Austin, TX

Electrochemistry Pioneer and Texas Science Legend Allen Bard Dies

Published

11 months ago

February 15, 2024

Electrochemistry Pioneer and Texas Science Legend Allen Bard Dies

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin community is mourning the loss of Allen J. Bard, known around the world as the father of modern electrochemistry. He was 90.

During nearly 65 years as a faculty member at UT, Bard received many of science’s most prestigious awards, among them a 2013 National Medal of Science and the 2019 King Faisal International Prize in Science, in recognition of his thought leadership and development of technology used by generations of electrochemists. As a result, according to President Emeritus Larry Faulkner, who was also a former student of Bard’s, he was “the most important scientist to have developed at UT through an entire career.”

“The phrase ‘What starts here changes the world’ is underpinned by innumerable life-changing discoveries made by UT Austin researchers, and perhaps none more impactful than the discoveries of Allen Bard,” said President Jay Hartzell. “It is well documented that Allen’s work transformed his field. Yet equally important was his devotion to his students and preparing them to impact our world for the better. Today, we mourn Allen’s passing but also celebrate his contributions to modern-day science and his lifelong commitment to The University of Texas.”

Bard was born in New York City in 1933 and launched his academic career at UT shortly after completing a Ph.D. at Harvard University. His development of the scanning electrochemical microscope brought the world an analytical tool that has been used to discover new materials for technologies such as solar cells and batteries, to probe the inner workings of biological cells, and to show dynamic chemical activity at very high resolution. Scientists can use the scanning electrochemical microscope to rapidly analyze numerous samples, detect cancer cells and make contributions to energy research. Bard published more than 1,000 academic papers, wrote and co-wrote three books and received more than 30 patents. A range of advances in biological testing, chemistry research, physics and engineering can be traced back to Bard’s contributions.

Allen Bard with chemistry student. Photo by Marsha Miller.

The winner of such top awards as the Enrico Fermi Award, the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, the Olin-Palladium Award, the Priestley Medal and the Welch Award in Chemistry, as well as being a fellow of both the National Academy of Sciences and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bard nonetheless liked to say that among his proudest achievements was mentoring more than 75 doctoral students and 150 postdoctoral fellows. He was humble about his work and place in science history.

“We all work on this [science] because we like it and because we understand that we’re building a structure,” Bard said in 2014 speaking on NPR’s “Science Friday.” “And we each put in a little brick here and there. If everybody puts in the right bricks and everybody works hard at it, you build a big structure of science, and it’s not so important who put the bricks in.”

“All of us who got to work with Allen Bard also got to have an inspiring glimpse of someone who is not only a preeminent researcher and among the best scientists of a generation but also one of the most dedicated mentors you could ask for,” said David Vanden Bout, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and a professor of chemistry. “He could speak as deeply about his philosophy of training future researchers for leading ethical, excellent and high-impact scientific careers as he could about electrochemistry.”

Electrochemistry involves the relationship between light, electricity and chemicals, and Bard’s contributions to the field were globe-spanning. Additionally, he developed electrogenerated chemiluminescence, a chemical reaction that produces light, which led to analytical tools for clinical diagnostics, biomedical research, DNA sensors, biodefense sensors, drug screening, food and water safety and environmental monitoring.

Photos of Allen Bard are available here: utexas.box.com/s/68w8cgz379zeu2so3v97clivssxdwsap.

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Austin, TX

Kelvin Banks Jr. Reveals Lessons Learned From Texas Longhorns Teammate Jake Majors

Published

5 hours ago

December 30, 2024

Press Room

Kelvin Banks Jr. Reveals Lessons Learned From Texas Longhorns Teammate Jake Majors

Texas offensive lineman Jake Majors had been around the Longhorn roster for two years when Kelvin Banks Jr. joined the team in 2022.

Now, Majors’ journey at the 40 Acres is coming to an end, and Banks might be as well with 2025 NFL mock drafts predicting him to be a first-round pick. The most decorated Longhorn this season with a Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy, Banks learned a lot from his teammate since joining the team.

“The biggest thing I learned from Jake is like, it’s never enough to just learn what your position does,” Banks said. “It’s kind of a sense like you have to know everything. Because if you know the whole the whole front, he kind of makes your life a little easier, because you know what each guy is going to do.”

The fifth-year offensive lineman has been a leader in the team, helping the younger generations on the field and mentally. Offensive coordinator Kyle Flood called him a thermostat in the squad, crediting his will to keep learning and growing as a player.

“I just want to keep learning from flood,” Majors said. “I just want to keep learning more about the offense. So I think when Coach refers to that, it’s, you know, I just want to keep learning.”

For Banks, he’s learned to be confident from the veteran. Together, the two have helped quarterback Quinn Ewers’ offense to 475 points and a nearly undefeated run, only falling to the Georgia Bulldogs.

In the first-round matchup against Clemson, Majors played his 55 games, passing some names like legend Colt McCoy for most games played in a Longhorn jersey. In five years, Majors solidified himself as one of the most experienced players in program history.

“Jake is a great leader,” Banks said. “He kind of shows the leads the way in that room, and he kind of helps me be more vocal and speak up a lot more.”

Majors, Banks, and the rest of Flood’s offensive line will take on Arizona State on Jan. 1 for a spot in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.

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Austin, TX

TDEM activates wildfire response resources due to increased wildfire danger in Texas

Published

13 hours ago

December 30, 2024

Press Room

TDEM activates wildfire response resources due to increased wildfire danger in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced Sunday afternoon that they have activated additional state wildfire response resources due to the increased wildfire danger expected across the Western half of Texas tomorrow.

“With an increased risk of wildfire danger in the forecast, the State of Texas has prepared wildfire response resources to support local firefighters with any fire suppression needs,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “Texans are urged to avoid activities that cause sparks and follow instructions from local emergency officials.”

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According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, increased wildfire potential is across large portions of the state including the Panhandle, South Plains, Permian Basin, West Texas, and Hill Country regions.

Additionally, dry grasses and near-record high temperatures are elements that heighten the risk of wildfire activity across these areas.

According to a press release sent by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texans can access wildfire tips and safety information at tfsweb.tamu.edu and TexasReady.gov. General disaster preparedness information can also be found at tdem.texas.gov/prepare.

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Austin, TX

Texas Longhorns Center Jake Majors Still Learning Lessons In Final Year

Published

20 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Press Room

Texas Longhorns Center Jake Majors Still Learning Lessons In Final Year

Texas Longhorns starting center Jake Majors has been on the field for Texas longer than most people. A four-year starter, Majors has stuck with the Longhorns in an era of college football where players will leave to find better opportunities. Now, he has led Texas to back-to-back 10-win seasons and College Football Playoff appearances and is one of the most respected players on the roster.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Flood got to Texas after Majors, and has been thoroughly impressed with him ever since.

“Jake has started every set, every game, at center for me since I’ve been here,” Flood said. “And that’s that’s pretty neat over four years. I don’t know if I’ve ever had that before, so that’s certainly a really nice luxury for me to have somebody who’s been with me and thinks like me. But, what does that mean to us? Or why is that a good thing? I think because he loves everything about football. He is, he’s a catalyst for the energy of the football team.”

Flood called Majors a thermostat, an expression he stole from head coach Steve Sarkisian, meaning that he sets the temperature for the room and the standard for the offensive lineman. All season, Majors has gotten nothing but praise from Sarkisian and his teammates.

Though humble, Majors knows the impact that he has on the offensive line, whether he’s on the field or not. Against Clemson, he went down with an injury in the second quarter and didn’t return to the game. The offensive line play did not drop off, and Majors credits that to their preparedness, but it can also be attributed to his leadership. Hayden Connor stepped in at center for Majors and shined in a position very different from his usual spot.

exas Longhorns offensive lineman Jake Majors (65) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and Clemson

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Jake Majors (65) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Playoff First Round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

“I thought that overall, the offensive line did a great job executing,” Majors said. “You know, it’s tough losing two of your starting o-lineman, but the way that they were able to, you know, be shuffled around, move in, and execute at that level, it was just awesome to see. So it just shows you how far we’ve come as an organization. And then I’d give Hayden an A-plus. I thought he did a good job communicating. I thought he did a great job of identifying the fronts. So just super proud of them.”

Majors will return for the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal against Arizona State, and since getting back out on to the field, he has been hungry to learn more about the game of football. Flood had high praise for Majors and his desire to learn and love for the game, something that not every football player has, even at the highest level.

“He sets the standard for us in that offensive line room,” Flood said. “And I think it does spill over to the rest of the offense just because of his personality. I think it starts with his love for everything about football. He loves to practice, he loves the meetings. He loves the rehab afterward. He loves the training and the weight weightlifting. And there’s just nothing about it he doesn’t love so that’s infectious on a football team. And it’s, it’s really, really invaluable.”

Majors attributes these qualities to his open mindset and love for the game. With every game having the possibilty of being his last game in college, he wants to soak in as much information as possible before going to the next level.

“I always just want to keep learning,” Majors said. “So if you have a growth mindset, you know, just always want to keep doing more and more and more instead of just letting the environment control you. So for me, I just want to keep learning from Flood. I just want to keep learning more about the offense. So I think when Coach refers to that, it’s, you know, I just want to keep learning. So I take that as a compliment.”

Majors is set to return against Arizona State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan 1 at 12 pm for a spot in the Cotton Bowl and College Football Playoff Semifinal.

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