George M. Whitesides

{{for|his son, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives|George T. Whitesides}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = George M. Whitesides

| image = George Whitesides HD2010 Othmer Gold Medal portrait6.JPG

| image_size =

| caption = Whitesides in 2010

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|8|3|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| field = chemistry, nanotechnology

| work_institution = Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

| alma_mater = Harvard University (BA)
California Institute of Technology (PhD)

| doctoral_advisor = John D. Roberts{{cite news|last1=ST. FLEUR|first1=NICHOLAS|title=John D. Roberts Dies at 98; He Revolutionized the Field of Organic Chemistry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/07/science/john-roberts-organic-chemistry.html|access-date=February 1, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=November 6, 2016}}

| doctoral_students = Craig L. Hill, Chi-Huey Wong, Younan Xia, Milan Mrksich Abraham Stroock

| thesis_title = The configurational stability of primary Grignard reagents. Applications of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to the study of molecular asymmetry

| thesis_year = 1964

| thesis_url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180924033502/https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/585/1/Whitesides_gm_1964_.pdf

| known_for = Corey–House–Posner–Whitesides reaction
Contributions in the fields of NMR spectroscopy, organometallic chemistry, molecular self-assembly, soft lithography,{{Cite journal

| last1 = Weiss | first1 = P. S.

| title = A Conversation with Prof. George M. Whitesides: Pioneer in Soft Nanolithography

| doi = 10.1021/nn700225n

| journal = ACS Nano

| volume = 1

| issue = 2

| pages = 73–78

| year = 2007

| pmid = 19206522

| doi-access = free

}} microfabrication, microfluidics, soft robotics, paper-based analytical devices, and nanotechnology.

| awards = ACS Award in Pure Chemistry (1975)
Arthur C. Cope Award (1995)
National Medal of Science (1998)
Kyoto Prize (2003)
Welch Award in Chemistry {{small|(2005)}}
Dan David Prize (2005)
Linus Pauling Award (2005)
Priestley Medal (2007)
Othmer Gold Medal (2010)
King Faisal International Prize (2011)
IRI Medal (2013)
Kavli Prize (2022)

| notable_students = Joanna Aizenberg, Tricia Carmichael, John A. Rogers, Firat Güder

}}

George McClelland Whitesides (born August 3, 1939) is an American chemist and professor of chemistry at Harvard University. He is best known for his work in the areas of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, organometallic chemistry, molecular self-assembly, soft lithography,{{Cite journal | last1 = Xia | first1 = Y. | last2 = Whitesides | first2 = G. M. | author-link2 = George M. Whitesides| doi = 10.1146/annurev.matsci.28.1.153 | title = Soft Lithography | journal = Annual Review of Materials Science | volume = 28 | pages = 153–184 | year = 1998 | issue = 5 | pmid = 29711088 |bibcode = 1998AnRMS..28..153X }} microfabrication, microfluidics, and nanotechnology. A prolific author and patent holder who has received many awards, he received the highest Hirsch index rating of all living chemists in 2011.{{cite web|title=H-index ranking of living chemists|url=http://people.clarkson.edu/~ekatz/publications_most_cited_h-index_RSC.pdf|website=Chemistry World|date=December 12, 2011}}{{Scopus id|55711979600}}{{Google Scholar id|coHQf4oAAAAJ}}

Education

Whitesides attended secondary school at Phillips Academy and graduated in 1957. He received his A.B. degree from Harvard College in 1960 and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1964, where he worked with John D. Roberts. At Caltech, Whitesides began working in organic chemistry. Whitesides' graduate work in organometallic chemistry used NMR spectroscopy and density matrices to study Grignard reagents. He used NMR spectroscopy to study rate of change of Grignard reagents{{cite journal|title=Many Interests, Many Rewards|journal=Chemical Heritage Magazine|date=Summer 2007|volume=25|issue=2|pages=8–9}} and the structure of Grignard reagents in solution. He also studied spin–spin coupling in a variety of organic compounds, using density matrix calculations to examine the spin systems that NMR analyses detect.

Career

=Research at MIT=

Whitesides began his independent career as an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963 and remained there until 1982. He continued his work with NMR spectroscopy and organometallic compounds, as well as working with polymers. Collaborations with biologists at MIT were an early influence informing his later work with biological systems. He is credited as having played a "pivotal role" in the development of the Corey–House–Posner–Whitesides reaction.

=Research at Harvard=

In 1982, Whitesides moved back to the Department of Chemistry at Harvard University, his alma mater, taking his laboratory with him. He was the Mallinckrodt Professor of Chemistry from 1982 to 2004. At Harvard, Whitesides has served as chairman of the Chemistry Department (1986–89){{cite web|title=Ullyot Public Affairs Lecture|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/ullyot-public-affairs-lecture|website=Science History Institute|access-date=February 1, 2018|date=May 31, 2016}} and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (1989–92).

=Current research=

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= 210px

| video1 =[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHuC5yZeHYQ Publishing Your Research 101 Impact of technology on scientific articles], George Whitesides, American Chemical Society, April 29, 2011 | video2 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYE3XZUjxnw Zero cost diagnostics] George Whitesides, TEDxBoston, August 10, 2009 | video3 =[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whjLZogf9e0 Toward a science of simplicity], George Whitesides, TED, April 29, 2010 | video4 =[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZe_t1kLplc Talking Nano: Perspectives on Nanotechnology (1 of 4)], George Whitesides, Museum of Science, Boston, October 26, 2007 | video5 =[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aPKQB3y5Zc The Courage to Go Off and Start New Things], George Whitesides, Science History Institute, June 17, 2010 }}

In 2004, Whitesides was appointed the Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers University Professor at Harvard,{{cite news|last1=Vittor|first1=Evan M.|title=New Title To Honor Tribe, Whitesides|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=502753|access-date=January 22, 2015|work=The Harvard Crimson|date=June 8, 2004|archive-date=February 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216105054/http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=502753|url-status=dead}} one of only 24 University Professorships at the institution as of 2014.{{cite web

| title = Harvard University Professors

| publisher = Harvard University Office of News and Public Affairs

| date = 2014

| url = http://www.harvard.edu/university-professorships

| access-date = January 21, 2015 }} The Whitesides Research Group at Harvard, an active research group of graduate and postdoctoral students with a lab space spanning more than 6,000 square feet (560 m2), is cofounded and directed by him.{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Amy|title=Classmates awarded Academy's highest honor|url=http://www.andover.edu/about/newsroom/pages/classmates-awarded-academys-highest-honor.aspx|access-date=January 22, 2015|agency=Andover Phillips Academy|date=January 18, 2013}} The single primary objective of his lab is "to fundamentally change the paradigms of science."{{cite journal|last1=Bowen|first1=H. Kent|last2=Gino|first2=Francesca|title=The Whitesides Lab|journal=Harvard Business School|date=March 17, 2006|volume=Harvard Business School Case Study #N9-606-064|page=3|url=http://hst590.pbworks.com/f/whitesides.pdf|access-date=January 21, 2015}}

Whitesides' interests include "physical and organic chemistry, materials science, biophysics, complexity and emergence, surface science, microfluidics, optics, self-assembly, micro- and nanotechnology, science for developing economies, molecular electronics, catalysis, energy production and conservation, origin of life, rational drug design, cell-surface biochemistry, simplicity, and infochemistry."{{cite web|title=George M. Whitesides|url=http://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/content.php?page=gwhitesides|website=Whitesides Research Group|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005070343/http://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/content.php?page=gwhitesides|archive-date=October 5, 2014|url-status=dead}} He has shifted to new research areas many times throughout his career, averaging about ten years in any particular area. Once other people successfully move into an area, he tends to look for new and more interesting problems to solve. "He has done that repeatedly by asking fundamental questions of what seemed to everyone to be virtually intractable problems," according to Jeremy R. Knowles.

Whitesides has made scientific contributions in diverse areas, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), microfluidics and nanotechnology. He is particularly well known for his work in materials and surface science. His work in surface chemistry has examined the 'self-assembly' processes of molecules arranging themselves on a surface. This work has become a basis for developments in nanoscience, electronics, pharmaceutical science and medical diagnostics.{{cite news|title=Harvard chemist wins national award for lifetime achievements in chemistry|url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-08/acs-hcw082906.php|access-date=January 22, 2015|work=EurekaAlert|agency=American Chemical Society|date=August 31, 2006}} Some of his research has been visually presented through the collaboration On the Surface of Things: Images of the Extraordinary in Science with MIT science photographer Felice Frankel.{{cite book|last1=Frankel|first1=Felice|last2=Whitesides|first2=George W.|title=On the surface of things: images of the extraordinary in science|url=https://archive.org/details/onsurfaceofthing0000fran|url-access=registration|date=1997|publisher=Chronicle Books|location=San Francisco|isbn=978-0-8118-1394-5}} One image, a pattern of blue and green water droplets created by Frankel, was featured on a 1992 cover of Science.{{cite news|title=Picturing Science: Felice Frankel|url=http://artsatmit.org/cast/blog/picturing-science-felice-frankel/|access-date=January 22, 2015|work=Arts at MIT|agency=MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122202557/http://artsatmit.org/cast/blog/picturing-science-felice-frankel/|archive-date=January 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Early work by Ralph G. Nuzzo and David L. Allara on spontaneously organized molecular assemblies informed Whitesides' work on soft lithography. Whitesides and his research group have made significant contributions by developing techniques for soft lithography and microcontact printing. Both microscale and nanoscale techniques are based on printing, molding and embossing, and can be used for the fabrication of patterns and features on many different materials. Soft lithography uses a patterned elastomer as a stamp, mold, or mask to create micropatterns and microstructures.{{cite journal|last1=Xia|first1=Younan|last2=Whitesides|first2=George M.|title=Soft Lithography|journal=Annual Review of Materials Science|date=August 1998|volume=28|issue=1|pages=153–184|doi=10.1146/annurev.matsci.28.1.153|pmid=29711088|url=https://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/pubs/pdf/604.pdf|bibcode=1998AnRMS..28..153X|access-date=2015-01-22|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090336/https://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/pubs/pdf/604.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal|last1=Qin|first1=Dong|last2=Xia|first2=Younan|last3=Whitesides|first3=George M|title=Soft lithography for micro- and nanoscale patterning|journal=Nature Protocols|date=February 18, 2010|volume=5|issue=3|pages=491–502|doi=10.1038/nprot.2009.234|pmid=20203666|doi-access=free}} Such techniques have now become standard in the field.

More recent research interests include energy,{{cite news|last1=Bullis|first1=Kevin|title=George Whitesides The nanotech pioneer turns to energy.|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/qa/408167/george-whitesides/|access-date=January 22, 2015|work=MIT Technology Review|date=July 1, 2007}} the origin of life,{{cite news|last1=Myhrvold|first1=Conor|title=Three Questions for George Whitesides|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428793/three-questions-for-george-whitesides/|access-date=January 22, 2015|work=MIT Technology Review|date=September 3, 2010}} soft robotics,{{Cite web |title=Soft Robotics at the Whitesides Research Group |url=https://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/soft-robotics}} and science for developing economics.{{cite news|last1=Whitesides|first1=George M.|title=The frugal way The promise of cost-conscious science|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21537051|access-date=January 22, 2015|newspaper=The Economist|date=November 17, 2011 }}

Whitesides is also known for publishing his "outline system" for writing scientific papers.{{Cite journal |last1=Whitesides |first1=G.M. |author-link=George M. Whitesides |title=Whitesides' Group: Writing a Paper |doi=10.1002/adma.200400767 |url=http://yjsy.nenu.edu.cn/downloads/jiao%27an/Writing%20a%20Paper.pdf |journal=Advanced Materials |volume=16 |issue=15 |pages=1375–1377 |year=2004 |bibcode=2004AdM....16.1375W |s2cid=137183896 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813121051/http://yjsy.nenu.edu.cn/downloads/jiao%27an/Writing%20a%20Paper.pdf |archive-date=August 13, 2011 }}

Policy and public service

Beyond his scientific research, Whitesides is also active in public service. He was part of the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, which authored the National Academies' report Rising Above the Gathering Storm (2007). The report addressed U.S. competitiveness in science and technology. Two key challenges were identified as being essential to American scientific and engineering prowess: 1) creating high-quality jobs for Americans and 2) addressing the nation's need for clean, affordable, and reliable energy. The committee developed four areas of recommendations, with twenty specific proposals for implementable actions. Addressing human, financial, and informational issues, the report argued in favor of:{{cite book|title=Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Executive Summary|date=2006|url=https://www.nsf.gov/attachments/105652/public/NAS-Gathering-Storm-11463.pdf|access-date=January 21, 2015}}

improving K–12 science and mathematics education, to ensure that there is a pool of talented individuals who can work in the sciences
supporting long-term basic research, to ensure the ongoing development of new ideas that will support the economy and enhance quality of life
creating a positive environment for higher education in which America can develop, recruit, and retain students, scientists, and engineers from the United States and the rest of the world
encouraging innovation through economic policies that will support manufacturing and marketing

In 2002, Whitesides served as the Chairman of the International Review Panel that evaluated the state of chemical research in the United Kingdom. Their findings were summarized what is now known as the Whitesides Report.[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20091109164814/http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/AboutEPSRC/IntRevs/2002ChemIR.htm Chemistry at the Centre: an International Assessment of University Research in Chemistry in the UK] They identified chemical biology and materials science as important areas for new development in the United Kingdom, and argued that chemistry is an important discipline in part because its concepts, processes and materials underlie other disciplines and offer opportunities to enhance communication between disciplines.{{cite web|title=Face to Face UK Chemistry-Biology Interface|url=http://www.rsc.org/images/f2freport_tcm18-126544.pdf|website=RSC Advancing the Chemical Sciences|date=2008}}

Whitesides has served on advisory committees for the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Department of Defense. He has also served on the National Research Council in various capacities since 1984, including stints on the Committee on Science and Technology for Counter Terrorism and the Committee on Nanotechnology for the Intelligence Community.{{cite web|last1=Klamm|first1=Lauren|title=Harvard professor to speak about bioanalysis research|url=http://source.colostate.edu/harvard-professor-speak-bioanalysis-research/|website=Source|publisher=Colorado State University|date=November 19, 2014}} He is also a member of the Reliance Innovation Council formed by Reliance Industries Limited, India.{{Cite web | url=http://www.ril.com/OurCompany/Innovation.aspx | title=Reliance Innovation Council India – Raghunath Mashelkar | Mukesh Ambani | Jean-Marie Lehn | Robert Grubbs | George Whitesides | Gary Hamel | William Haseltine | access-date=July 1, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201111731/http://www.ril.com/OurCompany/Innovation.aspx | archive-date=December 1, 2015 | url-status=dead }}

In an article in Nature (2011), Whitesides and John M. Deutch challenged the scientific and chemical communities to become more relevant to current social and environmental issues. They criticized academic chemistry for an "increasingly incurious and risk-averse attitude" and for focusing on "familiar questions of familiar disciplines" rather than taking a broad interdisciplinary view and exploring new areas. They recommended that institutions focus on practical problems, and teach entrepreneurial skills along with basic science so as to stimulate the development of practical technologies, encouraging students to take ownership of their own research. A similar approach is taken by the Whitesides Research Group, of which John A. Rogers has said, "Chemistry was the core expertise that provided the competitive advantage, but there was no sense of chemistry as a narrowly defined discipline. It was chemistry to solve problems, not necessarily to do chemistry." The article sparked strong reactions both for and against their ideas.{{cite web|last1=Bracher|first1=Paul|title=Whitesides & Deutch on What's Wrong with Chemical Academia|url=http://blog.chembark.com/2011/01/06/whitesides-deutch-on-whats-wrong-with-chemical-academia/|website=ChemBark: News, Analysis, and Commentary for the World of Chemistry & Chemical Research|access-date=January 6, 2011|date=January 6, 2011}} Many in the scientific community asserted that research agendas should be "disinterested" and that education must focus on fundamental research to advance.{{cite journal|last1=Roberts|first1=Jody|title=Social Science|journal=Chemical Heritage Magazine|date=2012|volume=30|issue=1|page=45|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/social-science|access-date=February 1, 2018}} Whitesides and Deutch argued that teaching science in ways that address current issues can still lead to foundational work and scientific breakthroughs.{{cite journal|last1=Whitesides|first1=George M.|last2=Deutch|first2=John|title=Let's get practical|journal=Nature|date=January 6, 2011|volume=469|issue=7328|pages=21–22|doi=10.1038/469021a|pmid=21209639|url=http://web.mit.edu/chemistry/deutch/technical/pdf15/152Nature469p21%282011%29.pdf|access-date=January 22, 2015|bibcode = 2011Natur.469...21W |s2cid=205061212}}

Awards and achievements

Whitesides is the author of more than 1200 scientific articles{{cite web|title=75th Birthday: George Whitesides|url=http://www.chemistryviews.org/details/ezine/6468341/75th_Birthday_George_Whitesides.html|website=Chemistry Views|date=3 August 2014 |access-date=January 21, 2015}} and is listed as an inventor on at least 134 patents.{{cite web|title=George M. Whitesides|url=https://www.collectiveip.com/technology-transfer/harvard-university/patents?fin=George+M.+Whitesides|website=Harvard University – Patents|access-date=January 21, 2015}} He ranked 5th on Thomson ISI's list of the 1000 most cited chemists from 1981 to 1997,{{cite web|title=ISI's 1000 Most Cited Chemists, 1981 – June 1997, ranked by total citations|url=http://www.ccp14.ac.uk/ccp/web-mirrors/armel/www.cristal.org/1000chimistes.html|access-date=January 21, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302054444/http://www.ccp14.ac.uk/ccp/web-mirrors/armel/www.cristal.org/1000chimistes.html|archive-date=March 2, 2015}} and 38th on the list from 2000 to 2010.{{cite news|title=Top 100 Chemists, 2000–2010 Special Report on High-Impact Chemists|url=http://archive.sciencewatch.com/dr/sci/misc/Top100Chemists2000-10/|work=Science Watch|date=October 31, 2010}} According to the Hirsch index, a ranking which combines number of articles published and citations of those articles by others, he was the most influential living chemist in 2011.

Whitesides has co-founded over 12 companies with a combined market capitalization of over $20 billion. These companies include Genzyme, GelTex, Theravance, Surface Logix, Nano Terra, and WMR Biomedical.{{cite book|last1=Roberts|first1=Edward B.|last2=Eesley|first2=Charles E.|title=Entrepreneurial impact : the role of MIT—an updated report|date=2011|publisher=Now|location=Boston, Mass.|isbn=978-1-60198-478-4|page=58|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YKlE_qqq4RsC&pg=PA58|access-date=January 21, 2015}}{{citation |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=545929&ticker=THRX |date=n.d. |access-date=July 19, 2015 | work=Bloomberg |title=George M. Whitesides Ph.D.: Executive Profile & Biography}} Whitesides has mentored more than 300 graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scholars.{{cite book|last1=Folch|first1=Albert|title=Introduction to bioMEMS|date=2013|publisher=CRC Press|location=Boca Raton|isbn=978-1439818398|page=19|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Ne9lX91D8MC&pg=PA19|access-date=January 21, 2015}} He serves on the editorial advisory boards of several scientific journals, including ACS Nano, Angewandte Chemie, Chemistry & Biology, and Small.

Whitesides is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Engineering. He is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Philosophical Society.{{cite book|last1=Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century: An Agenda for American Science and Technology, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine |title=Rising above the gathering storm : energizing and employing America for a brighter economic future|date=2006|publisher=National Academies Press|location=Washington, DC|isbn=978-0-309-65442-5|url=https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/618/2015/11/Rising-Above-the-Gathering-Storm.pdf|access-date=January 21, 2015}} In 2002 he became foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.{{cite web|url=https://www.knaw.nl/en/members/foreign-members/5321 |title=G.M. Whitesides |publisher=Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences |access-date=July 20, 2015}} He also became a foreign member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.{{cite web|url=https://dnva.no/medlemmer/53|title= Utenlandske medlemmer - Den matematisk-naturvitenskapelige klasse|publisher=Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters|access-date=19 December 2023}}

Among other awards, Whitesides is the recipient of the American Chemical Society's ACS Award in Pure Chemistry (1975),{{cite web|title=ACS Award in Pure Chemistry|url=http://webapps.acs.org/findawards/detail.jsp?ContentId=CTP_004546|website=ACS: Chemistry for Life|access-date=January 21, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313011429/http://webapps.acs.org/findawards/detail.jsp?ContentId=CTP_004546|archive-date=March 13, 2015}} the Arthur C. Cope Award (1995),{{cite web|title=Arthur C. Cope Award|url=http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/funding-and-awards/awards/national/bytopic/arthur-c-cope-award.html|website=ACS: Chemistry for Life|access-date=January 21, 2015}} National Medal of Science (1998),{{cite web|title=George Whitesides (1939 – )|url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/medalofscience50/whitesides.jsp|website=National Science Foundation, Where Discoveries Begin|access-date=January 21, 2015}}{{cite web|title=The President's National Medal of Science: Recipient Details George Whitesides |url=https://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/recip_details.jsp?recip_id=389|website=National Science Foundation, Where Discoveries Begin|access-date=January 21, 2015}} the Kyoto Prize in Materials Science and Engineering (2003),{{cite news|last1=Braun|first1=David|title=2003 Kyoto Prize Laureates Named|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0620_030620_kyotoprizes2003.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030623023001/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0620_030620_kyotoprizes2003.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 23, 2003|access-date=January 21, 2015|work=National Geographic News|date=June 20, 2003}} the Gabbay Award (2004),{{Cite web | url=http://www.brandeis.edu/rosenstiel/gabbayaward/past.html | title=Past Winners | Gabbay Award | Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center | Brandeis University}} the Dan David Prize (2005),{{cite web|title=Laureates / 2005 / Future – Materials Science / George Whitesides|url=http://www.dandavidprize.org/laureates/2005/76-future-materials-science/171-prof-george-whitesides|website=Dan David Prize|access-date=January 21, 2015}} the Welch Award in Chemistry (2005),{{cite journal|last1=Henry|first1=Celia |title=Harvard Chemistry Professor Honored For Long, Diverse Career |journal=Chemical & Engineering News|date= June 13, 2005 |volume=83|issue=24|page=9|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/83/i24/8324notw9.html|access-date=January 21, 2015 |doi=10.1021/cen-v083n024.p009a}} the AIC Gold Medal (2007),{{cite web |title=American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/american-institute-of-chemists-gold-medal |website=Science History Institute |year=2016}} and the Priestley Medal (2007), the highest honor conferred by the ACS.{{cite journal|last1=Arnaud|first1=Celia Henry|title=Whitesides named Priestley Medalist|journal=Chemical & Engineering News|date=June 12, 2006|volume=84|issue=24|page=7|url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/84/i24/Whitesides-Named-Priestley-Medalist.html|access-date=January 21, 2015|doi=10.1021/cen-v084n024.p007}}

More recently, George Whitesides received the 2009 Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences from The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation on September 30, 2009, for his creation of new materials that have significantly advanced the field of chemistry and its societal benefits.{{cite news|title=Harvard chemist accepts Dreyfus Prize for Chemical Sciences|date=October 3, 2009 |work=Cambridge Chronicle}}{{cite web|title=Lab on a Chip Board Chair wins two major awards|url=http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/lc/News/Whitesides_double.asp|website=Royal Society of Chemistry|access-date=May 15, 2009}} In November 2009, he was recipient of the Reed M. Izatt and James J. Christensen Lectureship.{{cite web|last1=Pierce |first1=Steve |title=Renowned Chemist to Address Third Annual Izatt-Christensen Lecture at BYU |url=http://cpms.byu.edu/news/renowned-chemist-to-address-third-annual-izattchristensen-lecture-at-byu |website=Brigham Young University |publisher=College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences |date=2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122002023/http://cpms.byu.edu/news/renowned-chemist-to-address-third-annual-izattchristensen-lecture-at-byu |archive-date=January 22, 2015 }} Also in 2009, George Whitesides was awarded the 2009 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry by The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, for his pioneering chemical research in molecular self-assembly and innovative nanofabrication techniques that have resulted in rapid, inexpensive fabrication of ultra small devices.

He received the Othmer Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to progress in chemistry and science in 2010.{{cite web|title= Othmer Gold Medal |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/othmer-gold-medal|publisher=Science History Institute|access-date=December 1, 2016|date=May 31, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Gussman|first1=Neil|title=Chemical Heritage Foundation to Present Othmer Gold Medal to George M. Whitesides|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chemical-heritage-foundation-to-present-othmer-gold-medal-to-george-m-whitesides-82604012.html|access-date=June 12, 2014|work=PR Newswire|date=January 25, 2010}} He was awarded the F. A. Cotton Medal for Excellence in Chemical Research of the American Chemical Society in 2011.{{cite web |title=The F. A. Cotton Medal for Excellence Chemical Research |url=https://www.chem.tamu.edu/department/cotton-medal.php |website=Chemistry: Texas A&M University |access-date=January 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221091111/http://www.chem.tamu.edu/department/cotton-medal.php |archive-date=February 21, 2015 }} In 2011 he also received the King Faisal International Prize in Chemistry.{{cite web|title=Professor George M. Whitesides Winner of the 2011 KFIP Prize for Science|url=http://kfip.org/professor-george-m-whitesides/|website=King Faisal International Prize|access-date=January 21, 2015}}{{cite web|title="Science & Technology" Hosts Winners of King Faisal International Prize for Chemistry|url=http://www.kacst.edu.sa/en/about/media/news/Pages/news2220404-3783.aspx|access-date=January 21, 2015|agency=King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)|date=2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122011128/http://www.kacst.edu.sa/en/about/media/news/Pages/news2220404-3783.aspx|archive-date=January 22, 2015}} In 2013 he was awarded the IRI Medal alongside Robert S. Langer.{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Linda|title=Industrial Research Institute Medal Awarded To Robert S. Langer And George M. Whitesides|url=http://www.iri75.org/2013/05/industrial-research-institute-medal-awarded-to-robert-s-langer-and-george-m-whitesides/|access-date=February 5, 2014|newspaper=Chemical & Engineering News|date=May 28, 2013|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221130740/http://www.iri75.org/2013/05/industrial-research-institute-medal-awarded-to-robert-s-langer-and-george-m-whitesides/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=IRI to recognize George Whitesides, Robert Langer with top award|url=http://www.rdmag.com/news/2013/04/iri-recognize-george-whitesides-robert-langer-top-award|access-date=February 5, 2014|newspaper=R&D Magazine|date=April 17, 2013}} In 2013 he gave the inaugural Patrusky Lecture. In 2017, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by [http://www.xconomy.com Xconomy].{{Cite news|url=http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2017/09/26/the-winners-of-the-2017-xconomy-awards-are/|title=The Winners of the 2017 Xconomy Awards Are… {{!}} Xconomy|date=September 26, 2017|work=Xconomy|access-date=September 28, 2017|language=en-US}} In 2022 he received the Kavli Prize in Nanosciences.[https://www.kavliprize.org/prizes/nanoscience/2022 Kavli Prize 2022]

In 2015, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath.

Personal life

Whitesides and his wife, Barbara, have two sons, George T. and Ben. George Thomas Whitesides was CEO of Virgin Galactic, a firm developing commercial space vehicles. In 2024, George was elected to Congress from 27th district of California after defeating three-term GOP incumbent, Mike Garcia. Ben Whitesides is lead singer and songwriter of The Joggers, a rock band based in Portland, Oregon.{{cite journal|last1=Arnaud|first1=Celia Henry|title=Always On The Move|journal=Chemical & Engineering News|date=March 26, 2007|volume=85|issue=13|pages=18–25|url=https://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/85/8513cover2.html|access-date=January 21, 2015}}

References

External links

[http://gmwgroup.harvard.edu/ Whitesides Group Homepage]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101026013242/http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpage/129/george-m-whitesides George M. Whitesides : Wyss Institute at Harvard]

{{Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research}}

Category:1939 births

Category:21st-century American chemists

Category:California Institute of Technology alumni

Category:Harvard College alumni

Category:Harvard University faculty

Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty

Category:Scientists from Louisville, Kentucky

Category:National Medal of Science laureates

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences