Zewail

Ahmed Hassan Zewail (July 26, 1946 – August 2, 2016) was an Egyptian-American chemist who pioneered femtochemistry, the study of chemical reactions on ultrafast timescales. By using ultrashort laser pulses in the femtosecond range, his group was able to observe and control the transition states that govern chemical reactions, turning chemistry into a real-time science.

In 1999, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his development of femtochemistry and for enabling the observation of chemical reaction dynamics with time-resolved spectroscopy.

He spent much of his career at the California Institute of Technology, where he held the Linus Pauling Chair of Chemistry and led research in physical chemistry and chemical physics.

Born in Damanhour, Egypt, Zewail studied in Egypt and pursued doctoral studies in the United States, earning a PhD in physical chemistry. He became a naturalized American citizen and continued to influence science education and research.

Beyond his research, Zewail advocated for science development in Egypt and worldwide. He helped promote science education and founded the Zewail City of Science and Technology in Egypt, an institution named in his honor to foster advanced research and innovation.