Herschbach Hosts TV Special on Nobel Prize

As part of an ongoing campaign to promote the public appreciation and understanding of science, Baird Professor of Science Dudley R. Herschbach recently hosted a PBS program, one of the three episodes of the science special, "The Nobel Legacy."

The special, set to air May 5 at 9 p.m., focuses on the progress achieved by chemists. In the program, Herschbach highlights the accomplishments of Robert Burns Woodward, a former Harvard chemistry professor and Nobel laureate.

Woodward, who died in 1979, was the first scientist to synthesize several important organic compuonds, including cholesterol, cortisone and quinine, which was used to treat malaria during World War II.

During the course of the special, Herschbach emphasizes his belief that chemistry is central to modern life. "Making new things is what [chemists] do best. As a chemist, I see chemistry everywhere I look," he says in the program. "The good old days weren't so good, and they weren't so much fun."

Herschbach, a professor of chemistry at Harvard since 1963, shared the Nobel Prize in 1986 with John Polanyi and Yuan Lee for their study of chemical reactions using molecular beams.

The PBS special, filmed on location, takes Herschbach to a suburb of Stockholm to visit the home and recount the achievements of chemist Alfred Nobel, who developed nitroglycerine, the active ingredient in dynamite.

Back at Harvard, Herschbach discusses with colleagues the life and work of Woodward at a dinner party co-hosted by Herschbach and Roald Hoffman, a professor of chemistry at Cornell.

"I think chemists differ from other people," Hoffman says. "They make molecules which were not on earth before. Before Bob [Woodward] people thought they couldn't make a molecule. After Bob...we can. He opened up our imagination."

Herschbach closes the program with a wish list for future develop- ,ments in chemistry, including new forms ofcarbon and a method to fix damaged genes. He drawsa comparison between chemistry and Aladdin'sgenie.

"You know, genies have a way of getting out oftheir bottles and causing all sorts of problems.That's what happened to Aladdin. That's whatalways happens. But does it mean that we shouldtry to put our chemical genie back in the bottle?That doesn't work. Human curiosity cannot be shutup that way. Besides, the genie's not the problem.It is what we ask it to do," Herschbach says.

Canadian poet and McGill professor Anne Carson,a guest commentator featured in each of the NobelLegacy specials, disagrees with Herschbach'soptimistic analysis. She points out the negativeeffects of technological developments, likeindustrial pollution, and expresses concern overthe impacts of science on human life.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Herschbachpraised the decision of Adrian Malone, theexecutive producer of the show, to includeCarson's commentary. It is important to show thecommon perceptions of science as well as the"reverence" of scientists for it, he said.

Herschbach said that science cannot be faultedfor its potentially negative effects, stating thatwork done in the humanities can be just asharmful.

"We must consider how we use words, becausethey can be at least as dangerous as science," hesaid, "One can use anything for good or ill. Youcan use fire to warm people, or you can use fireto destroy their homes."

Herschbach also said that he hopes the specialwill show people the connection between scienceand the humanities.

"I hope it will contribute to helping morepeople understand that science is an adventurethat has a kinship to other adventures of humanityin exploring the world," he said

"You know, genies have a way of getting out oftheir bottles and causing all sorts of problems.That's what happened to Aladdin. That's whatalways happens. But does it mean that we shouldtry to put our chemical genie back in the bottle?That doesn't work. Human curiosity cannot be shutup that way. Besides, the genie's not the problem.It is what we ask it to do," Herschbach says.

Canadian poet and McGill professor Anne Carson,a guest commentator featured in each of the NobelLegacy specials, disagrees with Herschbach'soptimistic analysis. She points out the negativeeffects of technological developments, likeindustrial pollution, and expresses concern overthe impacts of science on human life.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Herschbachpraised the decision of Adrian Malone, theexecutive producer of the show, to includeCarson's commentary. It is important to show thecommon perceptions of science as well as the"reverence" of scientists for it, he said.

Herschbach said that science cannot be faultedfor its potentially negative effects, stating thatwork done in the humanities can be just asharmful.

"We must consider how we use words, becausethey can be at least as dangerous as science," hesaid, "One can use anything for good or ill. Youcan use fire to warm people, or you can use fireto destroy their homes."

Herschbach also said that he hopes the specialwill show people the connection between scienceand the humanities.

"I hope it will contribute to helping morepeople understand that science is an adventurethat has a kinship to other adventures of humanityin exploring the world," he said