The UNI Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Presents the 2009 Leland Wilson Endowed Lectureship

"Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice"
Dr. John Warner, President and Chief Technology Office
Warner/Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry

Abstract:
Imagine a world where all segments of society demanded environmentally benign products! Imagine if all consumers, all retailers and all manufacturers insisted on buying and selling only non-toxic materials! Green Chemistry is a philosophy that seeks to reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous materials at the design stage of a materials process. It has been demonstrated that materials and products CAN be designed with negligible impact on human health and the environment while still being economically competitive and successful in the marketplace. This presentation will describe the history and background of Green Chemistry and discuss the opportunities for the next generation of materials designers to create a safer future.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Public Lecture at 7:30 pm,
Lantz auditorium
McCollum Science Hall
University of Northern Iowa

The lecture is free and open to the general public

Reception to follow the lecture

About the Speaker
John Warner received his BS (1984) in Chemistry from UMASS Boston and his MS (1986) and PhD (1988) in Organic Chemistry from Princeton University. He worked at the Polaroid Corporation from 1988 – 1997 in exploratory research and media research. In 1997 he accepted a position at the University of Massachusetts (Chemistry, Boston Campus, 1997-2004 and Plastics Engineering, Lowell Campus, 2004-2007). Warner has published over 100 patents, papers and books and is co-author of Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice with Paul Anastas. His recent patents in the fields of semiconductor design, biodegradable plastics, personal care products and polymeric photoresists are examples of how green chemistry principles can be immediately incorporated into commercially relevant applications. Warner is editor of Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews and associate editor of the journal Organic Preparations and Procedures International. Warner also serves on the Board of Directors of the Green Chemistry Institute in Washington DC. He received The 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring from President Bush, and was awarded the American Institute of Chemistry's Northeast Division's Distinguished Chemist of the Year for 2002, and the 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring.

About the Leland Wilson Lectureship
Professor Leland Wilson, as first department head and professor in the Department of Chemistry, left a legacy of professionalism and integrity that the faculty and staff in the department hope to sustain. Professor Wilson had a profound impact on many students who studied chemistry during the more than 20 years that he was in the department. In addition, he affected the professional development of several of the faculty and staff in the department. The Leland Wilson Lecture Series was initiated in 1997 by colleagues, family, and former students to honor Professor Wilson's many contributions to the Department of Chemistry and the University of Northern Iowa community.
In July 2007, Dr. Mary Sue Coleman, current President of the Univeristy of Michigan and Professor Wilson's daughter, made a generous donation of $100,000 to fully endow this lectureship and ensuring its continual funding.

The Leland Wilson Lecture Series

2009 Dr. John Warner, President and Chief Technology Office Warner/Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry
2008 Dr. Richard Zare, Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University
2007 Dr. Geri Richmond, Professor of Chemistry, University of Oregon
2006 Dr. Paul G. Wenthold, Associate Professor, Purdue University
2005 Dr. Charles D. Huff, Staff Emergency Department Physician
Mercy Hospital, Iowa City
2004 Dr. Nancy Wilson Ashbach, M.D., M.B.A., Professor of Health Policy
University of Denver, Family Physician
2003 Dr. John Talley, Microbia, Inc
2002 Dr. Becky Lewis, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. Inc.
2001 Dr. M. Dale Hawley, Professor of Chemistry, Kansas State University
2000 Dr. Steven M. Heilmann, Corporate Scientist, 3M Corporate Research
1999 Dr. Mark J. Kurth, Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Davis
1998 Dr. Robert D. Koob, President, University of Northern Iowa
1997 Dr. Mary Sue Coleman, President, University of Iowa

About Leland Wilson
Professor Leland Wilson, a native of Kentucky, joined the UNI faculty in 1955. He received a B.S. degree from Eastern Kentucky University, the M.S. from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Prior to coming to UNI, Wilson was a high school science teacher in Kentucky and Florida. He served as a radar maintenance officer in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

During his 24 years at UNI, Wilson taught physical science and chemistry, specializing in instrumental analysis, becoming an expert in a number of newly emerging instrumental techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. He was the first Department Head of the newly formed Department of Chemistry in 1968, and served in that capacity until 1975. He retired as professor of chemistry in 1979, and passed away in the summer of 1993 at the age of 79.

He was well respected and popular with both students and colleagues. With an infectious smile and an easy-going style, Wilson was able to motivate even the most reluctant students to expect more of themselves. His sense of fairness, his common sense, and his good nature made him a pleasure to be around.

The Leland Wilson Scholarship Fund was established in 1997 at the University of Northern Iowa. The scholarship fund was initiated by several alumni and friends who wanted to honor and pay tribute to their former teacher and mentor.

If you would like to contribute to the Leland Wilson Scholarship Fund,
please contact:

Dr. William Harwood, Head
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls IA 50614-0423
ph. 319-273-2437
fax 319-273-7127
email William.Harwood@uni.edu