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Jerrold Meinwald, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, has received the National Medal of Science in chemistry.

Jerrold Meinwald, the Goldwin Smith Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, has received the National Medal of Science, the nations highest honor for achievement in science and engineering. Meinwald received the medal in chemistry; other awards were bestowed in behavioral and social sciences, biology, engineering, mathematics and physical sciences, the White House announced Oct. 3.

Over his long career, Meinwald, who joined Cornells faculty in 1952 as an instructor in chemistry, has made fundamental discoveries of how chemicals act as repellants and attractants between organisms. He and the late Thomas Eisner, a longtime friend and colleague who won the National Medal of Science in 1994, are credited with establishing the field of chemical ecology the science that deals with the many ways animals, plants and microorganisms chemically interact.

Its a very nice thing, Meinwald said of the award. Its maybe a representation of a growing interest in the field of chemical ecology.

Meinwalds research has involved the isolation and identification of biologically active compounds from insect and other arthropod sources; pheromone systems of some amphibian and mammal species; and identification of messenger molecules involved in such systems and the understanding of underlying signal transduction pathways.

Meinwald has helped decipher the intricate chemical strategies that insects use for a variety of activities: mating, location of food, protection of offspring and defense against attackers. Throughout his decades-long scientific partnership with Eisner, Eisner, a biologist, conducted most of the biological experiments, while Meinwald and his research group of undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs provided the essential chemical expertise.

Chemicals of unforeseen potential have been among Meinwalds findings over the years. He helped discover that birds and spiders reject fireflies because of lucibufagins, a family of steroids, which Meinwald isolated for the first time. These compounds have proved to have cardiotonic and antiviral effects, with potential therapeutic value for humans.

Meinwald began his career as a conventional organic chemist, he said, but moved on to do collaborative chemistry with Eisner. Meinwald is an active advocate for chemists who seek scientific partnerships outside of chemistry, whether in biology, physics or other fields.

My own award represents a career built in large part on collaboration, he said.

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Jerrold Meinwald wins National Medal of Science