This Icons of Spectroscopy Series article features William George “Bill” Fateley, who shaped modern vibrational spectroscopy through landmark reference books and research papers, pioneering instrumentation, decades of editorial leadership, and deep commitments to students and colleagues. This article reviews his career arc, scientific contributions, and enduring legacy.
This Icons of Spectroscopy article profiles Lester W. Strock, whose innovative research in crystal chemistry and spectroscopy bridged fundamental science and applied geochemistry.
This Icons of Spectroscopy Series article features Infrared pioneer Earle Keith Plyler (1897–1976), who transformed molecular spectroscopy—building precision techniques, reference data, and instruments that set enduring methods and standards at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS, now NIST). As a teacher and mentor, he established a generation of leaders in molecular spectroscopy.
The Icons of Spectroscopy series shines a spotlight on the pioneers whose work laid the foundation for modern analytical science.
This Icons of Spectroscopy Series article features E. Bright Wilson, a pioneer of chemical physics. Wilson’s contributions to infrared, Raman, and microwave spectroscopy provided the theoretical and practical foundation for analyzing molecular structure and dynamics. As a revered professor at Harvard and coauthor of landmark texts, he mentored nearly 150 students and researchers, leaving a lasting legacy of scientific excellence and integrity.
This Icons of Spectroscopy Series article features Charles Kenneth Mann, a pioneer of quantitative Raman spectroscopy.
In this Icons of Spectroscopy article, Executive Editor Jerome Workman Jr. delves into the life and impact of Bruce Kowalski, an analytical chemist whose major contributions to chemometrics helped establish the field of applying advanced quantitative and qualitative mathematics to extract meaningful chemical information from complex datasets. Kowalski’s visionary approach to chemical data analysis, education, and software development has transformed the landscape of modern analytical chemistry for academia and industry.
In this “Icons of Spectroscopy” column, Spectroscopy Executive Editor Jerome Workman, Jr. explores the life and contributions of Albert Abraham Michelson, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, who showed early brilliance in physics and mathematics, eventually resulting in a teaching position at the Academy and the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907.
In this two-part "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. details how Karl H. Norris has impacted the analysis of food, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals over six decades. His pioneering work in optical analysis methods including his development and refinement of near-infrared spectroscopy, has transformed analysis technology. In this Part II article of a two-part series, we summarize Norris’ foundational publications in NIR, his patents, achievements, and legacy.
In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. details how Karl H. Norris has impacted the analysis of food, agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals over six decades. His pioneering work in optical analysis methods including his development and refinement of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has transformed analysis technology. This Part I article of a two-part series introduces Norris’ contributions to NIR.
In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. details how Tomas B. Hirschfeld has made many significant contributions to vibrational spectroscopy and has inspired and mentored many leading scientists of the past several decades.
In this Icons of Spectroscopy column, Executive Editor Jerome Workman Jr. delves into Part II of the Raman Effect, discovered by C. V. Raman, a physicist whose major contributions to vibrational spectroscopy have helped shape the field and advance one of the most important quantum-based spectroscopy tools of recent generations.
In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. delves into Part I of the life and work of C. V. Raman, a physicist who has made major contributions to the science of vibrational spectroscopy and created an understanding for one of the most important quantum-based spectroscopy tools in generations.
W. W. Coblentz was one of the preeminent researchers in the field of infrared spectroscopy with work spanning a broad range of physics, chemistry, spectroscopic theory, instrumentation, applications, and sample handling. The Coblentz Society was established in his name in 1954 by Norman E. Wright and Van Zandt Williams.
In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. details how Van Zandt Williams from Perkin-Elmer Corporation and American Cyanamid, and Norman E. Wright from the Dow Chemical Company, have made significant contributions to the field of vibrational spectroscopy.
As part of Spectroscopy’s Icons of Spectroscopy Laureate Series, associate editorial director Caroline Hroncich sat down with Jeanette Grasselli Brown to discuss her career.
Ellis R. Lippincott is one of the most influential spectroscopists of the past 100 years. He has been a notable research figure in molecular spectra and structure studies using infrared and Raman spectroscopy; in the study of potential energy functions, including hydrogen bonding; and in the invention and study of high pressure spectroscopic studies using the high-pressure diamond anvil cell. He also has applied spectroscopic techniques and analysis to the study of planetary atmospheres, to biochemistry, and to chemical lasers.
As part of Spectroscopy’s Icons of Spectroscopy Laureate Series, associate editorial director Caroline Hroncich sat down with Jeanette Grasselli Brown to discuss her career.
Spectroscopy sat down with Jeanette Grasselli Brown to discuss her early life and how she got started working in chemistry.
William Frederick Meggers, honored as the Dean of American Spectroscopists by the US National Bureau of Standards (NBS), dedicated over five decades of his career to NBS, which later became the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 1988 under the United States Department of Commerce. We profile his contributions to spectroscopy here.
As one of the first renowned women spectroscopists, Craver broke down barriers in the field and is recognized for her work compiling reference libraries of spectra that set the foundation for modern infrared (IR) spectroscopy.
Spectroscopy is publishing a series of feature articles highlighting the lives and careers of the most influential spectroscopists over the past 100 years. These individuals were selected by our Editorial Advisory Board and team of editors to represent the leading figures in spectroscopy over the century. Our second featured Icon of Spectroscopy is Peter R. Griffiths.
Spectroscopy is publishing a series of feature articles highlighting the lives and careers of the most influential spectroscopists over the past 100 years. These individuals were selected by our Editorial Advisory Board and the editors to represent the leading figures in spectroscopy over the century. Our first featured Icons of Spectroscopy Laureate is Professor Gary Hieftje.
In our second article in our Icons of Spectroscopy laureate series, we are providing details of the individuals having their names associated with the major awards in spectroscopy (eponyms).
Spectroscopy's laureate series will highlight the lives and careers of some of the most influential vibrational and atomic spectroscopists.
