Professor Emeritus honoured for brilliant contribution to science

The Prize is a new biennial award sponsored by publishers Elsevier in collaboration with the international journal, Chemical Physics Letters. It is given to individual scientists who have made significant and creative contributions to the various disciplines associated with molecular sciences.

David Buckingham first studied at the University of Sydney, coming to Cambridge to research for his PhD. After academic posts at Oxford and Bristol, he took up the Chair of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge in 1969.

Nobel Laureate Professor Ahmed Zewail, in whose name the award is made and who was granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge in June, commented: “I am delighted with this recognition of David for his brilliant contributions in a career rich with scientific and human achievements.”

Professor Buckingham has made many original theoretical and experimental contributions to the molecular sciences. His research has provided a fundamental understanding of how molecules are perturbed by electromagnetic radiation, magnetic and electric fields and other molecules.

“Very few scientists have impacted molecular sciences with the originality, breadth and depth of David Buckingham, who epitomizes the best in clarity of thought, sincerity and magnanimity,” Ahmed Zewail continued.

Professor Jeremy Sanders, Head of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, added: “We are delighted that David’s profound contributions to science have been recognised by the inaugural award of this prestigious international prize.”

The Prize consists of $20,000, a gold medal and a certificate and will be presented during the 2007 Spring meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago, USA.