Study set for chemical computer center
Moore: bridge building
to win Nobel Prizes some 20 years after gaining their fellowships—Sir Derek Barton, now professor of organic chemistry at London's Imperial College of Science and Technology, and Max Perutz, chairman of the Medical Research Council's molecular biology laboratory in Cambridge. In addition to ICI participants in the joint research scheme broadening their scientific horizons, their counterparts at the universities stand to gain in many ways, too, Moore is convinced. "Academics frequently tend to be isolated from industry," he remarks. He hopes that this situation will be corrected through the new collaborative working relationship that will entail conducting some of the research at ICI's research centers. Moore, a metallurgist by training, has been research manager with Imperial Metal Industries, an ICI subsidiary. In addition to his present role as academic relations adviser, he has an overall management responsibility for the ICI magazine Endeavour. He sees it as another tool for bridge building. The publication, which ICI launched in 1942 and which now has reached a circulation of some 45,000, "presents scientists throughout the world a regular review of the progress of science." It comes out three times yearly in four languages—French, German, and Spanish, as well as English. Endeavour has achieved a notable status among magazines serving scientists. It carries articles, written by experts, on such diverse topics as synchrotron radiation, deep-sea minerals, and the regulatory process of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) synthesis. "There is no advertising, and indeed one has to look fairly closely to find the ICI roundel trademark," Moore comments. He views the magazine as providing an important current awareness service.
A National Resource for Computation- ty, Dr. F. A. Cotton of Texas A & M al Chemistry has moved further toward University, Dr. Harold Scheraga of realization. A planning committee has Cornell University, Dr. Harrison Shull been established by the National of the University of Indiana, Dr. HowAcademy of Sciences-National Re- ard E. Simmons of Du Pont, Dr. Lawsearch Council to carry out a study rence Snyder of Bell Telephone Laboconcerning scientific policy and man- ratories, Dr. Kenneth B. Wiberg of agement of such a facility. The com- Yale University, and Dr. W. T. Wipke mittee was established at the request of Princeton University. of the Atomic Energy Commission and Some of the needs for a computer the National Science Foundation. center for chemistry were spelled out A national computer center was first in the original April proposal. The area proposed last April by a National Re- in need of greatest support, the study search Council study group (C&EN, group said, is theoretical calculations, April 15, page 4). The group was con- for both purely theoretical projects and cerned with the growing difficulties of for theoretical support of experimental theoretical chemists in obtaining ac- programs. Particular programs noted cess to adequate computer power. A by the study group included those in subsequent workshop at Argonne Na- photochemical processes, heterogenetional Laboratory in June (C&EN, June ous catalysis, high-temperature super24, page 24) broadened the concept to conductors, and protein conformation a center for all of chemistry, not just and enzyme-substrate interactions. The idea of a computation center retheoretical. The planning committee, under the stricted to computation required by a chairmanship of Dr. Jacob Bigeleisen research community was then broadof the University of Rochester, will ened by the Argonne workshop in June. make recommendations regarding com- The center, said Indiana's Shull, who position, size, and responsibilities of a presented a plenary address, should be board of prominent scientists who a center for all of chemistry and not would set policy for the center, or re- just for theoretical chemistry. The Argonne workshop envisioned source. It also will make recommendations concerning the relationship of the national center as being developed such a board to the operating structure in a two-phase program. The first of the resource, to federal funding phase would involve assembling an emagencies, and to user groups. Desirable bryo staff and lining up the needed priorities, growth rates, and levels of computing power, either at some locaoperation for the first several years is tion where it is currently available or another area the planning committee through some existing communications will look into, as well as facilities, ac- network. The second phase, farther off, cess, and site requirements for the re- would be the establishment of a permanent center. However the resource source. Eight chemists in addition to Bigel- develops, now that a planning commiteisen make up the planning committee: tee has been formed, it is gaining moDr. Bruce Berne of Columbia Universi- mentum.
Ship channel fire fighters drill for emergency To keep their skills honed sharp in case of emergency, fire fighters assembled early last month on the Houston Ship Channel for a full-scale drill. Here, they put out a refinery fire as part of the drill. The fire fighters were mobilized by Channel Industries Mutual Aid (CIMA), a cooperative organized to provide a ready pool of fire fighting, rescue, and first-aid manpower and equipment that can get into action quickly if a major emergency occurs in the Houston Ship Channel. At present, CI MA, organized in 1953 under the name of Houston Ship Channel Industries Aid Organization, includes 47 member companies along the channel and five local government agencies.
Nov. 4, 1974 C&EN
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