UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty members Robin Garrell, Ken Houk, Sabeeha Merchant and Joan Valentine attended the 150th Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), held earlier this year in Washington, D.C.
The 2013 Meeting marked the 150th anniversary of National Academy of Sciences. On March 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Act creating the National Academy of Sciences. Throughout its history, the Academy has promoted excellence in science through the election of its members and original research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and has provided independent, authoritative advice on matters related to science, engineering, and medicine—leaving a lasting impact on science, the nation, and the world.
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit society of distinguished scholars charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Scientists are elected by their peers to membership in the NAS for outstanding contributions to research. The NAS is committed to furthering science in America, and its members are active contributors to the international scientific community. Nearly 500 members of the NAS have won Nobel Prizes and notable members include Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Thomas Edison, Orville Write and Alexander Graham Bell.
Of the 52 National Academy of Sciences members at UCLA, 12 are faculty of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. These members include: Paul Boyer, Richard Dickerson, David Eisenberg, Mostafa El-Sayed, Juli Feigon, M. Frederick Hawthorne, Ken Houk, Wayne Hubbell, Raphael Levine, Sabeeha Merchant, Howard Reiss and Joan Valentine. Election to the Academy is considered to be one of the highest honors presented to scientists in the U.S.
Prof. Joan Valentine (NAS Member), Prof. Ken Houk (NAS Member), Andy Clark and
Vice Provost and Dean Robin Garrell at the Gala Dinner
Prof. Sabeeha Merchant (NAS Member) was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences at the
150th National Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
President Obama presenting his address to NAS members at the 150th Annual Meeting.
2013 National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal Recipients – Bill and Melinda Gates, 4.28.2013
from National Academy of Sciences on Vimeo.
To find out more about the National Academy of Sciences, please visit nasonline.org. Photos from the event are available here.
Photo Credit: Lois Finley, Event Digital Photography
Information Credit: Penny Jennings and nasonline.org.