Harry was an inspiration to many and a close friend and colleague. He saw the potential in students to excel in all aspects of education, from outreach activities to research. We shared the vision of providing a resource of educational videos and worksheets to support students and teachers.

 

Harry had a presentation style that matched no other. His hyperlinked cache of PowerPoint presentations left everyone astonished and certainly impressed, and his signature slides with the Nitrosoethane molecule demonstrating rotation as a dog by a lamp post was a clear audience favorite. Beyond the presentations was his desire to make people really think about the world we live in, and learn something new about ourselves. He used the quote from the Don Marquis that I now use in my invited lectures.

 

“If you make people think they’re thinking, they’ll love you; but if you really make them think they’ll hate you.”

 

In my research career, Harry gave me the opportunity to really expand my knowledge, completing my doctorate working in a protein design lab headed by Dek Woolfson, with fond memories of manual peptide synthesis and purification, while undertaking work on Fullerenes with Ray Whitby and David Walton.

 

It has been a privilege and honor to have worked with Harry over the years. His Global Educational Outreach for Science Engineering and Technology (GEOSET) initiative, and research activities will continue, inspiring the next generation of students around the world to engage in scientific discovery. Wherever that journey may lead.

 

On behalf of his research group at Florida State University, and the team at GEOSET, we thank and remember him for his guidance, strength and wisdom.

 

-Steve Acquah -