Dennis Hess has been awarded the 2012 Edward Goodrich Acheson Award by The Electrochemical Society (ECS). It is the highest award offered by the ECS and is presented biennially. The award description indicates that the recipient is to be distinguished for contributions consisting of: (a) discovery pertaining to electrochemical and/or solid state science and technology; and (b) invention of a plan, process, or device or research evidenced by a paper embodying information useful, valuable or significant in the theory or practice of electrochemical and/or solid-state science and technology. The recipient must also have demonstrated distinguished service to the Society. 

“Receipt of this award means a great deal to me,” says Hess, the Thomas C. DeLoach, Jr. Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Director of the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at Georgia Tech. “The previous recipients represent a humbling list of highly accomplished scientists and engineers, including Charles Tobias, Bruce Hannay, Harry Gatos, Larry Faulkner, Bruce Deal and John Newman. To be added to this list is humbling, indeed.”

Since 1975, Hess has been largely involved in the ECS. He began by holding sequential positions as Secretary, Vice Chair and Chair of the San Francisco section of The Society. Hess’ involvement continued over the years by remaining active in other various positions, including serving as President (1996-1997 term) and Editor of Electrochemical and Solid State Letters (2004-2012), ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology (2012-present) and ECS Solid State Letters (2012-Present).

“The ECS has been a large part of my career throughout the past 37 years,” Hess says. “I attended my first ECS meeting in 1975 when Bruce Deal, my supervisor at Fairchild Semiconductor, suggested that I present some of my research work at the Dallas meeting. Attendance at that meeting began a tradition for me, with two meetings per year. I have missed a total of five since that first meeting. The colleagues and friends that have resulted from these meetings and from continued involvement in The Society have been an ongoing source of motivation, scientific/technical development, guidance and enjoyment.”