3M/Ronald A. Mitsch Lecture in Chemistry

From Moving Atoms to Medicine: Exploring the Nanoscale World

When: March 28, 2025, 12:45 p.m.
Where: Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, 1531 Hewitt Avenue, Saint Paul, MN
Guest lecturer: Paul S. Weiss, distinguished professor of chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles

About the 2025 lecture

Biology functions at the nanoscale. Thus, there are special opportunities not only to make biological measurements using nanotechnology, but also to interact directly in order to influence biological outcomes. Learn how we fabricate and use nanostructures to advance high-throughput gene editing for cellular therapies targeting genetic diseases and cancer immunotherapy. We exploit molecular recognition and phase transitions to create molecular treadmills to grow three-dimensional co-cultured tissue efficiently, for personalized medicine, testing potential therapeutics, and growing meat and fish sustainably. Nanoscience and nanotechnology is developed from chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, medicine, toxicology, and a host of other fields. The interdisciplinary communication skills that we developed and are now part of our training remain unique to the field. As a result, nanoscience contributes to a wide range of other fields, such as neuroscience, the microbiome, oncology, cellular agriculture, and more.

About the 2025 guest lecturer

Paul S. Weiss is a nanoscientist, holds a UC Presidential Chair, and is a distinguished professor of chemistry, bioengineering, and materials science at UCLA. He studies the ultimate limits of miniaturization, developing new tools and methods for atomic-resolution and spectroscopic imaging and chemical patterning. He applies these advances in other areas including quantum information, sensing, neuroscience, microbiome studies, tissue engineering, cellular therapies, and high-throughput gene editing. He has won awards in science, engineering, teaching, publishing, and communications. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, AAAS, ACS, AIMBE, APS, AVS, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Chemical Research Society of India, Chinese Chemical Society, IEEE, MRS, and National Academy of Inventors. He was the founding editor-in-chief of ACS Nano.

For more information about the lecture, please contact chemistry@hamline.edu.

 

Paul S. Weiss, Mitsch Lecturer
 
Paul S. Weiss, distinguished professor of chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles

About the lectures

The 3M/Ronald A. Mitsch Lectures in Chemistry are part of the 3M/Ronald A. Mitsch Endowed Fund in Chemistry, established in 1998 by the 3M Foundation in recognition and appreciation of Dr. Mitsch. The fund promotes new connections and pioneering efforts between education and industry as an essential basis for the education of chemists who are prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century and beyond.

Past lectures

2024 "How Do You Make a Micro-Robot?" Thomas E. Mallouk, the Vagelos Professor in Energy Research and professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania
2023 "Making Graphene and Cleaning the Environment in a Flash with Flash Joule Heating." James Tour, the T. T. and W. F. Chao Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University
2022 “Surf, Sink, or Swim: Understanding Environmentally Important Processes at Water Surfaces.” Dr. Geraldine Richmond, presidential chair in science and professor of chemistry, University of Oregon
2021 "On Transformation of the Drug Discovery Process: A Talk in Three Parts." Dr. Marti S. Head, University of Tennessee
2019 "Male Contraception: A Quest." Dr. Gunda I. Georg, University of Minnesota
2018 "Illuminating Sugars, the 'Dark Matter' of the Cell Surface." Dr. Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Stanford University
2017 "Meeting the Clean Energy Demand with Nanotechnology." Prashant V. Kamat, University of Notre Dame
2016 "New Chemical Probe Technologies: Applications to Cancer Imaging and Drug Discovery." Matthew Bogyo, Stanford University School of Medicine
2015 "Got Fakes? New Ways to Detect Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals." Dr. Marya Lieberman, University of Notre Dame
2014 "Biological and Ecological Toxicity of Engineered Nanomaterials." Dr. Christy L. Haynes, University of Minnesota
2013 "Recent Developments in the Peaceful Use of Chemistry: Eliminating the Chemical Weapons Threat." Ambassador Robert Mikulak '64
2012 "From Toxicology Mechanisms to Translational Medicine: Paracelsus Meets Sarandib." Dr. Daniel G. Baden, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
2009 “The Aging Brain and What We are Trying To Do About It.” Dr. Gregory A. Petsko, Brandeis University
2008 "The Golden Age of Pharmaceuticals." Dr. Cynthia A. Maryanoff, Stanford University
2007 Dr. Richard N. Zare, Stanford University
2006 "Applications of Olefin Metathesis Catalysts: Fundamental Research to Commercial Products." Dr. Robert H. Grubbs, California Institute of Technology
2005 Dr. JoAnne Stubbe, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2004 "Chemical Studies of Violence, Sex and Drugs in the Insect World." Dr. Jerrold Meinwald, Cornell University

 

Contact information