, twelve copies to be supplied.

12. Within ten days after completing the selection, the Secretary shall notify the successful candidate of his/her nomination and shall state the requirement that he/she receive the medal in person and deliver a lecture on a subject of his/her own choosing. On acceptance of these conditions, the nomination shall automatically become an election. Until the nomination has been finalized by this action, it shall not be made public.

13. The Perkin Medal Committee shall have the power to decide any question on Committee procedures not specifically covered by these rules.

14. The members of the Perkin Medal Committee shall use their best offices to encourage, to the fullest extent, the full participation of members of their respective Societies at the award presentation, which will normally be made in the succeeding September following completion of the balloting.

15. These rules may be amended by a majority vote of the entire Committee or at a meeting of the Committee, provided that written notice of such meeting be sent to each member at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting and provided further that a majority of the entire Committee shall vote for the amendment.

How to Nominate

Nomination Form – Download here
Contact SCI America at
sci-america@sciencehistory.org 

Gordon E. Moore Medal

The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI America) has established the SCI America Gordon E. Moore Medal as the premier recognition for early career success in innovation, as reflected both in market impact and improvement to the quality of life. By highlighting extraordinary individuals and their work, the Society aims to promote public understanding of research and development in the modern chemical industries, enhance the interest of students in applied chemistry by providing role models, and emphasize the role of creative research in the global economy.

Based on the concept that the award name should draw attention to young innovators and connect with to the established Perkin Medal, the SCI America Executive Committee named the award for Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Intel and a seminal figure in the establishment and development of the semiconductor industry. Mr. Moore has often described Intel as a chemical company. As a research chemist and then director of R&D, Gordon Moore carried out pioneering work on silicon transistors, the integrated circuit, semiconductor computer memory, and the microprocessor, while well under the age of 45.

2023 Gordon E. Moore Medalist

2023 Gordon E. Moore Medalist

Kaoru Aou, PhD

Kaoru Aou is an R&D Fellow in Dow’s Polyurethanes Product R&D business. His work centers around the development of new products and applications using polyurethanes.

Aou has led the development and commercialization of several polyurethanes technologies in markets that include the consumer comfort space and oil and gas. He has recently been focused on the automotive industry; particularly around innovative thermosets needed for the rapidly growing electric vehicle segment.

He is a Dow-certified Six Sigma Black Belt, has been granted 21 U.S. patents, given 20 external publications/presentations, including peer-reviewed academic publications, and produced more than 150 internal company reports. He has been recognized with several individual and team awards such as the 2014 Dow Gulf Coast Scientists Excellence in Science Award, the 2014 CPI Innovation Award for the TERAFORCE™ Polyurethane resin-coating technology for silica sand proppants in hydraulic fracturing, the 2016 Best Presentation award from the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) for the VORA Zzz™ High Air Flow Viscoelastic Foam technology the 2018 ACS Brazosport Local Section Volunteer of the Year award, the 2019 Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Professional Achievement award, the R&D 100 award in 2014, 2017, and 2018 from R&D Magazine.

In 2018 Aou was invited by the National Academy of Engineering as one of 30 early-career US-based researchers, to the Japan/America Frontier of Engineering (JAFOE) Symposium. In 2022, he was one of 45 scientists in chemistry inducted as a 2022 American Chemical Society Fellow.

Aou received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in polymer science and engineering at UMass Amherst. He joined Dow in 2007 and started his career in the Polyurethanes Product R&D organization. Prior to Dow, he worked at G.E. Plastics Japan (now part of SABIC) in 1999 as a summer intern and at 3M Germany for a 6-month Praktikant program in 2000. He served as Treasurer of the Brazosport Local Section of the ACS from 2009 to 2018. He continues to serve as a journal peer reviewer (referee) since 2008, for the journals Polymer (Elsevier) and Macromolecules (ACS).

Past Gordon E. Moore Medalists
YearNameCompany
2022Kevin MaloneyMerck Research Laboratories
2021Carla D. PereiraExxonMobil
2020Wei WangPPG
2019John SworenChemours
2018Steven SwierDow Chemical Company
2017Melinda H. KeefeDow Chemical Company
2016Dr. Abhishek RoyDow Chemical Company
2015Dr. John A. McCauleyMerck
2014Andrew E. TaggiDuPont
2013Jerzy KlosinDow Chemical Company
2012Dean E. RendeHoneywell
2011Doron LevinExxonMobil
2010Emmett CrawfordEastman Chemical Company
2009Emma ParmeeMerck
2008Edmund M. CarnahanDow
2007Paul A. SagelProctor and Gamble
2006Jonathan M. McConnachieExxonMobil
2005Jeffery John HaleMerck
2004George BarclayRohm and Haas
Gordon E. Moore Medal Award Rules

1. Each year, a new award recipient will be selected to recognize a significant innovation made by an industrial scientist early in his/her career.  Scientists from academia will not be considered, unless they have direct and significant involvement in commercializing an innovation.

2.  The SCI America Gordon E. Moore Medal recognizes an outstanding individual who fulfills the following criteria:

  • He/She is 45 or younger in the Award year and either a U.S. citizen or resident,
  • He/She has developed a breakthrough innovation.
  • His/Her work illuminates emerging areas of applied chemistry in the 21st century.
  • His/Her innovation significantly impacts the company’s business by creating a new market, expanding an existing market, or commercializing a breakthrough process technology.
  • His/Her innovation demonstrates the positive impact of applied chemistry on the quality of life.

3. The Medal may not be received in absentia, except under conditions of grave emergency, approved by the Chairman of the American Section of the Society of Chemical Industry.  As with the Perkin Medal, the SCI America Gordon E. Moore Medal recipient will receive a medal, but no other compensation.

4. The SCI America Gordon E. Moore Medal will be presented during the luncheon of a symposium, whose theme is creativity and innovation.  A Steering Committee (see section II below) will help identify candidates, screen nominations for adherence to the criteria, and select the top three nominations for final decision by the SCI America Executive Committee.

5. The schedule for the nomination and approval process is:

  • Nominations solicited in October 2022
  • Closing date for nominations: January 2, 2023
  • Selection of 3 potential recipients by Screening Committee: by February 3, 2023
  • Ratification by SCI America Executive Committee during March meeting.

This timing is driven to coincide with the planned March timing for announcing the Perkin Medal recipient.

6. This Committee will request nominations from:

  • CTO Steering Committee
  • Living Perkin Medalists and SCI America Gordon E. Moore Medal winners.
  • The companies of SCI America members.
  • American Chemistry Council (ACC).
  • Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA).
  • Science History Institute.

7. The Screening Committee will review those nominated and submit a list of 3 potential award recipients, with qualifications and recommendation(s), to the Chair of the SCI America Medals Committee, who will forward to the SCI America Executive Committee for selection at the March SCI America Executive Committee meeting.

8. Once selected by the SCI America Executive Committee, the CTO Screening Committee Chair will notify the successful candidate of his/her receipt of the award and confirm the requirement that he/she receive the award in person and make a speech.

9. Nominees who are not selected as award winners shall remain in consideration for three additional years as long as they meet the award requirements.

How to Nominate

Nomination Form – Download Here
Contact SCI America at
sci-america@sciencehistory.org