Bruce Bursten is Commencement Speaker

BRUCE BURSTEN TO ADDRESS WINTER QUARTER GRADUATES AT OHIO STATE

COLUMBUS -- A faculty member at The Ohio State University 
known as a "scientist for all seasons" has been chosen as the 
speaker for winter quarter commencement exercises to be held 
March 20 in St. John Arena.  Some 1,400 degrees will be awarded 
in the ceremonies, which begin at 9:30 a.m.

Bruce Bursten, professor of chemistry and a Distinguished 
University Professor, plans to address the graduates on the value 
of hard work and good fortune.  

"One has to work hard in order to allow good things to 
happen," he said.  "I feel like I've had good fortune in my life 
and career, much of which has been based on working hard."

Bursten earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the 
University of Chicago in 1974.  He joined the Ohio State faculty 
in 1980 after graduating with a doctoral degree in inorganic 
chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and 
conducting postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University.

The co-author of a general chemistry textbook used by some 
100,000 undergraduate students worldwide, Bursten is noted for 
his teaching skills, writing ability and high standards for 
research. 

He has an international reputation for his theoretical and 
experimental research in the electronic structure of metal 
complexes, chemical bonding theory and inorganic photochemistry.  

His current research activities are supported by research grants from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Ohio Supercomputer Center.

Named a Distinguished University Professor last spring, 
Bursten was granted $30,000 over three years to support his 
research, service and scholarly or creative work, in addition to 
his regular program of teaching.

"One can credibly argue that Bruce is one of the finest 
teachers on The Ohio State University campus," said Matthew S. 
Platz, chair of the Department of Chemistry.  "He has a truly 
exceptional record in teaching, research and service.  He is one 
of the cornerstones of the department and the entire university."

Bursten has received numerous honors for his work, including 
the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Teacher-Scholar Award in 
1984, and was named a Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 
1985.  He has twice won the Ohio State Alumni Award for 
Distinguished Teaching, in 1982 and 1996, and received the Ohio 
State Distinguished Scholar Award in 1990 and the Colleges of 
Arts and Sciences Honors Faculty Service Award in 1995.  A 
charter member of the Ohio State Academy of Teaching, Bursten is 
an honorary member of the Chimes and Sphinx class honoraries.

Bursten attributes his teaching success to two things -- 
getting students past the fear of science and into the excitement 
of learning, and having a good feel about what students find 
difficult, which helps him help them learn.

"I feel very fortunate that I am able to spend my life 
working in a job that I love," Bursten said. "When I see the 
success of my students it makes me feel wonderful.  If I can 
attribute some of their success to having spent any time with me 
or in my class, that is great.

"The main legacy I will leave in science is in the students 
I have educated and helped to succeed," he said.

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Contact: Bruce Bursten, (614) 292-1866.