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Harry Emmet Gunning, OC, (1916-2002) was born in Toronto, Ontario. All of his post-secondary education was completed at the University of Toronto where he received his PhD in physical chemistry in 1942 before going on to Harvard for post-doctoral study. After teaching chemistry at the Illinois Institute of Technology, he was appointed chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta in 1957. As chair, Gunning transformed the Department of Chemistry into a major centre for research and graduate study.

Gunning became the university’s eighth president in 1974 and during his tenure, he fostered the interaction between education, industry, and government. Gunning promoted research and development of Alberta’s oil sands resources and was instrumental in the establishment of the Edmonton Research and Development Park.

Gunning achieved international recognition for building a centre of excellence for the chemical sciences. He also received numerous national and international awards, including six honorary degrees. He became an officer of the Order of Canada in 1979 as a scientist and educator who achieved international recognition for outstanding research in chemistry.