Ahmed Zewail

Ahmed Zewail HD2009 Othmer Gold Medal portrait

Ahmed Zewail (February 26, 1946 – August 2, 2016) was an Egyptian-American scientist, known for his pioneering work in the field of femtochemistry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999 for his work on femtosecond spectroscopy, making him the first Egyptian and the first Arab to win a Nobel Prize in a science field. Zewail's groundbreaking research allowed scientists to observe the movement of atoms and molecules during chemical reactions in real time, which was previously thought to be impossible.

Early Life and Education

Ahmed Zewail was born in Damanhour, Egypt, and grew up in Alexandria. He received his Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Science (MSc) degrees in Chemistry from Alexandria University in 1967 and 1969, respectively. In 1974, he earned his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, under the guidance of Robin Hochstrasser. His doctoral work focused on the use of laser spectroscopy for studying chemical reactions.

Career

After completing his PhD, Zewail joined the faculty at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1976, where he spent the majority of his academic career. At Caltech, he developed a new area of physical chemistry, femtochemistry, which studies chemical reactions on extremely short timescales - femtoseconds (one quadrillionth of a second). His innovative use of ultrafast lasers allowed him to observe the atomic-scale dynamics of chemical reactions as they happened.

Zewail's work had a profound impact on various fields, including chemistry, physics, and biology, by providing a deeper understanding of the fundamental processes of chemical reactions. This understanding has applications in a wide range of areas, from the development of new materials and drugs to the study of the dynamics of biological processes.

Awards and Honors

In addition to the Nobel Prize, Zewail received numerous other awards and honors throughout his career, including the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, the Priestley Medal, and the Davy Medal. He was a member of several prestigious academies, including the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Society of London, and the French Academy of Sciences.

Legacy

Ahmed Zewail's contributions to the field of chemistry and his pioneering work in femtochemistry have left a lasting legacy. He was also a strong advocate for science education and research in Egypt and the Arab world. In recognition of his efforts, the Egyptian government established the Zewail City of Science and Technology in Cairo, aiming to foster scientific and technological excellence in the region.

Zewail passed away on August 2, 2016, but his work continues to inspire scientists around the world. His life and achievements are a testament to the impact that fundamental scientific research can have on our understanding of the natural world.