Reed Izatt Recognized at Alumni Dinner

Reed M. Izatt was honored for his numerous contributions to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with the Distinguished Pillar Award at the Homecoming Alumni Dinner on Friday, Oct. 12.

Paul Savage, professor of organic chemistry, gave a brief introduction of Dr. Izatt prior to presenting the award on behalf of the department. Of the top 10 faculty members at BYU in number of scholarly publications, eight are chemists, including Izatt. Izatt also has the top h-index, which refers to how often a researcher’s publications are cited by others.

“Of all the papers published at BYU, Dr. Izatt has published over two percent of them,” Savage said. “[His h-index] is a record that will stick around a long time … That tells you he’s making a difference here and with others.”

Savage had the opportunity to collaborate on research with Izatt as an undergraduate when he worked for Jerald Bradshaw, another emeritus professor. He also read a letter by Gerald Watt, who worked for Izatt as a graduate student, which described how Izatt guided him – expertly but not without mercy. (Watt later joined the department faculty and is now retired.)

“Reed demands excellence of himself and those he works with,” Savage concluded. “He is honored and recognized as a pillar of our department. We need to realize we have the resources we have because of professors [like Reed] who worked well…to mold us into a premier department at the university.”

The audience burst into “Happy Birthday” shortly after Savage finished. Izatt shares his Oct. 10 birthday with three other chemistry professors: Leo P. Vernon, Coran L. Cluff and John D. Lamb.

The Distinguished Pillar Award was presented for the first time in 2010 to J. Rex Goates and Eliot A. Butler. The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor emeritus professors and the groundwork they have laid in making the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry what it is today.

Lee Hansen finished off the evening with a presentation about his and Jaron Hansen’s (no relation) research on turning waste to energy. Although Jaron was originally scheduled to deliver the lecture, he was unable to attend at the last minute and Lee graciously filled in, describing their accomplishments thus far. Drs. Lee and Jaron Hansen first began researching “poop to power” five years ago and in 2009 started their own company, AD Tech (Anaerobic Digestion Technology).

Working in collaboration with professors from Utah State University (who started Andigen LLC), the Hansens developed technology to process waste into energy. Now, their biggest challenge is persuading waste plants that the up-front cost for installing an anaerobic digester (which processes waste into compost and biogas) and a biogas conditioner (which cleans the gas from hydrogen sulfide and water) is worth paying. Most recently, the Hansens installed a biogas conditioner in China. They are working on installing a conditioner at a sewage treatment plant in Utah Valley.

“The technology is ready to go,” Lee Hansen said.

He admitted the up-front cost could be daunting, but firmly believes this kind of renewable energy is the future.

“It’s an investment – you pay for a biogas conditioner up front and save on energy later. It actually makes money for the city,” Hansen said.

By Jessica Henrie