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John S. Burlew Award

The John S. Burlew Award was establishing in 1986 by the Connecticut Valley Section of the ACS to recognize an outstanding contribution to chemistry by CVS-ACS members

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  • Sponsor - Connecticut Valley Section - American Chemical Society

  • Purpose - To recognize outstanding contributions to chemistry by ACSCVS members.

  • Nature - The award consists of $1000 and a certificate. An awards address is required of the recipient at the CVS local section event in their honor.

  • Eligibility - All members of the CVSACS are eligible. Nominees selected have made an outstanding contribution to chemistry. Nominees are required to hold CVS memberships and self-nominations are accepted. The nominee must not have accepted an award from ACS or other technical/scientific organization for the same contribution.

  • Application - A letter describing the nominee's qualification for receiving the award, the nominee's CV, and (2) references familiar with the cited contribution. The letter must not exceed 500 words. References must include the names, address, and contact information for acceptance.

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About John Swalm Burlew  (written by Clyde Brooks & ACSCVS Executive Committee Members)

 

John S. Burlew was born September 10, 1910, in Washington, DC; he attended Bucknell College and Johns Hopkins University, receiving his PhD in 1934.  He established a distinguished professional career, serving two years at Yale as a Sterling Fellow followed by positions in research and administration at the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institute of Washington, executive director of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, and as director of research for the Carrier Corporation in Syracuse.  During World War II he served as technical aide with the National Defense Research Committee, for which he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1948.  John came to Connecticut in 1966 to become the first and last director of the CT Research Commission (disestablished during Governor Meskill's administration in 1971).  He and his wife Grace launched a new career, map publishing, founding New Directions, Inc. that published advertising maps for CT towns until 1991.

 

John left behind a most impressive record of service to CVS/ACS during the years 1966 through 1994, when he departed for Oregon (where he died at age 85 in January 1996).  He served as Section chairman in 1982, chairman of the 15th NERM in 1983 (held in Hartford), followed by an extended service as chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee for ACS/CVS.  He was honored as a 50-year member of ACS in 1982. 

 

Besides all these activities, John skied, hiked, gardened, and participated in international folk dancing.  He was an incorporator of the CT Academy of Science and Engineering, chartered in 1976, and he chaired the student award committee of the Hartford Chapter of Sigma Xi.  He was active in a number of trail and climbing clubs, including the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and the Adirondack Mountain Club.  John was editor of the last two editions of the CT Walk Book, published by the CT Forest and Park Association.

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Award Year   Recipient  -  Organization

  • 2021    Mingxu You  -  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  • 2015    Yvette Fobian  -  Pfizer Research

  • 2014    Michael Barnes  -  University of Massachusetts

  • 2012    Michelle Claffey  -  Pfizer Research

  • 2011    Susanne M. Opalka  -  United Technologies Corporation

  • 2010    William Bailey  -  University of Connecticut

  • 2009    George Petersson  -  Wesleyan University

  • 2008    “Thai” Thayumanavan  -  University of Massachusetts

  • 2007    Mark W. Peczuh  -  University of Connecticut

  • 2005    Mark Zimmer  -  Connecticut College

  • 2001    Helen Leung  -  Amherst College

  • 1998    Katherine Brighty  -  Pfizer Research

  • 1997    Zbigniew J. Witczak  -  University of Connecticut

  • 1996    Vincent Rotello  -  University of Massachusetts

  • 1994    Mark Marshall  -  Amherst College

  • 1992    Joseph Bruno  -  Wesleyan University

  • 1991    Bertrand Chenard  -  Pfizer Research

  • 1990    Roberta Day  -  University of Massachusetts

  • 1988    Peter Jacobi  -  Wesleyan University

  • 1987    Harry Frank  -  University of Connecticut

  • 1986    Steven L. Suib  -  University of Connecticut​​

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