~@~ ~~!~ChE NE!~ Recognizing the Path of Progress and the Consequences of Complacency By Chris Kinard
I ~
0
=-" :z 0t=
('>
o:i 0
::>:J
c
g. .0
~
U>
:z
::z.....
C"
:;: -< 0
= .....
8"
= = ..,
('>
~
In most societies there are severa l crucial dec ision points which determine the level of future satisfaction or frustration they wi ll ultimately experience. Our Black commun i ty is at one of those points again. I don't want to bore anyone with a lo t of fam iliar stat istics; but rather focus on the opportuniti es and respon sibilities of the profess ionals in our com munity; particularly
l"l l"l
- "" x
="
~ :z
<£) <£)
Chris Kinard...
::::!!
""
for 20 yea rs Chris has been employed by Mound Laboratory which is opera ted by Mon sa nto Research Corp. fo r th e Department of Energy. Currently he manages an Analytical Chem istry gro up which specia lizes in analysis of radioactive materials. Ne is also cofounder of the Cincinnati/Dayton Chapter of NOBCChE and is th e Midwest Regional Chairperson.
fll
*;:
(,I
Ol (.J1
I :cl
~ n
;.,
3
,, g
Si"
o
n> -
3
~
:<
U> U>
"'
~-ii
~ ~~yi~· :::z ~ ;iii ...._, .......
~; c
on
&~ n>
recogni zable. But growing complacency and lack of commitment harbor much more dangerous impli ca ti ons than previous perils. Additionally we should rea li ze that for the past few yea rs the maj or growth in the American eco nomy has been in technical areas . And yet it seems fewer Blac ks are pe rsuing technical degrees eac h year. Reasons
technica l orga ni za tions. Black Americans forty yea rs of age and old er are painfully famili ar wi th the civil ri ghts struggles of the sixt ies and t11 e lac k of oppo rtuniti es prior to that tim e. We are also aware of some subsequ ent ga in s; even though the cha nges did not co me in a t rue spirit of "goodwill and equality". Our problem now is to learn how or what mu st be done to maintain the need-to-achi eve in tensity level in our young and future generations. During and before the sixti es the barriers were easily
for this decline will not be di scussed in this article. However whether planned or not technical groups such as NOBCChE are right where the action is for the 80's and 90's. In light of the affore mention ed direction of the American economy and apparent in terest of those coming after us, there are some serious resp onsib iliti es the Black tec hni ca l co mmunity must address. A few of the fa miliar opportuniti es assoc iated with these responsib ili ties are: inspiration of more continued on page six
"C.S. Klang ls Henry A. H lllMemorlal Lecturer" By John Hall The Henry A. Hill l'lemorial Lecture was delivered at the 13th Annual NOBCChE Meeting in Atlanta by Dr. C. S. Kiang. a distinguished researcher in atmospheric chemistry. Dr. Kiang's address entitled, "Chemistry and Natural Phenomena" described atmospheric processes of national concern (for example, acid rain and the impact of the methane budget on the environment) and the effects of these processes on the environment and the national policy. Dr. Kiang is presently Director and Professor at the School of Geophysical Sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before coming
to Georgia Tech in 1979, Dr. Kiang was Director of the Aerosol Project of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Dr. Kiang also taught physics at Clark College in the Atlantia University Center for seven (7) years. He has made numerous contributions towards increasing the number of Blacks in science and was co-author of the "Arrowhead Report", detailing a mechanism for minorities to achieve parity representation in science. Dr. Kiang also arranged for a NOBCChE delegation to visit China where an agreement of cooperation was signed between NOBCChE and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).
Dr. C.S. Kiang is presented the Henry A. Hill Award by Dr. John Hall.
The JYOHCChf; /Yews The NOBCChE News is the official publication of the National Organ ization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chem ical Engineers. Officers President Exec. Board Chairperson Treasu rer
NOBCChE News Editor
Dr. Philip Merchant
Dr. Theophilus Sorrell MSO; Bldg. 65 3rd Mr. Eastman Kodak Company Rochester, NY 14650 (716) 477·7785
Secretary
Mr. Isom t1arrison
Historian
Dr. Samuel von Winbush c/o Mrs. Minnie Clayton , Archivist Robert W. Woodruft Library Atlanta University Center Atlanta. GA 30310
Regional Chairpersons
2
Dr. Denise Barnes AT&T Bell I.abs. Allentown. PA 18103
Dr. Charles A. Washington Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. P.O. Box Y. Oak Ridge. TN 37830 Mr. Christopher Kinard 673 Hillgrove Ct.
Cincinnati, Oli 45246 Southwest
Ms. Rosanne C. Anderson Martin Marietta Energy Systems, lnc. P.O. Box Y. Bldg. 920 I ·5 MS·9 Oak Ridge. TN 37830
NOBCChE NEWS P.O. Box 15499 Rochester. NY 14615
No rtheast
Midwest
Mr. Clarence Tucker
-or-
Archive
Southeast
West
Dr. Bobby Wilson Chemistry Department Texas Southern University Houston , TX 77004 Mr. James Evans University of c.alifornia Li vermore . CA 94550
The NOBCChE was established in 1972 with the objectives of developing programs to assist Blacks in realizing their full potentia l in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering. The organization's programs include establishing information and consultation services for th e Black commu nity, recruitment of more Blacks in tile Science and Engineering professions. promoting active participation in scientific research , and i ncreasing the representation of Blacks on advisory Boards.
Scientists Serving Mankind "'
At CIBA-GEIGY, we're always searching for new ways to improve lives. Like the lives of the people we serve in over 100 countries on six continents. Our agricultural products are helping farmers to improve crop yields and feed the world's hungry. Our Pharmaceuticals division is also making major strides. We're developing therapeutic drugs in such diverse areas as atherosclerosis and estrogen therapy. We've also developed new dyes that can be found in clothing everywhere, and we've fostered the creation of materials that have reshaped the transportation industry.
Serving mankind also means nurturing tomo rrow's scientists. We recently sponsored "The Brain," an eight part, awardwinning PBS series. And, in 1980, to encourage minority students to pursue scientific careers, we established the Exceptional Black Scientists Poster Program. Education is a continuing process at CIBA-GIEGY. Wherever you choose to work with us, you can be sure that every effort will be made to encourage your development to its fullest potential; both as an individual, and as a professional.
~J. r ~/'; -,
,-1 '·'- .~ , -Y
).·..·.~ ·\ \'MfJI.·· /1,t'-, I (
_;
"-+
,I
j J1 I~/:, li!u ~ Y7~1 '"v·V .
. -,.,>I.
i ~ - ~· - --~~ J"' ['
If you're a chemist or chemical engineer " with a BS, MS or PhD, and possess three to five years' experience in Analytical, Inorganic, Organic or Polymer chemistry, we invite you to contact us. Opportunities exist at our suburban Westchester, NY facilities in Ardsley and Hawthorne, and at locations in Summit, NJ; St. Gabriel, LA; Mcintosh, AL, and Greensboro, NC. Please send your resume, in strict confidence to Lorraine Webb, Corporate Human Resources, Dept. NCC, CIBAGIEGY, Ardsley, New York, 10502. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/HN.
The organization depends upon exciting talent among Blacks i n these fields to aid in tile accompli shment of its objectives. Full NOBCChE membersh i p, inc luding NOBCChE NEWS. is $35/year; associate membership is 15/year. Persons desiring membership and activities information, as well as new members forwarding dues, should write lo the treasurer-address is given above.
CIBA-GEIGY Progress Through Innovation
Thirteenth Annual NOBCChE Meeting
Finding The Right Chemistry Js Something We Do Very Well , At ICI.
In Atlanta Emphasizes on the Development of Competitive Research Programs at Minority Institutions. By John Hall The 13th Annual Meeting in Atlanta was navored with those things that Atlanta is becoming noted for: an emphasis on research at Black institutions. atmospheric chemistry and cooperation with Chinese scientists. A major concern nationally is the underrepresentation of minorities in science and technology. and the initial speaker of the
conference. Dr. Thomas Stelson. Vice President for Research at Georgia Tech, detailed a comprehensive mechanism for developing a research capability at a major university. A panel discussion followed composed of members of a group of scientists who developed the "Arrowhead Report". This continued on page six
,.
Here at ICI, the right chemistry goes far beyond developing products that enhance the quality of life. It begins with creating a working environment which fosters innovation and excitement. An atmosphere which encourages talented people to combine their knowledge with imagination, bringing the ideas to life that have enabled us to build solid partnerships with our customers, and to maintain our position as a company that recognizes its responsibilities to all the communities that surround our facilities across the U.S. and around the world. At ICI, the right chemistry also means choosing our markets very carefully. We're making strides in some of the exciting areas of industry including: quality pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, specialty chemicals, electronics, aerospace and advanced materials. And our unparalleled commitment to research assures an even brighter tomorrow for our customers and for the people of ICI.
Some activity around the industrial booths. Careful planning has helped us to enjoy one of the fastest growth rates in terms of sales and profitability in the chemical industry. Today, we're 12,000 people strong, with over 40 locations across the U.S. and sales in excess of $1.5 billion.
If you possess a BS, MS, or PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering or a related scientific discipline and believe that the right chemistry could make all the difference in your future, we invite you to forward your resume in confidence to: Employment Manager, Dept NBN-86, Employee Relations Department, ICI Americas, Wilmington DE 19897. An Equal Opportunity Employer.
速 ~~i~t:.~::~~~,~~~ Dr. William Lester receiving the outstanding teacher award from Mr. James Evans.
4
The Path of Progress Blac ks to persue tec hnical careers. imp rovement of our profess ional ac hievements. and increased visibility as a tec hni cal reso urce. In prac ti ca lly eve ry reg ion of th e country NOBCChE has experti se in Nuclea r. Organi c. and Envi ro nmental Chemi stry as well as admini st ra tors in governm ent, academia . and industry. Of course th is is only a sa mple of th e many talents within NOBCChE but th ese areas were chosen beca use they are curently hot news item s. Th e co mmunity has a need to und erstand th e benefit s and ri sks in vol ved with artificial and naturally occurri ng chemi ca l processes. Mass media presentati ons are often mi sleading, causing exaggerated alarm and detering potential career choices. NOBCChE ca n infiu erice publi c pe rcepti on. Our respon sibilities start with building a st rong professional organi za ti on. Som e of these items have been addressed in th e proposed fi ve year plan. Commitment to our vari ous positi ons in NOBCCh E mu st also be con sid ered. Local members are no less important to th e orga nizati on than the chairman of the board. However. if we are to at trac t new memb ers it is im pe rati ve that chapter. regional, .and national officers pe rform the duti es of their offi ce in a
continued from page one professional manner. Committees should fun ction between meetings to increase membership participation and organi za ti onal efficie ncy. Finally support of our Hi sti ca lly Blac k Colleges and Universiti es (HBCU) is very important in order to provid e an alternative learning environm ent to young Blac k sc ientists. Surely th ese are not new id eas and certainly not exhausti ve. But as th e world continues to move in the direction of high-t ec h and capa ble Blacks co ntinue to be lured away from tec hnical careers. our ability to infiuence th e application of tec hnol ogy will be dimini shed. NOBCChE and other Black professional orga ni zations can and should have a positive impact on thi s si tuati on. Wi th the current talent ava ilable, we haven't begun to challenge the po tent ial of this organi zation. Alth ough there are many impressive acti vi ties and prog rams being ca rried at th e chapter level. a National plan will provide focus and direc ti on that bonds th ese efforts together. Th e Midwest Regi on has reported severa l ongoing chapter acti viti es wh ic h address so me of the responsibiliti es mentioned; and thus has va luable experi ence to make co ntributi ons to the five year plan. I doub t that any of us beli eves that success just happens by chance.
Thirteenth Annual NOBCChE Meeting continued from page four panel discussion explored ways of applying Dr. Stelson's talk and the Arrowhead Report to HBCUs in ord er to achi eve a national impac t. Atmosph eri c sc iences was also very vi sibl e at the co nference. Dr. C. S. Kiang. Direc tor and Professor of th e Sc hool of Geophysical Sci ences at Geo rgia Tech, and a prominent atmosph eric ch emi st delivered th e Henry A. Hill Memorial Lecture, spo nso red by the Northeastern Section of th e Ameri ca n Chemi ca l Soc iety. Dr. James King, Manager of th e Space Science Divi sion at th e Jet Propulsion La boratory gave a special lecture on th e lat est data of Uranus from the Voyager spacecra ft. Finally, Dr. Tang Xiayan, Direc t or of th e Environm ental Sc iences
6
group at the University of Peking talked on Atm ospheric Ch emi stry in China. Particularly encouraging at this meeting was th e ex tensive participati on by Em ory University and Geo rgia In stitute of Tec hn ology. Dr. Isiah Warner's group at Em ory presently nea rly ten ( 10 ) papers at th e conference. The Atlanta Uni veri ty Center was also well represented by th e Dolphus E. Milli ga n Science Research In sti tute, whose resea rchers presented five (5) pa pers. Al so. congra tulati ons to Dr. William lester. Professo r of Chemi stry at the Uni versity of ca li fo rnia -Berkeley for rec eiving the "Outst.anding Teacher of th e Year award" at our 13th Annual Awards Banquet.
Crystal Gazing - a dream come true By Patrlda Fagbayl, Rochester Chapter (edito rs note: To gain the message in this article, I suggest that you read it all) Attendance for me at the NOBCChE annual meeting has always been a rewarding experi ence because of the renewed energy/ enthusiasm I feel about what I can accompli sh as a black sc ientist, and how I might contribute to th e overall betterment of th e human race. It is the breeding ground for the fl ow and exc hange of id eas, an
of topi cs, which allowed for group participati on in informal settings, captured and addressed concerns/ issues both nationally and internationally. It also covered programs which NOBCChE had initiated and parti cipated in on a national and international scale. and provided an education for those no longer practicing "true" chemistry and chemical engineering and needed introduct ion to alternate
Ms. Patricia f'agbayi ... is a member of th e Quality Services Organiza tion at th e Eastman Kodak Company. She is also one of the 4th grade teachers for The Rochester Chapter's adopt-a-class program.
environm ent for stimulating di sc uss ions and it gives one the courage and determinati on to venture into un known territori es. I not only become closer to identifying who I am as an individual, but I get an ap prec iation for how I migh t fit into the sc heme of things. Thi s conference was parti cularly special beca use it was going to be my last. The th eme for the conference was: "NOBCCht: - A Cryst.al Ball View" Before opening th e meeting booklet, I read a lot in to the theme and wond ered if the meeting was going to fo cus on th e past, present or future of NOBCChE, or on the rebirth of an organi za ti on. As I ni pped through th e pages of th e booklet outlining the agenda and detai ling the vari ous activiti es. there were some startling but refreshin g differences that contrasted past meetings, as well as some similari ties. Th e format di d not deviate from the norm , however th ere was a broader range
careers. Over th e next four days of the conference, I chose to partic ipate in a panel di sc ussion on ' Bridging the Gap Improvement of th e Educaitonal system in Third World Countri es', and lei surely revi ewed the exhibit entitled " NOBCChE, Look at how we have grown " . Th e newspaper clippings and pi ctures depi cting NOBCChE scientists evoked fond memories and was doc umentation of th e history of the orga ni za tion. With fellow members. I visited th e elementary, j unior hi gh and high sc hools where NOBCChE's "Adopt-aschool" program was in stituted. What was espec ially rewarding about those visits was the awa rd s presented to the outstanding stud ents at general assemblies. and the dedica tion of a sci ence room at th e elem entary school on behalf of NOBCChE and lnfrasurface. Wi th this much activity, I still had the opportunity to attend th e tec hnical and continued on page ten
7
Crystal Gazing continued from page ten non-tec hni ca l presentat ions and sit on t he mini - workshops d isc ussing career developments, stress management. and how to write effect ive proposals. I was pleased that the part icipants we re both professionals and stud ents. Unfo rtunately, th e acti viti es conc luded on Friday evening. and the meet ing was offi cially closed du rin g brunch the followi ng mornin g. As I sa id goodbye to my colleagues and friends, I renected on th e 13th Annua l meeting in Atlanta, Geo rgia. It was there that
the seeds were planted for the growth and progress I had envisioned for NOBCChE. The enact ment of th e " fi ve Yea r Plan" had put the organ iza ti on on sound foo ti ng, the comm i tment of the chapters t o educating ou r yo uth through "adopt-a-sc hool" progra ms had increased our membershi p, and the exc hange of techn ology with other nations broadened our horizons. The foresight and dedica ti on of the members had definitely provided for a stronger and mo re effective NOBCChE.
From the President Dea r Fell ow NOBCChE Memb er: I want to express to yo u, how proud I am to have been selected to serve as President of our orga ni zati on. It is an honor to have been elected in Atlanta. Wi th yo ur help, I in tend to work very ha rd, t o justify thi s responsibili ty whi ch has been given to me. If you voted for me, I wa nt t o thank you fo r your support. If you voted for my wo rthy op ponent. I want to enli st your aid in our
+ International Ac ti vi ties In order to have im pact in these areas. we will have to develop our action-plan ca refully. A draft of the Five Yea r Pla n will be sent to eac h local chapter. We will enco urage the Chapte rs to di scuss the main Areas for acti on with the memb ership and to determ in e ways in which the Chapters ca n impact these areas, in thei r own communiti es. We would li ke to see th e resul ts of th ese sessi ons subm itted t o the
Dr. Philip Merchant, Jr... is a Senior Staff Chemist a nd Technica l (Group) l eader of th e Demulsifier Marketing and Technica l Service Gro up, at Exxo n Ch emica l Co mpa ny . He received h is BS and MS degrees, with honors, from Texas So uthern University, wh ere he maj ored in Chemistry and minored in Ma th ma tics. His Doctora te in Chemistry was ea rn ed, also w ith honors, at th e Uni versity of Houston.
Conference attendees near the registration table.
1986 Graduate Fellowship Awards By Clarence Tucker At the Thirteenth An nual Meeting in Atlanta, three Grad uate Fellowship Awa rds were presen ted. The Eastma n Koda k Compa ny Fell owship was presented to Li nda J. Amos. She is a Ph. D. Ca ndidate at Princeton Un ivers ity, Depa rtment of Chemi stry, working in Inorgan ic Elec t roa nalyti ca l Chemistry. Thi s awa rd was presented to Linda by Dr. Wa lter Cooper. Eastma n Kodak Com pa ny, Resea rch Division. The rec ipi ents for th e Procter and Gamble Company Awards were Bruce D. Ma rri s and Sharon L. Neal. Bruce is a Ph.D. Ca ndidate at The Uni versi ty of Pennsylva nia, Depa rtment of Chemistry. he is involved in the synthes is of biolog ica lly active peptides, depsipeptid es and amino acids. Sharon is
to
completi ng her requ irements for the Ph.D. at Emory University wi th a maj or in Analytical Chem istry. Th e obj ective of her thesi s resea rch i s to develop more general algorithms for the resolution of co mponents spect ra from mixture spectra. These Awards were presented by Dr. li erbert Smith erman, Procter and Ga mble Compa ny. Th ese rec ipi ents were chosen from twenty-eight ap pli cants working toward the Ph.D. in Chemistry or Chemi ca l Engineering. The NOBCChE and awa rd sponsors. Eastma n Koda k Company and Procter and Gamb le Compa ny are pleased and pro ud to present these Fellowships. Congratulations to Li nda, Bruce and Sha ro n!
commm on goa l- to make 1986 a ban ner yea r for th e growth and development of NOBCChE. Look ing forward, I see that the princ ipal challenge fac ing us is the conti nued growth of NOBCChE, both in membershi p and in innu ence. Th is is a big j ob. which will req uire all our effort and support if i t is to be successful. Eac h member can con tribu te in thi s effort; and each co ntribution i s important. We are developing a Five-Year-Plan, to serve as a set of goals for th e fu ture act ivities of our Orga niatio n. We intend to foc us our effor ts in th e foll owing areas : + Elementary and Sec ondary Educat ion + Undergraduate and Graduat e Ed ucation + Financia l Self-Sufficiency + Orga ni za ti onal Effec tiveness & Effi ciency + Pro fessional Developm ent of Members + Pro moti ng the Orga nization + National Exposure
President. so tha t t he overa ll ac tion plan ca n be developed and refin ed. In this procedure, the input from the ind ividual memb ers, can be taken into account. In th e President's mind, th e importa nt single goa l. in the Plan, is the additi on of new mem bers by th e Chapters. It is th rough this process of growt h whi ch will make the oth er Goa ls possible. Without the increase in membership, our Orga ni za ti on cann ot grow in responsibility and in nuence. We all want our membership in NOBCChE to really count fo r something. just as we wan t the Organizat ion to rea lly co unt. While the promot ion of the Orga ni za tion and th e rec ruitment of new mem bers is the responsibility of all th e membership, i t is t he primary responsibility of the Regional Chairpersons and the Chapter Officers. Th ese people. workin g in the loca l com muni tites, have to bea r the mai n continu ed on page fifteen
11
1987 Graduate Fellowship Awards
Regional News: Northeast Region - Delaware Valley Chapter As the loca l chapter 路president. I would like to call to yo ur attenti on to a recent recogni tion ach ieved by a member of th e Delaware Valley Chapte r of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemi st s and Chemical En gin eers (N OBCChE ). Dr. Thaddeus E, Whyte. Jr,, Technical Manager, Researc h and Development Divi sion, Th e PQ Corporat ion , was selec ted to receive the 1986 Distingui shed Alumni Award from the Graduate Sc hool of Arts and Scien ces at Howard University. The award is g iven to Howard Un iversi ty alumni who have di stingui shed th emselves in scholarly productivi ty and who are succ essful in their chosen field s. It was presented to him at a banquet sa luting the 1986 Howard University Ph.D.s on May 7, 1986. On April 7th, Dr. Whyte presented the keynote address at Howard University's Graduate Schools's Annual Resea rch Symposium. Hi s address was titled "Challenges and Opportunities in Corporate Ameri ca". Dr. Whyte, who joined our researc h sta ff in April 1986 hea ds a 12 memb er department whose mission is to support the company's developmental efforts in the area of zeoli tes, crysta lline aluminosili ca tes. He is an expert in the areas of cata lytic application s of zeolites and zeoli te synthesis. Prior to joining our staff, he held resea rch management positi ons with Catalytica Associates, Air Products and Chemicals Co mpany, and Mobil Research and Develo pment Compa ny. Plea se join us in congra tulating him on this well deserved honor. By Anthony L. Dent. Ph.D. Manager New Produ ct Deve lopment PQ Corporation Western Region Cal State L. A. /fonors Professor Lloyd IY. Ferguston Dr. Lloyd N. Ferguson, internationally acclaimed chemi st known for his innovative re search on th e sense of taste and a professor of chemi stry at Californ ia State University Los Angeles for the past 20 yea rs, will be hono red by former stud ents spanning four decades of Ferguson's teaching ca reer at
IZ
a symposium to take place at the Univers ity, May 16, 1986I : 15-6:00 p.m. All three principal spea kers at th e symposium have past assoc iations with Dr. Ferguso n, either as students or instructo rs. Dr. Charles H. Epps ws an undergraduate student of Dr. Fergu son's at Howard University, where Dr. Ferguson taught for 20 yea rs prior to coming to Cal State L.A. Dr. Epps, who is head of orthopaed ics at the Howard University School of medicine and the first black presid ent of the Ameri ca n Orthopaedic Surgery Association, will spea k on the topic, "Management of the Limb Defi cient Child." Dr. Herbert Sm ith erman, Section Head in the Products Develo pment area for Procter & Gam ble, Cincinnati, will speak on " Resea rch and Development in a Con sum er Products Company." Dr. Smitherman did hi s doctoral dissertati on research under Professor Ferguson. Dr. Melvin Calvi n, Professo r of Chemi stry at U.C. Berkeley and a Nobel Laureate in chemistry, was a major professor who guided Ferguson through his Ph.D. program at U.C. Berkeley (Ferguson was the first Black to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry at that institution). Dr. Calvin will speak on "Generating Oxygen." The overall theme of the event is "A Tribute to 40 Years of Excellence in Chemical Educat ion ," referring to the extrao rdinary teac hing career of Dr. Ferguson. Hi s work has been recognized by num erous awards, including two honorary D.Sc. degrees and two national awards in chemical education. He was selected as one of two Outstanding Professors of the year for the entire 19ca mpus system of California State University in 1981. He is one of 15 in the Ciba-Geigy Corpora tion "Exceptional Balck Scientists" Poster Series, which is distributed to hundreds of school arou nd the country. Dr. Ferguson , regarded by many as one of the most wid ely respected and accomplished Black Chem ists in Ameri ca today, was a co-designer of Howard University's Ph.D. program for chemi stry, the first doctoral program in the university. More Bla ck chem istry Ph.D.'s have been graduated from there than any other university in the U.S. The widely respec ted schola r, auth or of continued on page thirteen
Th e National Organization will provide two Fellowship Award s to two black students who have successfully completed at least one yea r of study in an accredited graduate program lead ing to a Ph .D. Degree in chemistry or chemical engineering. These Fellowship Awards will be presented at the Fourteenth Annual Meeting in San Franci sco, Ca. during the Awards Banquet. The funds to provid e the awards have aga in been made available to us by th e Eastman Kodak Company and Procter & Gamble Company. Applicants for the
fellowship must be United States citizens. Fell owship Funds will apply to the 1987 - 88 academic year. Applications can be obtained from: Mr. William Swan n Personnel Resources Eastman Kodak Company 343 State Street Rochester, NY J4650 The deadline for receipt of applications is March 1, 1987. If you know of potential applicants, please have them apply early.
Regional News: continued from page twelve six books and more than 50 journal articles, served as the Program Director of the Minority Biomedi ca l Resea rch Program at Ca l State L.A. from its inception there in 1973 until 1984. Thi s program , which enables minority students to ca rry out supervi sed resea rch in health related sciences, is funded by the National Institutes of Health, and brings in approximately one million dollars a yea r to the university. According to Dr. Costel lo L. Brown, Professor of Chemistry at Ca l State L.A., "This program has been singularly resp onsibl e for getting hundred s of minority students into graduate and professional schools throughout the nation. But. even beyond programs like this, Brown cont inues, "Dr. Ferguson has influenced an entire generation of chem ists. I personally reca ll reading hi s textbooks as a student in the 50's. In fact, when James Meredith, a bla ck student, was turned away from the University of Mi ssissippi because of his race, the university was at that time using one of Dr. Ferguson's textbooks in their classroo ms." CHEMICAL ENGINEERING: Immediate positions for chem ical engineers/ chemists with experience in packaging and process d evelopment (co nsumer produ cts ), product development (food technology),and research and development (industr ial ga ses ). Minimum requirements: BS/ MS/ PhD+ 4 years work experience. Send resume to: Ms. Inga Hardin The Professional Placement Group One Penn Square, 6th Floor Lancaster, PA 17602
'Massachusetts Institute of' Technology CHEl'1/CAL fNOJNEfRINO DEPARTMENT invites applications for two June 1986 openings as Assistant Professor and Station Director of the School of Chemical Engineering Pra ctice. Applications will be considered from candidates with industrial or academic research experience as well as with teaching experience. A Ph.D., Sc.D., or equivalent is required. The position involves the instruction and supervision of approximately40 graduate studen ts per year who are attending a chem ica l engineering internsh ip program conducted at field stations located at various industrial sites in the U.S. The Director, working with host company personnel and MIT staff, coordinates stu_dent team projects involving a wide range of process development and applied research problems. Du ring a semester, each Director will supervise two groups of approximately 8-10 graduate students each for two, 8-week periods. Based on a JO-month academic year, sala ry levels are comparab le to similar positions in the chemica l industry. Applicants should send their resumes and three suggested references to: Dr. J. W. Tester, Chemical Engineering Department, Room 66-305, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02 J39. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is and equal opportunity, affirmative action emp loyer and encourages applicati ons from minorities and women. .)
13
Moments In Black History
Percy L. Julian Award Recipient -
Reproduced from "Scientists In the Black Perspective"
By Clarence Tucker
By Herman A. Young and Barbara H. Young WOOD S. GRANVILLE l I 1856-1910): In ventor of Im proved Telephone Transmitter. 'Telegrapl1ony,' and the Th i rd Rail.' Born in Co lumb us. Ohi o. April 23. 1856. Wood s never completed even an elementary education as he had to go to work at the age of ten. However. li e beca me intere sted in electricity at age sixteen when he moved to Missouri and worked as a fireman and eng in eer on the rai lroad s. Aft er do ing muc h studyi ng and reading on elect ricity. he took a course in elect ri cal and mechani ca l engineering. alt hough fo r the most pa rt hi s knowledge in the fie ld was self-ta ught. After working as an engineer first on a Briti sh steamer and then on the Southern Railroad. Woods settled in Cincinnati, Oh io where he ope ned a factory which manufactured telephone. telegraph, and electrical eq uipment. A series of in venti ons then ensued. Hi s first major invention was an improved telephone transmitter. Wood s produced a t ransmitter whi ch cou ld carry a voice over greater di stances than the t ransmitter then in use and with a louder. clea rer sound . Th is he accompli shed by making use of alternat ing curren ts and thus cont rolli ng th e action of the vibratin g diaphragms whi ch initiate the elec trical impulses sent over the wires. A year late r. Woods patented another important invention, wl1ich he called the "telegrap hony," a device which combined the telegrap l1 with the telephone. This made it poss ib le to trans mit telegraph messages ora lly and thu s elimi na ted the necessity of having a skilled telegraph opera tor who knew Mo rse Cod e. Hi s device did not en tail in stall ing new eq uipment but merely switc hi ng to a local ci rcu it and speaking near the telegraph key. The telegraph sou nder at the receiving station would ca use the air to vibrate in unison with the electric waves coming over the wire. and the person at the other end would receive th e message as articulate speech. The Ameri can Bell Telephone Company of Boston . Massachusetts. purcl1a sed this invention for a large sum of mon ey. Railway teleg raph was another on e of Wood's importan t inventions. As telegraph wires usually ra n parallel to railroad tracks. Woods employed stati c elect ric ity to conduct the messages from the t rain to the telegra ph wires
14
runn ing beside the track; the wires in turn conducted the message to their destination. This allowed trains to conduct and receive messages while on route and thus to operate more safely and efficiently as they could be forewarned of problems in their way. With thi s invention, Woods formed his own company, the Woods Elect ric Company. in orde r to promote and co ntrol his patents ; but as the demand for his devices became so widespread. he devoted his time to invention rather than to ma rketing. Woods also changed the cou rse of modern tra nsporta tion. In 1888 he set up an overh ead conduct ing system for electrical railways. which resulted in the familiar troll ey car. These electriclly driven cars were cleaner. cheaper, and more effective trai ns than the steam -engine driven trains. He also invented wha t is now known as the " third rail" whic h is used in the subway systems of New York City and elsewhe re. This involved a series of conductors of elec tri ci ty along the path of the tra in whi ch made contact with each car as the train was en route. This invention was sold to the General Electric Company of New Yo rk in 190 I . In addi tion. Woods invented a series of devices which brought about the automat ic air brake; thi s he sold to the Westinghouse Air Brake Com pany of Pennsylvania. When he died in 19 10, Woods had over sixty patents to hi s credit. These included such things as an electric egg incubato r, an electromec hanical brake. a "Relay Instrument." an electromagnet ic brake apparatu s, and Tunnel Cons truction for elec tric railways. a galvanic battery. an automatic safety sh ut-out for electric circ uits. and many others. Hi s patents were bought by companies wh ich are well -known today. Few inventors have produced a larger number of electri ca l appliances or contributed as much to the elec tri cal industry as Wood s who worked withou t in terruption for over a quarter of a century.
The 1986 Percy L. Julian Award Recipient in Pure and Applied Resea rch in Sc ience and Eng in eering is Dr. George W. Reed, Jr,, seni or chemi st at Argonne national La boratory. A life-long dedication to basic research in nuclea r and geochemistry has brought George worldwide recognition as one of the outstanding leaders in the earth and plan eta ry geosciences. Hi s extensive studi es of extrate rrestri al matter. meteorites. and lunar sa mples. as well as of terrestrial geological systems. have made majo r contributions toward a better understanding of th e geochemical processes that continue to shape the world we live in. George Reed is a creative research chemi st with grea t experiemental skills. Wi t h hi s expertise in radiochemical neutron activation analysis combined with stepwise heati ng and leac hing laboratory proced ures. George has c reated a powerful tool for trace element stud i es at very low concentrati on levels. Early in hi s career George Reed distinguished him self through his pioneering measurements of trace elements in meteo rites. George has d etermined the abunda nce of Hg, Cl. Br. I, and Fin a large number of meteorite sa mples and is the auth or of chapters on these elements in Elemental Abundances in Meteorites ( 1971) which continues to be an important reference book. During the seventies George Reed devo ted most of hi s research to studying the extraordinary collect ion of lunar samples returned by the Apollo and the USSR's Luna programs. Geo rge was one of the very first sc ientists to receive a lunar sample for study whi ch, in those days. was repor ted as a national event. In add i tio n to hi s lunar research. George Reed has also served as an Expert to t he NASA Space and Life Di recto rate. As a member of the Fac ilities Subcommittee of Lunar Sa mple Analyses and Planning Tea m. George wa s instrumental in the design and con struction of the permanent lunar sa mple storage vau lt at Brooks Air Force Base and of t he Lunar Curatorial Fa ci lities at the John son Spa ce Center. George's expertise and relentless concern for ambient
contam ination will guarante e t hat th e lunar sa mples. a very rare reso urce. will be preserved in their pristine state for future generations of scientific study. In 1977. George Reed rece ived the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achi eve ment Medal. NASA's highest award . for his outstanding contrubution to the lunar sc ience program. George's college education was started at Howard University where he received the B.S. Deg ree in Chemi stry. 1942 , M.S. Degree fro m sa me institution in 1944. After. he received hi s Ph.D,, Nuclear Chemi stry. from University of Chicago. 1952. George was a NSF Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Bern. Switzerland and a visiting professor at University of (a liforn ia at Irvine. lie is a member of many sc ient ifi c and community organi zat ions. The NOBCChE is proud to honor Dr. George W. Reed. Jr. with thi s award. lie conti nues to serve as a role model and active Research Chemist.
From The President continued from page eleven responsibilities in thi s Area. With you r aid and co-operation. I want us to all focus our energies in this effort. Mutiu 0. Fagbayi has agreed to provide assistance in the refining of the Five-Yea r Plan. in the near future. His work as a coordinator of strategic planning will be important in the developm ent of the Plan. in its final form . The draft of the Plan will be sen t to the Chapters. so that comments and recommendations can be considered . by the Leadership. It it my wish that all of you should feel that eac h is an importan t and necessary part of the Organization. Without you r help and support. we can accomplish nothing. With your help. we can work together. in suring NOBCChE's continued growth , so that it may be an asset to all of us.
&.ii;:;IAJZ..:r Philip Merchant. Jr.
15