Nobel Prize Winner to Speak at Baylor

by Angela Best, student newswriter, (254) 710-1961

Sir Harold W. Kroto, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for chemistry, will serve as featured speaker for Baylor University's annual Gooch-Stephens lecture series at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22, and 4 p.m. Friday, March 23, in Room B110 of the Baylor Sciences Building.

Kroto will speak on the topic of "Science, Society and Sustainability" during Thursday's lecture, which is geared toward science laymen.

"The lecture will explore numerous key aspects of science in the 21st century; what science is, how others - the public, the media and politicians - perceive science and scientists and some of the problems that non-scientists have in understanding science, engineering and technology (SET)," Kroto said. "The fact that our modern world is so completely and precariously reliant on SET makes this a vital area for discussion."

Kroto's Thursday lecture also will focus on the responsibility of both society and the scientific community to sustain our natural resources while using our advanced technology.

"Society has the power to use technology either to its benefit or detriment," Kroto said. "Maintaining the prosperity of mankind into the next century will require a concerted effort from all segments of society. The scientific community must, as a priority, foster the cultural spirit of sustainability."

Friday's lecture, "Architecture in NanoSpace," which is tailored more for the science community, will center on the progression of multidisciplinary research toward the new overarching genre of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Kroto is a professor in the chemistry and biochemistry department at Florida State University and serves as Francis Eppes professor of chemistry.

The Gooch-Stephens lecture series is an endowed lecture named for former department chairs Wilby T. Gooch, who was Baylor's first recipient of a master of science degree in chemistry, and Williams R. Stephens.

For more information, contact the department of chemistry and biochemistry at (254) 710-3311.