Friday, May 26, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC, USA -- Internationally-renowned Hungarian scientists Drs. István and Magdolna Hargittai were honored by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with honorary doctor of science degrees during commencement exercises May 13.

Residents of Budapest, the Hargittais are known for their work in the field of molecular structure determination through gas-phase electron diffraction experiments. UNC Wilmington honored them for their world-renowned achievements and their contributions to the work done by the Department of Chemistry at UNCW during their tenure there as visiting scientists during academic year 1996-97, and spring semesters in 1998 and 1999. The Hargittais were also recognized for their works on symmetry and for those based on interviews of outstanding chemists and other scientists.

Dr. IstvánHargittai is a professor at the Institute of General and Analytical Chemistry, Budapest Technical University, and Head of Department, Structural Chemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eatvas University.

Dr. Magdolna Hargittai is science advisor and research professor, Structural Chemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eatvas University, Budapest.

The nomination for honorary doctorates was made by UNC Wilmington professor Dr. Jack Levy on behalf of the Department of Chemistry, approved by the faculty senate, and awarded by the UNCW Board of Trustees.

During their four semesters at UNCW, the Hargittais were inspiring mentors to colleagues and students in the Chemistry Department, Dr. Levy said. They also raised the visibility of the university when they gave invited lectures and attended scientific meetings around the world.

He explained that their work focuses on determining the structure of compounds or molecules, specifically the distance between atoms, and they do this by using the technique known as gas phase electron diffraction. "This has ramifications for chemistry and biology, but perhaps most important is their contribution to the basic understanding of how molecules are shaped so we can understand how they interact," said Dr. Levy. "That knowledge is then being used to discover new drugs to cure diseases."

Dr. Levy also noted the important work being done by Dr. IstvánHargittai as co-editor of the journal, Structural Chemistry, and the magazine he initiated, The Chemical Intelligencer. "In the magazine, he features interviews that he does with famous chemists around the world along with his great photographs. He is creating a living history of some of the greatest scientists in our time," he said.

"Dr. Magdolna Hargittai, a specialist in computational chemistry, is also a prolific author as well as reviewer of scientific papers. She is now interviewing famous women scientists that will also become a history of science," said Dr. Levy.

Located in southeastern North Carolina between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is committed to becoming the best undergraduate teaching university in the South. The student body numbers more than 9,750.

An internationally recognized undergraduate marine biology program, coupled with a new facility for its Center for Marine Science, has UNCW at the forefront of research to learn how the world's oceans affect human health and quality of life. In addition, the university has a critically acclaimed Creative Writing Department that attracts Pulitzer Prize-winning visiting writers, a burgeoning Film Studies Program that works closely with Wilmington-based EUE Screen Gems Studios and other productions filmed locally, such as Columbia Tri-Stars' television series Dawson's Creek which uses the university's campus as a primary filming location, and an impressive Psychology Department that specializes in researching the behavioral effects of substance abuse.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: Press contact: Mimi Cunningham, UNCW, 910/962-3171. Dr. Levy can be reached at 910/962-3451. Dr. IstvánHargittai's e-mail address is hargittai.aak.ve.bme@chem.kit.bme.hu. Dr. Magdolna Hargittai's e-mail address is hargittaim@ludens.elte.hu.



The content of each honorary degree citation is printed below.

Dr. IstvánHargittai

Dr. IstvánHargittai, during your four-semester tenure as a distinguished professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, you served as an inspiring mentor to faculty colleagues and students in the Department of Chemistry.

An internationally-renowned scientist in the field of molecular structure determination through gas-phase electron diffraction experiments, you brought attention to UNC Wilmington as you gave invited lectures at scientific meetings and at other universities around the world.

You are an acclaimed author and editor of myriad books, magazines, journals and scientific articles. You and your wife, Dr. Magdolna Hargittai, have collaborated on many of these projects, including molecular structure determinations, scientific monographs and works on symmetry concepts in science and the arts. In 1996, you and your wife jointly received the highest scientific award in Hungary, the Szechenyi State Prize.

Through your superb photography, you have illustrated many of these publications including symmetry books for scientists, adults and children, as well as published interviews with famous scientists around the world. A recent book includes excerpts from conversations with 40 leading scientists, including 17 Nobel laureates. Another, the first volume of a series, will present 35 additional interviews provide insight into the nature of scientific discovery as well as the personalities of some of the leading scientists of our time.

In recognition of your world-renowned achievements and the catalytic effect you have had on the accomplishments of the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, we hereby award you this honorary Doctor of Science.



Dr. Magdolna Hargittai

Dr. Magdolna Hargittai, during your four-semester tenure as visiting scientist in the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, you served as an inspiration to faculty colleagues and students.

A science advisor and research professor at Etvs University in Budapest, Hungary, you are an internationally-renowned scientist in the field of molecular structure determination through gas-phase electron diffraction experiments.

You have co-authored five books on the subjects of molecular geometry, symmetry and interviews with famous scientists. You have edited or co-edited eight volumes on molecular structure research and have authored or co-authored 10 book chapters, six scientific review articles and approximately 80 scientific papers. You are the book review editor for the journal, Structural Chemistry, and have written more than 200 book reviews and other publications.

You are internationally recognized for your work on the structure of gas-phase metal halides through electron diffraction experiments. In recent years you have employed and promoted the combined application of experimental and theoretically-computed structural information to the determination of molecular geometries.

At UNC Wilmington your expertise in computational chemistry was shared with faculty and students, and these efforts led to continuing research collaborations with faculty in the Department of Chemistry.

In recognition of your world-renowned achievements and your enhancement of the work done by the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, we hereby award you this honorary Doctor of Science.