Harry B. Gray is the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry at California Institute of Technology. He is a world-renowned chemist who has contributed innovative and insightful solutions to numerous issues in inorganic chemistry. As a postdoctoral scholar, Gray helped to develop ligand-field theory, which is taught regularly in undergraduate inorganic chemistry courses. He is one of the founders of the field of bioinorganic chemistry and has played a seminal role in deciphering mechanisms by which electron transfer occurs in biological systems, a process that is critically important in the ways that organisms store and use energy. More recently, his research group has shifted its focus to issues of sustainable energy, and he leads CCI Solar, an NSF Center for Chemical Innovation in solar fuels, perhaps the world’s largest and most impactful collaboration of energy researchers seeking to understand how to transform solar energy into sustainable, carbon-free fuels.
Beyond his academic work at Caltech, Gray has maintained a close relationship with Carleton College for many years. His multi-day visit to campus in 1980 to give lectures and work with students established the Chemistry Department’s group comps model. He has served as an academic collaborator and mentor to current Chemistry Department faculty (Marion Cass and Matt Whited), emeriti Chemistry faculty (Jim Finholt), Carleton staff (Charlotte Whited), and several Carleton alumni including most recently Maraia Ener ’08. He returned to Carleton in 2007 as a Chesley Lecturer, a visit that also included extended meetings with Chemistry comps students, and as a speaker at the 2017 Opening Convocation.
Gray is a powerful spokesperson for the transformative role of science in society. His numerous breakthroughs and contributions have led to well over 700 scientific papers and 17 books. He has also formally mentored well over 100 students and other scientific researchers. Furthermore, his advocacy for the role of Chemistry in transforming our views of energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels is both important and timely.
Gray is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and foreign Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and Royal Society of Great Britain, among his many honors. He has given more than 100 named lectures. His service has included membership on the Science Policy Committee, SLAC from 2008-2013; on the Editorial Board, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2005-present); as President of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (2002-2004); member of the Council, National Academy of Sciences (1986-1989); and member of the Governing Board, National Research Council (1986-1989), to name just a few .
It is with great pleasure that Carleton College confer on Harry B. Gray the degree Doctor of Science, honoris causa.