Dr. William F. Polik of the Hope College chemistry faculty has been elected a Fellow of the prestigious
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Fellows are elected for having made what the AAAS sees as scientifically or socially distinguished efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications. A total of 449 members have been elected this year and will be honored on Feb. 17. Polik is one of only 60 scientists nationwide being honored in chemistry, especially for his work with vibrational properties of small molecules, mentoring undergrads and for leadership in the educational policy.
"I am extremely honored to have received this award,” says Polik, who graduated from Dartmouth College in 1982 and holds a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. “Since one is elected as an AAAS Fellow by current Fellows, this award expresses their confidence in me as a research scientist and as a national leader in education.”
Polik has been at Hope for 18 years and is currently the Edward and Elizabeth Hofma Professor of Chemistry. He does all of his research with undergraduate students, 20 of whom are co-authors on various scientific publications.
In addition, Polik has started two small businesses, developing and distributing web-based communication and educational software.
He is currently chair of the
American Chemical Society committee responsible for setting the guidelines for undergraduate chemistry education. We are currently revising those guidelines to reflect the many changes that have occurred in the chemistry profession over the last decade.
Source: Dr. William F. Polik, Hope College
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