ULV turns out for Nobel Prize winner Marcus

by Matt Paulson
Editor in Chief

A veritable who's who of the University of La Verne filled La Fetra Auditorium to listen to Nobel Laureate and chemist Rudolph Marcus Wednesday.

Department chairmen and chairwomen, deans and even the president were rapt as the decorated Marcus told his story.

"They were really interested in what he had to say," said Robert Neher, chairman of natural sciences.

Marcus took the stage after an introduction by University President Stephen Morgan.

He quickly ran through his childhood in Montreal, Canada, telling the audience how his parents emphasized education.

"That love for learning continued on," Marcus said.

After graduating high school, Marcus went to McGill University to study math. He eventually decided to enter the field of chemistry because he wanted to perform hands-on research.

"It was a good idea because although I loved mathematics, I didn't really want to spend my time that way," he said.

After completing his second post-doctoral and getting married, Marcus felt that he needed to find a job, so he wrote 35 universities; the results, however, were less than pleasing.

"I didn't get 35 'No's because not everybody replied," he said.

Marcus then tapped his connections to win a job teaching at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

It was there he was inspired to develop his Nobel-winning electron transfer theory.

A student working with electrostatics asked Marcus if the standard theory could be applied to his work. While replying in the affirmative, Marcus became curious.

"It's students' questions a number of times that played a role," Marcus said of his theoretical work.

He investigated other problems, and it eventually led to his Prize-winning theory.

Marcus marveled at the equation's simple nature.

"One thing about these equations is simplicity. There's a kind of beauty in that," he said.

Marcus said that this beauty is compounded by the many implications that can arise from one simple equation.

"Eventually, this field just blossomed," he said.

His electron transfer theory is found in nearly every scientific discipline, as well as everyday applications such as fireflies and glow sticks.

Despite his immense success, Marcus still hungers for knowledge. Presently, he is working on determining the cause of a theoretical collapse of the solar system.

He is working with other experts in an attempt to figure out what the conditions were like shortly after the collapse.

"I don't know if we're going to get the answer," he said. "At what point do you stop banging your head against the wall?"

David Chappell, professor of physics, called Marcus' continued quest for answers "inspirational."

"He's not doing it for the prestige or to make a name," Chappell said. "He's just genuinely interested."

Marcus, father of Kenneth Marcus, assistant professor of history at ULV, is the first Nobel winner in chemistry to grace the University.

"For the department, I think it's a pretty significant occurrence," said Christine Broussard, assistant professor of biology. "It's a pretty special event."