Chemistry Nobel Laureate to Speak at Northeastern

The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) will be hosting a lecture by Prof. Martin Karplus, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year. Prof. Carla Mattos, one of REU’s program directors, answered a few of our questions about Prof. Karplus’ talk and the REU program.

Prof. Karplus’ lecture will be held on August 8, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. in 130 Hurtig Hall.

Q: Prof. Karplus’ lecture is titled “Motion: The Hallmark of Life. From Marsupials to Molecules.” Could you explain what the talk will be about?
A: Martin Karplus has made remarkable contributions to our understanding of proteins and nucleic acids as well as solution dynamics and thermodynamics. He will tell us of his scientific journey and multidisciplinary interests leading to the immense contributions that earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Prof. Martin Karplus (Image credit: Harvard University)

Prof. Martin Karplus (Image credit: Harvard University)

Q: Prof. Karplus has had a very interesting journey both personally and professionally. What do you hope people take away from his talk on August 8?
A: Prof. Karplus is a role model to other scientists, as well as an excellent mentor to students. We hope that people attending his talk will come away inspired by his remarkable achievements and determined to contribute their very best. Attendees can also expect to learn a bit about proteins and the computational methods that Prof. Karplus uses to study them.

Read more about Prof. Karplus’ life and research. 

Q: Prof. Karplus is on of this year’s Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. Will students and other members of the Northeastern community be able to interact with Karplus after the talk
A: There will be time for questions and discussion after the seminar.

Q: What is REU and how can students get involved?
A: REU is an acronym for Research Experience for Undergraduates. It is a highly competitive program for undergraduate research awarded to the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology by the National Science Foundation. (Click here for more information about the program.)

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