Henry B. Eyring earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mining engineering from the University of Arizona before receiving his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1927. Following appointments at the University of Wisconsin and research in Berlin with Michael Polanyi, he developed the theoretical foundations of chemical reaction dynamics. His pioneering work led to the formulation of transition state theory (also known as activated complex theory), one of the most important advances in physical chemistry.

After serving on the faculty at Princeton University, Henry joined the University of Utah in 1946 as Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Chemistry, where he helped establish the university's doctoral research programs and built a world-renowned research enterprise. During his career he authored nearly 700 scientific papers and numerous books, mentored generations of scientists, and received many of the world's highest scientific honors, including the National Medal of Science and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry. He was equally admired for his humility, enthusiasm for teaching, and commitment to scientific inquiry.

The Henry B. Eyring Seminar honors his extraordinary contributions to chemistry, higher education, and the University of Utah, while celebrating his lasting legacy as one of the twentieth century's most influential physical chemists.