Heck of a day
May 26: Richard F. Heck Day at UD
11:45 a.m., May 19, 2011--Thursday, May 26, will officially be Richard F. Heck Day at the University of Delaware, President Patrick T. Harker has announced.
The commemoration celebrates Heck, the Willis F. Harrington Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who received the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry in December.
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"It's truly an honor to mark this special day in honor of Prof. Heck," Harker said. "His discoveries have changed the world, leading to significant advancements in human health and medicine, electronics and energy research. We are delighted to welcome him back to campus for this day of science and celebration."
Colleagues, friends, family and community members are welcome to leave a comment expressing their congratulations and well wishes for Heck on the University's event page on Facebook.
Heck received the Nobel Prize with Akira Suzuki of Japan's Hokkaido University and Ei-ichi Negishi of Purdue University for discovering "more efficient ways of linking carbon atoms together to build the complex molecules that are improving our everyday lives," according to a Nobel statement.
On May 26, a scholarly symposium "Frontiers in Catalysis" is being held on campus to honor Heck. The symposium, which is fully subscribed, will feature internationally prominent speakers from academia and industry, including Negishi.
At the University's 162nd Commencement ceremonies on May 28, Heck will be awarded an honorary doctor of science degree.