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New Rochelle, NY, October 25, 2000 - Dr. Ronald Breslow, S. L. Mitchill Professor of Chemistry and University Professor at Columbia University, will speak on "Chemistry Is a Treat and That Is No Trick," on Tuesday, October 31, at 11 am in Joyce Auditorium on the Iona College campus, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle. The event is free and open to the public as part of Iona's continuing Thomas G. Bullen, CFC, Memorial Lecture Series in Science and Technology.

Today's chemists are addressing diverse problems including cures for serious diseases and replacements for fossil fuels. Dr. Breslow will describe the exciting work being undertaken and will also talk about a new approach to cancer treatment from his laboratory.

Dr. Breslow is a member of the U. S. National Academy of Sciences (elected in 1966 at age 35, chair of the Chemistry Division 1974-77), one of the American Academies of Arts and Sciences, and of the American Philosophical Society, as well as other scientific societies. He is also an honorary foreign member of the Indian National Academy of Sciences. He has been the Chairman of the Board of Scientific Advisors of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Rockefeller University. He is on the Editorial Board of a dozen scientific journals and has held over 150 named lectureships and visiting professorships.

His major scientific awards include, among others, the American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry (1966), the James Flack Norris Prize in Physical Organic Chemistry of the American Chemical Society (1980), the National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemistry (1989), and the U.S. National Medal of Science (1991).

In addition, Dr. Breslow has received the Mark Van Doren Medal of Columbia University and the Columbia University Great Teacher Award. He has served as president of the American Chemical Society (1996), was recently named "One of the Top 75 Contributors to the Chemical Enterprise in the Past 75 Years," by a Chemical and Engineering News poll (1997). In 2000, Dr. Breslow received the New York City Mayor's Award in Science.

Dr. Breslow received his BA in Chemistry, summa cum laude, an MA in Medical Science and his PhD in Chemistry, all from Harvard University. He spent a year in Cambridge, UK, as a National Research Council Fellow before beginning his tenure at Columbia University.

His research interests involve the design and synthesis of new molecules with interesting properties, and the study of these properties. Examples include the cyclopropenyl cation, the simplest aromatic system and the first aromatic compound prepared with other than six electrons in a ring. His major emphasis in recent years has been on the synthesis and study of molecules that imitate enzymatic reactions. This work has included the development of remote functionalization reactions and the development of artificial enzymes. He has also developed a new group of cytodifferentiating agents with potential use in cancer chemotherapy.

For questions or more information please contact:
Meghan Finn
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
tel: 914 633-2005 fax: 914 637-2711

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