Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academics

Distinguished Lecture Series

Title: Science and Technology in Texas

Norman Hackerman, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board
The Welch Foundation

Thursday, November 8, 2001, at 7:30 p.m.
Auditorium, Annenberg Presidential Conference Center
Texas A&M University

Abstract

The lecture will be a discussion of the progress of science and technology from the days of the Republic of Texas through modern times. The early days will necessarily be covered in broad brush strokes. However, beginning with the advent of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, much more definitive information will be presented, particularly information that pertains to academic involvement in science and technology. Dr. Hackerman will also touch upon the involvement of industry and the potential for the future.

About the Speaker

A spotlight page on The University of Texas web site is dedicated to Dr. Norman Hackerman, who served UT Austin as Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs, and President of the University from 1967 to 1970. The page begins, "Norman Hackerman has seen it all and done it all, to the benefit of both Texas and the nation, during his long career as a renowned chemist and academic administrator." That introduction says a lot about this distinguished lecturer.

Dr. Norman Hackerman was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated at Johns Hopkins University, receiving his Ph.D. in 1935. Thereafter, he was appointed assistant professor of chemistry at Loyola College in Baltimore,later serving as research chemist for Colloid Corp. in that city. In 1941 he was appointed assistant professor of chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, which he left to work on a method of producing Uranium-235 for the Manhattan Project.

Dr. Hackerman joined the faculty of The University of Texas in 1945. His research interests dealt principally with the chemistry and physics of surfaces. His primary area of research included corrosion, passivity, and surface chemistry in general. While at UT, he served as Professor of Chemistry and Chairman of the Chemistry Department (1952-62) and later as Director of the Corrosion Research Laboratory (1961-62). From 1962-63, he was Vice President and Provost; 1963-1967 Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs; and President 1967-70. During his tenure as a UT administrator, he experienced tumultuous times from tragedies-one of Charles Whitman's bullets landed inches from his feet-to social and scientific unrest during Vietnam War and the Nixon administration. But throughout it all, he helped guide the scientific and university communities with insight, intelligence and decisiveness.

In 1970, Dr. Hackerman became President and Professor of Chemistry at Rice University positions he held until 1985 when he retired and became Emeritus President and Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Chemistry. He was also made Emeritus Professor of the University of Texas at Austin in 1985. He maintained an active research laboratory working with post-doctoral fellows.

Dr. Hackerman has received numerous honors and awards, including the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Chemists; the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award of American Chemical Society; the Philip Hauge Ableson Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; the Vannevar Bush Award of National Science Board; and the National Medal of Science. He has served as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Research Programs of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; advisor to the United States Departments of Defense, Energy, and Commerce; advisor to the Executive Office of the President of the United States and the President's Science Advisory Committee; and as chairman of the National Science Board.

Dr. Hackerman is currently chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Robert A. Welch Foundation, a philanthropic organization in Houston that supports chemical research.