ACS NEWS
Max Tishler named Priestley Medalist Renowned Merck R&D administrator marks today as a time of challenge and opportunity for scientists Max Tishler is not a knight and he never will be. He certainly does not have a woeful countenance. He isn't even tall and skinny. And he has not been known to walk around with an inverted shaving bowl on his head. But in one overwhelming aspect Max Tishler is very like Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha. All his life he has had a dream. But unlike the dream of the immortal Cervantes character, Max Tishler's dream—to do something significant to help relieve the sufferings of the sick—has not been an impossible one. And if any man can be said to have fulfilled such a dream, Max Tishler has. For 32 years he has been a member of one of the most prestigious drug research organizations in the world, the Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories division of Merck & Co., and for 12 years he has headed it. Major discoveries while he has been head of the laboratory include drugs for heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and mental depression as well as for certain poultry and livestock diseases. This progress toward his dream has brought the 62-year-old Dr. Tishler many honors, starting with election to the National Academy of Sciences in 1953. It has now brought him the Priestley Medal. Established in 1922 by the American Chemical Society to commemorate the work of Joseph Priestley, this gold medal is given yearly to recognize "distinguished services to chemistry." The medalist is selected each year by the ACS Board of Directors from a short list submitted to it by the Committee on Awards and Recognitions. Although renowned as an R&D administrator, Dr. Tishler has made major scientific contributions in his own right. For instance, he led Merck teams which first synthesized hydrocortisone and developed commercial syntheses of vitamin B 2 , pantothenic acid, and vitamin Kv He also headed development of production processes for penicillin, cortisone, and hydrocortisone. Max Tishler's dream started back in Boston more than 50 years ago. As a 12-year-old he worked for a drugstore delivering prescriptions during the serious flu epidemic of 1918. He 46 C&EN JULY 21, 1969
explains that the suffering he saw during that time had a lasting impact on him. He continued to work in a drugstore for some years to help support himself in school and he became a registered pharmacist—an achievement he views with great pride. He still carries a copy of his pharmacist's license in his wallet. When he first entered Tufts University it was as an English major. For a brief while he thought of becoming a poet. But this ambition died when a professor told him he would never be more than a second rate poet. Turning back to science he graduated magna cum laude in chemistry in 1928. Now bent on a career in medicine he entered Harvard with a plan to take one more year in biochemistry before enrolling in the medical school. But his interest in chemistry proved to be too strong and he stayed on to obtain his doctorate in chemistry in 1934. Working under the guidance of Dr. E. P. Kohler, his doctoral dissertation was on Grignard reagents. After three more years at Harvard, first as a research associate then as an instructor in chemistry, he was persuaded by the late George W. Merck to join Merck Laboratories. Dr. Tishler recalls that at that time industrial research laboratories, in general, had little appeal for the research chemist. Almost all of the pioneer basic work was being done at the universities and working for a company was looked upon as a somewhat distasteful exercise by most senior members of the academic community. However, Dr. Tishler says that what helped sway him toward accepting the Merck offer back in 1937 was the very fine basic research the company was doing at the time on vitamin B l t Also, he adds with a grin, "it was the depth of the depression, and most of my colleagues at Harvard thought I was lucky to get the job." In those days Merck's research staff numbered 100. Today employment at the Merck Sharp & Dohme research division alone has reached 1800. The company also employs another 500 research personnel in its other division. Since earlier this year, when
he was elected senior vice president, research and development, Dr. Tishler has been in charge of all of them. In spite of the complexity and bureaucracy that this growth has inevitably brought, Dr. Tishler still brings the enthusiasm and freshness to his job that he must have had the day he joined the company. He still has a very close and personal feel for everything that is going on. As he says, "I can't stay in the office all day. I love to wander." And when he wanders it is mostly around the laboratories at the company's ever growing campuslike research complex at Rah way, N.J., where he still knows most employees by name. The quiet spoken Dr. Tishler is obviously a man who thinks young. After being on the scene for 32 years and after seeing his organization grow 20-fold or more he can still turn to a C&EN reporter and, with a completely genuine "its-hard-to-believe" tone in his voice, reveal that "You know, I'm beginning to become one of the old-timers around here." One of the things that is generating most excitement for "old-timer" Tishler these days is Merck's growing commitment of enzyme research. The first synthesis of an enzyme, ribonuclease, announced earlier this year by both Merck and Rockefeller University scientists, is a long step toward explaining the mechanism of this, and of other, biological catalysts, Dr. Tishler explains. And this synthesis should also open practical routes for the synthesis of other enzymes—enzymes that may prove useful in the treatment of disease. As Dr. Tishler explains further, en-
"Science demands a high price in energy and time for a scientist, and because of the limitations of the human mind, imposes a narrowness in all but a few."
zyme research may eventually lead to greater opportunities for actually curing diseases, instead of just controlling them or modifying their effects as do so many of today's drugs. He adds that Merck has already spent $2 million on developing a method to produce L-asparaginase, an enzyme being studied for possible use in treatment of leukemias. The company can now produce this enzyme in kilogram lots. So far results on a limited number of patients have been encouraging. And Dr. Tishler points out that this may turn out to be the first time an enzyme has been used to cure a degenerative disease. In spite of Dr. Tishler's complete involvement in this and a host of other developments at Merck, he still finds time, as he always has done, for expressing himself and involving himself in a host of matters related to education, government science policies, and the role of the scientist in society today. For instance, just last month he
was in Ottawa giving testimony at a Canadian government hearing on ways to restructure that nation's R&D effort. In May he spoke at Kent State University on today's troubled campus scene; in March he was in Washington, D.C., addressing a National Research Council symposium on the role of indus try research in the national research effort; and in January he was in London addressing the Royal Society of Medicine on the public stake in medical research. In his public statements, Dr. Tishler is not afraid to take unpopular positions. For instance, he says that the slowdown in federal support for medical and other research is not all bad. Dr. Tishler says that, "The reaction to this slowdown has been as predictable as the slowdown itself. Some of my colleagues in the life sciences are working hard to build understanding and new institutions to cope with changed conditions. Others, who were quite happy when government funds for research were growing at a rate several times the rate of the economy as a whole, are now muttering about the fickleness of the public and the obtuseness of politicians. Some prefer to light a candle, others to curse the darkness." According to Dr. Tishler, the slowdown will teach the research community to live within financial limitations. Also it will lead to better selection of projects, improved planning, and greater efficiency. Another advantage of the slowdown will be that it will force researchers to recognize that the public's price for supporting research will be a greater role in scientific decision making.
This greater role of the public in the decisions of science is something that Dr. Tishler has been aware of for many years. In a 1963 speech he stated (echoing Clemenceau's caution about war and the military) that, "The future control over the power of science is too important to entrust to scientists." Dr. Tishler says there are those in the scientific community who believe that science itself can solve the major political and socioeconomic problems and that scientists should exert real influence in these areas. But after a lifetime in science himself, Dr. Tishler cannot agree. " . . . it is neither likely nor desirable for the leaders of the future to be predominantly scientists," he writes. "For all its attractions and rewards, science demands a high price in energy and time for a scientist, and, because of the limitations of the human mind, imposes a narrowness in all but a few." The route that we should follow, according to Dr. Tishler, is not just to try to broaden the scientist to enable him to govern. "We should take the other road: Train those who are going to govern to understand science so that they may help determine its goals and directions." Dr. Tishler still considers himself more scientist than administrator. He feels that today is a time of challenge and opportunity for scientists. "We are in sight of a fundamental understanding of biological processes and perhaps of the origin of life itself. There is no time in history when it could have been more stimulating and rewarding to enter upon a career of research in the life sciences." JULY 21, 1969 C&EN 47
Symposium for technicians Papers for presentation at the Sixth Symposium for Chemical Technicians are sought by the Council Committee on Technician Affiliation with the ACS. The symposium will be held during the Society's 159th national meeting, Houston, Tex., Feb 22-27, 1970. Each symposium paper must be written and presented by a chemical technician on work performed primarily by him and related to chemistry. Coauthorship by ACS members is acceptable but not mandatory. Two copies of a 200-word abstract (on standard ACS abstract forms) and one copy of a 1000-word abstract should be submitted by Nov. 10, 1969, to: Grady L. Roberts, Program Chairman, ACS Symposium for Technicians, Monsanto Co., P.O. Box 1311, Texas City, Tex. 77590.
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Course on business aspects of chemistry "How to Succeed in Business by Really Trying" is the title of an ACS prototype course on the business aspects of chemistry to be sponsored by the Committee on Professional Relations at the fall national meeting in New York City. The no-charge program is an experiment in continuing education for broadening the professional horizons of the chemist, according to the committee chairman, Dr. Henry A. Hill. To be held on Wednesday morning, Sept. 10, the course will consist of five lectures covering a broad spectrum of chemical industry topics. The program moderator, Dr. Raymond P. Mariella, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Loyola University of Chicago, will outline the need for a short course on succeeding in the chemical industry. Dr. Kenneth H. Klipstein, former American Cyanamid president, will discuss the corporate function in chemical industry. Chemical economics will be covered by Dr. Walter Guthmann of Roosevelt University. Joseph Stewart of Esso Research and Engineering will speak on budgeting and planning in industry, and personnel motivation through planning and compensation will be the topic of Dr. Laurence Ackerman, former dean of the University of Connecticut school of business. Following an extensive period for the exchange of comments between lecturers and participants, the course will conclude with a luncheon address by former ACS President Robert W. Cairns on "Future Opportunities for Chemical Managers." Stressing the educational nature of
the program, the committee urges continuous attendance by participants at all five presentations. Enrollment, for which there is no fee, is limited to 150 persons. No course materials will be required or furnished. Advance registration is encouraged for the program as well as for the accompanying luncheon (tickets $7.50). Registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to those who order luncheon tickets. Write Office of Professional Relations at the ACS national office in Washington to enroll or to make inquiries.
New local section officers CHICAGO. Dr. Thomas H. Donnelly has been elected 1969-70 chairman of the Chicago Section. Serving with Dr. Donnelly are Dr. Thomas J. Kucera, chairmanelect; Dr. Saul B. Needleman, vice chairman; Jarliv Johnsen, secretary; and Dr. Lloyd G. Unger, treasurer. PITTSBURGH. Dr. Richard E. Hein will serve as chairman of the Pittsburgh Section in 1969-70. Other officers are Thomas J. Hardwick, chairmanelect; Frank E. Dickson, Jr., secretary; Dr. Sharon L. Johnson, assistant secretary; Dr. R. Donald Spencer, treasurer; and M. D. Schlesinger, assistant treasurer. UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS. Dr. Walter L. Meyer has been elected chairman of the University of Arkansas Section for the 1969-70 term. Other newly elected officers of the section are Dr. Donald E. Gwynn, chairmanelect, and Dr. James F. Hinton, secretary-treasurer.
Chemists' salaries The salaries shown on the U.S. map in the Chemist's Salaries story (C&EN, June 23, page 93) are median annual salaries. Thus, a B.S. chemist respondent in the Pacific states earns a median annual salary of $13,000.
