Coppens Receives Award From Crystallographic Association

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Philip Coppens, Ph.D., distinguished professor of chemistry at the University at Buffalo, has received the 1994 Martin J. Buerger Award from the American Crystallographic Association (ACA).

The award honors "mature scientists who have made contributions of exceptional distinction in the areas of interest to the ACA."

Coppens was selected for the award in recognition of his pioneering work using X-ray diffraction techniques to study the nature of bonding between atoms in molecules and crystals. He has used complex mathematical techniques to develop an X-ray method of "seeing" the electron clouds that surround atoms and hold them together to form molecules. His methods are now considered to be classic standards for such analysis and are being applied in laboratories around the world.

He also was recognized by the ACA for his other contributions, both theoretical and experimental, to modern crystallography, and for his success as a teacher.

A UB faculty member since 1968, Coppens is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world's largest federation of scientists. He has served as president and vice president of ACA, and recently was elected president of the International Union of Crystallography.

He is also principal investigator for the State University of New York beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source, located at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island.

A corresponding member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, Coppens has authored or co-authored 200 technical papers and articles.

He resides in Williamsville.