News & Events

Distinguished Chemist George H. Atkinson to Speak on Science & Global Policy; Events are 13th Annual S. Dexter Squibb Lecture Series

September 13, 2010

Distinguished Chemist George H. Atkinson, founder of the Institute on Science for Global Policy, will be the featured speaker at UNC Asheville's 13th annual S. Dexter Squibb Lecture Series Thursday and Friday, Sept. 16-17.

The S. Dexter Squibb Endowed Distinguished Lectureship brings well-known scientists to the UNC Asheville campus to give lectures and to meet with University students and faculty, as well as high school science students and administrators. The lecture series honors S. Dexter Squibb, former UNC Asheville Chemistry Department chair. Squibb joined the faculty in 1964 and was instrumental in developing UNC Asheville's Chemistry Department into a certified four-year program. He retired in 1994.

UNC Asheville will dedicate a Zeis Hall laboratory in Squibb's honor at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16., beginning in Zeis Hall's first floor lobby.

Atkinson will discuss "Science in Global 21st-Century Societies" at 7:30 pm. Thursday, Sept. 16, in Robinson Hall, room 125. At 2:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, Atkinson will give a lecture on "Nonlinear Science" in Zeis Hall, room 014. Both events are free and open to the public.

Atkinson's professional career spans several areas. He is a professor of chemistry, biochemistry and optical science at the University of Arizona, is the founder and CEO of a laser technology company, and has served as science and technology advisor to then-Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. In 2008, Atkinson launched the new Institute on Science for Global Policy to facilitate the use of credible scientific understanding in societal policies worldwide.

Atkinson has more than 160 publications in refereed scientific journals and books, and has authored 66 U.S. and foreign patents. His has received numerous honorary awards for research and teaching, and has been a visiting professor in Japan, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Israel and France.

 For more information, call UNC Asheville's Chemistry Department at 828.251.6443 or email bhenders@unca.edu.