Newsroom

CORVALLIS - A major symposium, a presentation by a Nobel laureate and other events are planned at Oregon State University in late February to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Linus Pauling on Feb. 28, 1901.

All the events are part of the Linus Pauling Centenary, a year-long celebration of the life and accomplishments of this Oregon native, OSU alumnus and the only person to ever receive two unshared Nobel Prizes. The events are free and open to the public.

"Linus Pauling was a giant of 20th century science, largely responsible for the development of modern chemistry," said Stephen Lawson, administrative officer of the Linus Pauling Institute at OSU. "As a scientist, he was in pursuit of the truth about nature. Truth, as well as love, was also the essence of his six-decade romance with his wife, Ava Helen. As he told Carl Sagan, 'Nothing held back. No secrets, no lies.'"

The symposium features speakers well acquainted with Pauling's life and work who will provide more insight into the nature of an American hero, Lawson said.

It will be on Feb. 28 and is titled "A Liking for the Truth: Truth and Controversy in the Work of Linus Pauling." The event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the LaSells Stewart Center on the OSU campus. Participants will explore Pauling's scientific accomplishments, private and public controversies, political work, and provide personal recollections.

The speakers and their topics include:

• 9:45 a.m.: Ahmed Zewail, the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology, and 1999 recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, will present the keynote address, "Timing in the Invisible."

   

• 11 a.m.: Tom Hager, author of books about the life and accomplishments of Linus Pauling and director of the Office of Communications at the University of Oregon, will present "The Price of Controversy."

   

• 1:30 p.m.: Jack Dunitz, an internationally recognized chemist, will discuss "Space Filling in Molecular Solids."

   

• 2:30 p.m.: Robert Paradowski, Professor of Science, Technology and Society at the Rochester Institute of Technology who is working on the official biography of Linus Pauling, will present "An American in Munich."

   

• 4 p.m.: Linus Pauling Jr., son of the famous scientist and chairman of the board of trustees for the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, will present "Life with Father. . . And Mother."

Other events this month include a screening of Linus Pauling biographical films on Feb. 26. Two films will be shown in Gilfillan Auditorium from 7-9 p.m. The first is titled "Linus Pauling: Crusading Scientist," and the second is "Linus Pauling: A Century of Life and Science."

On Feb. 27, there will be a reading of the play "The Essential Bond" about the life of Ava Helen and Linus Pauling. It will be at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theater at Withycombe Hall.