Tom Cech, the celebrated 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner and chemistry professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will speak on "A New View of Life" Feb. 20 at the University of Colorado1s Denver campus.
The presentation will cover some recent scientific breakthroughs that give insight into the origins of life, the origins of viruses and how viruses may have gotten started, explained Cech. He also will discuss the interplay of teaching and research in his position at CU.
Cech shared the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize with Yale Professor Sidney Altman for their independent discoveries that RNA, like protein, can act as a catalyst in living cells.
A reception and opportunity to meet Cech will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Auraria's North Classroom Building, room 1130, followed by the lecture at 7 p.m. CU-Boulder1s new Interim Chancellor, Dick Bynny, will introduce Cech.
The program, sponsored by the Denver chapter of the CU-Boulder Alumni Association, is free and open to CU alumni. Paid parking is available in Lot R on the Auraria campus, located on Auraria Parkway just off Speer Boulevard.
For more information call Dori Harrell at (303) 446-0702 or Rocky Garcia at (303) 492-6563.