VCU to host Nobel Laureate chemists for discussion on science and politics Oct. 13

By Malorie Burkett

Virginia Commonwealth University’s 2002 Nobel laureate in chemistry, Dr. John Fenn, will join a Nobel laureate from Harvard University for a discussion on what impact politics has on science and technology.

Fenn will be joined by Dr. Dudley Herschbach, a 1986 Nobel laureate chemist, on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. in the VCU Student Commons, Richmond Salons, 907 Floyd Ave. The event is sponsored by the VCU Student Government Association and is free and open to the public.

“It is such an honor to have two Nobel laureate scientists on our campus,” said Zmarak Khan, president of the VCU Student Government Association. “This is a wonderful opportunity for VCU students.”

Fenn and Herschback are members of Scientists and Engineers for Change, an independent political committee created to promote the importance of scientific issues during the 2004 presidential election.

This event is part of a nationwide road tour sponsored by the alliance that focuses on key swing states. The participants include Nobel laureates, science advisers to the president and a National Medal of Technology winner who is recognized as one of the “fathers of the Internet”.