Quadrivial Pursuit, the title article for the Sept 2014 issue of the Reed magazine, is a multiple-choice exam (p. 24) that tests your Reed IQ. Questions for chemists include: #10 – Subsequent to its founding, in what year was Reed’s Seventh Annual Nitrogen Day celebration held? And, #21 – The fuel stockpile for Reed’s nuclear reactor comprises what? (Answers on p. 63.)
The real Reed IQ test in my mind, however, lies on p. 17 where Prime Exponent describes the ongoing tale of retiring math professor, Joe Roberts. Joe began teaching at Reed in 1952 (a little bit before I was born) so I should think that Reed alumni would have had ample time to learn the answers to these simple fill-in-the-blank questions:
- Joe holds degrees in __________ and mathematics from Case Western and the University of Colorado.
- Joe was a one-man math and __________ department at the University of Wyoming in Sheridan.
- During World War II, Joe worked as a __________ in the plutonium plant at the Los Alamos National Lab.
Ready to check your answers?
Answers to Joe Roberts questions: 1. chemistry. 2 chemistry. 3. chemist.
That’s right. Joe Roberts has actually been a closeted chemist for the past 60+ years. Fortunately, not every Reed prof has concealed her or his passion for chemistry as well or as long as Joe. On p. 5 we learned that atmospheric scientist, and associate professor of chemistry and environmental studies [2008-], Juliane Fry, was granted tenure effective August 2014. Congratulations, Julie!
A little further in (p. 11) is a look back at retiring Arthur F. Scott Professor of Chemistry, Ron McClard [1984-2014]. The chemistry department was a vastly different affair when Ron arrived in 1984. Although known for their teaching prowess, the chemistry faculty had to make-do on the research side with a decrepit building that contained broken plumbing, leaking floors and roof, inconsistent lab temperatures, and second-rate instrumentation. Conducting publication-quality research with undergraduates under these conditions was an immense challenge, but Ron arrived with a firm commitment to raising the department’s research profile. In less than 10 years he had gathered a cohort of young, research-active colleagues, obtained funding for a new FT-NMR instrument, and cultivated institutional support for building a new chemistry building. And, along the way, he found time to publish 50 papers (at least 15 with Reed student co-authors), mentor 50 thesis students, and inspire some of our nation’s leading scientists.
Research was also the focus of Amping Up Student Research (p. 12). In keeping with a nationwide trend, Reed is trying to create research opportunities for students prior to their senior thesis. One of the new programs described in this article is the Marshall W. Cronyn Student Research Fund made possible by a generous gift from alumnus Mark Petrinovic ’83. Mark says that “the ability to do independent research” played a critical role in defining the value of his Reed education.
What is a Reedie, Anyway? (p. 28) profiled 12 members of the amazing class of 2014. Among them was biochemistry major Tally Levitz ’14. Her interests included regular work as a science tutor, enjoying quiet time by the Reed Canyon waterfall, and going on as many Gray Fund trips as possible.
Class Notes dropped in on several chemistry alumni. Barbara Ehrenreich ’63 was observed in Portland in April 2014 as a guest on Live Wire!, a public radio variety show. … Michael Tippie ’80 is CEO of TomegaVax, a startup biotechnology company, a competitive rower with the Willamette Rowing Club, and is still trying to find three (?) other musicians for a jazz quartet … Peter (Barr-)Gillespie ’81, a professor of otolaryngology and director of the Hearing Health Foundation’s Hearing Restoration Project, was appointed associate vice president for basic research at Oregon Health & Science University in April 2014 … Evan Rose ’86, a very fortunate survivor of a very rare cancer (see “The Perfect Drug” in Newsweek, June 2014) told Reed magazine that the back story to his disease is interesting: “My best friend at Reed (and to this day) is Kevan Shokat ’86, one of the world’s leading cancer researchers. His contacts and his work are deeply intertwined with keeping me alive. Weird coincidence. Lucky me. Thank you, Reed!” … Chantal Sudbrack ’97 sent a shout-out to Reed alumni that began, “Hail, hail Reedfayre 2014.” … and Alex Johnson ’11, a graduate student in chemical biology at Stanford, is the proud recipient of a National Science Foundation graduate research fellowship. He reports that the research proposal that he submitted is an interdisciplinary project “inspired in many ways by classes I took in chemistry and biology at Reed from professors such as Pat McDougal [1990-2013], Arthur Glasfeld [1989-], and Steve Arch [1972-2012].”
In Memoriam described the life of one recently deceased Reed chemist:
- Donald Riley Kalkwarf ’47 (deceased March 22, 2014, in Richland, Washington). Donald interrupted his studies at Reed to serve as a combat infantryman in the U.S. Army’s 44th Division in Europe. He returned to the college and earned a BA in chemistry. He also met Carol L. Rider ’46, whom he married in 1949. They went to Illinois, where Donald earned a PhD in physical chemistry from Northwestern University, and then moved to Richland, Washington, where Donald was a staff scientist for General Electric’s Hanford operation and for Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory. His keen enjoyment for the outdoors and mountain climbing cinched the decision to move west. Donald enjoyed photography and played the accordion. He was chairman of the board of trustees for Central United Protestant Church, and president of the Tri-Cities chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union and Sigma Xi Research Society. He also was chairman of the fluorescence section of the American Standards and Materials Society. Carol died in 1994. Donald later married her sister Elizabeth, who survives him. He is also survived by his three daughters, one son, and two grandchildren.