ACS honours Mellon Institute of Industrial Research

The American Chemical Society will honour the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research as a National Historic Chemical Landmark on the 100th anniversary of its founding, at a ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on March 28, 2013. From the day it was established, the mission of the Institute was to conduct comprehensive scientific research that would benefit industry. The ACS has produced a commemorative booklet outlining the history of the organisation and some of its achievements.

Before its merger with the Carnegie Institute of Technology to form Carnegie Mellon University in 1967, the fellows of the Institute were responsible for some notable developments, including the first gas mask during World War I and synthetic rubber during World War II. Other noteworthy achievements included landmark studies on the link between air pollution and health, and the development and manufacture of organosilicones.

The ceremony, which is free to attend and open to the public, will take place at 3.00-5.00pm and will include a scientific entrepreneurship panel discussion involving scientists from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh.