Dr. Bourns has made many important contributions to chemistry and has acquired an international reputation in the field of physical-organic chemistry. He was one of the first in Canada to apply kinetic and equilibrium isotope effects in the elucidation of reaction mechanisms and is an international authority in this field. His publications are of a fundamental nature and represent important contributions to our understanding of organic reactions. He has been a regular participant in the annual symposium on reaction mechanisms held by the Organic Section of the American Chemical Society. In 1959-60 he was Vice-Chairman of the Gordon Research Conference on 'The Chemistry and Physics of Isotopes' and has been elected Chairman for the 1961-62 conference. Recently he was invited to convene and chair the symposium on physical organic chemistry to be held in June 1961 by the Royal Society of Canada. He receives many invitations to speak about his current researches from both Canadian and American institutions. Since he became Dean of the Graduate Faculty at McMaster University in 1957, he has not only made important research contributions of his own but has done much to encourage research in other departments of the university. He is a particularly strong candidate for fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada.