Professor receives national science award

Ernest Davidson, Distinguished Professor and the Robert and Marjorie Mann Chair in Computational Quantum Chemistry, was awarded the National Medal of Science, the most prestigious scientific honor conferred by the United States government, May 9. He will be one of 15 accomplished scientists to be honored at a White House ceremony June 13, during which President George W. Bush will present the honorees with their medals. \nThe National Medal of Science recognizes scientists who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical or engineering sciences.\n"(IU) President (Myles) Brand nominated me about two years ago; so I knew that I had been nominated," Davidson said. \n"But, then it just falls into a kind of black hole and eventually you get a phone call saying that you have won the award."\nDavidson will receive the highest honor an American chemist can receive but, surprisingly, he was not drawn to the field until much later in his career. \n"…My primary interest was mathematics," he said. "I taught myself calculus when I was in 7th grade. I did not really become interested in chemistry as most people think of it until about 15 years after I got my Ph.D." \nThroughout his career, Davidson's work has used computers in conjunction with theory to predict the way in which particles move and react. His work pioneered the field of quantum chemistry and diverged from preconceived models instead creating methods in applied mathematics that allow computers to predict the characteristics of molecules. In fact, the use of computer technology, applied mathematics and theory are so pervasive in his research that he claims to have not touched a chemical during the course of his Ph.D. work at IU. \nDavidson views the award as an affirmation of the importance of computational quantum chemistry. The computations of Davidson and his colleagues have already become the vernacular when discussing the activity of electrons within molecules and have precipitated developments in unconnected fields such as physics, engineering and pharmaceuticals. \nAccording to Davidson, combining computation and theory is integral in the study of ozone depletion, global warming and the development of new drugs. \nThis summer, Davidson will be retiring as the Chair of Computational Quantum Chemistry at IU, where he has spent the past 18 years. However, he plans to continue his current research at the University of Washington, where he was a faculty member for 22 years prior to teaching in Bloomington. \n"I have a general interest in developing new methods, which would be used by many people, but right now the specific applications have to do with single molecule magnets," Davidson said while explaining his current work. "We're working out the theory of these individual molecules that act like little bar magnets, which is an exciting kind of new molecule." \nIn a recent press release, Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation, applauded the achievements of Davidson and his colleagues. \n"Their contributions to the world around us are enormous. Their ideas have led to major breakthroughs in human health, and the tools evolving from their research have put the US in the forefront of many new industries," Colwell explained. \n"We are proud of these extraordinary people and grateful for their unceasing inquisitiveness, creativity and dedication to obtain new knowledge for the good of all humankind."\nDavidson has also received awards for theoretical and computational chemistry from the American Chemistry Society and is a member of the National Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the first IU professor to receive the National Medal of Science. \nBrand, who nominated Davidson for his "path-breaking work," intimated that the award reflects the pre-eminence of IU's academic programs. \n"He is the first scientist in IU's history to win this award, and in so doing he adds new luster to IU's already strong reputation for academic excellence," Brand said.