Supramolecular polymer chemistry pioneer Professor Bert Meijer (Eindhoven University of Technology) presented the 2019 Saul Winstein Lecture on November 7, 2019.
In his lecture, titled “The non-covalent synthesis of supramolecular systems and materials”, Meijer presented a tour de force about his groundbreaking studies of supramolecular polymers formed by noncovalent interactions. The emergent properties of these polymers have led to applications that form the basis of several companies he has founded in the Netherlands.
At the reception in the Winstein Commons before the lecture – Professors Bert Meijer (Eindhoven), Carolee Winstein (USC), and UCLA’s Saul Winstein Chair holder Ken Houk.
The Winstein lecture honors noted scientist UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry professor Saul Winstein who passed away in 1969 at the age of 57. A tribute marking the 50th anniversary of his death can be viewed here. A reception before the lecture was held in the Saul and Silvia Winstein Café Commons in Young Hall which honors Winstein and his late wife Silvia. The Winstein’s daughter UCLA alumna Dr. Carolee Winstein, a professor of Neurology at the University of Southern California (USC), attended the reception and lecture.
(Left) Meijer during his lecture in the CS50 lecture hall. (Right) Following his lecture, Meijer was presented with an engraved glass plaque by Professors Heather Maynard and Ken Houk.
UCLA’s Saul Winstein Chair Professor Ken Houk gave the welcoming remarks and spoke about Saul Winstein’s legacy and Professor Heather Maynard introduced Meijer. After his lecture, Meijer was presented with an engraved glass plaque.
Dr. E.W. “Bert” Meijer is Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems of the Eindhoven University of Technology. In 1991 he was appointed in Eindhoven, while he has part-time positions in Nijmegen, Santa Barbara, and Mainz. He is member of many editorial advisory boards, including the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and received a number of awards, including the Spinoza Award in 2001, the ACS Award for Polymer Chemistry in 2006, the ACS Cope Scholar Award in 2012, the Prelog medal in 2014, the Nagoya Gold medal in 2017, and the Chirality medal in 2018. He is a member of a number of academies and societies, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was appointed lifetime Academy Professor by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2014.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penny@chem.ucla.edu.
