PHILADELPHIA, PA (September 7, 2005) -- The Society of Chemical Industry (America Section) has named Robert W. Gore, Ph.D., Chairman of W. L. Gore & Associates, the winner of the 2005 Perkin Medal.
The Perkin Medal, considered one of the chemical industry's most prestigious awards and the highest honor that the Society bestows on an individual, will be presented at the Society's annual dinner September 7. It is bestowed upon scientists and engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of the quality of life and the world competitiveness of the U.S. economy.
Dr. Gore is being honored for his pioneering work in the field of fluoropolymers, in particular his discovery of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or ePTFE. The building block for thousands of life-enhancing products, ePTFE is remarkably versatile and used today in products as diverse as aneurysm treatment devices and the popular GORE-TEX fabric that bears his name. Of U.S. patents issued since 1975, Bob's ePTFE patents are among the 10 most often cited by other inventors.
Bob earned a master's degree and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota. He has nine patents to his name and was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1995. A trustee of the University of Delaware where he earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, he was named to the College of Distinguished Alumni in 1990. Other honors include: Wall of Fame for Distinguished Alumni, University of Delaware (1992); Outstanding Achievement Award, University of Minnesota Board of Regents (1992); Society of Plastics Engineers John W. Hyatt Award, for benefits to society through the use of plastics (1998); Bro Award for Life Achievement in Fluoropolymers (from the DuPont Company) (2000); National Sporting Goods Association Hall of Fame (2001); Honorary Doctor of Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland (2001); and the Winthrop-Sears Award (from the Chemical Heritage Foundation & Chemists' Club) (2003).
The Perkin Medal was created in honor of Sir William Perkin (1838-1907), who created the world's first synthetic dye at the age of 18. The discovery revolutionized color chemistry, gave birth to a major segment of the chemical industry, and opened up new possibilities for a range of industries, most notably, textiles and clothing. Presented annually, the medal was established in 1906 to commemorate that discovery. Winners are selected by a panel of officers representing all six "sister" societies of the chemical industry: the America Section of the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemists, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Electrochemical Society, and the American Section of the Societe de Chemie Industrielle.
The SCI is an international society founded in London in 1881 to foster applied chemistry in all branches and to facilitate the exchange of ideas. The America Section was established in New York in 1894 and is one of the largest sections of the society.