You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.     Marie Curie

Highlighted in this month's issue are seven winners of ACS awards in chemical education—gems of the chemical education world. These award winners are among those who have taken Madame Curie's advice to heart and are building a better world by helping the individuals who have interacted with them. The interview with 2002 Conant Award winner Theresa Corley, allows us to gain an insight into the life of someone who is willing to make chemistry relevant for her students, continually pursue professional development, and share her life with others. The award winners highlighted in this issue would almost certainly acknowledge mentors who have influenced their careers for the better. Theresa Corley recognizes Lee R. Summerlin, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alabama, and her former department chair, Fred Stephens, who mentored her throughout her career and nominated her for the award. Both are noted for their enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to help others. In the Pimentel Award Address, Michael Doyle salutes one of his high school teachers who stimulated his interest to pursue a research career. Other ACS award winners, recipients of High School Teacher Regional Awards, would probably have similar accounts describing their mentors.

How important are mentors? Mentors are our wisest and most trusted counselors and teachers. We are surrounded by faculty mentors, student mentors, master teachers who mentor novice teachers, etc., yet many do not get the recognition they deserve. One of the lessons here is that there are ways to honor our friends, colleagues, and mentors, but we need to take the time to do so. Stop and think about your professional colleagues and friends. Aren't many of them worthy of recognition? Yes, applying for some of these awards is time-consuming, nonetheless it provides an excellent means to salute those near and dear to us.

A Salute to Captain Chemistry

The chemical education world has recently lost an extraordinary mentor, affectionately known as “Captain Chemistry”. George Hague passed away on July 15 following a long battle with leukemia. George made numerous contributions to this Journal (1–3), the Southwest Retort, and the Chemunicator. (My title, Chem Gems & Joules, is that of his column in the Southwest Retort, which is edited by E. T. Strom and published by the ACS Dallas-Fort Worth Section and five other sections.) Many were fortunate to be able to consider George a friend and a mentor; he was one of my most important mentors. I met him soon after I began teaching at Jesuit College Prep. He taught at St. Mark's School of Texas in Dallas, a major rival of Jesuit. Not only were George and I like-minded chemistry teachers, we also coached our schools' volleyball teams. His approach to coaching, teaching, and mentoring were joyous to watch and experience. I'll never forget how excited (and engaged) I was when I first saw George make a presentation at a conference. I had seen demonstrations before, but never with such flair. He knew his chemistry and how to make it come alive. He knew the benefit of a demo, the value of a song, and the merit of giving to others. His audiences (big or small) always felt that they were part of the experience. The most important lesson I gained from him is to volunteer my time, just as he gave of himself and his time.

Who was George's mentor? He always acknowledged Hubert Alyea. Like Alyea, George presented hundreds of demonstrations at conferences around the world. He led by example and was always willing to share and give credit to those who had helped him. He was special, a good friend and mentor.

Also in This Issue

Learn about the chemistry (and some physics) of optical discs such as CDs, CD-ROMs, and DVDs from David Birkett (p 1081). Beginning on p 1088, Johnson and Yalkowsky present some neat models (commercial or build-yourself) that assemble of their own accord into appropriate structures for liquid and solid water. Do you need a low-cost, small-scale heating device? How about adapting a soldering iron as described on p 1109? If you are interested in cooperative learning, the comparison with lecturing that begins on p 1131 will provide useful information. The latest in our series commemorating the centenary of the Nobel Prizes begins on p 1055. The many interconnections among the research of prizewinners described in this series provides interesting tidbits to humanize chemical kinetics. Do you have hydrogen peroxide, sulfur, or potassium chromate in your lab or chemical storage area? Learn about hazards of these substances from the letter to the editor on p 1070 and the CLIPs on p 1063, p 1064, and p 1065. Finally, keep up with chemical education news at the ACS and the NSF by reading the statements of candidates for the ACS presidency (p 1036 and p 1037) and the commentary by Ellis on p 1034.

Literature Cited

1. Hague, Jr., G. R. J. Chem. Educ. 1983, 60, 355.
2. Hague, Jr., G. R. J. Chem. Educ. 1983, 60, 741.
3. Sacks, I.; Hague, Jr., G. R. J. Chem. Educ. 1981, 58, 445.