Author: Hans W. Spiess

Dietrich Demus is the editor of Handbook of Liquid Crystals, published by Wiley. John W. Goodby is currently Chair of Materials Chemistry at the University of York, UK. He has published over 450 papers, given 170 plenary or invited lectures and holds 55 patents. John Goodby belongs to the top 5%-cited chemists in the world. His research in liquid crystals has been recognized by the George W. Gray Medal, the Tilden Lectureship of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity College, Dublin, and the Interdisciplinary Award of the RSC. George W. Gray CBE FRS was a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Hull who was instrumental in developing the long-lasting materials which made liquid crystal displays possible. He created and systematised the liquid crystal materials science, and established a method of practical molecular design. Hans W. Spiess is the editor of Handbook of Liquid Crystals, published by Wiley. Volkmar Vill is Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and head of the IT service of the chemistry department. He is author of over 160 papers including original papers, books and software products. His research is focused on liquid crystals, organic materials, chemical information technology and the management of hazardous substances. Volkmar Vill developed numerous databases and information systems such as the liquid crystal database Liq Cryst and the Sci Dex system to store and organize scientific data, information and knowledge.