97-06-11 Bursten & Epstein Distinguished Professors

OHIO STATE NAMES DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS

     COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University is honoring two of its
most outstanding faculty members with the Distinguished
University Professorship.  The 1997 honorees are Bruce E. Bursten
of UPPER ARLINGTON and Arthur J. Epstein of BEXLEY.

     At the university’s Board of Trustees meeting Friday (6/6),
Provost Richard Sisson granted each recipient the title and
$30,000 over three years to support his academic work

     "We are proud of our Distinguished University Professors,"
President E. Gordon Gee said.  "They are outstanding and tireless
academics who inspire not only their students, but also their
colleagues."

     Distinguished University Professors continue their regular
program of teaching; research, scholarly or creative work; and
service.

     They are nominated by their colleagues both at Ohio State
and internationally.  Evaluators from outside the university are
invited to assess the quality and significance of each nominee's
academic accomplishments.

     The 1997 honorees' careers reflect their seniority and
status as faculty leaders:

BRUCE BURSTEN

     Bursten is a professor of chemistry noted for his
teaching skills, writing ability and high standards for research.
Bursten, who has been called “a scientist for all seasons”
already has received Ohio State’s Alumni Distinguished Teaching
Award twice, as well as the Distinguished Scholar Award.

     He is the co-author of a general chemistry textbook used
widely in the United States and abroad to teach undergraduate
students.  A nominator said, “It is one that is rigorous, packed
with up-to-date material and highly readable.”  The 13 doctoral
students, nine postdoctoral fellows and numerous undergraduate
research students who have completed their studies in his
research group have gone to illustrious careers.  His current
research group consists of six Ph.D. candidates and two
postdoctoral fellows.

     He has a national reputation as an accomplished theoretical
chemist for his work in the electronic structure of metal
complexes and in chemical bonding theory.  He also has
established an experimental research program in the photophysics
of organometallic compounds.  A nominator said Bursten’s entry
into laboratory work is “unique and impressive... I don’t know of
any (other) theoretical chemist of his stature who also, later in
his career, became a capable experimentalist.”

     His current research activities are supported by research
grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department
of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Ohio
Supercomputer Center.

     Bursten joined the Ohio State faculty in 1980 after
graduating with a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the
University of Wisconsin, Madison, and conducting postdoctoral
research at Texas A&M University.

ARTHUR EPSTEIN

       Epstein is a professor of physics and chemistry and
director of the Center for Materials Research. He, too, has
received the University Distinguished Scholar Award.  He and a
colleague are credited with being the first researchers to create
a magnet based on molecules -- instead of metals such as iron.

     But Epstein still teaches basic physics courses containing
250 undergraduates, many with modest mathematical skills.  One
student said, “Dr. Epstein is a professor I will remember for the
rest of my days.  He is a motivator and creates the desire within
you to actually want to understand the subject of physics.”
Another undergraduate cited his enthusiasm, preparedness, clarity
of instruction and “willingness to enter into dialogue with even
a beginning student.”  Undergraduate students recognized
Epstein’s dedication, enthusiasm and skill by nominating him as a
finalist in the 1994 Outstanding Teaching Award.

     Additionally, Epstein has taught two new chemistry courses
for advanced undergraduate students and directed five
undergraduate researchers in physics and chemistry.  Since 1986,
he has directed the doctoral theses of 24 Ph.D. students.

     In 1991, Science academic journal reported Epstein’s team
had made “an enormous leap” by creating a plastic magnet that
operates at room temperature.  Their work has led to an entirely
new field -- polymer and molecular materials research.  A
nominator said, “His concepts for electromagnetic shielding using
plastics may revolutionize the portable communications industry.”

     Since joining the Ohio State faculty in 1986, he has
increasingly been recognized as an expert in why conducting
polymers conduct electricity.  He has more “firsts” in that
field, including the first water-soluble conducting polymer and
the first plastic that emits light like a light bulb when plugged
into an electric socket. He now is studying a polymer which can
prevent the corrosion of iron.

     Epstein has directed the Center for Materials Research since
its founding in 1989.  His leadership activities have led to a
substantial increase in interdisciplinary research and education
at Ohio State.  Among his accomplishments are the building of an
interdisciplinary culture, acquisition of facilities
infrastructure, recruitment of leading faculty and increasing
external funding of research.

     Epstein earned Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in
physics from the University of Pennsylvania.
                             #

Contact:  Richard Sisson, Academic Affairs, (614) 292-5881
          Bruce Bursten, (614) 292-1866 or bursten.1@osu.edu.
          Arthur Epstein, (614) 292-1133 or epstein.2@osu.edu


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Wed, 11 Jun 1997 09:55:54 -0400 (EDT)]
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