Prof. Michael Harmata

Professor Harmata will give the 2^nd Liebig-College seminar and lectures on 

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Fairest One of All: Chirality in Molecular Science"

"Synthesis and Retrosynthesis"

"(4+3)-Cycloadditions"

"Benzothiazine Chemistry"

Abstract:

(1) This talk will be a talk about a talk, something that is not too common.  The concept of chirality will be presented as I present it to a general audience.  Various aspects of what I say in such a presentation will be discussed.  So this is a seminar within a seminar.  Do not expect to learn great new things about chirality.  Do expect to hear AND DISCUSS how science in presented to the general public and to think about how we make our case to the public about chemistry to secure practical goals, like funding.  This seminar is an experiment.  It’s success will depend not only on what I say and how I say it, but on the participation of the audience in seriously thinking about fundamental aspects of our science and how we can formulate those ideas in appealing ways.  There is not anything all that special about chirality; any chemical concept could be used and perhaps should be used to do this.  Indeed, an interactive audience will help in my devising new lectures for the general public about chemistry, something I think is of great importance.

(2) This will be a seminar that discusses how to think about synthesizing molecules.  There will not be many new reactions in this talk, mostly ideas about how to think about taking molecules apart in order to synthesize them.  The emphasis will be on reactions you know or should know and your ability to think about inventing something new.