September 3, 2009

Leader in chemical theory to give inaugural lectures

A world-renowned chemical theorist will visit the West Lafayette campus Sept. 23-24 to initiate a new lecture series created by the Department of Chemistry's Theory Group.

Henry F. Schaefer III, director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry and the Graham Perdue Professor of Chemistry at the University of Georgia, will be the featured speaker at the inaugural Purdue Lectures on Theoretical Chemistry.

Schaefer has made major contributions to chemistry, showing that state-of-the-art theory not only can interpret and predict chemical phenomena but also can reverse existing experimental conclusions.

Schaefer's center develops quantum chemical methods and models for the behavior of electrons in molecules, and also applies them to broadly significant areas such as atmospheric chemistry, drug discovery, energy solutions, nanotechnology, and DNA research.

Sabre Kais, professor of chemistry, says, "Professor Schaefer is one of the world's most cited chemists, so we are excited that he is visiting Purdue. Anyone on campus who applies chemical sciences in their research will be interested in Schaefer's lectures."

Schaefer will give two lectures, both free and open to the public, at Purdue:

* Wednesday, Sept. 23: "From Donor-Acceptor Complexes to Gallium Nitride Nanorods" at 4:30 p.m. in Room B061, Neil Armstrong Hall. Preceding the lecture will be a reception at 3:45 p.m. in Room 201, Wetherill Laboratory.

* Thursday, Sept. 24: "Lesions in DNA Subunits: Foundational Studies of Structures and Energetics” at 4:30 p.m. Room 104, Wetherill Laboratory. Preceding the lecture will be a reception at 4 p.m. in Room 201, Wetherill Laboratory.

The Purdue Lecture Series in Theoretical Chemistry has been endowed by Steven Adelman, professor of chemistry, and Barbara Stolberg Adelman.