University of Oregon Chemistry Professor Geri Richmond is among those chosen by the White House to receive the National Medal of Science. She’ll travel to Washington D.C. in a couple of weeks to accept the award, along with 8 other scientists.
Richmond leads the Association for Advancement of Science. She’s also on the National Science Board and is a U.S. Science Envoy. She recently travelled to Vietnam where she worked with middle school students, conducting chemistry experiments. She says there’s not a lot of science taught in schools in South East Asia.
Richmond: “Being able to have outreach activities like we do when I got to the American Center in Saigon or places in Da Nang and Hanoi, it’s just a great opportunity to show how exciting science can be if the students can pick up a little bit of it.”
Richmond says she’s honored to receive the National Medal of Science, but it also belongs to her students and family who support her work. She also credits the U of O. Richmond hopes this award will encourage other women scientists around the world.