Henry Wedler

Last updated
Henry Wedler
Born
Petaluma, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater University of California, Davis
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry
Doctoral advisor Prof. Dean Tantillo
Websitehobywedler.com

Henry "Hoby" Wedler is an American chemist and entrepreneur. He was born blind and has advocated for greater accessibility of science to disabled students. Wedler even suggests that visually impaired chemists could have an advantage over sighted colleagues, due to the need to mentally imagine the structure of organic compounds; "I've been visualizing things my entire life". [1]

Contents

Education

While at high school in his native Petaluma, California, Wedler was told by a teacher that his blindness made laboratory chemistry an impossibility. [2] Initially dissuaded from entering science due to such concerns about his disability, Wedler studied both chemistry and US history at university so that he could pursue a PhD in the latter.

Upon meeting Dean Tantillo, who worked alongside him to support Wedler's education and research in his lab group, Wedler started a PhD in organic chemistry at University of California, Davis. [3] [4] Wedler's research output has included journal articles advocating practical approaches to make chemistry research possible for the visually impaired, discussing education, safety, software and even the functioning of service animals in the lab. [5] [6] [7] This includes involvement in the creation of software to extract 3D printable-models of molecules from 2D maps available in the literature. Furthermore, these models are annotated in braille with information such as bond length. [8] Wedler has conducted computational chemical analysis of the compounds involved in the flavouring of wine, as well as markers for the refinement of olive oil. [9] [10]

Career

Wedler founded and remains CEO of the not-for-profit Accessible Science. [11] Through this Wedler ran chemistry camps aimed at visually impaired high school students. These camps focused on skills such as utilizing campers' sense of smell to determine the progression of chemical reactions. Wedler further assures blind people considering a career in chemistry that "nobody can see atoms, and honestly most reactions in higher-level chemistry are clear, so there's no reason you can't think about chemistry". [2] [6]

He gave a TEDx Talk in Sonoma County about the role of sensory experience in his life and how important it is to maximise the experiences of taste and smell. [12] After completing his PhD in 2017 Wedler co-founded Senspoint, a consultancy for sensory experiences. [13]

In 2022, Wedler co-founded Emotitech, a research and design firm specializing in predicting human behavior through validated emotions. It is based in Palo Alto and South Tyrol, Italy. [14]

Achievements

Wedler was presented with a National Achievement Award in 2011 by Learning Ally, an organisation focused on opening typed literature to visually impaired or dyslexic audiences. [15]

For his role in promoting chemistry and science to blind people Wedler became a Champion of Change as part of an initiative run by the White House under Barack Obama. He was recognised for his contributions to the category of 'Stem Equality For Americans With Disabilities'. [16]

Forbes recognised Wedler as one of their 30 Under 30 in the Food and Drink category, emphasising his role in leading blind wine tastings in California. [17] Wedler regularly runs blind wine tasting at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Wine Country, blindfolding the participants so that they can embrace the aroma and flavours of wine without the 'distraction of sight'. [18]

Awards and honors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Eyring (chemist)</span> Mexican-born American chemist (1901–1981)

Henry Eyring was a Mexico-born United States theoretical chemist whose primary contribution was in the study of chemical reaction rates and intermediates. Eyring developed the Absolute Rate Theory or Transition state theory of chemical reactions, connecting the fields of chemistry and physics through atomic theory, quantum theory, and statistical mechanics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cork taint</span> Wine fault often attributed to the presence of trichloroanisole (TCA) from the cork

Cork taint is a broad term referring to an off-odor and off-flavor wine fault arising from the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), a chemical compound that represents one of the strongest off-flavors, and one "generated naturally in foods/beverages", in particular wines, that considerably reduces the quality of these products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ira Remsen</span> American chemist

Ira Remsen was an American chemist who discovered the artificial sweetener saccharin along with Constantin Fahlberg. He was the second president of Johns Hopkins University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sensory garden</span> Type of garden

A sensory garden is a self-contained garden area that allows visitors to enjoy a wide variety of sensory experiences. Sensory gardens are designed to provide opportunities to stimulate the senses, both individually and in combination, in ways that users may not usually encounter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2,4,6-Trichloroanisole</span> Chemical primarily responsible for cork taint in wines (TCA)

2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA) is an organic compound with the formula CH3OC6H2Cl3. It is the symmetric isomer of trichloroanisole. It is a colorless solid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visual impairment</span> Decreased ability to see

Visual or vision impairment is the partial or total inability of visual perception. In the absence of treatment such as corrective eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment, visual impairment may cause the individual difficulties with normal daily tasks, including reading and walking. The terms low vision and blindness are often used for levels of impairment which are difficult or impossible to correct and significantly impact daily life. In addition to the various permanent conditions, fleeting temporary vision impairment, amaurosis fugax, may occur, and may indicate serious medical problems.

Food chemistry is the study of chemical processes and interactions of all biological and non-biological components of foods. The biological substances include such items as meat, poultry, lettuce, beer, milk as examples. It is similar to biochemistry in its main components such as carbohydrates, lipids, and protein, but it also includes areas such as water, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, food additives, flavors, and colors. This discipline also encompasses how products change under certain food processing techniques and ways either to enhance or to prevent them from happening. An example of enhancing a process would be to encourage fermentation of dairy products with microorganisms that convert lactose to lactic acid; an example of preventing a process would be stopping the browning on the surface of freshly cut apples using lemon juice or other acidulated water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monell Chemical Senses Center</span>


The Monell Chemical Senses Center is an independent, non-profit scientific research institute located at the University City Science Center campus in Philadelphia. Founded in 1968, it is dedicated to interdisciplinary basic research on the senses of taste and smell. The center's mission is to improve health and well-being by advancing the scientific understanding of taste, smell, and related senses. Monell's research focuses on various aspects of chemosensory science, including how chemical senses affect human health, behavior, and the environment. The center employs a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, with scientists from diverse fields such as sensory psychology, biophysics, chemistry, behavioral neuroscience, environmental science, and genetics working together on research projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NonVisual Desktop Access</span> Free and open source screen reader for Windows

NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) is a free and open-source, portable screen reader for Microsoft Windows. The project was started by Michael Curran in 2006.

Ann C. Noble is a sensory chemist and retired professor from the University of California, Davis. During her time at the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, Noble invented the "Aroma Wheel" which is credited with enhancing the public understanding of wine tasting and terminology. At the time of her hiring at UC Davis in 1974, Noble was the first woman hired as a faculty member of the Viticulture department. Noble retired from Davis in 2002 and in 2003 was named Emeritus Professor of Enology. Since retirement she has participated as a judge in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wine tasting</span> Method of judging wine

Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onward. Modern, professional wine tasters use a constantly evolving specialized terminology which is used to describe the range of perceived flavors, aromas and general characteristics of a wine. More informal, recreational tasting may use similar terminology, usually involving a much less analytical process for a more general, personal appreciation.

Telesensory Systems, Inc. (TSI) was an American corporation that invented, designed, manufactured, and distributed technological aids for blind and low vision persons. TSI's products helped visually impaired people work independently with computers and with ordinary printed materials.

A sighted child who is reading at a basic level should be able to understand common words and answer simple questions about the information presented. They should also have enough fluency to get through the material in a timely manner. Over the course of a child's education, these foundations are built on to teach higher levels of math, science, and comprehension skills. Children who are blind not only have the education disadvantage of not being able to see: they also miss out on the very fundamental parts of early and advanced education if not provided with the necessary tools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linden Lodge School</span> Special school in Wimbledon Park, London, England

Linden Lodge School for the Blind is a specialist sensory and physical college located in Wimbledon, South London, England. It educates visually impaired children aged between two and nineteen, including those who are multi-disabled visually impaired.

Sensory tourism is a form of tourism, that caters for people with vision impairment. Those suffering from vision impairment face many difficulties based around mainstream tourism such as access to information, navigation, safety and the knowledge of others around them. This has caused the visionless members of society to travel much less than those with no vision impairment. Combining the theories behind tourism in terms of its psychology and its relation to the senses, an inclusive experience for the visually disabled was developed. Sensory tourism engages the physical and multi-sensory aspects of tourism, enhancing the tourism experience specifically for those with, but also benefitting those without vision impairment.

Amy Bower is an American physical oceanographer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She is known for her research on ocean circulation and for being one of the few blind oceanographers.

Andreas Stefik is a professor of computer science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the creator of Quorum, a computer programming language created with features that improve access for people with visually impairments. Stefik conducts research in the areas of software engineering, accessibility, and computer science education. He is an advocate for increasing access to computer science in K–12 education.

Jeb F. Willenbring is a Full Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Most of his research falls within the categories of Representation Theory, Discrete Mathematics, and Mathematical Physics. His current research consists of several collaborations concerning algebraic combinatorics and various aspects of Representation Theory. Willenbring has published multiple papers concerning the nature of Littlewood-Richardson coefficients, a particular focus of his, in collaboration with Professors Pamela Harris, Mark Colorusso, and William Erickson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Miele</span> American research scientist specializing in accessible technology design

Joshua A. Miele is an American research scientist who specializes in accessible technology design. Miele conducted research on tactile graphics and auditory displays at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in California for fifteen years. In 2019, he joined Amazon Lab126, a subsidiary of Amazon that works on hardware products, where he is Principal Accessibility Researcher. He has been blind since early childhood.

Mona Minkara is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Northeastern University, a position she held as of 2023. Her research primarily employs computational methods to explore the air-liquid interface, with a particular focus on respiratory physiology and drug delivery. Minkara, who is blind, is also a prominent advocate for the inclusion and support of blind and partially sighted individuals in science and engineering fields.

References

  1. ↑ "Braille Monitor: Has No Trouble Visualizing a Doctorate in Chemistry". nfb.org. Retrieved 5 Dec 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Blind Teens Tap Into Senses At Chemistry Camp". npr.org. Retrieved 2 Dec 2018.
  3. ↑ "Hoby Wedler: Part 2". daisy.org. Retrieved 11 Dec 2018.
  4. ↑ "Student Spotlight: Henry "Hoby" Wedler". grad.ucdavis.edu. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 2 Dec 2018.
  5. ↑ Wedler, Henry B.; Cohen, Sarah R.; Davis, Rebecca L.; Harrison, Jason G.; Siebert, Matthew R.; Willenbring, Dan; Hamann, Christian S.; Shaw, Jared T.; Tantillo, Dean J. (2012). "Applied Computational Chemistry for the Blind and Visually Impaired". Journal of Chemical Education. 89 (11): 1400–1404. Bibcode:2012JChEd..89.1400W. doi:10.1021/ed3000364.
  6. 1 2 Wedler, Henry B.; Boyes, Lee; Davis, Rebecca L.; Flynn, Dan; Franz, Annaliese; Hamann, Christian S.; Harrison, Jason G.; Lodewyk, Michael W.; Milinkevich, Kristin A.; Shaw, Jared T.; Tantillo, Dean J.; Wang, Selina C. (2014). "Nobody Can See Atoms: Science Camps Highlighting Approaches for Making Chemistry Accessible to Blind and Visually Impaired Students". Journal of Chemical Education. 91 (2): 188–194. Bibcode:2014JChEd..91..188W. doi:10.1021/ed300600p.
  7. ↑ Nepomuceno, Gabriella M.; Decker, Debbie M.; Shaw, Julian D.; Boyes, Lee; Tantillo, Dean J.; Wedler, Henry B. (2016). "The value of safety and practicality: Recommendations for training disabled students in the sciences with a focus on blind and visually impaired students in chemistry laboratories". Journal of Chemical Health and Safety. 23: 5–11. doi:10.1016/j.jchas.2015.02.003. S2CID   108646509.
  8. ↑ Lounnas, Valère; Wedler, Henry B.; Newman, Timothy; Schaftenaar, Gijs; Harrison, Jason G.; Nepomuceno, Gabriella; Pemberton, Ryan; Tantillo, Dean J.; Vriend, Gert (2014). "Visually impaired researchers get their hands on quantum chemistry: Application to a computational study on the isomerization of a sterol". Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design. 28 (11): 1057–1067. Bibcode:2014JCAMD..28.1057L. doi:10.1007/s10822-014-9782-7. PMID   25091066. S2CID   36093473.
  9. ↑ Wedler, Henry; Pemberton, Ryan; Tantillo, Dean (2015). "Carbocations and the Complex Flavor and Bouquet of Wine: Mechanistic Aspects of Terpene Biosynthesis in Wine Grapes". Molecules. 20 (6): 10781–10792. doi: 10.3390/molecules200610781 . PMC   6272345 . PMID   26111168.
  10. ↑ Wedler, Henry B.; Pemberton, Ryan P.; Lounnas, Valère; Vriend, Gert; Tantillo, Dean J.; Wang, Selina C. (2015). "Quantum chemical study of the isomerization of 24-methylenecycloartanol, a potential marker of olive oil refining". Journal of Molecular Modeling. 21 (5): 111. doi:10.1007/s00894-015-2652-y. PMID   25860110. S2CID   39277521.
  11. ↑ "Accessible Science Board". accessiblescience.org. Retrieved 2 Dec 2018.
  12. ↑ "Sensory Literacy Hoby Wedler TEDxSonomaCounty". youtube.com. December 2017. Retrieved 13 Dec 2018.
  13. ↑ "Senspoint: Our Story". senspointdesign.com. Retrieved 6 Dec 2018.
  14. ↑ "EMOTITECH: People, Henry "Hoby" Wedler". emotitech.com. Retrieved 24 Aug 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Past National Achievements Awards Winners: 52nd Annual National Achievement Award: 2011 Winners". learningally.org. Retrieved 3 Dec 2018.
  16. 1 2 "Champions of Change: Henry Wedler". obamawhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2 Dec 2018.
  17. 1 2 "30 Under 30: Henry Hoby Wedler". forbes.com. Retrieved 6 Dec 2018.
  18. ↑ "Popular blind wine tasting an inspiration". pressdemocrat.com. Retrieved 8 Dec 2018.
  19. ↑ "40 Under 40 Winners". bizjournals.com/sacramento. Retrieved 13 Dec 2018.
  20. ↑ "Dr Henry 'Hoby' Wedler'". californiacraftbeer.com. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 13 Dec 2018.
  21. ↑ "2017 Inclusion and Diversity Prize Winner". rsc.org. Retrieved 2 Dec 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.