Brigham Young University’s Annual Izatt-Christensen Lecture Series will feature Stanford chemist Richard N. Zare Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. in the Varsity Theatre of the Wilkinson Student Center.
His address is titled “How to Be Successful.” Zare will also present a technical lecture Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m. in W112 Ezra Taft Benson Building. Admission to both lectures is free, and all members of the community are invited to attend.
During the lecture, Zare plans to share some thoughts on how to lead a successful life and have a successful career. Life is full of problems, according to Zare, and he thinks it is very important to approach those problems in the right way.
“Very few people tell you anything about the nature of going about problem solving; instead, often they show you how to solve problems,” Zare said. “Seeing somebody slickly go through a solution to a problem very seldom really instructs you how to really — yourself — go about a problem, because that tends to be a process of flailing around trying this and that.”
The technical lecture is titled “Searching for Short Lived Intermediates in Liquid Chemical Reactions.” Part of Zare’s research has focused on identifying the low-concentration molecules that quickly form and disappear during chemical reactions. All interested parties, especially chemistry students and professors, are invited to attend.
The lecture series is named for Reed M. Izatt and James J. Christensen, initiators of BYU’s internationally recognized joint research program in chemical thermodynamics and chemical separations. During their careers, these scientists authored or coauthored nearly 900 books, book chapters and peer reviewed articles. They also hold many U.S. and foreign patents.
This endowed lecture is made possible by the generous donations from the scientists’ family members, associates and former students.
For more information, contact Peggy Erickson at (801) 422-6269 or by email at pbericks@chem.byu.edu.
Writer: Charles Krebs
