September 11, 2006 Source: :
http://www.unb.ca/news/view.cgi?id=1087 Nobel Prize Laureate to Deliver Preistman Lectures September 11, 2006
UNB Fredericton News Release: D703
Natalie Montgomery, Public Relations Officer (506) 451-6842 Sir Harold (Harry) Kroto, an English chemist who won the Nobel Prize in 1996 for the discovery of fullerenes, molecules composed entirely of carbon in the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube, will deliver this year’s Bryan Priestman lectures. The lectures will take place from Sept. 13 to 15 at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. They are free and open to the public. His first lecture, entitled Science, Society and Sustainability, will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Head Hall. In this talk, Sir Harold will discuss the numerous aspects of science, including what science is; how the media, politicians and others perceive science and scientists; and some of the problems that non-scientists have with understanding the science, engineering and technology upon which our modern world is so completely and precariously balanced. On Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in MacLaggan Hall, Sir Harold will present Enlightenment Under Threat - Can it Be Saved by the Internet? In this lecture, he will explore the idea that enlightenment is under threat as powerful and well-funded forces wage war on modern humanitarian philosophies and values which are based on doubt, questioning and reason. He will also discuss the global reach of the Internet and how mobilizing action on a global scale may offer a ray of hope in withstanding the assault that is now underway. Sir Harold will also visit Fredericton High School on this day. His final talk is a research lecture entitled Architecture in NanoSpace. As scientific disciplines increasingly overlap, multidisciplinary research is leading to the fascinating new overarching field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This will be discussed on Friday, Sept. 15, at 4 p.m. in Room 146, Bailey Hall. Sir Harold currently holds the Francis Eppes Professorship at Florida State University. He is known both for his accomplishments in astrophysical molecules and nanotechnology, and his ability to communicate the excitement and intrigue of science to the general public. For these latter qualities, he was presented with the Royal Society’s Michael Faraday Award, an honour awarded to a scientist who has done the most to further public communication of science, engineering or technology in the UK. Sponsored by the faculty of science at UNBF, the Priestman lectures are one of the premier lecture series at the university and provide an opportunity for science to be communicated to a general audience. The lecture series was initiated in 1951 in memory of Bryan Priestman, a physics professor who died on Nov. 11, 1945, while trying to save a boy from drowning. For more information on the Priestman lectures, contact William Ward at 447-3257 or visit http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/priestman/. - 30 -
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