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R. J. Dwayne Miller wins prestigious prize

CUI spokesperson R. J. Dwayne Miller is the Royal Society of Chemistry “Centenary Prize” winner for 2016. The prize recognizes outstanding overseas chemists, who are exceptional communicators, and invites the winners to give lectures in the UK.

DwayneMiller_Foto-UHH,_RRZ_MCC,_Arvid_Mentz

R. J. Dwayne Miller is looking forward to carry the torch for why science matters. Credit: UHH RRZ/MCC Arvid Mentz

Miller, Director at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter at CFEL in Hamburg and Professor of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Toronto, works to track chemical reactions on the atomic level. By doing so he has shown that chemistry can be distilled down to a handful of key atomic motions. This insight will have profound implications for our understanding of biological processes and how to treat disease.

“The receipt of the RSC Centenary Prize is a career highlight,” Miller says. “It allows the telling of a great story with respect to achieving one of the dream experiments in science and how basic science can lead to major benefits to society in unexpected ways. It is a great honor for me to achieve this award and to carry the torch for why science matters.” In addition, he stresses that everybody could do science: “I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Both of my parents grew up on homestead farms in Northwest Ontario and never finished High School. I was the first in my family to go to University (University of Manitoba). Everyone, no matter what background, can do science and make a difference.”