Dr. Harry Gray, winner of the 2009 Welch Award in Chemistry

Dr. Harry Gray, California Institute of Technology

Dr. Harry Gray, California Institute of Technology

Dr. Gray loved colors as a child. He would ask questions like, what makes up a color? or why is a rubie red? His questions led him to think about chemistry in a different way from his colleagues. Now, at the age of 73, Dr. Gray is considered a pioneer of inorganic chemistry.

His work also relates biological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration. At one point in his career, Dr. Gray even thought replication of photosynthesis would solve our world’s energy problems. While this didn’t completely work out – we now know more about the processes leaves undergo.

Imagine yourself taking ahold of your own questions – and using them to help the world. Questions are an important foundation to being a great scientist.

Base metals: explorers required

Lecturer, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Lecturer, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Chemistry is more than a boring course, memorizing odd facts, or worrying about your math skills. Chemistry ties into everything – including life. In fact, life’s many processes require metals. This is because metals combine with organic molecules and influence their structure and function.

Fifteen years ago, metals combining with organics was not a hot topic. Masanobu Uchiyama changed this fact.

Imagine Masanobu Uchiyama being told his grandmother had only a week to live because “pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to create new drugs for which there are few patients because it is not profitable.” Did he sit and complain? No. Masanobu Uchiyama changed the world through his studies of metals.

Read more about Masanobu Uchiyama. Imagine your own world – and figure out how to improve it. Imagine if you could turn your pain into saving lives.