ASU professor honored with prestigious award from the American Chemical Society


September 7, 2018

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced that Arizona State University's Everett Shock will be awarded their prestigious 2019 Geochemistry Division Medal.

Shock, who holds joint faculty appointments with the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the School of Molecular Sciences, was selected for the national award in a unanimous decision by ACS’ Geochemistry Committee. The committee cited his outstanding scientific accomplishments and impact, leadership, mentorship of junior scientists and service to the geochemistry community. Everett Shock American Chemical Society 2019 medalist Everett Shock. Download Full Image

“Professor Shock is pressing the boundaries of research on the relationships between life and planets,” said School of Earth and Space Exploration director Linda Elkins-Tanton. “His understanding of the complex chemistry of these interactions challenges and leads the field.”

Shock is the director of the W. M. Keck Foundation Laboratory for Environmental Biogeochemistry at ASU, a fellow of the Geochemical Society and European Association for Geochemistry, a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, a member of the MASPEX team for the Europa Clipper mission, and a member of the NASA- and NOAA-funded Systematic Underwater Biogeochemical Science and Exploration Analog (SUBSEA), which is exploring the hydrothermal systems of an underwater volcano near Hawaii.  

His research interests span environmental chemistry, geochemistry and biogeochemistry, with current projects in hydrothermal ecosystems, hydrothermal organic chemistry, the deep biosphere, serpentinization, submarine hydrothermal systems, the geochemistry of icy solar bodies, aqueous alteration of meteorite parent bodies and environmental biogeochemistry.

“Professor Shock is a leader and has made groundbreaking contributions in an astonishingly wide range of fields in the geosciences, from basic thermodynamic principles to environmental biogeochemistry," said Ian Gould, associate director of the School of Molecular Sciences and one of Shock's scientific collaborators. “His work is characterized by creativity, originality of thought and extraordinary attention to detail.”

In addition, Shock’s research group, GEOPIG (Group Exploring Organic Processes In Geochemistry), explores the territory at the intersection of geology, chemistry and biology, employing an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how geologic processes make Earth’s biochemistry possible. 

The American Chemical Society’s medal ceremony will take place during the 257th ACS National Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, from March 31 through April 4, 2019, where a symposium will be organized in Shock's honor.

Karin Valentine

Media Relations & Marketing manager, School of Earth and Space Exploration

480-965-9345

Race, drugs and dementia part of series on controversial health topics

College of Health Solutions panel discussions examine hot-button health issues


September 7, 2018

Does your race make a difference in the quality of health care you receive? Is medical marijuana really as effective for pain relief as some people say? Is gun violence a legal issue or a health condition?

Arizona State University's College of Health Solutions brings together experts from health, medicine, business, policy and law to discuss these and other controversial topics with “We Need to Talk … A Series of Tough Conversations About Health,” a yearlong examination of hot-button health issues. woman doctor with patient Download Full Image

In its second year, this free event series features six sessions — three in the fall and three in the spring — that provide a place for experts and attendees to talk about complex health problems and explore solutions in a panel discussion and Q&A format. 

The series opens Sept. 13 with “Gender and Ethnic Diversity in the Health Care Workforce,” a candid look at the role race, gender and ethnicity play in medical treatment. Gender bias in research, patient preference in the race or gender of health care providers, unconscious racism and the effect socioeconomic status has on patient longevity and treatment will be part of this frank discussion.

All sessions begin at 5 p.m. in the A. E. England Building at the Downtown Phoenix campus.

We Need to Talk … A Series of Tough Conversations About Health

Sept. 13

Gender and Ethnic Diversity in the Health Care Workforce

Oct. 17

Medical Cannabis: What’s Real, What’s Blowin’ Smoke, and What’s Flat-Out Dangerous?

Nov. 29

Dementia 101: Dealing with the Disease from the Family Perspective

Feb. 7

Fake Health News: Trustworthy Medical Advice in the Digital Era

Mar. 21

Is Gun Violence a Health Condition?

Apr. 25

Under Pressure: ADHD and Coping in College

Events are free and open to anyone who is interested: students, alumni, community members, faculty or staff. To learn more about the series, see last year’s archive.

Learn more about this year's topics and register for the sessions.

Kelly Krause

Media and communications manager, College of Health Solutions