The Science Life Chemistry

Chemist tackles complex problems with simplicity

A unique philosophy helps Harvard’s George Whitesides develop new diagnostic devices

Harvard’s George Whitesides

PROBLEM SOLVER  Harvard’s George Whitesides holds a handful of simple, paper-based diagnostic devices.

Volker Steger/Science Source

By Sam Lemonick

- More than 2 years ago

Early in his career, George M. Whitesides did the kind of chemistry you might call ordinary: making new molecules, figuring out the mechanisms of chemical reactions, tuning instruments to tell one compound from another.