From the Chair
Continued from page 3
Our alumni also care very deeply about the Depart-
ment. Earlier in November, we hosted the visit of our
External Advisory Board, a group of alumni, leaders
in their respective fields, who give freely of their own
time to assist the Department in the issues it is fac-
ing. If the alumni are our past, you, our students, are
the future and tomorrow’s leaders in multiple human
endeavors. You are getting a truly unique foundation
for what life holds ahead of you by investing your ef-
forts in a Carolina Chemistry education.
Why should you care about the Carolina Chemistry
bicentennial? The same traits that have led to the
Department’s longevity, allow you to study in a de-
partment where internationally recognized leaders
in research and entrepreneurship are also world-
class classroom instructors, bringing innovative
new instructional techniques that transcend “rock
on rock” methodologies of just a generation ago.
Some things that are 200 years old are old and
musty. I will make the argument that our Depart-
ment’s longevity is a result of constant renewal. The
faculty we hire are always seeking the new; working
to find small molecules therapeutics to target RNA,
to develop nanoparticles that release therapeutic
NO, to revolutionize 3D printing by deploying novel
chemistries. These three examples happen to have
evolved to the point where each is a freestanding
startup company having raised millions of dollars.
Arguably the most important piece of the renewal
process in a university is its student body. You bring
fresh ideas and fresh perspectives in ways that nev-
er cease to drive the research and teaching enter-
prise. We are grateful for the energy brought to bear
on key scientific questions of the day and recognize
you for those efforts tonight.”
With this backdrop, I am happy to, in this issue of
our Newsletter, share some recognitions and items
of interest from the previous twelve months that I
hope you find as exciting as I do. Please take this
collection as representative rather than compre-
hensive!
I will close as I began, with an invitation to join us
here in Chapel Hill on the weekend of April 20-21 to
recognize two hundred years of Carolina Chemistry.
It promises t o be a wonderful celebration of where
we have been and where we are going. Please mark
your calendars and plan to attend if at all possible!
With my best wishes,
CHEM.UNC.EDU | CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA |
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