Awards & Winners

Carl Djerassi

Date of Birth 29-October-1923
Place of Birth Vienna
(Austria)
Nationality United States of America, Austria
Profession Chemist, Scientist, Writer, Playwright, Professor
Carl Djerassi is an Austrian-American chemist, novelist, and playwright best known for his contribution to the development of oral contraceptive pills and the use of physical methods in organic chemistry as well as on structure elucidation of natural products, an area in which he published over 1000 papers. Djerassi is emeritus professor of chemistry at Stanford University. He participated in the invention in 1951, together with Mexican Luis E. Miramontes and Mexican-Hungarian George Rosenkranz, of the progestin norethindrone—which, unlike progesterone, remained effective when taken orally and was far stronger than the naturally occurring hormone. His preparation was first administered as an oral contraceptive to animals by Gregory Pincus and Min Chueh Chang and to women by John Rock. Djerassi is also the author of several novels in the "science-in-fiction" genre, including Cantor's Dilemma, in which he explores the ethics of modern scientific research through his protagonist, Dr. Cantor. He also wrote Chemistry in Theatre: Insufficiency, Phallacy or both which demonstrate the potential pedagogic value of using dialogic style and plot structure of plays with special focus on chemistry.

Awards by Carl Djerassi

Check all the awards nominated and won by Carl Djerassi.

1991


National Medal of Technology and Innovation
(For his broad technological contributions to solving environmental problems; and for his initiatives in developing novel, practical approaches to insect control products that are biodegradable and harmless.)

1978


Wolf Prize in Chemistry
(for his work in bioorganic chemistry, application of new spectroscopic techniques, and his support of international cooperation.)

1973


National Medal of Science for Physical Science
(In recognition of his major contributions to the elucidation of the complex chemistry of the steroid hormones and to the application of these compounds to medicinal chemistry and population control by means of oral contraceptives.)