Austin M. Patterson - E.J. Crane Award 2009

Press Release

Nominations for the 2009 Patterson-Crane Award are being sought by the ACS Dayton and Columbus Sections. The biennial award, which consists of a $2,000 honorarium and a personalized commendation, is given in honor of Austin M. Patterson and E. J. Crane, previous editors of Chemical Abstract. The award will be presented in the spring at an awards dinner to be held in Dayton, Ohio.

The Patterson-Crane Award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field of chemical information, including the design, development, production, or management of chemical information systems or services; electronic access and retrieval of chemical information; critically evaluated data compilations; information technology applications in chemistry; or other significant chemical documentation.

Nominations must be in writing and should discuss the nominee’s contributions to the field and provide an evaluation of accomplishments. Materials supporting the nomination should include a biography and bibliography of publications and presentations relevant to the award. Seconding letters are required.

Send one copy of the nomination materials to Ray Dudek, Chair of the Patterson-Crane Award Committee, Department of Chemistry, Wittenberg University, P.O. Box 720, Springfield, OH 45501, for receipt by Jan. 31, 2009. To receive additional information about the award contact Ray Dudek at rdudek@wittenberg.edu, or visit the ACS Dayton Section webpage: http://DaytonACS.org

Nominations will be judged by a seven-member selection committee consisting of Dayton and Columbus Section members as well as the Chairman of the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Information.

The 2009 Patterson-Crane Award will be presented in May 2009 (exact date to be determined), at an awards dinner to be held in Dayton, Ohio.

Award History

The Austin M. Patterson Award, predecessor of the Patterson-Crane Award, was established in 1949 by the Dayton Section of the American Chemical Society to acknowledge “meritorious contributions in the field of chemical literature and especially in the documentation of chemistry”. Dr. Patterson was the first recipient of the award in recognition of his work as the editor of Chemical Abstracts from 1909 through 1914 and his leadership in organic chemical nomenclature.

In 1975, the award was expanded to honor E. J. Crane, who was editor of Chemical Abstracts from 1915 to 1958 and the first director of Chemical Abstracts Service from 1956 to 1958. The expanded award is administered jointly by the Dayton and Columbus Sections of the ACS. The award, which is present biennially, consists of a personalized commendation and an honorarium of $2000.

An international honor, the Patterson-Crane Award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field of chemical information science, including the design, development, production or management of chemical information systems or services; electronic access to and retrieval of chemical information; critically evaluated data compilations; information technology applications in chemistry; or other significant chemical documentation, including production of original works, editorial works, or chemical library work.

Past recipients of this international award, have included research chemists who made major contributions to the information aspects of their specialties, as well as scientists who devoted full time to information activities and their management.