With these opening words, the inaugural Welcher Lecturer, Geraldine Richmond, sparked our imagination and captured our attention as she told us about the advances she and her research group have made in understanding the interfaces of water with air and oil.
With these opening words, the inaugural Welcher Lecturer, Geraldine Richmond, sparked our imagination and captured our attention as she told us about the advances she and her research group have made in understanding the interfaces of water with air and oil.
Using non-linear laser spectroscopy, surface tension measurements, and molecular dynamic simulations, the Richmond group has shown that the first layer of molecules in bulk water are oriented with a hydroxyl group orthogonal to the surface and that this is the site of environmentally-important atmospheric reactions. They have also shown that there is an intimate interaction between water and surfactants, a discovery that will impact the development of new tools for oil spill remediation.
Dr. Richmond, who received her BS in Chemistry from Kansas State University and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, is the Presidential Chair of Science and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon. A member of the National Academy of Science, Professor Richmond is the winner of the 2018 American Chemical Society Priestly Medal which recognizes distinguished services to chemistry. She has also been awarded with both the Presidential National Medal of Science and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Engineering Mentoring among numerous other recognitions.
In addition to her scientific pursuits, Dr. Richmond is passionate about the mentorship of fellow scientists, especially women. She is the chair and founder of COACh for the Advancement of Women Scientists and Engineers, an organization that provides career development courses for emerging and career scientists and engineers in the US and developing countries.
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in a workshop facilitated by Prof. Richmond on the Art of Negotiation and sponsored by the IUPUI STEM Education Innovation & Research Institute on the second day of her visit to campus.
By: Brenda Blacklock