NEW YORK — The 2018 Winthrop Sears Medal for Entrepreneurial Achievement has been awarded to Dr. George Corbin, Executive Vice President of Solvay’s Specialty Polymers Business. The medal, which has been awarded annually since 1970, will be presented to Corbin on Dec. 13, 2018, during The Chemists' Club's 121^st annual Egg Nog Gala at the New York Academy of Sciences.

"Dr. Corbin was selected for his outstanding leadership of a team of scientists and engineers that helped to develop sustainable polymer technology for the Solar Impulse, the world's first solar powered aircraft," said Dr. Roland Stefandl, President of The Chemists' Club. The Solar Impulse team succeeded despite widespread skepticism in the global scientific community. The Solar Impulse flew around the world in a series of consecutive flights from 2015-2016 without using any fuel.

Corbin joined Solvay in 2001 and has held several senior level positions prior to being appointed to his current position.