SCHOLARS REMEMBER ARNOLD L. BECKMAN

After his death, students, teachers, and institutions continue to remember the contributions of Dr. Arnold O. Beckman, founder of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Indeed, it may have been a Beckman Scholar Award that supported their education within the College of Natural Sciences at Colorado State University. May 2005 marked the one year anniversary of the passing of Arnold Beckman, at age 104. In honor of Dr. Beckman and to help continue his legacy, organizations and institutions proclaimed the month of May Excellence in Science Month. Colorado State is one of 14 universities nationwide selected this year to receive the Beckman Scholars Program Award. Colorado State also received the Beckman Scholars Program Award from 2001-2003 and is the only institution in Colorado to win the award. Of the five awards given, three have been to students within the College of Natural Sciences. This year, each Beckman Scholar will receive $19,300 over three years and is required to work with a faculty mentor and perform 10 hours of research activities each week during the academic year and full-time research activities over 10 weeks for two summers. "The Beckman Scholars Program Award recognizes the quality, innovation, and success of Colorado State's research programs and enhances the University's focus of integrating research into the undergraduate learning experience," said Anthony Frank, Provost and Senior Vice President at Colorado State. "The Beckman award will allow Colorado State students unparalleled opportunities to work directly with top scientists and gain hands-on experience with advanced research projects." Additional information about the Beckman Scholars Program is available on the Web at http://www.beckman-foundation.com/.    The College of Natural Sciences proudly provides the following brief biography of Arnold Beckman as a testimony to his support of leading-edge scientific research, the many students he enabled to continue his vision of scientific excellence, and in memoriam. ARNOLD L. BECKMAN Arnold O. Beckman, founder-chairman emeritus of Beckman Instruments, Inc., is recognized worldwide as a scientist, an inventor and an educator, a philanthropist, and a business and civic leader. From President Bush, he received the l989 National Medal of Science for his leadership in the development of analytical instrumentation, and for his deep and abiding concern for the vitality of the Nation's scientific enterprises. In recognition for exemplary deeds of service to fellow citizens, Dr. Beckman was presented by President Reagan with the 1989 Presidential Citizens Medal, and the 1988 National Medal of Technology for outstanding contributions to the United States through technology. In 1999 he received the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. More recent honors include the High Tech Industry's Good Scout Award, from the Orange County Council, Boy Scouts of America; the Achievement Award for Excellence from the Center for Excellence in Education in Washington, DC, and the Order of Lincoln from the State of Illinois. Born in Cullom, Illinois, on April 10, 1900, Dr. Beckman received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1922 and his master's degree in physical chemistry a year later at the University of Illinois. He received his doctorate degree in photo chemistry in 1928 at the California Institute of Technology, where he also served on the faculty until l940. While still teaching, Dr. Beckman founded Beckman Instruments in 1935 with the production of a pH meter he invented. A forerunner of modern electrochemical instrumentation, the scientific instrument simplified and expedited acidity and alkalinity measurements. It quickly became an indispensable tool in analytical chemistry and, in l987, earned him a place in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In l940, he introduced the Beckman DU Spectrophotometer, which revolutionized chemical analysis by improving the time and accuracy of biological assays to minutes with 99.9 percent precision, from weeks it took before with only 25 percent accuracy. Although new models were introduced through the years, thousands of original instruments are still in use throughout the world. The HELIPOT, also introduced in 1940, was a variable resistance device similar to a radio volume control but far more precise. It has found application in a wide variety of electronic equipment, from computer and control systems to scientific instruments and home appliances. From its modest beginning, Beckman Instruments grew to become one of the world's leading suppliers of instruments and related products to the health care and life sciences markets. In 1982, Beckman merged with SmithKline Corporation of Philadelphia to form SmithKline Beckman Corporation. In 1989, Beckman became independent again. During the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Beckman was awarded twelve honorary degrees and has been the recipient of many honors and awards. His philanthropic activities through the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation are known worldwide and include generous contributions to a broad range of scientific and educational institutions.