Stuart Alan Rice, a prominent figure in the field of physical chemistry and a longtime professor at the University of Chicago, passed away on December 22 at the age of 92. As the Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Chemistry, Rice was part of UChicago's faculty for nearly seventy years. His contributions spanned numerous areas of physical chemistry, including the theory of liquids, molecular spectroscopy, and X-ray studies of surfaces.
Paul Alivisatos, President of UChicago and a former student of Rice's, remarked on his profound impact: “In Stuart, I encountered a person with an expansive love of the field of chemistry—a subject in which he always seemed to see things a few layers deeper than anyone else...He inspired generations, and his loss is not only felt deeply at the University of Chicago but across the whole of the scientific community.”
Rice was known for working in both theoretical and experimental chemistry. His research laid groundwork for developments in organic solar cells, LEDs, and quantum computing. He received prestigious awards such as the Wolf Prize and the National Medal of Science.
Born in New York City in 1932, Rice pursued an early interest in science. After earning his undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, he joined UChicago's faculty where he spent his entire career. Throughout this time, he co-authored over 700 papers.
One notable area where Rice made significant strides was "active control," where he demonstrated that laser pulses could direct chemical reactions to desired outcomes—an advancement foundational to modern quantum computing technologies.
Colleague Steven Sibener described him as an “iconic figure” who consistently tackled challenging problems at the forefront of physical chemistry. Prof. Aaron Dinner highlighted Rice’s openness to exploring new directions: “He was willing to ask questions that were unfashionable...and that would lead him to new directions.”
Rice also edited Advances in Chemical Physics for fifty years. Donald Levy noted that discussions with Rice were always enlightening: “If you lose an argument with Stuart, you’re still going to learn a lot.”
As an educator and mentor, Rice guided 107 doctoral students who now hold positions worldwide. His textbook Physical Chemistry remains influential among educators.
Beyond academia, Rice held various leadership roles within UChicago and served on multiple advisory boards for federal agencies and institutions like Argonne National Laboratory.
In recognition of his transformative work in physical chemistry through research and teaching methods that inspired future scientists, he received numerous accolades throughout his career.
Despite retiring officially in 2008, Rice remained active within UChicago’s department until his passing. Outside academic pursuits, he collected antique scientific equipment and established awards supporting research initiatives.
Stuart Alan Rice is survived by his wife Ruth O’Brien; children Barbara and David; two grandchildren; preceded by first wife Marian Coopersmith; daughter Janet.