The award was established in September 1944 by the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society and has been sponsored by the Union Carbide Corporation, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. It consists of a gold plated medal and $5,000. It is conferred biennially upon an American chemist under 40 years of age in recognition of accomplishments in pure or industrial chemistry, as characterized by the initiative, creativeness, leadership, and perseverance of the individual and indicated by published or unpublished evidence. The award was established to commemorate the technical and industrial achievements of Baekeland and to encourage younger chemists to emulate his example. The Award is now presented as part of a symposium with other speakers. The result is an excellent symposium that allows industrial scientists, academics and students to come together and enjoy both cutting edge science and an opportunity to interact with leading scientists. (See Past Winners)

The 2009 Leo Hendrik Baekeland Award will be presented at a Symposium & Banquet on November 13, 2009, to Professor Colin Nuckolls Biological Chemistry Research Group Department of Chemistry Columbia University [ Click here for details ]