2026 Richards Award Medal Meeting honoring Timothy M. Swager

Address Title: Selective Sensitive Sensors from Molecular Design

Abstract:

Sensory function is central to our interaction with the physical world. Nature achieves sensory selectivity and sensitivity through chemical equilibria, reaction cascades, and ion flow. For example, in mammalian olfaction odor molecules bind to receptors that in turn modulate ion flow across membranes to create electrical nerve impulses. I will describe sensor schemes that mirror the natural world by combining selective chemical triggers that modulate charge/energy transport in materials to create readily measurable (sensitive) signals. Our approaches are by necessity simpler than natural systems and make use of the electronic transport properties of functional π-conjugated materials. Synthetic and biomolecular catalytic reactions or molecular equilibrium binding events produce selective processes that control electrical and energy transport in the materials and produce signal gain. I will discuss how we have applied these general concepts for the detection of explosives, per/polyfluorinated alkane substances (PFAS), inflammation biomarkers, ethylene, and hydrogen.

Professor Swager's Biography:

Timothy M. Swager is the J. D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Montana State University in 1983 and his Ph.D. degree in 1988, with Professor R. H. Grubbs as his research advisor. From 1988 – 1990, he worked as a postdoctoral assistant with Professor Mark S. Wrighton at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He began his independent professorial career at the University of Pennsylvania in 1990 and moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1996 as Professor of Chemistry.

Professor Swager, together with his students and postdoctoral fellows, is the author of over 575 peer-reviewed journal publications and numerous technical proceedings and book chapters. He is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (2008), American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006) and the National Academy of Inventors (2020). His numerous awards include the Gold Medal Award from the American Institute of Chemists, Cope Award from the American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) Centenary Prize, Pauling Medal from the Pacific Section of the American Chemical Society, Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest from the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, Carl S. Marvel Creative Polymer Chemistry Award from the Polymer Division of the American Chemical Society, Lemelson-MIT Award for Invention and Innovation, and the Christopher Columbus Foundation Homeland Security Award.

Holder of 125 patents, he is the founder of more than a half dozen companies. His service to the federal government includes participation and leadership on the National Academies Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, TSA Blue Ribbon Panel, Naval Studies Board, JIEDDO Standing Committee, National Research Council Science & Technology Committee for Countering Terrorism, and the Defense Science Board Task Force on Chemical Warfare Defense. He has also served on over a dozen scientific advisory boards of private companies and editorial boards of scientific journals.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED - RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

This event is black tie optional.

Please visit https://www.nesacs.org/award/theodore-william-richards-medal-award/#overview for more information on the selection process, the history of the Award and the career of Theodore William Richards.

NESACS would like to thank the Theodore William Richards Medal Committee of NESACS, especially Professor Sylvia Ceyer (MIT, Chair of the Award Committee).

Registration is required.

MBTA . Kendall Stop on the Red Line is about a 4 minute walk from the Samberg Center.

Parking inforamtion and options are below. More parking information may be available at a later time.

There is street parking in the general area, but often comes with a 2 hour time limit.

Please let us know if you are unable to make transportation arrangements or if you need suggestions, directions or additional information.

Registration or other questions? Please contact: Meg Greenslade at [email protected].

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