Molecular Frontiers Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Molecular Frontiers Foundation (MFF) was founded under the auspices of the Nobel Foundation
in 2007 by Bengt Nordén
, a professor of physical chemistry
at Chalmers University of Technology
in Sweden
and the former chair of the Nobel Committee
for Chemistry. Part of the mission of MFF according to Nordén is to counter the "increasingly bad image that chemistry
has in society" and the "decreasing interest in science by the young generation." .
The MFF is chaired by the 1999 Chemistry Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail
and counts eleven Nobel Laureates amongst its 29-member Scientific Advisory Board.
Through its science-discussion website "MoleClues", the MFF awards the yearly "Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize" also known as the "kid Nobel" to equal numbers of girls and boys from around the world for asking the most penetrating scientific question. The entries are collected online and judged by the MFF Scientific Advisory Board during the annual Spring MFF Youth Forum in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
in Stockholm
, Sweden.
Nobel Foundation
The Nobel Foundation is a private institution founded on 29 June 1900 to manage the finances and administration of the Nobel Prizes. The Foundation is based on the last will of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite....
in 2007 by Bengt Nordén
Bengt Nordén
-Biography and academic career:Bengt Nordén graduated 1967 with a Master of Science degree in chemistry, theoretical physics and mathematics from Lund University and was awarded his Ph.D. in 1971 from Lund University where he became Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 1972...
, a professor 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...
at Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology , is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture.-History:...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the former chair of the Nobel Committee
Nobel Committee
A Nobel Committee is the working body responsible for the most of the work involved in selecting Nobel Prize laureates. There are five Nobel Committees, one for each Nobel Prize....
for Chemistry. Part of the mission of MFF according to Nordén is to counter the "increasingly bad image that 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....
has in society" and the "decreasing interest in science by the young generation." .
The MFF is chaired by the 1999 Chemistry Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail
Ahmed Zewail
Ahmed Hassan Zewail is an Egyptian-American scientist who won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on femtochemistry. He is the Linus Pauling Chair Professor Chemistry and Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology.- Birth and education :Ahmed Zewail was born on...
and counts eleven Nobel Laureates amongst its 29-member Scientific Advisory Board.
Through its science-discussion website "MoleClues", the MFF awards the yearly "Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize" also known as the "kid Nobel" to equal numbers of girls and boys from around the world for asking the most penetrating scientific question. The entries are collected online and judged by the MFF Scientific Advisory Board during the annual Spring MFF Youth Forum in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden.
External links
- Official website of the MFF
- Bengt Nordén interviewed in Nature Chemical Biology 3, 79 (2007)
- List of MFF Scientific Advisory Board Members
- Science discussion website for children
- Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize
- Op Ed in New Scientist on the Molecular Frontiers Inquiry Prize, a "Nobel prize for children"