Sept. 9, 1997 Contact Ross West (541) 346-2060 EDITOR'S NOTE: Geraldine Richmond is out of town, but available for telephone interviews Tuesday morning. Call Ross West (541) 346-2060 to schedule an interview. Two of Richmond's former students also are available for comment. Tamae Wong can be reached at (202) 334-2156; Pamela Chu can be reached at (301) 975-2988. EUGENE--Throughout her career, University of Oregon chemistry professor Geraldine Richmond has made a special point of encouraging female science students--now that effort has won her recognition from President Clinton. Richmond will receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) in a ceremony to take place at the Old Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 11. "It feels great to be honored this way," Richmond says. "This award is important because it gives recognition not only to my own work, but to that of many others who are working hard to encourage women and minorities in science." The award is bestowed by the White House through the National Science and Technology Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The PAESMEM program seeks to identify outstanding mentoring efforts or programs designed to enhance the participation of groups underrepresented in science, mathematics and engineering, including minorities, women and persons with disabilities. A grant in the amount of $10,000 will accompany the award. A letter signed by 12 women--all Richmond's students during her earlier teaching career at Bryn Mawr College and all now pursuing careers in science--recommended Richmond for the presidential award. "Geri stands out as the most influential mentor of my career," wrote Pamela Chu, Ph.D., a research chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. "She opened my eyes to the excitement and challenge of a research career. Geri's enthusiasm and groundbreaking work in research and education continues to be a source of inspiration." Another former student, Tamae Wong, Ph.D., echoes Chu's praise. "Professor Richmond has propelled me to new heights, building on my strengths and interests," Wong says. At the UO since 1985, Richmond is a member of the chemistry department, the Materials Science Institute and the Oregon Center for Optics. Her research in the area of physical chemistry has been recognized by numerous awards, most recently the American Chemical Society's prestigious 1996 Garvan Award. -30- #G-7304/Local, OrDailies, OrSci, PDX