The Exponent Online


Monday 6/11/2001	5 day quick link 6/8 \| 6/6 \| 6/4 \| 6/1 \| 5/30

Professor turns department head

By Ian Clift
Summer reporter

Ian Rothwell first became excited about Chemistry through a high school teacher, now he will head the chemistry department at Purdue beginning July 1.

Rothwell, who will be replacing Richard Walton as the department head, said that his high school chemistry teacher allowed self-discovery, "He allowed students to get a real hands on experience. He designed some experiments that we could do on our own."

Rothwell grew up in London and attended the University College of London. He received his bachelor degree in 1976 and his doctoral degree in 1979.

He then moved to America, where he did his postdoctoral work at Indiana University in Bloomington. In 1981, he came to Purdue and moved through the ranks from assistant, to associate, and finally, professor.

Harry Morrison, dean of the School of Science, said, "He has been chairman of the graduate studies committee and he has been a leader in the faculty governance in (the chemistry) department."

Morrison said that Rothwell is a well-known scientist that has great respect from his colleagues because of his scholarly activities.

Rothwell said, "My area of research is organometalic chemistry and catalysts. The study of how transition metals can be used to carry out new interesting organic transformations."

His work involves reactions with carbon-based compounds using catalytic conditions. "Probably the most important use of my research is it allows me to teach and train both undergraduate and graduate students."

This past year, Rothwell taught Chemistry 125, "Intro to Chemistry 1," as well as Chemistry 647, "Transition Metal Chemistry."

He likes to play golf and make furniture when he has the time. He lives with his wife Arlene, an instrumental specialist in the department of chemistry, and his two teenage children.

Rothwell said, "Chemistry is the central science in a lot of the new interdisciplinary sciences."

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