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It is not often that one gets to meet a Nobel Laureate and that’s one of the reasons U.S. Rep. John Carney (D-Del.) was among the dignitaries honoring Dr. Richard Heck Friday at Ashland Research Center.
“I’m really here on behalf of al the people of all our state, not just the people of Ashland Hercules, to welcome our Nobel Prize recipient here back to Delaware,” Carney said. "This follows a tremendous symposium yesterday at the University of Delaware."
Carney also said he could relate to Heck's story of bouncing back from adversity, referring to how Heck was fired from Hercules, now Ashland. That led to Heck, a University of California, Los Angeles grad, becoming a professor at the University of Delaware to continue his research.
Heck worked at Hercules from 1957 to 1971, and the work he did there put him on the path to the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared the Nobel Prize with Dr. Akira Suzuki and Dr. Ei-ichi Negishi for developing new, more efficient ways for scientists to link carbon atoms together to create complex chemicals.
To put things into perspective, this groundbreaking research has been used to help make new drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, among other things, said Dr. Tom Tritton, president and CEO of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Tritton was one of the dignitaries honoring Heck Friday afternoon.
“There is nothing comparable in status to the Nobel Prize,” Tritton said. “It is the highest scientific honor a person can achieve, and made especially prominent when the basic work has so many implications for practical application. This is clearly the case for Dr. Heck’s research on palladium-based catalysts for organic reactions.
“There is something in the American spirit that encourages and nourishes the entrepreneurial spirit,” he added. “Thank you, Dr. Heck for helping to make the world a better place.”
Ashland Research Center Executive Director Dr. Steven Prescott and Ashland Hercules Water Technologies Technical Director Dr. Ronald Staib unveiled a mural plaque that denotes Heck’s historic accomplishment as part of the overall history of the center and its activities through the years.
Heck, 79, now lives with his wife in Manila, Philippines.
“I don’t do much chemistry these days. I fertilize my plants in the yard and that’s about it,” Heck said, drawing laughter from the crowd of 200, comprised mostly of Ashland employees. “But I’m happily retired.”
It is not often that one gets to meet a Nobel Laureate and that’s one of the reasons U.S. Rep. John Carney (D-Del.) was among the dignitaries honoring Dr. Richard Heck Friday at Ashland Research Center.
“I’m really here on behalf of al the people of all our state, not just the people of Ashland Hercules, to welcome our Nobel Prize recipient here back to Delaware,” Carney said. "This follows a tremendous symposium yesterday at the University of Delaware."
Carney also said he could relate to Heck's story of bouncing back from adversity, referring to how Heck was fired from Hercules, now Ashland. That led to Heck, a University of California, Los Angeles grad, becoming a professor at the University of Delaware to continue his research.
Heck worked at Hercules from 1957 to 1971, and the work he did there put him on the path to the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He shared the Nobel Prize with Dr. Akira Suzuki and Dr. Ei-ichi Negishi for developing new, more efficient ways for scientists to link carbon atoms together to create complex chemicals.
To put things into perspective, this groundbreaking research has been used to help make new drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, among other things, said Dr. Tom Tritton, president and CEO of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Tritton was one of the dignitaries honoring Heck Friday afternoon.
“There is nothing comparable in status to the Nobel Prize,” Tritton said. “It is the highest scientific honor a person can achieve, and made especially prominent when the basic work has so many implications for practical application. This is clearly the case for Dr. Heck’s research on palladium-based catalysts for organic reactions.
“There is something in the American spirit that encourages and nourishes the entrepreneurial spirit,” he added. “Thank you, Dr. Heck for helping to make the world a better place.”
Ashland Research Center Executive Director Dr. Steven Prescott and Ashland Hercules Water Technologies Technical Director Dr. Ronald Staib unveiled a mural plaque that denotes Heck’s historic accomplishment as part of the overall history of the center and its activities through the years.
Heck, 79, now lives with his wife in Manila, Philippines.
“I don’t do much chemistry these days. I fertilize my plants in the yard and that’s about it,” Heck said, drawing laughter from the crowd of 200, comprised mostly of Ashland employees. “But I’m happily retired.”
Indeed, helping his father fertilize the lawn was the first foray into science that led him to UCLA, Hercules and UD.
Heck is a man of few words. After the ceremony, he said he appreciated the unexpected attention as his wife, Socorro stood at his side.
“I’m very honored and happy to receive it,” he said.
Several people came up to shake his hand after the formal ceremony concluded.
Dr. Regina Barry, who took one of Heck’s classes while working on her doctorate in analytical chemistry at UD, was among them. She has been at Ashland since 1989. She is now an expert systems specialist in the Environmental, Health & Safety division.
“I came here today to honor him,” said Barry, of Wilmington. “It’s pretty incredible. I have fond memories of him as a professor.”
Ashland employee Guojing Liu, of Newark, also greeted Heck. She first heard of Heck from her husband, who is currently working on his post doctorate work at UD.
“I’m really proud to meet Dr. Heck,” said Liu, who received her doctorate from Notre Dame and now works in the Water & Mining Application Lab. “I’m really proud that this research center helped to … produce a Nobel Prize winner.”
