Gillis discusses today’s technology on trip abroad

Gillis discusses today’s technology on trip abroad
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BY MARGOT DIMOND
Rice News Staff

The generation and transfer of 21st century technology was the focus of a speech presented by Rice President Malcolm Gillis to the Royal Society of Edinburgh Sept. 25.

The Royal Society, which was founded in 1783, plays an important role in the scientific and literary life of Scotland, serving in a similar capacity as the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.

In his presentation, Gillis discussed information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology and the reliance of these new technologies on developments in many different science and engineering disciplines.

To read the full text of Gillis’ speech to the Royal Society, refer to the Web at <www.ruf.rice.edu/~presiden/speeches/speech_15.html>.

The speech was the impetus for an extended visit to the United Kingdom after the opening of International University–Bremen in Germany. It provided an opportunity for Gillis to visit and consult with as many leading English and Scottish universities as possible in a four-day period.

The first visit was to always-strong Imperial College, which now is enjoying a growing reputation, especially under the leadership of its new rector, Sir Richard Sykes. The university has begun to invest in many of the fields that Rice already is proficient in, particularly nanotechnology. Sykes is planning a trip to Houston this month to talk with Rice and Texas Medical Center scientists in nanoscale science, nanotech-nology and related fields, and Gillis will help him connect with additional researchers at The University of Texas–Austin and Texas A&M.

After spending nearly a full day at Cambridge University, Gillis saw close parallels between what is happening there and what is happening at Rice. He met with Alec Broers, the new vice-chancellor (the chancellor is Prince Phillip), who he said is very knowledgeable about Rice and eager to explore mutual interests. And one personal bonus, Gillis said, was that “after all these years, I now finally understand how Cambridge is organized.”

Gillis, who also visited the University of Edinburgh and Heriot–Watt University, said he was able to get a good sense of strengths in research and teaching. “I was gratified that there were so many areas of mutual interest,” he said.

England’s minister of science, Lord Sainsbury of Turville, and his top staff also met with Gillis, and they agreed to maintain open channels of communication in the future. Gillis noted that “the minister had been exceedingly well-briefed for the meeting.”

The British Foreign Office arranged the visit. Gillis has nothing but praise for the job they did. “We had three different attachés — one in London, one in Cambridge and one in Edinburgh, and they were all excellent. Without the Foreign Office, we could have never managed the busy schedule we had.”

Gillis said he concluded that the top British institutions of higher education are in much better shape than is commonly thought on this side of the Atlantic. “They have become entrepreneurial and very focused, and they are coming to grips with dealing with their problems, which include low pay, dwindling government support and aging facilities,” he said. “I saw quite a bit of dynamism and resourcefulness there.”