THE LARRY CONROY MEMORIAL LECTURE SERIES

"Yes Virginia, Learning Chemistry Can Be Fun"

A Show You Won't Want To Miss

We are pleased to have back with us Dr. Marv Lang, Dr. Donald Showalter, and Mr. Gary Shulfur from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. This group of chemists is world famous for doing unusual and exciting chemistry demonstrations. They have appeared all over the United States and in Europe. Dr. Showalter has also appeared on the Dave Letterman show and is featured in the PBS series "The World of Chemistry". Their show is really something special and one you will remember for a long time.

This annual lecture series is held in memory of Larry Conroy. Larry Conroy was a professor in the chemistry department at the University of Minnesota from 1959 until his untimely death in 1988. His research was in solid state chemistry and just before his death he was making important contributions in the synthesis of low temperature super-conducting materials. During this period he also devoted much of his time to chemical education. He was the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department from 1966 to 1968 and taught at all levels from general chemistry to graduate courses. In 1963 he was a co-author of a laboratory manual that was used for over twenty years in the general chemistry program. He also worked to improve chemistry teaching at the pre-college level, offering a course in chemistry concepts for junior high school teachers, being an active co-worker with various high school teachers groups, and being the Minnesota coordinator for the International Chemistry Olympiad competition. Larry's love and concern for teaching naturally led him to interact with the Area High School Chemistry Teacher's group. He truly enjoyed this interaction and the high school teachers gained from his ideas about teaching and from his enthusiasm for chemistry. In honor of Larry's many contributions, the Area High School Chemistry Teacher's group organized the first Larry Conroy Memorial Lecture in 1989. That this lecture series will continue on a semi-annual basis is a lasting tribute to the importance of Larry's contributions to chemical education in the State of Minnesota.