Nobel Prize-Winning Chemist Attracts Full-House at UAEU
In line with the policy of United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) aiming to attract experts with distinctive research and scientific expertise and in accordance with its vision to provide a distinctive educational environment to students and to broaden their knowledge and develop their abilities, the UAEU Chemistry Department invited Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn, French Chemist and winner of Nobel Prize in Chemistry to be an honourable guest speaker at the University. During his Visit, Prof. Lehn presented a seminar entitled, "From Matter to Life: Chemistry? Chemistry!". In his address, Professor Lehn looked back to the beginning of time, from the ‘Big Bang’ to the aggregation and organization of matter. He argued that Life, rather than being a unique or accidental occurrence, is an inevitable and in the future a comprehensible consequence of the laws governing matter and the Universe. In Lehn’s view, chemistry provides the bridge between the molecules of inanimate matter and the highly complex molecular architectures and systems which make up living organisms. He also states that chemistry is uniquely positioned to answer the popular question, ‘Exactly how did matter come to become organized into what we now call ‘Life’?
He further explained that, "Matter consists of molecules which can be self organized to form more complex molecules. Those molecules are linked with weak connections which are today called "Supramolecular Chemistry.”
“Supramolecular Chemistry is important in many scientific applications such as development of Pharmacology, Remote Sensing and Nanotechnology.” He concluded that chemistry is the science of invention not exploration.
Dr. Peter Werner, Dean of College of Science, UAEU, highlighted that Professor Lehn is one of the most eminent and innovative scientists of modern times and welcomed him to the University.
Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn, started his scientific career at the National Center for Scientific Research in France during 1960-1966, then moved to Louis Pasteur University and was promoted to full Professor in Chemistry in 1970. He is interested in Supramolecular Chemistry and methods of molecules interaction as this study will establish a new branch of Chemistry and Remote Sensing Sciences. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987 for his research in this field. Prof. Lehn is still working in this area and continues to make significant contributions in Chemistry.
During his visit, the distinguished guest met the faculty members and students of the Chemistry Department as well as staff interested in Supramolecular. UAEU discussed aspects of cooperation with Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn concerning the possibility of exchanging visits to his research laboratories for students as well as short research visits or sabbatical leaves by faculty members of the Chemistry Department.
