Seminars and Colloquia

The Chemistry Department and its affiliated institutions play host to very lively seminar schedules each academic quarter. Consistent with the collaborative, interdisciplinary philosophy present at the University of Chicago, many members of the department regularly attend seminars of relevance in other departments such as Physics and Geosciences.

On Monday afternoons during the academic year, the Chemistry Department hosts a guest lecturer who presents work of general interest. Our seminar series is highlighted each year by five endowed lectureships in memory of Chicago graduate Edward Clark Lee and University of Chicago Professors: William Draper Harkins, Morris S. Kharasch, Julius Stieglitz, and Robert S. Mulliken.

Special Lectures

• The Kharasch Lecturer remains in residence at the University for three weeks. His or her stay provides a good opportunity for a thorough exchange of ideas with faculty and students. In recent years, Professors Peter Dervan, Kurt Mislow, A. L. J. Beckwith, Ryoji Noyori, Jean Frechet, Marye Anne Fox, Dieter Seebach, Sir Derek Barton, Manfred Reetz, John Groves, Kyriacos Nicolaou and Ben Feringa were Kharasch Visiting Professors.

• The Bloch Lectures are sponsored by the Bloch family in honor of Dr. Herman Bloch. The late Dr. Herman Bloch was an alumnus of the Department, formerly on the research staff of Universal Oil Products (UOP). The PRF (Petroleum Research Fund) was created from the assets of UOP.

• The Wheland Medal is awarded every other year in memory of the physical-organic chemist, George Wheland. Recipients include Frank H. Westheimer, Harden M. McConnell, Nelson Leonard, Fred Wudl, Robert L. Baldwin, and Robert Grubbs.

• The Mulliken Medal and Lectureship was created in memory of Nobel Laureate Robert S. Mulliken, a long-time member of this department. The first recipient of this award was Gerhard Herzberg, followed by Michael Kasha and Richard Zare.

• The first year seminar workshop is an informal general-interest journal club that meets once a week to discuss papers in preparation for the Monday departmental seminars. Led by senior graduate students, the discussion is a great opportunity for first-year graduate students to talk about science with their peers in a pressure-free atmosphere over lunch. Running the winter and spring quarters, the first-year seminar workshop also provides excellent preparation for qualifying exams.

• The Women in Chemistry group have recently created an Annual Women in Chemistry Seminar. The inaugural lecturer is Audrey Moores.

• Chemistry Colloquia

Seminars begin at 3:45 pm in Kent 120. Tea and cookies are in the Kent Lobby at 3:30.

• MRSEC Seminars

A weekly seminar devoted to various topics of interest pertaining to the study of condensed matter. Held at 12:30pm in the Kersten Physics Teaching Center, room 206.

• James Franck Institute Colloquia

The JFI seminars cover topics of interest in chemical physics and condensed matter. Seminars begin at 4:00pm in the Research Institutes, room 480. Tea beforehand

Tiger Talks

• Organometallica

A monthly seminar series of the Inorganic Super Group. Students give a presentation of their ongoing research in a semi-formal environment to students and faculty to gain practice presenting and get valuable feedback for research. Typically held Wednesday evenings in GCIS W301.

• Physics Colloquia

A weekly seminar held by the Physics Department, topics are often of interest to chemists. Thursdays, 4:15pm. In the Kersten Physics Teaching Center, Room 106.

• Inorganic - Organic Seminars

A weekly seminar focusing on organic and inorganic chemistry. Seminars begin at 1:45pm in Kent 120

• Geophysical Sciences Seminars

Weekly seminars held by the Geophysical Sciences Department. Seminars often include topics in cosmo- and geochemistry. 1:30pm and 3:30 pm in Hinds 101

• First Year Journal Club

A weekly meeting over lunch where first-year chemistry graduate students can join in informal discussion over an upcoming invited speaker. Held on Fridays at noon in Kent 101.

• The Compton Lectures

A lecture series that involves in-depth examinations of physical phenomena or theorems which is aimed at the curious, non-scientist. Although many scientists also enjoy these open lectures. Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. in the Kersten Physics Teaching Center, Room 106.