Theodore Kuwana

Theodore Kuwana (1931–2022) was a chemist and academic researcher known as the founding father of the field of spectroelectrochemistry.

Kuwana's academic career included appointments at California Institute of Technology, the University of California, Riverside, Case Institute of Technology, Ohio State University, and finally at the University of Kansas. At KU, he was Regents Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, the Director of the Center for Bioanalytical Research, and Emeritus Distinguished Professor. He served as managing director of the Analytical Sciences Digital Library.

During his career, Kuwana mentored more than 70 graduate students.

Early life and education

Theodore Kuwana, a son of Japanese immigrant (Issei) parents Yoshino and Nenokichi Kuwana, was born August 3, 1931, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, in the United States.

Kuwana wrote, "I was the youngest of six children; my parents were immigrant tenant potato farmers... When I was 10 and 12, I lost my father and mother, respectively, to cancer. Early on, mother had said, 'You must go to college.' I was the only one in our family to do so." His interest in chemistry started while he was in elementary school, when he was given a Gilbert chemistry set one Christmas. In high school he won the Bausch & Lomb Medal for Excellence in chemistry. His M.S. in 1956 was from Cornell University.

In 1965, Kuwana wed Jane Bader. Because she understood the chemistry and was also a talented writer and editor, she edited his writings. The couple had a son, a daughter, and four granddaughters. He became an associate professor at Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University) in 1965, and a full professor there in 1968. From 1971–1986 he was on the faculty of Ohio State University. Kuwana joined the faculty at the University of Kansas in 1986, becoming Regents Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and the Director of the Center for Bioanalytical Research.

Kuwana is recognized as the founding father of spectroelectrochemistry:

Describing Kuwana's "profound impact on analytical chemistry education", Wenzel, et al., wrote that Kuwana set up a series of workshops with industrial leaders to evaluate the undergraduate analytical sciences curriculum and design improvements. The main recommendation from the workshop participants was that "the undergraduate analytical sciences curriculum needed to engage students in problem-based experiences in the classroom and laboratory portion of courses."

The workshop participants also recommended a digital library of resources and links to resources for instructors designing problem-based learning for lectures and laboratories. Kuwana partnered with the American Chemical Society, Division of Analytical Chemistry, to set up a partnership for educational outreach. The Analytical Sciences Digital Library (ASDL) was formed, and it was supported with funding from the National Science Foundation. thumb Ted Kuwana in lab with Susan M. LunteAccording to Richard L. McCreery, "Ted Kuwana was not only a scientific leader in electrochemistry and related fields, but he was also an excellent citizen and unselfish contributor to the careers of many other scientists, myself included." Over his career, Kuwana advised and mentored 73 graduate students.

Kuwana died of pneumonia in Seattle on January 1, 2022, at age 90 years. Electrodes for use in electrocatalytic processes, (1985). Electrochemical detector for liquid chromatographic analysis of carbohydrates, (1991).

Awards and honors

Fellow, American Chemical Society (2011) American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry, J. Calvin Giddings Award for Excellence in Education (2004) NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (2002) American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Award in Electrochemistry (1995) The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Honorary Membership and Medal (1991) Kuwana was honored with a special tribute issue of the journal Electroanalysis, "in recognition of his 50+ years of seminal contributions to the fields of electroanalytical chemistry, spectroelectrochemistry, analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, and analytical chemistry education." The Kuwana & Sawyer Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry Fund has been established to finance scholarships at the University of California, Riverside, for undergraduates "conducting research or studies in analytical chemistry, with preference to those pursuing the field of electrochemistry".