Navigate

Thorp Chairing New National Research Council Committee

Holden Thorp '86.

Holden Thorp ’86

Outgoing Chancellor Holden Thorp ’86 has been named chair of a new National Research Council committee tasked with establishing and promoting a culture of safety in academic laboratory research.

Thorp is among 13 academic and industry leaders who will review current laboratory practices and attitudes and then make recommendations intended to improve the safety performance of U.S. laboratories conducting chemistry research.

“Laboratory incidents in the academic community have greatly concerned many in academia,” Thorp said. “This committee will learn from these incidents and create an atmosphere in which safety is paramount, from the highest levels of administration, down through schools and departments, to individual faculty and staff.”

The committee will meet at least four times during the coming year to acquire information, visit relevant sites, deliberate on issues and develop its report. Its first meeting will take place May 14-16; the committee plans to make its recommendations to the National Research Council early next year.

Thorp has served on several national advisory panels, including the National Security Higher Education Advisory Board. His other national leadership appointments cover topics including innovation and entrepreneurship, college costs, national security, and improving retention and degree attainment.

He has served on the faculty since 1993. Before becoming chancellor five years ago, he had been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, director of the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and, from 2005 to 2007, chair of the chemistry department. He is stepping down in June to become provost at Washington University in St. Louis.


Share via: