Chemistry society awards fellowship to U. Missippippi professor

By Melissa Sindelar
Daily Mississippian ( U. Mississippi )

(U-WIRE) OXFORD, Miss. — Charles Hussey, chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department, recently became Mississippi’s first Fellow of The Electrochemical Society.

Hussey is one of seven members to win this award for 2003.

“I am extremely honored,” Hussey said. “You are being recognized for the service you do for the society and for your scientific accomplishments. I’m flattered to be chosen and never expected it.”

Hussey will receive his award at the October meeting in Orlando. Fellows will receive a certificate, lapel pin and listing as a fellow when he authors articles.

Hussey joined the society in 1976, and since then he has served on several committees, including the ways and means, honors and finance committees. He also chaired the award committee for the Olin Palladium Metal.

He has also served for three years as the associate editor for the society’s journal, handling about 150 manuscripts a year.

“He operates at the highest level; he does first-class research and great services to the society,” said Gery Stafford, who nominated Hussey. “The society only works through its volunteers… he has contributed his time to make the society grow and make it succeed.”

Hussey began his career at the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and also the Air Force Academy.

He then came to the university for 25 years, starting as an assistant professor in 1978. He became a full professor in 1988 and in 1997 became chair of the chemistry and biochemistry department.

In his career, he has received several grants and graduated 26 doctoral and master’s students. He has also tried to continue to be active in his research.

“This has been a big challenge to do,” he said.

Hussey’s work concentrates on low-temperature molten salts, which are solvents with great versatility and have low vapor pressure, meaning they do not evaporate, Hussey said.

“They’re of interest for battery electrolytes and as solvents for industrial chemical processes,” he said. “There’s a great deal of scientific curiosity about them.”

The fellow award Hussey won was established in 1989 for “individual contributions and leadership in the achievement of science and technology in the area of electrochemistry and solid state sciences and current active participation in the affairs of The Electrochemical Society,” according to the society’s Web site.

The number of active Society Fellows cannot exceed 3 percent of the total membership, the site also said.

“This is a testament to (Hussey’s) success,” Stafford said. “Anyone can figure out what (only 3 percent) means. That’s such a small number.”

The Electrochemical Society was founded in 1902. It has about 8,000 engineers and scientists in more than 75 countries holding individual membership and about 100 labs and corporations who hold contributing membership, the Web site said.

(C) 2002 Daily Mississippian via U-WIRE