The academic community and beyond are mourning the loss of Gregory Beaucage, PhD, a distinguished polymer scientist and a valued member of the University of Cincinnati. According to a tribute posted by the University of Cincinnati, Beaucage passed away on July 14 at the age of 67.
Beaucage was renowned for his work on the Unified Scattering Function, a tool that has come to largely redefine the analysis of polymers through small-angle scattering techniques. His contributions extended not only to academia but also to major industry players, having worked with giants such as Procter & Gamble, ExxonMobil, and DuPont. His efforts to always seek to directly connect fundamental science with its practical applications are a testament to his commitment to both education and industry.
Beaucage's reach in the global academic community was expansive, with the professor having delivered lectures around the world, from the American Physical Society to Yamagata University in Japan and Addis Ababa University. He was also deeply involved in fostering science education projects, notably solar energy initiatives in Africa. Notably, "He collaborated widely, securing support from federal agencies, international institutions and industrial partners," Donglu Shi, his colleague and UC Professor, told the University of Cincinnati.
His legacy includes a prolific output of more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and a staggering citation count, which placed him among the top 1% of physicists on a global scale over a decade. His research was wide-ranging, covering issues from polymer crystallinity to deeply understanding RNA folding and protein aggregation. True to his passion for knowledge dissemination, Beaucage was a sought-after speaker known to frequently share his insights at prominent scientific gatherings.
The University of Rhode Island and the University of Massachusetts Amherst fostered Beaucage's early academic path, where he completed his bachelor's degree and PhD, respectively. Colleague and UC Professor Emeritus Dale Schaefer recalled, "We will deeply miss the many stimulating hallway conversations we had with Greg over the years." Schaefer added that Beaucage's innovative thinking contributed significantly to initiatives that shaped UC's materials science and engineering program.
Beaucage's life was celebrated on Sept. 6 at the Oratory at Grailville in Loveland, Ohio. Survived by his wife Jean and children Peter, Catherine, and Maria, the family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, actions be taken to honor Beaucage’s dedication to peace and human rights. Reflecting his life's work, they encourage gestures that strive to make the world a better place.
