Purdue News

September 30, 2002 Lecture series to detail public benefits of fluorine chemistry WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Skiers who stay warm and dry as well as cooks that use non-stick pans have fluorine atoms to thank, and a lecture series by Purdue University and Great Lakes Chemical Corp. will provide an opportunity to learn more about this useful element. Professor Richard D. Chambers of the University of Durham, UK, will deliver the first in a series of annual lectures on fluorine chemistry at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. The lecture, entitled "Selective Fluorination with Elemental Fluorine," will be in Purdue’s Wetherill Hall, Room 104. There will be a reception at 3:30 p.m. in Wetherill Hall, Room 201. Chambers is one of the pioneers of taming the fluorine atom for use in industry, work that has led to brand-name items such as Gore-Tex, Teflon and Prozac. Great Lakes Chemical Corp. is sponsoring the lecture series to provide a medium for exchange of ideas and to educate the public about the benefits of fluorine chemistry. Each year the company will bring one of world's leading fluorine chemists to Purdue for one full day of discussions and seminars. CONTACT: P. V. Ramachandran, assistant professor of chemistry, (765) 494-5303, chandran@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page