The American Chemical Society’s 2017 James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public has been awarded to University of Oregon alumnus Thomas Hager. The award recognizes writers whose work increases the public’s knowledge and understanding of chemistry, chemical engineering, and related fields.

Hager, a science wrtier who holds a master’s degree in medical microbiology and immunology from the Oregon Health Sciences University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Oregon, will be honored at an Awards Ceremony in April in conjunction with the 253rd ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, CA.

His most recent book, The Alchemy of Air: A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Scientific Discovery That Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler, was a Kirkus Reviews “Best Books of The Year,” a Borders “Original Voices” Selection, and a finalist for the National Academies Communication Award.