Mitsch Lecture is April 10

Mitsch Lecture is April 10  The Impact of Creative Adventures in Electrochemical Science When: April 10 at 12:45 p.m. Where: Sundin Music Hall Henry S. White PhD, Distinguished professor of chemistry at The University of Utah When asked about the usefulness of electricity and the discovery of the electric motor, Michael Faraday famously stated to the Prime Minister of England, “There is every possibility that you will soon be able to tax it.” Many of the most important electrochemical technologies of the 21st century have similar origins in curiosity-driven fundamental science, without attention (or even awareness) of future large-scale applications. Examples include: (1) the discovery of electrochemically generated chemiluminescence, which is at the heart of medical immunoassay diagnostics employed in hospitals worldwide; (2) exploratory investigations of chemically-modified electrodes that led to the development of reliable implantable glucose sensors; (3) investigations of electrical conductivity switching in organic polymers that contributed significantly to the field of organic electronics. This presentation discusses the importance of basic science in modern society by tracing a few examples of how initial, curiosity-based electrochemical science, followed by decades of development and engineering, has led to important biomedical and chemical technologies, each with annual sales of > $1B. Very recent examples of basic discoveries, e.g., electrochemistry of molecules in the gas phase, and autocatalytic electrochemical reactions of high-energy radicals, will also be presented, as well as their possible future applications. All are welcome to attend the 2026 Mitsch Lecture -- we hope to see you there!