HOWARD ALPER: OUR FIRST HERZBERG MEDALIST

The sole aim of science is the glory of the human spirit
 - Gerhard Herzberg Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

After a lifetime of scientific accomplishments and advancements to chemistry, Howard Alper was recently awarded the first Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. The medal is Canada's top award for science research, and was introduced as a millennium project by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Along with the medal, Dr. Alper also received a grant towards his research, which, combined with previous funding for his projects from NSERC, totaled $1-million. 

Dr. Alper is currently vice-rector of research at the University of Ottawa, where he has developed most of his substantial body of work. Dr. Alper came to the university in 1975 after beginning his teaching career at the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1968. 

As an undergraduate student, Dr. Alper became fascinated by chemistry because he saw "the wonderful benefits that chemistry can have to society." And his admiration for the science and its many potentials has flourished ever since. 

"Chemistry is a truly exciting field of endeavour," says Dr. Alper. "It directly impacts so many facets of everyday life: for example, health (new medicines, laser treatment), materials (automobile components, clothing), and food, amongst others.

"A chemistry education can be incredibly rewarding, irrespective of whether one spends all of her/his career in chemistry... My advice is to be ambitious, flexible, set high standards, and make your dreams a reality." 

Dr. Alper's own ambition has led to the publication of more than 440 of his papers in scientific journals. He also holds more than 30 patents in the area of organic chemistry and catalysis. Many of these patents are chemical processes developed by Dr. Alper and his team which improve upon old methods or products, some of which will be familiar to you. 

When you look in the mirror and see how good you look without glasses, you can thank Dr. Alper for formulating a key component of soft contact lenses (methoxymethylmethacrylate). And next time you take something for your headache, remember that Dr. Alper developed a more efficient way to produce anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen without producing unwanted extra chemical compounds (chiral synthesis). 

One accomplishment which Dr. Alper is particularly proud of "was in the area of phase transfer catalysis for metal catalyzed reactions of value to society." 

Dr. Alper has also made discoveries and improvements in the fields of petrochemicals and polymers. For instance, he developed a more efficient way to make petroleum into compounds which are used to make polyesters for different kinds of fabrics. 

Tom Brzustowski, president of NSERC praises Dr. Alper on his rudimentary approach to research. "Howard Alper has had a truly outstanding influence on Canadian research. His methods are acclaimed for their simplicity and for their practical application to compounds that are of great interest to synthetics industries. Pharmaceutical companies use them in their search for new drugs to counter the serious problem of antibiotic resistance in bacteria... Outside the laboratory he has turned his extraordinary energy to raising the profile of research in Canada and building bridges between the research community and government and industry."

Dr. Alper's ability to effectively convey scientific ideas has made him a popular lecturer and teacher, and has also built his reputation as an ambassador for chemistry. Amongst the many committees, he has been a key leader of the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE), a group of associations and societies which work together, and with government, in advancing research and innovation. He is also Canada's science representative to NATO, is currently President of the Academy of Science of The Royal Society of Canada and will be President of The Royal Society of Canada for 2001-3.

The Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal is now Canada's premier award for research in science and engineering, but it is just one of many honours awarded to Dr. Alper, including the E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship, the 1980 Alcan Award for distinguished contributions to inorganic chemistry, a Guggenheim Fellowship, The Chemical Institute of Canada Medal, and his 1999 appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada. But of all his accomplishments, it is his influence towards the next generation of chemists to which he gives the highest esteem. "I am most proud of the privilege to serve as supervisor of a large number of talented senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. Nurturing creativity in research and innovation is a wonderful experience indeed."