Robert Grubbs

Dr. Robert H. Grubbs was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for an achievement that will lead to the development of new medicines for illness, and new materials for industry and daily living, while dramatically reducing the hazard of chemical waste in the environment. The Swedish Academy honored Dr. Grubbs for his discovery of the “Grubbs catalyst,” a molecule of carbon and ruthenium, which facilitates the formation of new carbon-based compounds. The chemical process of metathesis, in which the atoms of one molecule trade places with the atoms of another, has been compared to a dance in which two partners—holding each other by both hands—link up with another couple, briefly forming a circle before changing partners and dancing off again. The Grubbs catalyst, already available to laboratories, is a particularly graceful performer in this dance, and enables chemists to replace individual atoms with unprecedented accuracy. Robert Grubbs was born and raised in Marshall County, Kentucky, near the town of Possum Trot. He first fell in love with chemistry at the University of Florida and earned his doctorate at Columbia University. Today, he is the Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He is thrilled that his discovery, the product of 30 years of research, promises a “greener, ” healthier future for all of us. In this podcast, recorded at the 2006 International Achievement Summit in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Grubbs recalls the impact that Russia's launch of the Sputnik satellite had on his generation of students. He also discusses the issue of global warming and the challenge of powering the planet without poisoning it. He urges the Academy's student students to educate their policy makers on these pressing issues.