High-tech Industry Icon to Receive Science Society Medal

SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) has named Dr Gordon E. Moore, Chairman Emeritus of Intel Corporation, as winner of the 2004 Perkin Medal. Moore will receive the award at the 98th annual Perkin Medal Award Dinner on September 14 in Philadelphia, USA.

Moore predicted the industry’s ability to exponentially increase the amount of transistors that could be placed on a silicon chip and open the doors for semiconductor chips to become the lowest cost and most efficient method for delivering complex electronics to the masses. This observation has become know as ‘Moore’s Law’ and remains a guiding principle for today’s worldwide $200 billion semiconductor industry that feeds a trillion dollar a year electronics industry.

The Perkin Medal, the highest honour given for outstanding applied chemistry in the United States, is bestowed upon scientists and engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the improvement of the quality of life and the world competitiveness of the U.S. economy. Moore, one of the pioneers of the semiconductor industry, is noted for some of his key technological efforts that helped create the world’s first integrated circuit at Fairchild Semiconductor and the world’s first microprocessor and several other cornerstone products at Intel Corporation.

“I have always had proudly referred to myself as a chemist. I believe chemistry has played and continues to play important roles in making the world a better place,” says Moore. “From the time I was 12-years-old and shared a friend’s Christmas chemistry set, I have felt the wonder of experimentation and the thrill of results. To be awarded the Perkin Medal is an honour that I truly appreciate and willingly accept.” Dr Raj Gupta, Chairman of the SCI USA Section and Chairman of the Board of Rohm and Haas, will present Moore with the medal.

Moore was a co-founder of two of the most important technology companies in the United States – Fairchild Semiconductor (1957) and Intel Corporation (1968). At Intel, Moore served initially as the company’s Executive Vice President. He became President and Chief Executive Officer in 1975 and held that post until elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1979. He remained CEO until 1987 and was named Chairman Emeritus in 1997. Moore earned a BS in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley and a PhD in chemistry and physics from the California Institute of Technology.