THE SEVENTH SPECIAL AWARD May 12, 1961 Hotel Biltmore, New York City DR. J. T. D.•v•Es, M.A. (Cantab.), D.Sc., Professor and Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, England, was awarded the annual Special Award for 1961, in recognition of his fundamental research in the field of surface chemistry. He has studied the interfacial viscosity of monolayers and has developed a viscometer to measure accurately the viscosities of monolayers at the oil-water inter- face. By accurate measurement of interfacial viscosity it has been .. Dr. John T. Davies (left) Head Depart. Chemical Engineering, University of Bir- mingham, England, receiving Special Award from Dr. Sophie L. Plechner, President of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. 336

THE SEVENTH SPECIAL AWARD 337 possible to substantiate the theory that emulsion stability is enhanced by high interfacial viscosity. He has found a similar correlation between foam stability and surface viscosity as measured by a "viscous-traction" surface viscometer which he has developed. Dr. Davies has presented a quantitative theory of emulsion type based on coalescence kinetics and has compared this with the Bancroft rule and the HLB system of determining emulsion type. In the field of olfaction Dr. Davies has advanced the theory that odorant molecules initiate the nervous impulse through dislocating or "puncturing" the cell membrane at the olfactory site and has evaluated the effect of molecular shape, size and adsorption on the olfactory threshold. The presentation was made at the Special Award Luncheon on May 12th at the Hotel Biltmore. William C. Griffin, Associate Director, Product Development, Chemical Division, Atlas Chemical Industries, Inc., acting as eulogist, described Dr. Davies' work. Dr. Sophie L. Plechner, president of the Society, in presenting the Award to Dr. Davies, gave the following citation: "John T. Davies, in recognition of your fundamental research in surface chemistry, your work in correlating emulsion stability with the viscosities of the monolayers at the oil-water interface, the development of a new theory of emulsion type and its relationship to the HLB factor, your studies of the olfactory threshold, I present to you, in behalf of the oF CosMETro CI•v. ms•ps this scroll and a check for $1000, with the hope that this Award will stimulate publications of research in those fields of science of particular importance to the cosmetic chemist." JOHN T. DAVIES, M.A. (CANTAB.), D.Sc. A EULOGY BY WILLIAM C. Gaivvi ]'HIS MAY, or may not be, a new approach for your eulogist to take, but I detest long after dinner introductions ... so, three weeks ago when I saw Warren Dennis and he voiced similar sentiments, we agreed that these might well be the shortest on record for this occasion. John Davies and I first met in 1956 when he attended a Gordon Research Conference, and while here, stopped by our laboratories to discuss surface active agents. In the past ten to fifteen years, John Davies has authored or co-authored ahnost fifty publications--an average of over three a year. And, in addi- tion, he is about to publish, co-authored with Sir Eric Rideal, a book Interfacial Phenomena.