Organization talent

In celebrating the centenary of the birth of Anatoly K. Babko we appreciatively recall his diligence, scientific, pedagogical and organizing talents. His active and purposeful character will always feature in our strikingly kind memory of Anatoly K. Babko - who through all his life maintained a love and loyalty to science. 

As Emil Fischer came to Berlin after Hofmann s death, with his professorship and its many related academic duties came also the leadership of the DCG. Less sociable than Hofmann, Fischer took the presidency less often, but still became the dominant personality in the organization. With his organizing talent, the DCG gained a permanent headquarters and greatly expanded its publication activities by 1914, without significantly increasing its membership. 

The R D function itself will be organized from company to company in very different ways. In some firms, the responsibiUty for innovation will be broadly shared and a distinct R D unit may cease to exist. In others, technical developments from an R D lab will be the principal source of innovation for the business. In still others, the primary task of the R D or technology group will be to obtain technology from outside the firm. Those involved in R D will need to make certain that their knowledge and talents impact the business irrespective of their precise function. The innovation process will become less linear (Fig. 8) as more feedback loops, technology transfer, and cooperative efforts are involved. 

Carothers was regarded as Illinois best organic chemistry student, equally good at physical chemistry, mathematics, physics, and laboratory techniques. Moreover, as Adams put it, Carothers was a lovable man. Despite his obvious talents, he was without artifice or pretense. Nevertheless, when Carothers savings ran out after a year, he had to leave Illinois to earn money teaching at the University of South Dakota, where the ever-faithful Pardee had arranged a position. 

There is no other vitamin which exemplifies the interdependence between the human race and microorganisms better than Vitamin B12. Mankind still relies for its very existence upon the capability of a few species of bacteria to synthesize this fascinating coordination complex. A concerted effort is being made in a number of laboratories to determine procedures for the chemical synthesis of this vitamin. However, even the most talented synthetic chemists would have to admit that the organic chemist s lament is applicable to Vitamin B12 ... 

Without substantial artistic talent, depicting organic reaction mechanisms on surfaces is difficult. Over the years, a variety of methods have been invented and used with differing successes. Frequently used is an asterisk, an M, or sometimes the symbol of the metal catalyst to designate a surface catalytic... 

Although few are endowed with comparable talent and energy, his career is surely a splendid example for all. Hopefully, like the passing of optical activity from molecule to molecule, this chapter will help induce some transfer of Emil Fischer s way of thinking and actions to future generations of organic chemists. 

Have I been proactive in terminating businesses or projects that are not making sufficiently good progress Can I recycle the valuable talent and lessons learned elsewhere in my organization ... 

Perkin, W. H. J. Chem. Soc. 1868, 21, 53. William Henry Perkin (1838—1907), bom in London, England, studied under Hofmann at the Royal College of Chemistry. In an attempt to synthesize quinine in his home laboratory in 1856, Perkin synthesized mauve, the purple dye. He then started a factory to manufacture mauve and later other dyes including alizarin. Perkin was the first person to show that organic chemistry was not just mere intellectual curiosity but could be profitable, which catapulted the discipline into a higher level. In addition, Perkin was also an exceptionally talented pianist. 

This work was financially supported by the Max-Planck Gesellschaft, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (TALENT-stipendium for FJD). 

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