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Chemistry Grads Visit Nobel Laureates

Two graduate students participate in Lindau Meetings in Germany

Kelley and Stover
Steven Kelley and Michelle Stover, both graduate students in the Department of Chemistry, were invited to attend the 63rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings in Germany.

From the July 2013 Desktop News | This month 35 Nobel Laureates congregated at Lake Constance in Germany to meet the next generation of leading scientists and researchers, including two UA graduate students from the Department of Chemistry. Steven Kelley, a native of Olive Branch, Miss., and Michele Stover, a native of Moselle, Miss., attended the 63rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting along with more than 600 young researchers from nearly 80 countries.

Kelley earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mississippi State University in 2009 and subsequently enrolled in the doctoral program in the Department of Chemistry. Kelley, who earned a $150,000 fellowship from the Department of Energy, works with Dr. Robin Rogers, professor and holder of the Robert Ramsay Chair in the Department of Chemistry and director of UA’s Center for Green Manufacturing.

Stover earned an Associate of Arts degree from Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss. in 2008 and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from William Carey University before enrolling in UA’s doctoral chemistry program in 2010. At UA, Stover works with Dr. David Dixon, professor and holder of the Robert Ramsay Chair of in the Department of Chemistry.

One of the central topics discussed at the Lindau Meetings was “green chemistry,” which aims to make chemical production as resource-sparing, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. In this approach, scientists try to avoid detrimental raw materials and final products, reduce waste, and minimize the risk of accidents.

The Lindau Meetings have evolved into an international forum for scientific debate on issues of global importance The idea of ​​sustainability has been one of the hallmarks of the Lindau Meetings since their inception.. The meetings originated from the initiative of Franz Karl Hein and Gustav Wilhelm Parade, two physicians from Lindau, Germany. They, along with Count Lennart Bernadotte, a member of the Swedish royal family, organized the first meeting in 1951.

As part of their experience, both Kelley and Stover wrote a blog, which is available online: http://uanews.ua.edu/2013/07/when-nobel-prize-winners-are-your-mentors/.