John D. Roberts
Encyclopedia
John Dombrowski Roberts (born 8 June 1918) is an American chemist
. He has made contributions to the integration of physical chemistry
, spectroscopy
and organic chemistry
for the understanding of chemical reaction
rates.
Roberts received both a B.A.
(1941) and Ph.D.
(1944) from the University of California, Los Angeles
. He has held several positions at the California Institute of Technology
, including Division Chairman of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from 1963–68, Dean
of the Faculty
from 1980–83 and is currently Institute Professor
of Chemistry, Emeritus
in the Division of Chemistry
and Chemical Engineering
. He is credited with bringing the first female graduate student into the Caltech Chemistry department when he moved from MIT. He was a long-term consultant for DuPont Central Research
.
He published an autobiography in 1990, The Right Place at the Right Time.
in 1952. He was awarded the Priestley Medal
in 1987, the National Medal of Science
in 1990, the Glenn T. Seaborg Medal
in 1991, the NAS Award in Chemical Sciences
in 1999, the NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society
in 2009 and has received honorary degrees from the University of Munich, Temple University
and the University of Notre Dame
.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
. He has made contributions to the integration of physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
, spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
and organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
for the understanding of chemical reaction
Chemical reaction
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Chemical reactions can be either spontaneous, requiring no input of energy, or non-spontaneous, typically following the input of some type of energy, such as heat, light or electricity...
rates.
Roberts received both a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(1941) and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(1944) from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. He has held several positions at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
, including Division Chairman of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from 1963–68, Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Faculty
Faculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
from 1980–83 and is currently Institute Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Chemistry, Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
in the Division of Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
. He is credited with bringing the first female graduate student into the Caltech Chemistry department when he moved from MIT. He was a long-term consultant for DuPont Central Research
DuPont Central Research
In 1957, the research organization of the Chemicals Department of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company was renamed Central Research Department, beginning the history of the premier scientific organization within DuPont and one of the foremost industrial laboratories devoted to basic science...
.
He published an autobiography in 1990, The Right Place at the Right Time.
Honors
Roberts was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1952. He was awarded the Priestley Medal
Priestley Medal
The Priestley Medal is the highest honor conferred by the American Chemical Society and is awarded for distinguished service in the field of chemistry. Established in 1922, the award is named after Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen who immigrated to the United States of America in 1794...
in 1987, the National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
in 1990, the Glenn T. Seaborg Medal
Glenn T. Seaborg Medal
The Glenn T. Seaborg Medal was first awarded in 1987 by the University of California, Los Angeles , Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to Nobel prize winning chemist Glenn T. Seaborg, a UCLA alumnus...
in 1991, the NAS Award in Chemical Sciences
NAS Award in Chemical Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemical Sciences is awarded for innovative research in the chemical sciences that in the broadest sense contributes to a better understanding of the natural sciences and to the benefit of humanity.-Recipients:...
in 1999, the NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society
NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society
The NAS Award for Chemistry in Service to Society is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "for contributions to chemistry, either in fundamental science or its application, that clearly satisfy a societal need." It has been awarded every two years since its inception in 1991.- List of...
in 2009 and has received honorary degrees from the University of Munich, Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.