i EDUCATION F M o d e r n Trends in Biochemistry C h e m i c a l kinetics a n d thermodynamics are clues to m o d e r n b i o chemistry. G r a d u a t e schools should up d a t e curricula JL5 IOCHEMISTRY HAS PROGRESSED
from
a purely structural subject to a physi cal science, says A. R. Patton of the Colorado Agricultural a n d Mechanical College's chemistry department. I t has become increasingly concerned with t h e dynamic aspects of molecular biology. The goals of modern bio chemistry involve not only structural organic chemistry but also a consider able amount of chemical dynamics. Unfortunately, Patton asserts all cur ricula in biochemistry have not been revised in line with these modern goals. Biochemistry is usually considered t o have begun with Paracelsus (14931 5 4 1 ) . However, at t h a t time it was held t h a t some "vital force" animates t h e compounds found in living organs. There were mi»or deviations from this original concept of biochemistry b u t it wasn't until about 1933 that scientists began to see biochemistry in a different light. Scientists* concepts of biochemistry in the early p a r t of t h e 20th century through the eyes of one scientist, Dowries, was "It is h a r d to realize now, a t the mid-century, t h a t no more than 2 0 or 30 years ago some biologists were still insistent t h a t comparison of t h e living cell with any physicochemical system was sheer impertinence. They believed that protoplasm had special properties of its own entirely inde p e n d e n t of t h e actual molecules of which it was constructed, and that even if we knew d o w n to t h e last atom every single molecule a n d ion within a cell wall, w e could not hope to explain its activity in terms of the ordinary laws of chemistry and phys ics." Finally, about 1933, Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins defined biochem istry as follows: " T h e ultimate goal of biochemistry is a n adequate and acceptable description of molecular dynamics in living cells and tissues/' The biochemical renaissance h a d b e gun. 4652
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3 1,
1955
Updating biochemical curricula, accordingly, is t h e responsibility of chemistry departments offering grad u a t e majors in biochemistry, says Patton. This is true because under graduate training of a s t u d e n t who wishes to become a professional bio chemist is practically the same as the training of any other chemistry stu dent. A bachelor's degree as approved by the ACS will suffice, continues Patton. H e cautions that undergrad uates in biochemistry include mathe matics and physical chemistry in their training. Biochemical trainees tend to slight these two subjects. Patton feels that if a biochemical major has not h a d one full year of phvsical chemistry and o n e full vear of calculus in u n d e r g r a d u a t e training, the graduate schools should see that these subjects are included in a stu dent's curriculum. Thesis work in bio chemistry should include recognition of the trends toward molecular biology, he says. For a first minor, Patton recommends either organic chemistry or physical chemistry. However, he predicts that
an increasing number of biochemistry students will choose the latter. For a second minor the present trend is toward microbiology whereas, previ ously it has been traditionally physiol ogy·
Boost for Teachers Shell's program is k e y e d t o teachers who might seek remunerative summer jobs S H E L L Companies F o u n d a t i o n has a broad program of recognition fellow ships under way for high school teachers of science a n d mathematics. T h e pro gram was developed following studies that showed a rapid decline in trie num ber of college graduates entering the field of science teaching, according to E. D. C u m m i n g , Houston a r e a vice president of Shell Oil. Under t h e program, known as the Shell Merit Fellowships for High School Science and Mathematics Teachers, company will u n d e r w r i t e summer seminars at Stanford a n d Cor nell Universities for 60 t e a c h e r s yearly. T h e recipients will receive t r a v e l allow ances, all tuition and fees, living ex penses on t h e university c a m p u s , and $500 in cash t o make u p for t h e loss of potential summer earnings. Stanford and Cornell were selected
Ψ Cooperation for Progress Herman F. Mark (left), w h o has been delivering the P. C . Reilly lectures in chem istry at Notre D a m e , discusses training of future scientists with G. F . D'Alelio, head of the university's chemistry department. Mark says our colleges and uni versities must train future scientists to work as a t e a m without sacrificing individual effort, originality, or independent thought. Research that used to take one m a n five years is now completed by five men in one year, Mark asserted. S u c h coop erative effort is "inevitable," h e says, if scientific progress is to be accelerated.
LOTS OF MEAT . . .
I N A SMALL PACKAGE
T h e n e w 6 2 - p a g e O R G A N I C C H E M I C A L S C A T A L O G U E is j u s t off t h e p r e s s , a n d c o n t a i n s a g r e ^ t d e a l of i n f o r m a t i o n of i n t e r e s t t o y o u . T h i s c a t a l o g u e , w h i c h al -so ο o n t a i n s i n f o r m a t i o n on A n t a r a ' s o t h e r p r o d u c t s , is y o u r s f o r thae a s k i n g . «Just f i l l in a n d mail t h e c o u p o n
Α Ν Τ A RA A SALES
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OF -GENEERAL A N I L I N E &P"ILM
S^R^IET
*
NEW
CORPORATIOIM
"YORK
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P i e a s e s e n d m e t h e nevw An " t a r a O r g a n i c Chemicals C a t a l o g u e . NAME FI R M ADDRESS-
TITLE
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EDUCATION by Shell because of their outstanding science and education departments and their active role in trying to remedy the acute shortage of high school science and mathematics teachers. Oompany says the program is broader than any other advanced for science teachers. Also, the fellowships are particularly designed for the able experienced teachers who ordinarily might seek remunerative summer employment outside t h e school system. Intensive seminar programs will include graduate-level classes, lectures by outstanding scientists, a n d visits to modern industrial installations and research laboratories. Mathematics, physics, or chemistry teachers with five years experience and known leadership ability will b e eligible for the fellowships. Thirty teachers from west of the Mississippi River will attend the eight-week Stanford program which will be administered by the school of education. Thirty from east of the Mississippi will b e invited to similar six-week courses at Cornell. I n addition to teachers, also eligible are present heads of departments or supervisors with good background in mathematics, chemistry, or physics who previously were teachers. Cumming explained that Shell is seeking to spread the recognition program as widely as possible among the nation's secondary schools. Selection of the 60 will b e the responsibility of Stanford a n d Cornell. In developing the plan, Shell consulted representatives of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Science Teachers Association, t h e National Research Council, the Joint Council on Economic Education, a n d the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The fellowships are in addition to t h e Shell Companies Foundation's $350,000 aid-to-education program which includes 50 graduate fellowships a n d 20 grants in fundamental research in science and engineering at 41 colleges and universities (C&EN, Tune 27 1955).
du Pont was the son of the late L a m mot du Font, himself a graduait? of MIT in 1901. T h e elder du Pont was a former president and chairman of the board of E. I. du Pont de X e m ours & Co. Killian said that the bequest would he used to maintain the quality of the athletic coaching a n d teaching staff and to provide n e w or improved athletic facilities. The institute has intercollegiate teams in nearly every field except football.
chemicals research division, Esso Research and Engineering. Jan. 26.
RICHARD W . K I X M I L L E R ,
Celanese Corp. of America. Jan. 3 1 .
research, Indiana.
T. H. ROGERS, director of
Standard
F e b . 2.
R. \V. M C N A M E E , manager,
research administration, Union Carbide & Carbon. Feb. 9.
W. L. SEMON, director of
polymer research, B. F . Goodrich. Feb. 2 1 .
The department of chemistry a t the University of Chicago will give a series of lectures during the winter quarter, 1956, on the general topic "Chemistry in Industry." A n u m b e r of leaders in the chemistry industry will participate in the program. T h e lectures will b e utriu in Che Kent Chemical Lab, Riiï. 106, at 8:00 P . M . Jan. 10. T . W. EVANS, vice president, Shell Development. Jan. 17.
EDGAR C. BRITTON, d i r e c -
tor of research lab, D o w ChemicalJan. 24.
W . J. SPARKS, director of
Ν. Β. TUCKER, director of
research, Procter & Gamble. Feb. 2 8 .
Chicago Lectures
Oil Company of
F. W. STAVELY, director
of chemical and physical research labs, Firestone Tire & Rubber. March 1. MAX TISHLER, vice presi dent of scientific activities, Merck & Co. March
6.
RALPH
CONNOR,
vice
president, Rohm & Haas. ^
-yr ^r
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is
offering a number of graduate courses to prepare scientists a n d engineers for active participation in nuclear research in t h e engineering development of atomic power systems. Some of the courses started this fall. Included among t h e 13 courses is a course in management of atomic energy plants. Course is for both administrative and technical students.
Grant to MIT
v "Junior Scientists" Receive Grant
A bequest of $1 million for t h e improvement of athletic facilities a t t h e Massachusetts Institute of Technology was made by David F. d u Pont of Wilmington, Del., w h o was killed in a n automobile accident last month. du Pont, 21 years old, would have been a senior a t t h e institute this fail. The bequest was announced recently b y James R. Killian, Jr., president of M I T , at a general convocation. Young
Philip Morris, Inc., recently made a grant of $750 t o ÛV Virginia Junior Academy of Science to be used in encouraging more high school students with aptitudes for science and engineering to choose these fields. Robert N. Du Puis (left), vice president and director of research for this company, on presenting the grant to B. G. Heatwole (right), chairman of t h e Junior Academy committee, and Walter S. Flory (center), president of the Virginia Academy of Science, said "In the face of the present shortage of trained engineering and scientific personnel, w e feel i t is important that industrial firms take positive action at the local level to encourage promising high school students to pursue courses of scientific or engineering study. W e have m a d e a start in this direction by offering summer employment to two local high school teachers in our research department."
4654
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OCT. 3 1, 1955
