Geraldine Richmond, the Presidential Chair in Science and professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon, will deliver the Willem Prins Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center, 801 University Ave. A reception will precede the lecture at 3 p.m.

Both events are free and open to the public, and are sponsored by the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information, call Beth Molloy at 315.443.2851.

Richmond’s lecture, “Mulling Over Emulsions: Molecular Assembly at Complex Liquid Surfaces,” will focus on her team’s most recent research regarding the molecular structure of the oil-water interface and the unique environment it provides for adsorption of molecules, surfactants and macromolecules at both the surface and oil-in-water emulsions. The studies are a combination of spectroscopic and thermodynamic measurements coupled with theoretical simulations.

According to Richmond, data gained from these analyses have direct relevance to understanding a host of important global issues, including the interaction of water with soils, metal ion transport across membranes, toxic metal complexation and oil spill remediation.

Highly regarded in her field, Richmond is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Science Board. Most recently she was awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest scientific honor bestowed by the United States, by President Barack Obama for her pioneering work in molecular interaction.

Richmond is also the founding and current director of COACh, a grass-roots organization that has helped in the career advancement of over 20,000 women scientists and engineers in the United States as well as over 20 developing countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The Prins Lecture is named in memory of Willem Prins, professor of chemistry at Syracuse University. A much beloved teacher and dedicated researcher, Prins died on July 20, 1974, as the result of a boating accident. In his lifetime, Prins published more than 90 papers and lectured widely on his research in physical chemistry.