Martin Gruebele Discusses Scientific Discovery and the Great Rewards of Patience

When Berzelius discovered the new element silicon in 1823, who would have thought it was critical to the chips in cell phones? Scientific discovery, like art, often takes time to show its full value.

Martin Gruebele, the James R. Eiszner Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will present a public lecture at the University of Houston on Thursday, April 26.

The Long-Term Prospects of Science

Martin Gruebele, Ph.D.
James R. Eiszner Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Head, Department of Chemistry
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

When: Thursday, April 26 – 6–7 pm (Refreshments will be served.)

Where: University of Houston, Science and Engineering Classroom (SEC) Building, Room 100, University of Houston, 3517 Cullen Blvd, Houston (map)

This event is organized by the UH Department of Physics and sponsored by the UH CPH Lecture Series.

Lecture Summary

When Einstein's paper on general relativity came out in 1907, who would have thought the equation would be programmed into our cell phones 100 years later so they can accurately guide us to our dinner restaurant? When Berzelius discovered the new element silicon in 1823, who would have thought it was critical to the chips in the same cell phones? When Ivanovsky in 1892 discovered the first virus that infected tobacco plants, who would have thought in 2006 the FDA would approve a vaccine against a human cancer. And when Picasso painted Nude, Green Leaves and Bust, who would have thought it would sell for $100+ million 85 years later? Scientific discovery, like art, often takes time to show its full value. The strange things we find out about nature, whether it is the 14+ billion year age of the universe, the odd little ways in which fish go about swimming around, or the fact that fat, protein and genes absorb infrared light from a toaster oven in slightly different ways, could all lead to the next cure or billion dollar industry, but not likely in just a couple of years. Patience has great rewards.

Gruebele Bio

Professor Gruebele is a James R. Eiszner Endowed Chair in Chemistry and the Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His current research interests focus on complex chemical systems, biophysics, and condensed matter science. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also competes in triathlon in his spare time.

Parking Information

Parking is available in the visitor's section of the Stadium Parking Garage, located on Holman Street, near the corner of Cullen Blvd and Holman Street. The parking fee after 4 pm is $5. The garage is across Cullen Blvd from the meeting location.

For More Information

Please contact Dr. Margaret Cheung, mscheung@uh.edu.