Neil Garg, an Indian American Distinguished Professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is set to receive the 2026 Science and Education Pioneer Award for his contributions to science and education.
He will be honored at Exploring Your Universe, UCLA’s free science festival, on Nov. 8, in the Court of Sciences. He will also give a family-friendly lecture, “Organic Chemistry in the Movies.”
The Pioneer Award from the UCLA College, Division of Physical Sciences recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to science and inspired public engagement with science education, particularly among young people, according to a university release.
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Previous award recipients include astronaut and UCLA alumna Dr. Anna Lee Fisher (2017), mathematician and UCLA alumna Danica McKellar (2018), actress, author and neuroscientist Dr. Mayim Bialik (2019), Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Andrea Ghez (2020) and UCLA mathematics professor and Fields Medalist Terence Tao (2025).
Garg is the Distinguished Kenneth N. Trueblood Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA. He received his BS from New York University and PhD from Caltech, and completed postdoctoral studies at UC Irvine before joining the UCLA faculty in 2007.
Garg is an internationally recognized organic chemist whose research focuses on developing new chemical reactions, often challenging long-standing rules in chemistry. He has published more than 200 scientific papers.
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Beyond his research accomplishments and award-winning classroom teaching, Garg is passionate about making chemistry accessible and engaging for students and the broader public.
He has developed innovative websites, apps, and games used in more than 175 countries, authored The Organic Coloring Book series, and created outreach programs that introduce children to chemistry, including his popular Chem Kids camp.
His honors include the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Horizon Prizes for both research and education, the Cherry Award for Great Teaching, the California Professor of the Year Award, and the AAAS Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science. Earlier this year, he received the Royal Society of Chemistry’s prestigious Centenary Prize.