On November 15, 2004, the National Academies sponsored a symposium at the Beckman Center in honor of Arnold O. Beckman. The symposium concentrated on the wide-ranging practical applications of scientific instrumentation as was the focus of much of Arnold Beckman's career. The report begins with two presentations: a remembrance by Arnold Beckman's daughter, Pat, and an overview of his life and accomplishments by Arnold Thackray, President of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. The next section contains presentations on the application of instrumentation in seven, diverse areas: organic chemistry, molecular and systems biology, synchrotron x-ray sources, nanoscale chemistry, forensics, and clinical medicine. Finally, there is a summary of a panel discussion on the evolving relationship between instrumentation and research.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
PART I - A Daughter's Remembrances--Pat Beckman
Finding the Sweet Spot of Opportunity--Arnold Thackray
PART II - A Lifetime of Experience in the Growth of Modern
Instrumentation for Organic Chemistry--John D. Roberts
Molecular and Systems Biology--Leroy Hood
Compelling Science and Synchrotron X-ray Sources--Gabrielle G. Long
Chemistry at the Nanoscale Frontier--Chad Mirkin
Nanoscale Science and Engineering--Michael L. Roukes
Forensic Science and Technology--Robert E. Gaensslen
Clinical Medicine--T. Vincent Shankey
PART III - The Evolving Relationship Between Instrumentation and
Research--A Panel Discussion
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies