PITT PLANS "FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE" TO SHOWCASE RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PITTSBURGH, March 15 -- "Science2001—A Research Festival," a two-and-a-half day event designed to showcase the depth and breadth of significant scientific research under way at the University of Pittsburgh, will take place this September on the University's campus.

Scheduled for Sept. 12-14, the festival will highlight research in the School of Medicine (molecular biology and biochemistry, genetics, neurobiology, immunology, cell biology and physiology, and pharmacology, among others); in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Neurosciences, and Physics of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences; and in other academic units conducting related work.

"The festival will demonstrate the magnitude, relevance, and fun of science while also reminding the public that the University of Pittsburgh is one of the nation's top recipients of research support from federal, philanthropic, corporate, and individual sources," said Arthur S. Levine, M.D., senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine.

"The event will also provide an opportunity to convey the value and impact of science and engineering research on society, along with a sense of the high level of effort required to achieve advances," said James V. Maher, senior vice chancellor and provost.

Emphasis at the festival will be on interdisciplinary research. The following highlights are scheduled:

• A high-level scientific symposium on "Integrative Science in the 21st Century" featuring:

The Dickson Lecture, given by Robert G. Roeder, Arnold and Mabel Beckman Professor and head of the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Rockefeller University;

The Mellon Lecture, given by Leland H. Hartwell, president and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (affiliated with the University of Washington); and

A special keynote lecture by Richard E. Smalley, 1996 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry and Gene and Norman Hackerman Professor of Chemistry at Rice University.

• A career development lecture by Carol Nacy, CEO and chairman of the board of Sequella, Inc.

• Eight "spotlight symposia" highlighting interdisciplinary research at Pitt, with associated poster sessions showcasing the work of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Spotlight symposium themes will include: cancer biology, visualization of macromolecules, drug discovery, neuroscience, nanoscience, environmental science, information technologies, and population-based sciences.

• A special edition @pgh.café job recruitment event for local companies and agencies, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Technology Council.

• Technical exhibits of laboratory and other scientific products and services, sponsored by the Technical Sales Association.

Among those expected to attend the event are faculty, staff, and students from Pitt, CMU, and other area universities; representatives from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, scientific equipment, and related industries; representatives from sponsoring agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation; middle- and high-school science teachers; and local government and community leaders.

Science2001 has been modeled after similar programs held annually by the NIH, the National Cancer Institute, and other major research universities like Harvard, MIT, and Emory. More information about Science2001 will be available at the beginning of April at www.health.pitt.edu.

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