Ahmed Zewail

Ahmed Hassan Zewail was born on February 26, 1946, in Damanhur, Egypt. He grew up in a small, well-educated family and later moved to Alexandria, Egypt, where he completed his schooling. Showing an early aptitude for science, Zewail went on to study at the University of Alexandria, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. His early life set the foundation for his future achievements in chemistry.

In 1974, Ahmed Zewail received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. His dissertation was on theoretical studies of the radiation chemistry of certain photochemical systems. This marked a major milestone in his academic career, leading him to a postdoctoral position at the University of California, Berkeley, where he further advanced his research in the field of chemical physics.

Ahmed Zewail began his career at California Institute of Technology in 1976 as a faculty fellow, focusing initially on molecular dynamics. Over time, he advanced to the position of Professor of Chemistry and Physics. His early work at Caltech laid the groundwork for his later scientific achievements in the study of ultrafast processes in chemistry and biology using groundbreaking techniques in femtochemistry.

Ahmed Zewail joined the faculty at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1982, where he started pioneering work on femtochemistry — the study of chemical reactions on extremely short timescales. His work at Caltech led to significant breakthroughs that allowed chemists to observe molecular transformations in real time, shifting the paradigm in chemical physics to femtochemistry.

On October 13, 1999, Ahmed Zewail was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work on femtochemistry. His research enabled scientists to observe the movement of atoms in a molecule during a chemical reaction, a process that occurs on the femtosecond scale (one quadrillionth of a second). This revolutionary technique made it possible to understand chemical processes in detailed timeframes previously thought impossible and garnered him international recognition.

In 2009, Ahmed Zewail was appointed to President Barack Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). This council advises the President on issues related to science, technology, and innovation. Zewail's appointment was a testament to his status as a leading scientist and his contributions were expected to have a significant impact on shaping the science policy in the United States.

In November 2009, Ahmed Zewail was appointed as the first United States Science Envoy to the Middle East by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In this role, he sought to foster scientific and technological collaborations with countries in the Middle East, aiming to develop partnerships that could lead to advances in education and scientific research in the region.

In December 2011, the Egyptian government established Zewail City of Science and Technology, named in honor of Ahmed Zewail. Zewail City was intended to be a hub for scientific research and education in Egypt, embodying Zewail's vision of enhancing scientific capabilities and fostering innovation and technology development within the country. Zewail played an instrumental role in its founding, aiming to cultivate a new generation of scientists and technologists.

In December 2013, Ahmed Zewail was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of the most prestigious honors for a scientist. Election to this fellowship is a mark of high distinction and recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of science, particularly his pioneering work in femtochemistry. His admission into the Royal Society underscored his impact on the scientific community worldwide.

Ahmed Zewail passed away on August 2, 2016, in Pasadena, California at the age of 70. His death was a significant loss to the scientific community; he was revered for his role in developing the field of femtochemistry and his contributions to science and education. Zewail left behind a legacy of scientific innovation, with his pioneering research continuing to influence the field of chemistry and inspire new generations of scientists.