The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), American International Group, has awarded the fifth SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal to Edmund (“Ted”) M. Carnahan, a scientist at Dow in Freeport, Texas.
Carnahan receives the 2008 SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal for his pioneering contributions and leadership in the breakthrough discovery of a route for the catalytic synthesis of olefin-block copolymers. This process has been scaled-up and commercially implemented at Dow in record time to produce a highly versatile new product line that will be sold as INFUSE™ Olefin Block Copolymers. This distinct polymerization process enables INFUSE™ to retain its elasticity in high-temperature conditions for applications such as injection molding, bottle-cap lining, liquid packaging, adhesives, health and hygiene, and soft-touch applications.
"A brilliant researcher with an eye for commercial applications, Ted Carnahan embodies the innovative spirit that this award celebrates," said Andrew Liveris, Dow chairman and chief executive officer. “Ted is a great example of the “human element” at work within Dow. By combining his individual ingenuity with chemistry, he has consistently provided new solutions to the market that provide clear value for our customers.”
Ted joined Dow in 1996, and his initial research focused on aspects of polyolefin catalysis for solution, slurry, and gas-phase processes. In 2006 he became scientist for the Catalyst and Chemistry group in Freeport.
Ted is the author of numerous articles in leading journals and holds 12 patents, with 19 additional patents pending. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Cornell University and a PhD in inorganic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Named after the co-founder of Intel Corporation and author of Moore's Law, the SCI Gordon E. Moore Medal recognizes a significant innovation made by an industrial scientist under 45 years of age. As a young chemist, Moore helped to create the semiconductor industry. In choosing the Moore Medal recipient, SCI recognizes an outstanding individual who has developed a breakthrough innovation making a significant impact on a company's business by creating a new market, expanding an existing market, or commercializing new process technology. Other criteria include the importance of illuminating emerging areas of applied chemistry in the 21st century and demonstrating the positive impact of applied chemistry on our quality of life.