The Dinesh O. Shah Annual Lecture in Surface Science was established in the Chemical Engineering Department at UF by Professor Dinesh O. Shah because of his strong commitment to the university and the field of surface science. Professor Shah retired in 2005 from UF after a distinguished academic career spanning 35 years. Dinesh O. Shah received his B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Bombay, India in 1959 and his Ph.D. in Biophysics from Columbia University in 1965. He joined UF in 1970 with a joint appointment in the Chemical Engineering Department and in the Anesthesiology Department. He was appointed as the director of the Center for Surface Science & Engineering in 1984. He then served as chair of the Chemical Engineering Department at UF from 1987-1991.
Dr. Shah has received numerous teaching, research and service awards, including: the UF Excellence in Teaching Award in 1972, the UF President’s Scholar Award in 1975, the UF Outstanding Service Award in 1976, the UF Teacher/Scholar of the Year Award from 1984-85 and the UF President’s Medallion for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship in 1985. In addition, Dr. Shah was named the Florida Scientist of the Year in 1988, received the Vishwa Gurjari 1992 International Award for Outstanding Achievement and received the Pride of India Award in July 1993. In 1993, he was also named as Distinguished Florida Scientist by the Florida Academy of Sciences. In 1996, he was honored with the first Charles A. Stokes Professorship at UF. He has been the founding director of the Shah-Schulman Center for Surface Science and Nanotechnology, D.D. University, Nadiad, lndia since January 2008.
Previous Dinesh O. Shah Lecturers
| 2023 | Mark Prausnitz |
| 2022 | Matthew Tirrell |
| 2020 | Samir Mitragotri |
| 2019 | Kathleen J. Stebe |
| 2018 | Martin Malmsten |
| 2017 | Orlin D. Velev |
| 2016 | John C. Berg |
| 2015 | Krister Holmberg |
| 2014 | Charles Maldarelli |
| 2012 | Hans-Joachim Freund |
| 2010 | Clayton Radke |
| 2009 | Robert K. Prud’Homme |
| 2008 | Robert Madix |
| 2007 | Bengt Kasemo |
| 2006 | Curtis Frank |
| 2005 | Darsh Wasan |
