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dtlre PACIFIC SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION OF CHEMISTRY TEACHERS PERSONALITIES AND TRENDS
PERSONAL ITEMS
The new vice-chancellor of U.C.L.A. is William G. Young, a chemist whose attainments over the years have become world renowned. It is another step upward, following his positions of chairman of the chemistry department and dean of physical sciences. This position could not be filled by a man better qualified to understand the peculiar nature of U.C.L.A.'s rise to academic stature alongside her sister institution a t Berkeley. When Bill Young began his teaching as an instructor at U.C.L.A. in 1931, there was no graduate work offered. His ability to teach soon became the talk of chemistry students on the campus. This vigorous Caltech graduate immediately brought stimulating ideas of atomic and electronic structure into the classroom, and he was liked for his ease of explanation without resort to sensational clutter. His ability to teach was soon matched by his drive to establish a research program on the graduate level in the intriguing fields of stereoisomerism and molecular rearrangements. This persistent drive encountered many severe obstacles but soon met with success. One of his first research students was Saul Winstein, whose name later became synonymous with Young in the field of physical organic chemistry. Bill Young found time to meet with student body officersin council meetings, and his office wag always open for visits witahformer students. His direct association with U.C.L.A., just after the transition period from a southern branch of the university on Vermont Avenue to a huge state university in Westwood, nearly coincided with the tenure of the university's most dynamic president, Robert Gordon Sproul. Development of the graduate school was profoundly enhanced by the pace set in chemistry. Bill Young's cordiality and progressively realized understanding of the southern California community have made him indispensable in helping to establish policies for this Los Angeles institution on the administrative level. If his efforts do not become "colossal," nearby Hollywood will have developed a stronger term. I t is a pleasure to know that James B. Ramsey has become chairman of the chemistry department a t U.C.L.A. The, real backbone of undergraduate training has always resided, without a shadow of a doubt, in the rigorous physical chemistry course he taught with such superb excellence, precision and meticulous detail in a way that demanded the maximum amount of individual effort on the part of students. "Noyes and Sherrill" and "justify briefly" were words that always commanded respect as none others in the course work of this chemistry department. A number of California chemists were elected fellows of the New York Academy of Science. These were VOLUME 35, NO. 5, MAY, 1958
Emmett L. Durrum of Stanford Medical School, Heinz L. Fraenkel-Conrat of the University of California, Wendell Griffith of the U.C. Medical Center, Arie F. Haagen-Smit of Caltech, Robert F. Kallman of Stanford Medical School, Norman Kharasch of the University of Southern California, E. M. Mrak of the University of California, and John D. Roberts of Caltech. On special leave from U.S.C. is James B. Warf, to teach a t the University of Indonesia (Djakarta). Harold L. Friedman of U.S.C. is on sabbatical leave as a Guggenheim fellow a t the Free University of Brussels, where he is studying the thermodynamic properties of solutions in nonaqueous solvents. The new chairman of the chemistry department at U.S.C. is Ronald F. Brown, while Charles S. Copeland, former chairman, has taken on new duties as director of the laboratories. Greenville College in Illinois had as a visiting chemist L. Reed Brautley of Occidental College, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Division of Chemical Education of the A.C.S. The District counselor for the Pacific Southwest area of Alph Chi Sigma is John McAnally of Occidental College. Frank Lambert is on leave of absence from Occidental College doing research under the National Science Foundation. Walter Noll was the recipient of a Los Angeles Paint and Varnish Production Club fellowship at Orcidental College. A paper on Titration of Iron was presented by John Dunham of Occidental College at the New York meeting of the A.C.S. A Research Corporation grant was made to William Maroney and Arthur Furst to study the mechanism of hydrazine reactions at the University of San Francisco. Robert Seiwald returned to his alma mater, U.S.F., to teach organic chemistry after three years on the staff of Kansas University. He spoke before the department of pharmacology of Stanford recently on fluorescent antibody techniques. C. Robert Hurley of Sacramento State College received a grant from the Research Corporation for a study of ruthenium in aqueous solutions. This will be spent for equipment and student help. He also attended the Institute for College Chemistry Teachers a t the University of North Carolina last summer. Last spring, Sacramento State Collrge was host to the local A.C.S. annual "Meeting-in-Miniature." Hal Draper is on sabbatical leave this spring semester, while working on several publications including a general chemistry laboratory manual. At Fresno State College, David Clark has been appointed assistant to Dean Dallas Tueller on a halftime basis, while retaining a half teaching load in the
chemistry department. George Kauffrnan received a Research Corporation grant to study the separation of cis, trans isomers of coordination complexes with platinum. He has Dwaine Cowan and Louis Dee working with him on scholarships in these molecular sieve separations. Both Ennis Womack, chairman of the department, and Robert Kallo are serving as memhers of the executive committee of the California section of the A.C.S. Robert Kallo is president of the Fresno subsection of the California section. After a sabbatical leave for work at the Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York City, Warren Biggerstaff has returned with many new research ideas that are being put to good use, with an expanded program in view. Gordon Shuck was added to the chemistry staff,after having taught a number of years a t the University of Montana. MEETINGS
On October 5 the Southern Section of the PSACT met at U.S.C. Gladys A. Emerson, chairman of the home economics department a t U.C.L.A., spoke on the topic, "Some Aspects of Human Nutrition." She was formerly a t Merck and Company and was a one-time Garvan Award Medalist. The subject "Technical Education and Development in India" was presented by Robert D. Vold of U.S.C. He just returned from a two-year stay at the Institute of Science in Bangalore, India. At Sacramento State College, on October 26, the Northern Section of the PSACT met. Robert Rice, chairman of the excellent science department of the Berkeley High School, presented the topic, "Fellowships, Scholarships and Other Grants-in-Aid Available to Teachers." A panel discussion followed on "Scholarships as an Effective Way of Improving Science Teaching." Breen Ratterman, N.S.F. Biology Fellow at Pomona College, Robert Hurley, N.S.F. Chemistry Fellow at the University of North Carolina, William Wash, N.S.F. Chemistry Fellow a t Montana State College, and Gerald Thomas, new chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences at San Francisco State College, gave a lively and timely presentation of this new phase of summer improvement in teaching. A second panel discussion on "Little Researches in Undergraduate Chemistry" had elements of humor and great potential as a stimulant in maintaining the interest of inquisitive chemistry students. Serving on this panel were James Cason of U.C., George S. Parks of Stanford, H. Courtney Benedict of Chico State College and Warren Biggerstaff of Fresno State College. Santa Monica City College was host to the Southern Section of the PSACT on December 14. The topic for the panel discussion was "The Problem of Interesting and Motivating Students in Chemistry." Panel memhers were Dr. Whittaker of the newly formed Harvey Mudd College, Melvin Greenstadt, Instructor in Science and Mathematics a t Fairfax High School, and Hans S. Schleicher, Manager at the Paramount Plant of Monsanto Chemical Company. The discussion leader was Anton Snrg of U.S.C. It was pointed out that much of the difficulty comes from the training before the secondary schools are reached. It was suggested that grouping superior students separately might serve to motivate them. The significant conclusion was that there must he special training for the gifted.
Immaculate Heart College had a panel discussion on "The Woman Chemist: Achievements and Opportunities" for the benefit of high school teachers and their students on January 12, 1958. Christine Konecny; consultant for U.S. Testing Company, served as moderator. Other panel members included Mary Holland of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, June McMillan of Immaculate Heart College, Lillian Randall of Randall Medical Laboratory, Marie Scully, formerly of Metal Control Laboratories, Frances Volz, food chemist of Knudsen Creamery Company, and Elizabeth Walkey, research librarian of Consolidated Electrodynamics Corporation. Each panelist spoke on the nature, preparation, and requirements for her particular field. At a tea, after the panel discussion, students were able to meet these women personally. A Southern Section PSACT meeting at Pepperdine College was held on February 8, dealing with the subject, "Summer Opportunities for the Teacher of Chemistry in Industry, Research, Institutes and Workshops." Charles S. Copeland of U.S.C., Paul S. Farrington of U.C.L.A., and David E. Randolph of the Los Angeles City Board of Education were the speakers. HEART ASSOCIATION GRANTS FOR STUDENT RESEARCH
A long range program of research, both fundamental and practical, is underway through grants offered by various divisions of the Heart Association on the local, state, and national levels. Considerable attention is being given to problems in chemistry. Chairman of the California Heart Association Research Committee is Dr. John J. Sampson, while Phyllis Hecker is the very capable program consultant, with a chemistry degree from Barnard College and graduate work in Public Health a t U.C. Robert Maybury of the chemistry faculty of the University of Redlands heads the new and very helpful student research sub-committee, with a clear understanding of flexibility of needs, particularly where research in chemistry is involved. Last summer a numher of competent students were given fellowships that paid for living expenses, while carrying out research under the direction of certain, faculty members. At U.C.L.A., Robert T. Rubin, Janet Martinella, John Sjaarda, Russell Erickson, Ronald Baskin, and William Shapiro worked under the sponsorship of Blaine H. Levedahl and Francis L. Scott; at Stanford, Allan Nies and Peter Mansfield worked with Albert V. Baez as their sponsor. For the regular school session, several grants made possible the securing of equipment and other essentials for undergraduate research. These awards were placed on a competitive basis by means of a special brochure sent to colleges and universities throughout the state. Recipients, who worked with respective sponsors, were: George Bless under John S. McAnally at Occidental College; Allan Brackensiek under Richard S. Welsh at the University of Redlands; John Burr under Eugene R. Volz a t Sacramento Junior College; Marvin Kientz under John L. Abernethy a t Fresno State College; and Seiichi Yasumura under John McMenamin at Occidental College. An example of aid that can he given on the local level is afforded in work being tried in Fresno County. The president of the Fresno County Heart Association is JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
Dr. J. Malcom Masten, while the executive director is Mrs. Joyce Richardson. Dr. Robert D. Beech is chairman of the research committee. The remaining members of the executive committee are Mr. Robert E. Zenk and Dr. Clell Gray. This year they are supporting, for the first time, student research at Fresno State College under the direction of John L. Abernethy, where Marvin Kientz received a scholarship in connection with the use of the enzyme papain in building amide-like units. This is an extension of the wellknown studies of Heinz Fraenkel-Conrat, instigated a number of years ago at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. Announcement of these awards was made by a TV program during which Marvin Kientz used a papaya fruit in a demonstration of the isolation and mode of action of the enzyme papain. The significance of this fruit enzyme was explained to be not remote from animal enzymes because they carry out similar functions. Heart muscle is 95% protein and requires growth, replacement, and repair. Papain can break down and synthesize proteins and proteinlike substances, actually in relation to very definite compounds and their specific structural and configurational features. A vigorous student research group, working on various phases of this synthetic work, has included Jerome Blank, Brother Myron Collins, John Nakamura, Marvin Kientz, Ronald Johnson, Rodney Johnson, Dennis Karle, Calvin Johnson, and Warren Kilday. Students in chemistry at colleges and universities in California will he grateful to the affiliated
VOLUME 35, NO. 5, MAY, 1958
Heart Associations for a continuation of their interest in promoting research of this sort in the future. OUR FAR WESTERN BOUNDARY: HAWAII
The PSACT Editor was in Hawaii during the Christmas holidays and visited the University of Hawaii. Jack Naughton, Chairman of the Chemistry Department conducted a tour of the laboratories and explained some of his own work on analyses of volcanic gases. Graduate students were working on projects ranging from boron compounds to natural products native to Hawaii. A special accelerated course is taught in general chemistry for about 25 screened students, mostly prospective chemistry majors. Paul Scheuer, who had just returned from a sabbatical leave at Harvard and Brandeis Universities, explained his current research with native plant materials, including heterocyclic substances, some with a linear joining of fused rings and others containing lactone rings. Ralph Heinicke of the Dole Hawaiian Pineapple Company and Willis A. Gortner of the Pineapple Research Institute, located a t the University of Hawaii, have been studying the new enzyme bromelain, now under pilot plant production and isolated from stems of the pineapple plant. Norris Rakestraw, former Editor of T H I SJOURNAL, spent the spring semester of 1957 as one of the Carnegie visiting professors a t the University of Hawaii. JOHN LEOABERNETHY Editor of PSACT Proceedings
FRESNO STATECOLLEGE FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
