Paul J. Flory-Polymer Education Award
 presented to Leo Mandlekern

	At the POLY Awards Banquet at the Smithsonian Institution 
in Washington DC, Leo Mandlekern was presented with the 
Paul J. Flory-Polymer Education award.  The Flory Polymer 
Education award was established to recognize, encourage, 
and stimulate outstanding achievements by an individual in 
promoting undergraduate and/or graduate polymer 
education.  The award was established in 1981 and 
administered POLY.  Some of Leo's accomplishments are 
summarized below. 
	Leo has made a number of contributions in the area of 
polymer education, but the most important of these is 
probably the training he has given his large group of 
research students over the last three decades.  He has 
instilled in these students and collaborators the highest 
standards of scientific investigation, at least in part by 
his own outstanding example.  Another salient aspect of his 
education activities is his presentation of courses in 
polymer science, mainly undergraduate and graduate 
courses given at Florida State University, but also include 
valuable contributions in the American Chemical Society 
Short Course Program.
	One of Leo's major goals in the educational area has been to 
convince the academic community of the need to introduce 
sound, quantitative principles of polymer science 
throughout the standard undergraduate and graduate 
chemistry curricula.  For example, he has submitted to the 
Polymer Division a very carefully thought-out proposal for 
"Polymer Curriculum Development."  It was successfully 
received and is currently being extensively implemented. 
Specifically, a set of polymer-related experiments is being 
introduced into an Instrumental Analysis course, which is a 
standard senior-level course in analytical chemistry.
	Leo has served with great distinction on the Polymer 
Division Education Committee, one of his contributions 
being to serve as coauthor of the two-part series "Polymer 
Principles in the Undergraduate Physical Chemistry 
Course".  He himself has published additional articles of 
this type, and all have been important in documenting the 
critical importance of polymer subjects in the chemistry 
curriculum.  Finally, Leo has had indirect but very 
important educational impact through the two books he has 
published, both well-received.  The first, "Crystallization 
of Polymers", is addressed more to the specialist 
interested in crystalline polymers.  The second, however, 
is a fascinating introductory text for lower-level 
undergraduates entitled "An Introduction to 
Macromolecules", first published in 1972.  A revised and 
expanded edition appeared in 1983.  Out of his broad 
experience in the field, Leo has achieved a presentation 
that deals descriptively and in lucid terms with the 
complete spectrum of polymers ranging from those of 
commercial interest to biopolymers. It has had a great 
influence on the teaching of the basic concepts of polymer 
science, and has received many favorable reviews.
	Leo Mandelkern's contributions in undergraduate and 
graduate education in polymers have been absolutely 
superb.  They have been invaluable to our polymer 
community for more than thirty years and show no signs of 
slackening.  It is rewarding to polymer scientists world-
wide to see contributions such as his recognized by the 
Paul J. Flory Polymer Education Award.