UCLA Chemist M. Frederick Hawthorne Receives King Faisal International Prize In ScienceDecember 2, 2002 -- M. Frederick Hawthorne, a professor of chemistry at UCLA since 1969, has been awarded the 2003 King Faisal International Prize in Science for "his longstanding contributions to boron and inorganic synthetic chemistry."The annual presentation of the King Faisal International Prize in Science recognizes the achievements of scientists and scholars "who make significant advances in areas that benefit humanity." Hawthorne shares the 2003 prize with chemist Koji Nakanishi of Columbia University. Hawthorne, 70, is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been editor-in-chief of the American Chemical Society journal, Inorganic Chemistry, for the last 30 years. Hawthorne received his Ph.D. in chemistry from UCLA in 1953. Hawthorne began to develop the field of boron chemistry more than 40 years ago. His research is funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. In addition to recognizing his broad achievements in boron and inorganic chemistry, the King Faisal Foundation acknowledged Hawthorne for his specific achievements in boron neutron capture cancer therapies - experimental research using a boron-based approach to fight cancer that is designed to kill cancerous cells without killing healthy cells. "Professor Hawthorne is one of the world's most creative and productive chemists," the Foundation said in a statement. "His research extends over many fields, ranging from the syntheses of new compounds to novel therapies for cancer. Professor Hawthorne's research could lead to the development of a 'silver bullet' to target cancerous cells for destruction while sparing healthy ones. Such an achievement would have a profound impact on cancer therapy." The King Faisal International Prize for Science, an annual award, is presented in a field in chemistry every four years. The prize is presented by the King Faisal Foundation, a global philanthropic organization based in Saudi Arabia that, among many projects, furthers academic and scientific knowledge through its education and award programs. Hawthorne will receive the prize at ceremonies in Riyadh in March. Over the past 25 years, 32 scholars from eight countries have won the King Faisal International Prize for Science. |