| Biographical Information | Candidate Statement
Note: ACS is not responsible for the content of candidate’s personal websites and the opinions expressed may not represent the views of the ACS.
Website: http://michlforacspresident.colorado.edu/
Colorado Section. University of Colorado, Boulder
Born: 1939
Academic Record: Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia, M.S., 1961; Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Ph.D., 1965, scientist, 1967–68; University of Houston, 1965–66, University of Texas, Austin, 1966–67, Aarhus University, Denmark, 1968–69, University of Utah, 1969–70, postdoc
Honors: Fulbright Fellowship, 2006; University of Colorado Faculty Fellowship, 2006; Patria Award, Government of the Czech Republic, 2005; honorary doctorate, Masaryk University, Czech Republic, 2004; Marinus Smith Award, 2003; Porter Medal, 2002; Chemical Reviews, Best Journal Issue Award, 2002; Association for Laboratory Automation Achievement Award, 2002; Otto Wichterle Award, 2001; James Flack Norris Award, 2001; G. M. Kosolapoff Award, 2000; Japan Society for Promotion of Science Award, 1998; honorary doctorate, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, 1996; Charles University Gold Medal, 1995; J. Heyrovský Gold Medal, 1994; Inter-American Photochemical Society (IAPS) Award, 1994; Schrödinger Medal, 1993; Arthur C. Cope Senior Scholar Award, 1993; honorary doctorate, Georgetown University, 1990; ACS Utah Section Award, 1986; John Simon Guggenheim Fellow, 1984–85; Alexander von Humboldt Senior U.S. Scientist Award, 1980; Distinguished Research Award, University of Utah, 1978–79; Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, 1971
Professional Positions (past ten years): University of Colorado, professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, 1991 to date; Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry, Prague, Czech Republic, scientist, 2006 to date; University of Utah, adjunct professor, 1986 to date; Humboldt University, Berlin, visiting professor, 2005; Heyrovský Institute, Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic, visiting professor, 2003; University of Valencia, Spain, visiting professor, 2002; University of Florida, visiting professor, 2001; University of Seville, Spain, visiting professor, 2001; Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France, visiting professor, 1999; University of Utah, visiting professor, 1999; Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, visiting professor, 1998
Service in ACS National Offices: Executive Director’s 2010 Committee, 2004; Chemical Reviews, editor, 1984 to date; editorial advisory boards of Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1978–83, Accounts of Chemical Research, 1984 to date, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2005 to date, Journal of Physical & Chemical Reference Data, 1985–87
Service in ACS Offices: Member of ACS since 1970. Division of Fluorine Chemistry: Executive Committee, 2005 to date. Division of Physical Chemistry: Executive Committee, 1982–86; ACS Editor Search Committees, 2003, 2004
Member: U.S. National Academy of Sciences, 1986; American Academy of Arts & Sciences, fellow, 1999; Czech Learned Society, honorary member, 1995; International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science, 1988; World Association of Theoretical Organic Chemists (WATOC), fellow, 1996; Royal Society of Chemistry; Inter-American Photochemistry Society; European Photochemical Association; the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi; advisory board, WATOC. ACS Divisions: Fluorine Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry
Related Activities: Associate editor, Theoretica Chimica Acta, 1985–96; International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), Commission on Photochemistry, associate member, 1977–82, titular member, 1982–89, chair, 1985–89; U.S. National Committee for IUPAC, 1991–95; National Research Council, Advisory Panel for Central Europe, 1992–94, COBASE Review Panel, 1992–94; National Academy of Sciences TNG for Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa, 2001–06, TNG for Class I, chair, 2007 to date; Discipline Advisory Committee, Fulbright Scholar Awards in Chemistry, 1995–98; Swedish Research Council, Natural Sciences Grant Panels, 2006, 2008; editorial advisory boards of Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications, 1993 to date, Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 1994 to date, Chemistry—A European Journal, 1994–2000, International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 1997–2001. Author of 570 papers and five books; gave approximately 200 conference lectures, 400 invited lectures, and 50 lecture series and named lectureships; had about 20 visiting academic appointments; organized 14 conferences
I am deeply honored to run for president-elect of the American Chemical Society and welcome this opportunity to contribute to advancing the chemistry profession. A president is effective when acting in concert with predecessors and successors, supporting the society’s strategic plan, and encouraging enthusiastic participation by the membership.
We are witnessing the beginning of an exciting transformation from dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This change is inevitable, and it makes sense to go into high gear now while we still have what will soon be remembered as cheap oil. Chemists will be at the heart of this enterprise. Only chemists and chemical engineers can create the new catalysts and other new materials that will be required. The world expects America to lead in an effort in which we cannot afford to fail. See WHEN IF NOT NOW? WHO IF NOT WE? on my Web page.
ACS has a central role in this increasingly urgent endeavor, the objectives of which are not new but deserve greater emphasis. I am eager to participate. I would emphasize the following:
■ Education of an abundant supply of fresh minds for the profession to flourish, starting with K–12 and on through undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral years and beyond to continuing education. At all of these levels, ACS is already very active. We can try harder to attract more of our own talented youth, especially from underrepresented groups, as the number of gifted immigrant scientists and engineers declines. I would support efforts to fully implement the K–12 funding and teacher training aspects of the America Competes Act, to use the expertise of retired industrial ACS members, and to facilitate visa issuance for study and work.
■ Education of the general public and the media to improve the image of chemistry. We can help them appreciate how much the health and comfort of the country depend on chemists and recognize that it is only through further advances in our academic institutions, national laboratories, and industry that our civilization will progress and, indeed, survive. Being an ambassador for chemistry is one of the chief attractions of ACS membership.
■ Education of our politicians to ensure that chemistry is adequately funded. Both practical applications and, more importantly, fundamental science need funding; without fundamental science there will be no new practical applications after awhile. It is easy to catch a lawmaker’s attention with magnetic resonance imaging of brain tumors. It is harder to excite a politician about fundamental matters without earning a Golden Fleece Award. Yet basic advances have to come first. I would urge ACS members to join the Legislative Action Network. I would work with industrialists, go to congressional hearings, and support chemistry advocacy groups at the state level. Only a small part of important chemistry is known. As Vannevar Bush’s report stated over half a century ago, the possibilities are endless. Let us convince the people whom we have elected to hold the purse strings that funding curiosity-driven science is important.
■ Education of ourselves about the international nature of science. Today’s global markets enhance the value of contacts and collaboration abroad and tie them to pressures on domestic employment. The new frontier of science is in Asia. The ACS president must work with chemical societies abroad.
I have been privileged to give invited scientific lectures in 35 countries in six languages. I have given public lectures in schools, on radio, and on television. I have sent nearly all of my graduate and some undergraduate students, as well as many students from other universities, for research stays abroad. I have organized workshops and conferences in Europe and South America in which numerous U.S. students participated.
MY WIFE of nearly 40 years jokes that I have only one virtue, and she cannot remember what it is. Perhaps it is my enthusiasm for chemistry, both in teaching and research. I am proud of all of the listings in my vita but especially of the international aspects of my work and of my quarter-century service to ACS as an editor of Chemical Reviews, the highest impact-factor journal in chemistry. ACS publications are the society’s crown jewel and open access to them needs to be ensured in a fiscally responsible way.
ACS has done well in the past and will do well in the future if we adapt efficiently to the changing world. The president must listen to and support the membership as we actively address the challenges of our time, in cost-effective programs, both member related and outward directed. Maintaining healthy local sections is particularly important. I welcome your support and ask for your vote. Please visit http://michlforacspresident.colorado.edu.
Log In