Midland, MI - September 21, 2006
The Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) has awarded James C. Stevens, Ph.D., research fellow, The Dow Chemical Company, the 2006 Perkin Medal. Stevens was the 100th recipient of the Perkin Medal, presented at the Society’s annual dinner September 21, 2006, in Philadelphia, Penn.
The Perkin Medal, established in 1906, is considered one of the chemical industry’s most prestigious awards and the highest honor that the Society bestows on an individual for outstanding work in applied chemistry in the United States. It commemorates the discovery of the first synthetic dye by Sir William Henry Perkin in 1856, and organic chemistry’s beginnings as a major segment of the chemical industry. The medalist is chosen by a jury composed of officers of the America Sections of the Society of Chemical Industry and the Societe de Chimie Industrielle, representatives of the American Chemical Engineers, the Electrochemical Society and the American Institute of Chemists.
“Jim Stevens’ name is synonymous with innovation in plastics. His contributions to polymer science are immense and continue to be critical to Dow's ability to deliver technological advantages to the plastics industry,” said Bill Banholzer, Dow’s chief technology officer and corporate vice president of research and development.
Stevens Joins Other Perkin Medal Recipients from Dow
Stevens joins two other Perkin Medal recipients from Dow who include the founder of The Dow Chemical Company, Herbert H. Dow (1930), and Dr. Edgar C. Britton (1956), a renowned Dow scientist.
Stevens’ Accomplishments
Stevens’ R&D work in the catalyst field began in the late 1970s when he joined Dow Central Research. He has been involved with the discovery and commercial implementation of Dow's INSITE™ Technology and Constrained-Geometry Catalysts, which are used in the production of approximately 2 billion pounds of polyolefins per year. He is one of the primary inventors of a number of commercial catalysts and plastic products including a variety of INSITE catalysts.
Stevens’ work has resulted in several new Dow product lines such as, AFFINITY™ polyolefin plastomers, ELITE™ enhanced polyethylene resins, ENGAGE™ polyolefin elastomers, NORDEL™ IP EPDM rubber, NORDEL™ MG EPDM, INDEX™ interpolymers, VERSIFY™ plastomers and elastomers.
His current work includes applications of combinatorial and high-throughput methods to catalyst research, solution-process polypropylene, and the relationship of catalyst structure to polymer microstructure.
Stevens is an inventor on over 75 U.S. patents, has 15 publications, and is the editor of one book. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards for his contributions to polymer science and to the plastics industry. In 1994, Stevens was a co-recipient of the U.S. Congress National Inventor of the Year Award. He has been named Dow Inventor of the Year five times, received the Herbert H. Dow Medal in August 2006, and the Dow Central Research Excellence in Science Award in 1993. Stevens was the recipient of the 2004 Carothers Award, presented by the Delaware Section of the ACS for scientific innovators who have made outstanding contributions and advances in industrial applications of chemistry, and in 2005, received the American Chemical Society Award in Industrial Chemistry.In 2002, The Dow Chemical Company was awarded the National Medal of Technology by President George H. W. Bush, based in part on Stevens’ work in the area of olefin polymerization catalysis.
About the SCI
The SCI is an international society founded in London, England, in 1881 to foster applied chemistry in all branches and to facilitate the exchange of ideas. The American Section was established in New York in 1884 and is one of the largest sections of the society.
About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.
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For Editorial Information:
Anne Ainsworth
The Dow Chemical Company
(989) 636-2959
