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Vol.
25 No. 5
September-October 2003
IUPAC
Wire |
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News
and information on IUPAC, its fellows, and members organizations
See also www.iupac.org/news |
Hendrik
van Eck Medal Awarded to IUPAC President
IUPAC
President Pieter Steyn is the latest recipient of the
Hendrik van Eck medal, the most prestigious award given by
the South African Chemical Institute (SACI). The medal, in
honor of former SACI President Hendrik van Eck, is given to
an SACI member who has made exceptional contributions to the
business or industrial sectors and/or to the community as
a whole in South Africa.
Steyn
is only the fifth individual to be conferred with this honor
in the past 20 years. Past recipients include Dr. A. E. Rupert
(1983), Dr. N. Stutterheim (1984), Dr. C. F. Garbers (1991),
Dr. F. E. Malherbe (1993), and Dr. R. R. Arndt (1996).
Prof.
Steyn is the first person from Africa, and the second from
the Southern hemisphere, to serve as IUPAC president. His
work within IUPAC also includes acting as division president
of both the Applied Chemistry and Chemistry and the Environment
Divisions. Steyn is currently director of research at the
University of Stellenbosch, with broad management responsibilities
for research in the Faculties of Science, Engineering, and
Agriculture/Forestry. He was founding director of both the
Division of Food Science and Technology and the industry-directed
SASOL Centre of Separation Technology at the Potchefstroom
University. He was also founding chairman of the project Sediba,
which focuses on upgrading science and mathematics teachers
in previously disadvantaged schools. Additionally, he was
a founding member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.
His research has been mainly directed toward improving the
quality of food for human and animal consumption, based on
the principle that there can be no human dignity under conditions
of famine and hunger.
Dr.
Van Eck, president of the Institute from 1939-40, was awarded
the SACI Gold Medal in 1969. The Gold Medal is an award to
recognize merit and achievement specifically within the field
of chemistry/ chemical technology, whereas the Van Eck medal,
established in 1982, is a prestigious award to recognize exceptional
achievements within a much broader context. The Van Eck medal
is not awarded on a regular basis, but only when a candidate
meeting the stringent requirements is nominated. The striking
of the first medal occurred in 1983 at the South African Mint
in Pretoria.
By
tradition, the recipient delivers the Hendrik van Eck Memorial
Lecture during a special presentation ceremony held by the
Council of the SACI. The presentation ceremony and the lecture
were held on 4 June 2003.
More
information about the Hendrik van Eck award may be found at
<www.saci.co.za>.
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last modified 3 September 2003.
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