Ed Vandenberg Awarded 2003 Priestley Medal in New Orleans

The Priestley medal was awarded to Edwin J. Vandenberg on March 20, 2003 in New Orleans, LA. The Priestley medal is ACS's highest scientific award.

A variety of news stories have been written about the scientific accomplishments of this long time POLY member. They are available at the ACS web site. (Membership id number required for access.)

Vandenberg articles

PRIESTLEY MEDALIST: A POLYMER MAN'S HERCULEAN EFFORT

VANDENBERG WINS PRIESTLEY MEDAL: Polymer chemist will receive highest ACS honor at national meeting in 2003

Ed Vandenberg served POLY as Secretary in 1975-1977 before becoming Chair-Elect in 1978 and Chair in 1979. Ed

Ed Vandenberg served POLY as Secretary in 1975-1977 before becoming Chair-Elect in 1978 and Chair in 1979. Ed spearheaded the organization of the POLY Industrial Sponsors Group. He played an extremely important role in leading this group for over 20 years. Ed's legacy is treasured by POLY, as the Industrial Sponsors Group has supported polymer education in many ways, including scholarships, grants, awards, short courses, and publication of the Polymer Education Newsletter. In those pioneering days for POLY, Ed's vision as Chair led to placing the Planning Committee in the forefront of Division activities. This committee, chaired by Eli Pearce, then Chair-Elect, was comprised of past-chairs and other distinguished leaders in polymer science. During Ed's tenure as Chair, the first POLY topical workshop was held in November 1979. The topic was "Water-Soluble Polymers and Biomedical Polymers", an area where Ed made seminal contributions. The topical workshops have become one of the centerpiece- activities of the Division and are characterized by a synergistic mixing of industrial and academic scientists discussing cutting edge research.

• 1981 - ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry
• 1983 - POLY Distinguished Service Award
• 1991 - ACS Award in Applied Polymer Science
• 1991 - Charles Goodyear Medal from ACS Rubber Division
• 1992 - POLY Herman F. Mark Polymer Chemistry Award
• 1994 - Society of Plastics Engineers International Award
• 1995 - POLY Special Service Award
• 2003 - ACS Priestley Medal

 (PHOTO BY TIM TRUMBLE/ASU)