For Release: June 23, 2003
Contacts:
Mark Gordon, Applied Mathematics and
Computational Sciences, (515) 294-0452
Saren Johnston, Public Affairs, (515) 294-3474
AMES LABORATORY GRADUATE STUDENT TO MEET NOBEL LAUREATES
Iowa State student will attend 53rd International Convention of Nobel Laureates
in Germany
AMES, Iowa – Ryan Olson, a graduate student at Iowa State University
who is doing research at the U. S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory,
was selected by the DOE as one of 18 outstanding research participants to attend
the 53rd International Convention of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany, June
30–July 4. While in Lindau, Olson will be participating in activities
with Nobel Laureates relating to biology and medicine. Since 1951, Nobel Laureates
in chemistry,
physics and physiology/medicine have annually convened in Lindau to have open
and informal meetings with students and young researchers from around the world.
Olson is the son of Ann and Thomas Olson of Duluth, Minn. He
is studying physical chemistry at Iowa State with a specialization in theoretical/computational
chemistry. Mark Gordon, Olson’s major professor, said, “Ryan is
an extraordinarily good programmer, and he has already written some very nice
new code that will enhance our ability to do parallel computing. Some of his
new code also enhances the possibility that we can explore grid computing using
quantum chemistry in the future. In addition to being an outstanding programmer
and writer of parallel code, Ryan is also a darn good chemist,” praised
Gordon, who is the director of Ames Laboratory’s Applied Mathematics
and Computational Sciences Program and a distinguished professor of chemistry
in ISU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
DOE participants are joining 10 other students to represent the United States
and over 400 other international students at the meeting of Nobel Laureates.
The other students
representing the United States are sponsored by Oak Ridge Associated Universities,
the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, and the
University of Arizona.
Participants are traveling to Washington, D.C., for a meeting at DOE headquarters
on June 27. They arrive in Lindau on June 29 and will tour the historic, medieval
island city that is rich in western European culture and located at the common
border of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
The meeting of Nobel Laureates begins June 30 with welcoming ceremonies and
an evening dinner and gala. During the next three days, students will hear
lectures from the Laureates on topics related to biology or medicine, including
biochemistry, biotechnology and biophysics in the mornings. In the afternoons,
Laureates will preside over informal roundtable sessions. During lunches and
dinners, Laureates will join participants at local restaurants for additional
informal discussions.
On July 4, participants will travel by ferry to the Isle of Mainau
for the closing ceremonies at the baroque Mainau Castle, the residence of Swedish
patron
Count Lennart Bernadotte who began the Nobel Laureates program in 1951. A
Web site has been set up to post daily information while students are attending
the meeting. Each day, photos and a summary of events will be
posted. The URL
for this year’s meeting is www.orau.gov/orise/edu/lindau2003. The Web
site and travel arrangements for all participants are being administered
by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which is managed by
Oak
Ridge Associated Universities for the Department of Energy.
Ames Laboratory is operated for the DOE by ISU. The Lab conducts research into
various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer
design, environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study
of new materials.
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Last revision: 3/26/03 kbg