726th NATIONAL
ACS
MEETING.
Vincent du Vigneaud (left), Cornell University, is congratulated by Ernest T. Trigg, after receiving John Scott Award from the latter for leadership in oxytocin synthesis
DIVISION OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
Du Vigneaud Wins Scott A w a r d • A program of undergraduate research can be valuable in developing students' intellectual maturity • Chemists overlook opportunities for helping students develop sense of values leading to fruitful lives • W o m e n chemistry majors advised to go into fields where their sex will be no detriment ' - T H E JOHN S C O T T
M E D A L Award
of
* t h e City of Philadelphia was presented to Vincent du Vigneaud, Cornell University medical school, for his leadership in the synthesis of oxytocin, first hormone of t h e pituitary gland to be created in the laboratory. Presentation of a medal a n d a check for $1000 was made b y Ernest T. Trigg, vice president of t h e Board of City Trusts, Philadelphia, during the Joint Symposium on Highlights of Recent Biochemical Progress before the Divisions of Biological Chemistry and Chemical Education. Previous recipients of the award include Wright, Edison, Mme. Curie, Marconi, D e Forest, Langmuir, Fleming, Seaborg, and Houdry. D u Vigneaud sketched the progress of experiments that isolated the oxytocic hormone, oxytocin, and the pressorantidiuretic hormone, vassopressin, and established their structure. A final 3836
step was synthesis of oxytocin, and comparisons which established the identity of t h e synthetic product with natural oxytocin. Work on synthesis of lysine-vasopressin and arginine-vasopressin is still in progress. Of the dozens of highlights in recent biochemical progress, three others were included in t h e symposium: intracellular activity of respiratory enzymes, discussed by Britton C h a n c e a n d C. R. Williams, Johnson Research Foundation, University of Pennsylvania; enzyme mechanisms in biological oxidation, used by the cell for the utilization and transformation of chemical energy, summarized b y Severo Ochoa, New York University College of Medicine; and biosynthesis of porphyrins, discussed b y David Shemin, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
• C u l t u r a l Values of C h e m i s t r y Defining culture as t h e ideas by which w e 1've—our heritage of ideas in their modern meaning—Harold G. Cassidy, Yale University, states t h a t t h e culture of t o d a y is inescapably both scientific and Humanistic. While t h e scientist has always been exposed to the language of the humanist, t h e humanist is faced with a substantial barrier of scientific language, and this is a problem w h i c h the scientist must solve. A cultured man m u s t compreh e n d the g r e a t ideas of his time in perspective against those of t h e past, must u n d e r s t a n d the power of ideas, and out of this knowledge m u s t make t h e choices t h a t guide his behavior. Although t h e r e is no specific agreem e n t on the scale of general education in science, L. S. Forster, Bates College, suggests using the general education course to expose nonscientists to t h e facts a n d theories of the physical world, the spirit a n d methods of science, the philosophy of science, the role of research in society, and the esthetic aspects of science. T h a t science is an intellectual a d v e n t u r e every bit as exciting a s philosophy, literature, or art should not escape the attention of the college student. Cultural activities have as their aim to increase enjoyment of the physical and intelk 'rial environment. As man becomes m cultured, h e gains wider, deeper enjoyment of his environment. Claudio Alvarez-Tostado a n d Eric Hutchinson, Stanford University, say there are hopeful signs that industry is beginning t o realize t h e long-range folly of insisting on technical training of prospective employees to t h e detriment of cultural and educational activities. For a long time industrial demands for trained personnel have tended to limit the activities of chemistry to technical fields a n d to emphasize training a s opposed to education. About the same time t h a t a dynamic viewpoint invaded chemical thinking, the same kind of revolution took place in painting. N o t only m a y certain art forms b e an a i d to chemical communication, says Sidney M. Cantor, S. M. Cantor Associates, but a n acquaintance with the ideas behind contemporary art forms m a y aid the chemist in his approach to certain problems. These parallels suggest that there is more than a casual relationship between thinking in painting a n d chemistry, and indeed a m o n g all creative activities. College students must learn how to live as well a s how to make a hving. Chemical education h a s often overlooked its opportunities to help students develop a sense of values that
CHEMICAL
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
CHEMICAL will lead to fruitful lives. E d w a r d C. Fuller, Beloit College, believes that education should develop in the stud e n t respect for the achievements of all m e m b e r s of the h u m a n race, faith in t h e attainability of truth, optimism concerning m a n s potentialities for continual improvement, and belief in the constructive power of controversy. • Value o f Undergraduate
Research
T h e value of undergraduate research was d e b a t e d at a r o u n d - t a b l e discussion led b y Warren P . Cortelyou, Roosevelt College, J a m e s F. Corwin, Antioch College, Paul C. Cross, University of Washington, Clark E . Bricker, Princeton University, and W a l t e r R. Kirner, National Science Foundation. William F . Kieffer, College of Wooster, acted as moderator. U n d e r g r a d u a t e research in chemistry is not a new idea, nor is it uncomm o n ; about half of those present indic a t e d that it has a p a r t in the program of their institutions. It is generally agreed t h a t it is an effective tool for t h e superior student, stimulates t h e instructor, develops the student's enthusiasm a n d interest in research, introduces methods of science, and raises t h e standard of the school in the eyes of student, staff, and public. But requisites for success are the right problem, t h e right student, and the right teacher. Not ^very student is fitted for a research career; his field may h e in sales, production, or high school teaching. A n d unless the teacher is enthusiastic a n d interested in research, the program is not likely to be successful. Choice of a problem is important. It need not b e the t y p e of research t h a t would b e u n d e r t a k e n by a Ph.D. candidate, b u t h i g h quality of work should b e stressed a n d in all cases a report should be writt e n . T h e research m a y be a piece of a larger problem, or a small indep e n d e n t bit of research, a n d in any case the student should take pride in his work. Administrative details differ from college to college. Sometimes research is compulsory for a l l seniors; in other cases elective. The amount of time d e v o t e d to research a n d the credit varied widely. In most cases only seniors take part in research, but lower classmen are interested observers and t h e program may become a strong d r a w i n g card for chemistry majors. T h e typical undergraduate research problem is a senior thesis assigned to a student who has completed basic work in general, analytical, a n d organic chemistry. H e receives an introduction to : h e sort of situation h e will meet VOLUME
3 2,
NO.
39
•
in g r a d u a t e work or in a job, learns to d o literature research, set u p special a p p a r a t u s , and write an acceptable report. But the research program should not b e allowed to interfere with his basic training. • National Science Teachers Association At a well attended luncheon Robert H. Carleton, executive secretary of the National Science Teachers Association, told of the work of the association in furthering science training at t h e precollege level. Increased enrollments and lack of qualified science teachers a d d to t h e difficulties of proper training, and there is special need for more d y n a m i c teaching in junior high schools, to direct qualified students t o w a r d a scientific career. T h r o u g h its publications, committee activities, and participation in conferences, t h e association is working on the problem, with t h e twin goal of improving the quality and the extent of precollege science teaching. It has also helped to secure summer jobs in science-based industries, after a survey showed a need for such work experience for precollege students. T h e F u t u r e Scientists of America was organized two years ago to encourage students w i t h unusual interest a n d ability in science. Its activities include contests in scientific achievem e n t for grades seven to 12. T h e problem of counseling women chemistry majors can be solved by approaching the matter realistically. However, t h e counselor should first disregard the philosophy t h a t "teaching chemistry to girls is just a waste of t i m e because they only go to college to snag a man." T h e girl w h o majors in chemistry is really interested in scie n c e and wants it for a career whether t h e career be a long or short one. COOH
H
CH3
OH
H I
H
I H
& "
Projection formulas used by Melvin S. Newman, Ohio State, in explaining stereochemical phenomena in 2,3-dihydroxybutanoic acid and cfs-2-methylcyclohexanol. The asymmetric carbon nearest the eye is represented by three equally spaced radii; the asymmetric carbon farthest from the eye is represented by circle with three radial extensions I n advising the female student on choosing a career in chemistry, Ethaline Cortelyou suggests that the teacher r e c o m m e n d a field that will ( 1 ) give her a maximum of satisfaction with a m i n i m u m of preparation, ( 2 ) allow her to capitalize on her feminine charac-
SEPTEMBER
2 7.
1954
EDUCATION
teristics, (3) give her a degree of success in a short time, ( 4 ) be a n insurance policy against disaster, a n d (5) give her a substitute for a family if she happens to lead a life of single blessedness. Such jobs are n o t likely to b e found in t h e laboratory b u t in what Mrs. Cortelyou calls t h e "chemical service" fields—chemical writing, technical editing, literature searching, patent searching, library and administrative work. These jobs are most likely to satisfy the needs of today's woman chemistry major. From her own experience at Armour Research Foundation Mrs. Cortelyou feels that in technical editing, for example, the w o m a n scientist will not find her sex a handicap. Technical editing is such a n e w field t h a t men have not become so firmly entrenched as to resent feminine competition. Further, it is a field which has qualifications attributed to women, such as: patience with routine, capacity for handling details, willingness to serve without glory, a n d facility with words. The salaries are usually more attractive than those offered w o m e n in the laboratory. It seems to be an ideal insurance policy against disaster because it is possible for the technical editor to continue editing after she has been retired from her regular job by the stork. Finally, it is a growing field. Lecture Demonstration a Must. At the present time less than half of the freshman chemistry classes in our colleges have demonstrations w i t h lectures. This situation results partly from the fact that in the small colleges teachers sometimes h a v e a heavier teaching load and therefore do not have time for demonstrations. Also, in the small college, storage space for equipment may b e limited. L a r g e universities, on the other h a n d , usually have adequate facilities for storage and graduate assistants to take care of the equipment. T h e demonstration is essential to the lecture, and while it is admitted there is only one Alyea in t h e country, Douglas G. Nicholson feels that other college chemistry teachers can, and should, make better use of t h e demonstration. H e offers some suggestions to overcome the problems. As an example h e used his own experience at East Tennessee State College in Johnson City, Tenn. H e was able to develop a simple, b u t efficient, storage unit for lecture-demonstration equipment, combined with a card file containing a detailed list of t h e equipment and its location. This m a d e it possible for several lecturers to use the equipment with a niiiiimuni of time and effort. 3837
