CISTAR learned with great sadness of the passing of Edith Flanigen, a pioneering chemist whose work on zeolites and molecular sieves—especially the invention of zeolite Y—transformed petroleum refining and advanced the broader field of porous materials.

CISTAR was honored to welcome Edith as an invited guest at our 2019 Biannual Meeting at Northwestern University. She left a lasting impression with her reflections on her long, remarkable career and the joy she felt making new discoveries. Edith also spoke about how supportive and collaborative environments spur people to do their best work because their uniqueness is respected. She put it simply but powerfully:

"If you are happy and excited and inspired, you work harder—and don't mind."

Edith worked at Union Carbide beginning in 1952, and following their merger with Allied-Signal, then worked at the newly established company U.O.P. After her retirement in 1994, Edith Flanigen continued for many years to be engaged and contribute to her field as a consultant for U.O.P. 

In 1992, she became the first woman to be awarded the Perkin Medal, America's top honor in applied chemistry, and in 2012, she was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. She held 109 U.S. patents.