Kukin Lecture Delivered

Nobel Laureate Herschbach Delivers Annual Kukin Chemistry Lecture

On October 28, Yeshiva students heard Nobel Laureate Dr. Dudley Herschbach deliver this year's installment of the annual Ira Kukin lecture series. The talk, entitled "The Impossible Takes a Little Longer," focused on the wonders of the fascinating human endeavor referred to as science.

Every year, the Kukin lecture series features a distinguished chemist who generally delivers a lecture geared specifically toward the undergraduate crowd. Dr. Ira Kukin, vice-chairman of Yeshiva University's Board of Trustees and prominent industrialist and chemist, is the sponsor for whom it is named.

Dr. Herschbach is the Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University and the recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contribution to the understanding of how molecules react when they collide. He has published more than 350 research papers. His current research is devoted to molecular beam studies of reaction stereodynamics, intermolecular forces in liquids, and a dimensional scaling approach to electronic structure. In addition, he is a dedicated teacher whose general chemistry course is one of the most popular undergraduate offerings at Harvard.

Herschbach hosted the chemistry segment of the PBS television series The Nobel Legacy, and participated in a live television program in Tokyo. He is well known beyond scientific circles for his eagerness and ability to translate science into laymen's terms. His message to all his audiences is that science is simple, rewarding, and fun.

During his address to Yeshiva students and faculty, Herschbach tended to discuss the process of science rather than his particular field of expertise. He sought to counter many commonly held notions by emphasizing the sheer simplicity and joy of science.

He discussed the nature of scientific exploration and discovery. His message was to begin scientific exploration by trying one thing. He advised aspiring scientists not to be discouraged if the first attempt doesn't work. Try something else; nature will still be there, waiting patiently.

The speech, was held in Weissberg Commons and was well attended, with students and faculty alike enjoying the lecture. One attendee declared, "It was an honor to be in the audience of someone of Dr. Herschbach's stature within the world of science." He added, "I found the substance of his message to be interesting and inspiring."