What we're about

The Chemistry Hall of Fame was created in 1989 by the Department of Chemistry at York University (Toronto, Canada) on an idea from Professor Pierre G. Potvin. Its purpose is fourfold:
• to recognize those chemical substances that have been of great benefit to humanity,
• to honour those people who discovered or invented those substances,
• to draw public attention to the positive aspects of Chemistry and its allied sciences, and
• to interest more young people in the pursuit of Chemistry and its allied sciences.
The Chemistry Hall of Fame was officially opened and the first plaques were officially unveiled at their permanent site in the new Chemistry and Computer Science Building in July 1994. The Opening Ceremonies were capped by a lecture by Dr. Alfred Bader of Aldrich Chemicals, Milwaukee, WI, on the true origins of the Kekule benzene ring structure.

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The Chemistry Hall of Fame operates much like other Halls of Fame. Starting in 1989, it has constructed and maintains a list - a pantheon - of chemicals have been of great benefit to humanity. It annually inducts new substances into the pantheon and showcases these with wall-mounted displays along the halls of our building.
The mechanism for the selection process is an adjucated Nomination Contest.
The Chemistry Hall of Fame has been featured on several radio and television reports and programs.

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