Chemistry Professor Ryan Richards has been chosen to receive the 2016 Colorado Section Research Award of the American Chemical Society.

The award, started in 1967, is given annually to a Colorado chemist with an extensive and impactful career in chemistry. It is the highest honor the Colorado Section of the ACS can bestow.

Richards will receive a medallion engraved with his name, and will present an award lecture at Mines early next year.

Richards was named an ACS Fellow in 2014. His research explores the interface of nanoscale materials and catalysis, including developing new methods to prepare nanostructured materials and control their chemical and physical properties.

Richards is also associate vice president for research and technology transfer and has served as director of the interdisciplinary graduate program in materials science. He has taught at Mines since 2007. He holds a PhD in inorganic chemistry from Kansas State University, an MS in organic chemistry from Central Michigan University, and a BS in forensic science and BA in chemistry from Michigan State University.