Eric Scerri

Eric Scerri is a chemist, writer, and philosopher of science recognized for his expertise on the periodic table of elements. Scerri is a lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the founder and editor-in-chief of "Foundations of Chemistry," an international peer-reviewed journal focused on the history and philosophy of chemistry and chemical education. He is also among the founders of the field of philosophy of chemistry. Scerri was educated in the United Kingdom and moved to the United States as a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech in Pasadena.

Scerri has been ranked as the second-most influential academic in the field of chemistry by Academic Influence. The list of leading chemists includes Carolyn Bertozzi, Ada Yonath, Jean-Pierre Sauvage, and Fraser Stoddart, among others. As a full-time lecturer at UCLA, Scerri has taught more than 20,000 chemistry undergraduates and has led classes in the history and philosophy of science. His research in the philosophy of science addresses the reduction of chemistry to quantum mechanics, emergence, chemical laws, and chemical explanations.

Scerri is the author of several books, including "The Periodic Table, Its Story and Its Significance," "A Very Short Introduction to the Periodic Table," "A Tale of Seven Elements," and "A Tale of Seven Scientists and A New Philosophy of Science," all published by Oxford University Press. "A Tale of Seven Elements" was named among the top 12 science books of the year by New Scientist. "The Periodic Table, Its Story and Its Significance" received the UCLA Herbert Newby McCoy faculty award and was selected as an outstanding academic title by Choice Library magazine. Scerri's books have been translated into 15 languages.

Scerri was appointed by IUPAC as chair of a project to make recommendations on the composition of group 3 of the periodic table. He has also proposed an evolutionary approach to the philosophy of science, highlighting the contributions of lesser-known scientists as essential to the gradual development of scientific knowledge.

Scerri has appeared on radio and television, including the PBS series "The Mystery of Matter," and frequently lectures internationally. He has authored more than 150 journal articles in chemistry, chemical education, and the history and philosophy of science. His work has appeared in Scientific American, American Scientist, New Scientist, and Chemistry World. Scerri's contributions continue to influence the fields of chemistry, science education, and the philosophy of science.