Nobel Prize Laureate comes to Brighton
Published 22 May 2009
Event 29 May 2009
A Nobel Prize Laureate will appeal to the younger generation to focus on sustainability to safeguard our survival into the next century, at a lecture at the University of Brighton. Professor Sir Harry Kroto is to deliver the talk entitled Science, Society and Sustainability at the university on 29 May from 12-1pm.
Sir Harry (pictured right) won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1996 with two US colleagues for discovering the C60 Buckminsterfullerene (commonly known as the Bucky Ball), a new form of carbon, which has since become a fundamental element of nanotechnology.
He will talk about empowering educators worldwide as well as sharing his insights into the role of science in society and its inextricable link in achieving sustainable communities.
"Society has the power to use technology so that it can be of benefit or be detrimental," says Sir Harry. "For a 50:50 chance of surviving into the next century every segment of society, from industrialists, engineers and scientists to politicians, farmers and fishermen, must now recognise that these issues are the most serious that the human race has ever confronted."
He tells the younger generation that they should focus their research on sustainability. "Our only hope for survival rests on the shoulders of those who take survival and sustainability issues seriously – and do something about it."
Sir Harry champions the profile of chemistry, especially among young people and over the years has given many public lectures. A former president of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Sir Harry founded the Vega Science Trust, which broadcasts free science programmes online.
Professor Andrew Lloyd, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering said: "Sir Harry has an international reputation for his contribution to chemistry and he is a key player in the drive for public understanding of science. His discovery of C60 has helped spur the field of nanotechnology, an important research area at the University of Brighton. We are delighted that he is taking part in our lecture series."
The lecture is free and open to the public and takes place from 12-1pm in Lecture Theatre 1, University of Brighton, Cockcroft, Moulsecoomb. If you would like to attend please email business.services@brighton.ac.uk or call 01273 64(3222).
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Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
