Northwestern University's Center for Catalysis and Surface Science continues to perform as one of the premier institutes for catalysis in the world.

Sponsorship by the Department of Energy for the Institute for Catalysis in Energy Processes (ICEP) is now in its eighthyear. This research is characterized by elegant and detailed investigations of the synthesis, catalytic properties, and atomic structure of catalytic systems. The Center is a partner in the Energy Frontier Research Center: Institute for Atom-efficient Chemical Transformations (IACT) led by Argonne National Lab. Highlights from these other catalysis-related research projects can be found on our Research Nugget page.

The Center established a collaboration with UniCat the center of excellence for catalysis in Berlin, Germany. We are also in discussions with a similar center of excellence located at the Technical University of Munich. These collaborations make possible exchanges of students and postdocs between the Center and the most prestigious research laboratories in Germany.

Center faculty have been recipients of a number of major awards. Vinayak Dravid has been named a Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Engineering Section, and Materials Research Society. Harold Kung was recipient of the ACS Somorjai Award for innovative research in catalysis. Tobin J. Marks has been awarded the Distinguished Affiliated Professor Award and Wilhelm Manchot Prize, Technical University of Munich and Kilpatrick Lectureship, Illinois Institute of Technology. Christopher Wolverton has been named a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Our regular seminar program has shifted its focus to graduate student and postdoctoral associate presentations. These seminars, which are scheduled for the first Friday of each month during the academic year, are open to the public and available electronically to our Industrial Affiliates. Our Annual Scientific Meeting, scheduled for August 22, will also focus on graduate student presentations. If you are able to attend, you will have a wonderful opportunity to become acquainted with the length and breadth of catalysis research in the Center.

On behalf of the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science
I wish you well and invite you to visit us, either in person
or electronically.

All the best,

Sincerely,

Peter C. Stair
Professor of Chemistry
Director, Center for Catalysis and Surface Science