ACCOUNT'S OF CHEXICAL RESEARCH" Registered in U S . Patent and Trademark Office; Copyright 1985 by the American Chemical Society
V O L U M E 18
NUMBER 2
FEBRUARY, 1985
EDITOR
JOSEPH F. BUNNETT ASSOCIATE EDITORS Joel E. Keizer John E. McMurry
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Robert Abeles Richard Bernstein R. Stephen Berry Michel Boudart Maurice M. Bursey Charles R. Cantor Marshall Fixman Jenny P. Glusker Kendall N. Houk Keith U. Ingold Maurice M. Kreevoy Theodore Kuwana Josef Michl George W. Parshall Kenneth N. Raymond Jacob F. Schaefer Richard C. Schoonmaker Anthony M. Trozzolo
BOOKS AND JOURNALS DIVISION D. H. Michael Bowen, Director
Journals Department: Charles R. Bertsch, Head; Marianne C. Brogan, Associate Head; Mary E. Scanlan, Assistant Manager; Anne C. O'Melia, Assistant Editor Production Department: Elmer M. Pusey, Jr., Head Research and Development Department: Lorrin R. Garson, Head
The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society. Registered names and trademarks, etc., used in this publication, even without specific indication thereof, are not to be considered unprotected by law.
The Care and Feeding of VIP Chemists Within the worldwide community of scientists, a noteworthy practice is travel to other institutions to present talks and to discuss research and other matters. The person invited to undertake such travel has usually attracted attention by research or other accomplishments and is customarily received and entertained cordially by the host institution(s). Depending on the perceived eminence of the visitor and on national traditions, he or she may be treated as a VIP.' Hospitality may go far beyond provision of suitable accommodations and meals. The VIP traveler may be put up in luxurious hotel suites, treated to elegant repasts, guided to outstanding cultural events, and taken on sightseeing excursions of exceptional interest. It sounds like a good life, and it is. I have occasionally been privileged to enjoy such hospitality. Long ago I learned to put aside any philosophical doubts as to whether as a chemist I am really very important or not. I learned to relax and enjoy it. No doubt only a curmudgeon would find any fault with such treatment. Accepting that label, I dare to point out some of the problems that can arise from the VIP's point of view. One of them arises when a VIP makes a tour of 2 weeks or more, comprising stops of a day or two or three with segments of travel between. The problem arises from the attentiveness of the hosts: one is escorted from railway station to hotel to university to hotel to restaurant to hotel to laboratory to restaurant to cathedral (or Buddist temple) to wildlife park to restaurant to hotel to airport, on a typical 1.5-day visit. Furthermore, the host schedules efficient use of the visitor's time for conversations with senior staff members, for his or her lecture, for entertainments and excursions, and for other anticipated needs. After a week or more of such a life, the traveler becomes hungry for a little private time to devote to personal correspondence, reading, or shopping, or to wandering around an interesting town. Sometimes nothing has pleased a visitor to Santa Cruz more than my announcement that Wednesday morning is unscheduled. Other problems arise from the host's desire to treat the VIP only to first class cuisine. Certain foods common in the host country may be considered too plebian for a distinguished visitor. The complacent visistor may never get a chance to sample them, being always treated to expensive delicacies. One may finally assert a desire to have a simple lunch of some common local food, and then be abashed by realization that the particular escorts selected for that day had been looking forward to taking the VIP to a special restaurant and incidentally having a treat for themselves. Some minor annoyance may arise over differing cultural attitudes to physical work. In some nations it is considered inappropriate for a person of status to do any physical work, while in others a senior scientist often takes pride in his physical condition and gets some satisfaction from, for example, handling his heavy luggage himself. When host and guest are from different cultures, it can happen that a host struggles ineffectually to place a heavy bag on a high luggage rack, or that a guest feels affronted for having to lift a heavy suitcase himself. It helps for guests and hosts to be aware of differeing cultural attitudes. Also, some travelers who lack physical stamina absolutely need help with their luggage. The curmudgeon has had his say, and his complaints pale when compared to the generous, friendly hospitality so often bestowed on him. Joseph F. Bunnett (1) VIP stands for Very Important Person; the acronym developed in the American military during World War I1 and prevails because it can be employed either literally or cynically.
