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Awards

Wolfgang M. H. Sachtler Lecture

Wolfgang M. H. Sachtler
Wolfgang M. H. Sachtler

A member of Northwestern’s faculty since 1983, Wolfgang M. H. Sachtler was internationally known for his scientific and technical contributions to the field of heterogeneous catalysis, an essential technology for the production of fuels and chemicals, as well as pollution control. He was a member of the Royal Netherland Academy, the Vice President of the International Congress in Catalysis, and a member of the editorial boards of many major catalysis publications.

Past Wolfgang M. H. Sachtler Lecturers include:

  • April 5, 2024: Harold H. Kung, Northwestern University
  • November 12, 2021: Peter C. Stair, Northwestern University
  • December 6, 2019: Hai-Ying Chen, Johnson Matthey
  • September 7, 2017: Enrique Iglesia, University of California-Berkeley (2004 Ipatieff Lecturer, 2005 Burwell Award recipient)
  • September 7, 2017: Charles T. Campbell, University of Washington (2010 Ipatieff Lecturer, 2013 Burwell Award recipient)

Vladimir N. Ipatieff Lectureship

Vladimir N. Ipatieff
Vladimir N. Ipatieff

The Vladimir N. Ipatieff Lectureship was established in 1988 to enhance the educational experience of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers by sponsoring extended, up to one month, visits to the Center by internationally distinguished researchers in catalysis. The lectureship is named after Professor Vladimir N. Ipatieff, the father of high-pressure heterogeneous catalysis and founder of the Ipatieff High Pressure Laboratory at Northwestern University.

The following scientists have served as Ipatieff Lecturers:

  • 2025: E. Charles Sykes, Tufts University
  • 2024: Dame Clare Grey, University of Cambridge
  • 2018-2019: Robert Schlögl, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion 
  • 2016-2017: Susannah Scott, University of California, Santa Barbara
  • 2015-2016: Joachim Sauer, Humboldt University, Berlin
  • 2013-2014: Alex Bell, University of California, Berkley
  • 2012-2013: Bert Weckhuysen, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
  • 2010-2011: Charles Campbell, University of Washington
  • 2007-2008: Hans-Joachim Freund, Fritz-Haber Institut
  • 2004-2005: Enrique Iglesia, University of California-Berkeley
  • 2003-2004: Sir John Meurig Thomas, University of Cambridge
  • 2000-2001: Avelino Corma, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain
  • 1999-2000: Lanny D. Schmidt, University of Minnesota
  • 1998-1999: Roel Prins, Laboratory for Technical Chemistry (Zurich, Switzerland)
  • 1996-1997: Makoto Misono, University of Tokyo
  • 1995-1996: Gary Haller, Yale University
  • 1994-1995: George Parshall, DuPont Central Science & Engineering Laboratories (Wilmington, Delaware)
  • 1993-1994: Rutger van Santen, University of Technology (Eindhoven, The Netherlands)
  • 1992-1993: D. Wayne Goodman, Texas A & M University
  • 1991-1992: Werner Haag, Mobil Research & Development Corporation (Princeton, New Jersey)
  • 1990-1991: Pierre Gallezot, Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse (Villerbanne, Cedex, France)
  • 1989-1990: Jack Lunsford, Texas A & M University
  • 1988-1989: Helmut Knozinger, University of Munich (Munich, Germany)

The Herman Pines Award

Herman Pines
Herman Pines

Awarded by the Catalysis Club of Chicago and Universal Oil Products (UOP), the Herman Pines Award honors exceptional research in the field of catalysis. Herman Pines was an outstanding research scientist, and his work revolutionized the general understanding of organic chemistry, particularly the chemistry of hydrocarbons interacting with strong acids. Herman Pines began his industrial career at UOP in 1930 where he amassed 145 U.S. patents and was a founding member of the Catalysis Club of Chicago.

Past recipients of the Herman Pines Award include:

  • 2023: Omar K. Farha, Northwestern University
  • 2022: Ahmad Moini, BASF Corporation
  • 2021: Paul Dauenhauer, University of Minnesota
  • 2020: Chris Nicholas, Honeywell UOP
  • 2019: Manos Mavrikakis, University of Wisconsin
  • 2018: Jerzy Klosin, Dow
  • 2017: Peter Stair, Northwestern University
  • 2016: Deng-Yang Jan, Universal Oil Products
  • 2015: Fabio Ribeiro, Purdue University
  • 2014: Hai-Ying Chen, Johnson-Matthey Corporation
  • 2013: Nicholas Delgass, Purdue University
  • 2012: Stuart Soled, ExxonMobil
  • 2011: Jingguang Chen, University of Delaware
  • 2010: James Rekoske, Universal Oil Products
  • 2009: Tobin Marks, Northwestern University
  • 2008: Aleksey Yezerets, Cummins Inc.
  • 2007: Chunshan Song, Pennsylvania State University
  • 2006: Jeff Miller, BP
  • 2005: Israel Wachs, Lehigh University
  • 2004: Alak Bhattacharyya, BP
  • 2003: James Dumesic, University of Wisconsin
  • 2002: James Brazdil, BP
  • 2001: Lanny Schmidt, University of Minnesota
  • 2000: John Monnier, Eastman Chemical Company
  • 1999: Harold Kung, Northwestern University

Robert Bur­well Lec­ture­ship

Robert L. Bur­well, Jr.
Robert L. Burwell, Jr.

The Robert Burwell Lectureship in Catalysis is sponsored by Johnson Matthey and administered by The North American Catalysis Society. It is awarded biennially in odd-numbered years.

The award is given in recognition of substantial contributions to one or more areas in the field of catalysis with emphasis on discovery and understanding of catalytic phenomena, catalytic reaction mechanisms, and identification of catalytic sites and species. Award recipients are selected on the basis of his/her contributions to the catalytic literature and the current timeliness of these research contributions.

The following individuals have served as Robert Burwell Lecturers:

  • 2023: Umit Ozkan, The Ohio State University
  • 2021: Manos Mavrikakis, University of Wisconsin
  • 2019: Abhaya Datye, University of New Mexico
  • 2017: Jingguang Chen, Columbia University in the City of New York
  • 2015: Matthew Neurock, University of Minnesota
  • 2013: Charles Campbell, University of Washington
  • 2011: Johannes A. Lercher, Technical University of Munich, Germany
  • 2009: Bruce Gates, University of California, Davis
  • 2007: James Dumesic, University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • 2005: Enrique Iglesia, University of California, Berkeley
  • 2003: Alexis T. Bell, University of California, Berkeley
  • 2001: Tobin Marks, Northwestern University
  • 1999: Harold Kung, Northwestern University
  • 1997: Wayne Goodman, Texas A&M University
  • 1995: Gary Haller, Yale University
  • 1993: Werner O. Haag, Mobil Oil Corporation
  • 1991: Kamil Klier, Lehigh University
  • 1989: Jack H. Lunsford, Texas A&M University
  • 1987: John B. Peri, Amoco Corporation
  • 1985: Wolf­gang M. H. Sachtler, Northwestern University
  • 1983: Robert L. Burwell, Northwestern University

The Ipatieff Prize

Donna J. Nelson, Aditya Bhan, Tobin J. Marks
2016 Ipatieff Prize recipient Aditya Bhan (center), sponsor representative Tobin J. Marks (right), & Donna J. Nelson, ACS President (left).

The Ipatieff Prize, awarded once every three years, is sponsored by The Ipatieff Trust Fund and administered by The American Chemical Society. Northwestern University is the trustee. The prize recognizes outstanding chemical experimental work in the field of catalysis or high pressure, carried out by an individual who is under the age of 40. Special consideration is given to independence of thought and originality. The award may be made for investigations carried out in any country and without consideration of nationality, though preference is given to American chemists.

Past recipients of The Ipatieff Prize include:

  • 2022: Phillip Christopher, UC Santa Barbara
  • 2019: Ive Hermans, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • 2016: Aditya Bhan, University of Minnesota
  • 2013: Melanie S. Sanford, University of Michigan
  • 2010: Christopher W. Jones, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • 2004: Raul F. Lobo, University of Delaware
  • 2001: Joan F. Brennecke, University of Notre Dame
  • 1998: Andrew J. Gellman, Carnegie Mellon University
  • 1995: Mark Barteau, University of Delaware
  • 1992: Mark E. Davis, California Institute of Technology
  • 1989: Alexander M. Klibanov, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 1986: Robert M. Hazen, George Mason University
  • 1983: D. Wayne Goodman, Sandia National Laboratories
  • 1980: Denis Forster, Monsanto Corporation
  • 1977: Charles A. Eckert, University of Illinois
  • 1974: George A. Samara, Sandia National Laboratories
  • 1971: Paul B. Venuto, Mobil Research & Development Corporation
  • 1968: Charles R. Adams, Shell Development Co.
  • 1965: Robert H. Wentorf, Jr., General Electric Research and Development Center
  • 1962: Charles Kemball, Queen's University Belfast
  • 1959: Cedomir M. Sliepcevich, University of Oklahoma
  • 1956: Harry G. Drickamer, University of Illinois
  • 1953: Robert B. Anderson, McMaster University, Canada
  • 1950: Herman E. Ries, Sinclair Refining Co.
  • 1947: Louis Schmerling, Universal Oil Products (UOP) Riverside Research and Development Laboratory