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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas lost an esteemed scientist and |
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educator with the passing of Dr. Alan G. MacDiarmid on February 7, |
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2007, at the age of 79; and |
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WHEREAS, A world-renowned expert in the field of conducting |
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polymers, Dr. MacDiarmid won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry and since |
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2001 had been affiliated with The University of Texas at Dallas, |
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where he held the James Von Ehr Distinguished Chair in Science and |
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Technology; and |
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WHEREAS, Alan MacDiarmid was born and raised in New Zealand |
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and received his master's degree from the University of New |
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Zealand; arriving in the United States as a Fulbright scholar in |
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1950, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and then |
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received a second doctoral degree from Cambridge University in |
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England in 1955; he was employed for many decades in the Chemistry |
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Department at the University of Pennsylvania, where much of his |
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groundbreaking research was conducted; and |
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WHEREAS, Working closely with his colleagues Alan J. Heeger |
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and Hideki Shirakawa, Dr. MacDiarmid investigated plastic |
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compounds to study ways to make them conduct electricity; the |
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team's ultimate success made possible the development of so-called |
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synthetic metals that have led to revolutionary technological |
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changes in a wide range of applications, including rechargeable |
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batteries and light-emitting devices such as mobile phone displays, |
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and these substances form the basis of ongoing research in the field |
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of nanotechnology; the three scientists were awarded the Nobel |
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Prize in 2000 in recognition of their important discoveries; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. MacDiarmid became the first scholar to fill the |
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newly created James Von Ehr chair at UT Dallas; during his time in |
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that position, his enthusiasm for science and his determination to |
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work closely with students made him a popular member of the faculty, |
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and his presence brought worldwide attention to the university; the |
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author of hundreds of research papers and the holder of 20 patents, |
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this revered chemist was recognized by many other organizations |
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during his lifetime, including the National Academy of Sciences and |
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the National Academy of Engineering; in 2003, he received an |
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honorary doctorate from Cambridge University; and |
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WHEREAS, A pioneering chemist whose work will continue to |
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impact technological advancement for many decades to come, Alan |
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MacDiarmid also devoted himself to encouraging the students who |
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will become the scientific leaders of tomorrow, and his |
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accomplishments in the laboratory and the classroom are deserving |
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of the highest respect; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Dr. Alan |
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G. MacDiarmid and extend deepest condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Gayl Gentile; to his children, Heather |
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McConnell, Dawn Hazelett, Duncan MacDiarmid, and Gail Williams; to |
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his sister, Alice Palmer; to his brothers, Roderick and Colin |
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MacDiarmid; to his nine grandchildren; and to his other relatives |
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and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Alan |
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MacDiarmid. |