One of the perks of being a Nobel laureate is that if you’re lucky, in time you will get to witness just how far the massive impact of your work goes. Such was the case for Alan Heeger, professor of materials and of physics at UC Santa Barbara. Recipient of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry “for the discovery and development of conductive polymers,” Heeger celebrated his 90th birthday with — what else — a research symposium in his honor. Colleagues, friends and family gathered on campus to reminisce about their experiences working with him and his ideas, while presenting work on the state-of-the-art of the field he helped establish.
Held on the second day of the annual Materials Research Outreach Program conference, the symposium’s many presenters featured distinguished scientists from around the world — including his sons, NYU neuroscientist David Heeger and Cedars-Sinai physician-scientist Peter Heeger.
“You didn’t just challenge the status quo, you rewrote the rules,” said Shelly Gable, UCSB’s dean of mathematical, life and physical sciences, in her opening remarks. “In doing so, you launched the entire field of organic electronics.”
Alan Heeger (center) with his wife, Ruth (right), and UCSB chemistry professor and polymer expert Thuc-Quyen Nguyen. Photograph by Matt Perko.