Van Slyke--1953
Fisher Award Winner
director at the Brookhaveil S a t w i a l I,al-orator\- ;it Upton, Long Island, with responsibility for thc departments of biology and medicine. He can he found there in his laboratory most any day, still full of enthusiasm and drive and with but one complaint- a lack of time t o do all the things he would like to initiate. The real significance of any award is the pattern of recipients selected over the years. Furman, Lundell, Kolthoff , Willard, Mellon, and now Tan Slyke-this is the roll call of the Fisher Award in Analytical Chemistry-all outstanding leaders Tvhose influence on analytical chemistry is widely recognized.
(-11 congratulations
to Donald D. Tan Slyke, the 19.53 winner of the Fisher An-ard in ,Inalytical Chemistry. Formal presentation Jvill be made at Los Ahgeleson Xtonday evening, March 16, and the award address will be given before the Division of Analytical Chemistry on Wednesday, March 18, a t 11.30 A . M . The title of his address is “The Wet Carbon Combustion and Some of Its hpplicatioiis.“ Dr. Van Slyke has played a very important role in the fields of biochemistry and clinical chemistry during the past 25 years. His quantitative methods are employed in almost every biochemical research laboratory, and a clinical laboratory which does riot have at least one “Tat1 Slyke machine” in operation is rare. The latest Fisher An-ard winner has published nearly 300 papers, a large proportion of which is in the field of analytical chemistry. -4 contemporary of Dr. Van Slyke, speaking of the scientific accomplishments of the sixth Fisher Award recipient, stated recently:
Widening Horizons ever-widening field of ASALYTICAL CHEJIISTRIis illustrated by excerpts from correspondence with a reviewer and an author concerning a manuscript reporting a field method for the determination of a certain element in soils. Said the reviewer: “Publication of the paper in a geological periodical might be of greater service to those interested in such a survey program.” Replying, the author made this interesting comment: THK
? t h y of his methods are entirely original, and most, if not all, of them show his independence of thought and originality. They are of direct importance to human n-elfare and the needs of humanity; they are being used all over the 11-orld in research on the causes, treatment, and diagnoees of disease.
I t might be said that Dr. Van Slyke comes by his chemistry naturally. He was born March 29, 1883, at Pike, S. 1’. His father at that time was instructor in analytical chemistry at the University of Michigan and later was for nearly 40 years chief chemist at the Xew York State Experiment Statioii. The 1953 Fisher Award winner completed his untlergraduate work at RIichigan in 1905. He received his doctorate there also, ivorking in organic under the late hloses Gomberg. In 1907, upon completion of his studies for the doctorate, he became assistant to P. -4. Lereiie at the Rockefeller Institute. He remained in Levene’s laboratory until 1913, n-hen he became chief of the chemical laboratory of the hospital of the institute. Dr. T’an Slplie coiitinued in this position until 1948, Tvhen he was given emeritus status. -4person with the interest, energy, and competence of Dr. T-an Slyke is never coiiteiit to retire. Immediately upoil leaving the institute he became an assistant
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This criticism is very important and I should like to point out why this paper should be published in AKALPTICAI. CHEMISTRY. Nining companies are hiring increasing numbers of chemists to carry out chemical n ork for geochemical prospecting. C1iemi.t. ai e not familisr M ith these techniques and are handicapped. I n dismay, chemistry instructors have asked us where we publish and why we do not publish in chemical journals. Courses in geochemical prospecting are springing up in some of the universities, and many on the staffs of our universities and likewise abroad are watching our progress. There is keen interest in this technique, as it has been successful in locating hidden ore deposits and it is important for cheniiqts to lie aware of a new field.
The editors of AS ~ L T T I C A LC H m f I s T R T agreed with the position of the author and accepted the manuscript. This exchange of correspondence reminds us strongly that the horizons of the science pf analytical chemistry are changing constantly and that n-e must be prepared to accept increasing responsibilities if we are to servc properly and adequately the needs of the memberi: of the analytical profession.
