Celebrating Prof. William A. Goddard III's 61 Years of Groundbreaking Service at Caltech
The CO-IN Symposia team honors the Founding President for his unparalleled academic legacy, which inspires our vision every day.
It is with immense pride and admiration that COIN Symposia celebrates a monumental milestone in the life of our Founding President, Professor William A. "Bill" Goddard III, who has completed 61 years of pioneering research and education at the California Institute of Technology.
For those of us at COIN Symposia, Bill is not only a legendary scientist but also our visionary leader. His six-decade career at Caltech is the very bedrock upon which our organization's mission is built: to accelerate scientific discovery by fostering collaboration between the world's leading computational and experimental minds.
Legacy of Scientific Impact
Bill’s pioneering work continues to shape the modern landscape of chemistry and materials science. His development of foundational computational tools such as the CVFF and PCFF force fields empowered thousands of researchers worldwide. His theoretical innovations, including the Generalized Valence Bond (GVB) method, advanced our understanding of chemical bonding in transformative ways.
As founder of the Materials and Process Simulation Center (MSC) at Caltech, Bill championed the use of simulation to solve real-world challenges in energy, materials, and medicine. His legacy endures through the tools he built, the ideas he advanced, and the global community he inspired.
Leading by Example
As our President, Bill brings the same relentless curiosity, intellectual fearlessness, and dedication to mentorship that has characterized his 61 years at Caltech. He leads our organization with a profound belief in the power of scientific community, a value he has embodied throughout his entire career.
The COIN Symposia are designed in his image: interdisciplinary, forward-thinking, and dedicated to empowering the next generation of scientists. We are privileged to work alongside him and to continue the work he has so brilliantly advanced.
Please join everyone in congratulating our President, Prof. William A. Goddard III, on this historic 61-year milestone.