Meet the ACS National Award winners for 2026: Part 4

Sponsor: DowCitation: For groundbreaking contributions to the synthesis and reactivity of low-valent silicon compounds, and advancing the potential of silicon in metal-free catalysis and small-molecule activationCurrent position: Chair of silicon chemistry, Technical University of MunichEducation: BS, chemistry, MS, chemistry, and PhD, chemistry, University of TsukubaInoue on his hopes for the future: “We already live in a silicon world. It powers our computers, captures sunlight, and shapes countless materials. But chemistry still holds many secrets of this element. I want to uncover those hidden capabilities and show that silicon can be not only the element of technology, but also of innovation and sustainability.”What Inoue's colleagues say: “As a leader in the field of silicon chemistry, Shigeyoshi has made groundbreaking contributions that have significantly advanced our understanding of this element and its chemical potential.”—Lutz Greb, Heidelberg UniversitySponsor: Endowed fund established by Gabor A. Somorjai and Judith K. SomorjaiCitation: For pathbreaking advances in asymmetric catalysis and the site-selective modification of complex secondary metabolitesCurrent position: Sterling Professor of Chemistry, Yale UniversityEducation: BA, chemistry, MA, chemistry, and PhD, chemistry, Harvard UniversityMiller on his hopes for the future: “Chemistry is endlessly fascinating to me. I hope we will be able to continue to be discovery-oriented as this is a path to unexpected impacts.”What Miller's colleagues say: “Scott's contribution to hydrogen-bonding based asymmetric catalysis and site-selective catalysis is original and instrumental. The impact of his work is significant in terms of both practical applications and fundamental understanding of asymmetric catalysis.”—Jin-Quan Yu, Scripps ResearchSponsor: Endowed fund established by