Robert Carlson, professor of chemistry, was featured in an article titled 'Some of the Great Teachers of Chemistry,' published in the journal Chemistry.

Many of Robert Carlson's students probably could have told you years ago: He's considered one of chemistry's great teachers.

Chemistry magazine agrees. Carlson, professor of chemistry, is featured in the winter issue of Chemistry in an article titled "Some of the Great Teachers of Chemistry."

"There are some absolutely fantastic teachers on that list," Carlson said. "I was stunned to be included with some of those names."

Other names on the list include Harry Gray of the California Institute of Technology, pioneering photochemist George Hammond and the late George Pimentel, who taught at the University of California-Berkeley.

Carlson has taught organic chemistry to undergraduate and graduate students at KU for more than 40 years. After completing graduate school, he took a job teaching at the university and hasn't looked back.

He said it was an honor to be featured in the magazine, which focuses on news in the world of chemistry, academic and industrial. The notation has earned him comments from students and colleagues.

"I've heard from quite a few colleagues both here and from around the country," Carlson said.

The section of the article featuring Carlson quotes a citation from one of the many awards he has won, saying he "has pushed his students to master the material not by mere memorization but by analyzing, questioning and applying the concepts."

When asked for a career highlight from his KU tenure, Carlson pointed to the achievements not of himself, but of his students.

"I've been blessed with having some incredibly talented students in my classes and laboratories," he said. "It's been a fun 43 years."