Stars of science to align for Shain event

As part of the two-day celebration and dedication event in honor of University of Wisconsin–Madison chemist and chancellor emeritus Irving Shain, a scientific symposium exploring current topics of chemistry research will take place in the new Irving Shain Chemistry Research Tower.

The symposium, to be held Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, will feature talks by current UW–Madison faculty and faculty from other institutions on topics ranging from stem cells to fuel cells. In part, the symposium will explore the enduring effects of Shain’s research in the field of electro-chemistry.

“Our celebration will include sharing with the general public recent advances in the chemical sciences, as distinguished chemists from UW–Madison and elsewhere will describe their basic research and potential applications for the betterment of society,” says Bassam Shakhashiri, a UW–Madison professor of chemistry.

The symposium, which is free and open to the public, will be held during two days beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 5, immediately after the 1:30 p.m. Shain Chemistry Tower dedication ceremony. The symposium will continue at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 6. It will be held in the Shain Chemistry Research Tower of the UW–Madison Chemistry Building, 1101 University Ave.

Speakers for the symposium include chemistry professor Laura Kiessling, who will talk about controlling human stem cells with chemistry; University of Texas chemist Allen J. Bard, who will speak on fuel cells; UW–Madison chemistry professor Helen Blackwell, who will speak on bacterial communications and strategies for influencing it; and UW–Madison chemist Robert J. Hamers, who will talk about the electro-chemistry of nanoscale materials.

Subsequent to the scientific symposium, there will be an open house in the new chemistry tower and revamped chemistry building, as well as hands-on activities for all ages.