The Electrochemical Society (www.electrochem.org) has awarded Distinguished Invited University Professor Sumio Iijima the first Richard E. Smalley Research Award. The Fullerenes, Nanotubes, and Carbon Nanostructures (FNCN) Division of The Electrochemical Society establishes this Award in 2006 to encourage excellence in fullerenes, nanotubes and carbon nanostructures research. The Award is intended to recognize in a broad sense, those persons who have made outstanding contributions to the understanding and applications of fullerenes.