Distinguished University Professor Eric Baer receives honorary professorship

Eric Baer, Distinguished University Professor and Herbert Henry Dow Professor of Science and Engineering, recently was named an honorary professor of Beijing University for Chemical Technology (BUCT), a distinction considered the university’s highest academic honor.

The university recognized Baer for his landmark contributions to research and education, including his pioneering research in establishing the relationships between solid-state structure and properties of polymeric materials and their composites.

Founded in 1958, BUCT is one of China’s key institutions of higher learning, especially in the area of chemical engineering and chemistry. The university rarely confers the title of honorary professor, an honor that must have the approval of the Chinese Ministry of Education. Baer is only the 23rd professor to receive such an award from BUCT in its 54-year history.

The conferment ceremony took place Oct. 10. University President Taiwen Tan presented Baer with the certification of appointment.

In addition, Baer gave two lectures at the university: “New Micro and Nanolayered Polymeric Systems: Lessons from Nature,” and “Interfacial Phenomena in Nanolayered Polymers.”