Your assistance in identifying candidates for the 2021 American Chemical Society (ACS) Midwest Award is solicited. In 1944, the St. Louis Section of the ACS established, and since then sponsors and funds the ACS Midwest Award to recognize “those who have made meritorious contributions to the advancement of pure or applied chemistry, or chemical education” in the Midwest Region. The award has been conferred annually on a scientist who has made such meritorious contributions in the profession of chemistry. The contributions must have been made during a period of residence in the geographic area defined by the territories of the Local Sections that participate in the Midwest Regional Meeting (MWRM) of the ACS. These 17 Sections have been listed in programs for Midwest Regional Meetings (or you can call me to confirm eligibility). Nominees need not be members of the ACS and can work in industry, academia, government, or in private practice. Those ineligible for the Midwest Award include prior recipients of either the Midwest Award or any national award administered by the ACS. Also, ineligible are members of the Midwest Award Jury and for the St. Louis Section of the ACS, the Past Chair, the Chair, the Chair-Elect, the Secretary and members of the Awards Committee. More details concerning the main features of the Midwest Award are available in Bylaw XII.
The 2021 ACS Midwest Award will be presented at the joint 55-56th Midwest Regional Meeting of the ACS (the one for 2020 was postponed) to be held at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield Missouri over a period likely late in October 2021, which is yet to be determined; the meeting is to be hosted by the Ozarks Section. Ceremonies feature a Midwest Award Symposium, a Midwest Award Lecture and the Midwest Awards Banquet likely scheduled on Thursday of the meeting. The Award consists of a medallion and a cash honorarium; it is presented by the St. Louis Section Chair at the Midwest Awards Banquet. A condition of acceptance of this Award is that the recipient gives the Midwest Award Lecture at the time of presentation of the Award, which has been at the Midwest Awards Banquet. Our hope is that the Midwest Award Banquet will be held, and the award winner is expected to attend.
Nominations should consist of:
- a nominating letter for the nominee and two or more seconding letters
- a CV for the nominee
- a brief biography for the nominee
- documented and objective information regarding the outstanding achievements of the nominee.
- If the nominee is an academic, a list of people who received advanced degrees under her or his direction should be provided.
- Activities by the nominee that support the ACS in the Midwest Region constitute additional criteria of merit.
Please submit nominations electronically via a single pdf file to the e-mail address given below. They must be received on or before the deadline of Wednesday March 31, 2021 (11:59 pm CST). The review panel is made up of chemistry professionals, resident in the Midwest Region. Nominations are retained and reconsidered (if unsuccessful) over a period of 3 consecutive years.
If you have questions, please contact Jim O’Brien at obrienjja@umsl.edu or call (314) 757-5717 (cell).
Nominations should be directed to:
Dr. Jim O’Brien,
obrienjja@umsl.edu
2021 ACS Midwest Award Coordinator,
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Missouri-St. Louis
One University Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63121
“Computers and the physics of complex biological systems”
