EON

John Polanyi Makes Second Win In A Row For UT Faculty

Ottawa-Every year there is very stiff competition for the Gerhard Herzberg Canadian Gold Metal for Engineering and Science.  It is awarded each year to the premier researcher judged to have made the most sustained and outstanding contribution to Canadian research in the previous year.

This year’s honor is being awarded to John Polanyi, the prize-winning professor of the University of Toronto. John Polanyi is being given the 2007 Gerhard Herzberg Medal for Engineering and Science for his accomplishments in chemistry research.

The medal was named for the Nobel Prize winning Canadian Gerhard Herzberg, and it is given out each year to the outstanding researcher or scientist for their achievements.

This Award is considered the highest Canadian science award, and carries with it a $1 million dollar financial research grant that is given out over a five-year period.

John Polanyi previously is a Nobel Prize winner himself, in chemistry, winning the Nobel Peace Prize for Chemistry in 1986.  The Gerhard Herzberg 2007 Science Gold medal shows that he is earning respect in his own country as well for his academic and science achievements.

“The winning of the Canadian Herzberg Gold Metal is a fine example of the continuing genius and accomplishments of Professor John Polanyi,” said David Naylor.  David Naylor is the professor of the University of Toronto.  “We are blessed and privileged to have Professor Polanyi on our staff.

This year marks the second year in a row that a University of Toronto Professor has won the Herzberg Medal. The 2006 winner was also on staff at the University of Toronto, Professor Richard Bond, for his work in cosmologist study and science.