The Nature of Water

OPENING ADDRESS & WELCOME

PROF. DOUGLAS CKARK, Dean of the College of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley

PROF. RICHARD J. SAYKALLY

Probing Aqueous Interfaces

“Since water comprises 70% of the Earth's surface, aqueous interfaces are a dominant factor in ocean chemistry, and geochemistry, not to mention biology! Having an accurate and universally predictive model for water is thus imperative!”

PROF. ARIEH WARSHEL, NOBEL LAUREATE IN CHEMISTRY

The Role of Water in Biological Systems

“The difference between the "solvation" in protein and in water is the key to the action of many biological systems.”

PROF. RICHARD ZARE

Water Microdroplet Chemistry

“Water is so common yet so mysterious; you might think that after all these years of studying water that we would know everything about water, but we are still discovering surprises!”

PANEL DISCUSSION:

PROF. RICHARD J. SAYKALLY, PROF. ARIEH WARSHEL, NOBEL LAUREATE IN CHEMISTRY, PROF. RICHARD ZARE, CO-MODERATORS: DR. LORIE KARNATH & PROF. PEIDONG YANG

PROF. PERNILLA WITTUNG-STAFSHEDE

Protein Folding in Water is Basis for Life and Death

“Equality, diversity and inclusion are essential factors for solving the world's many challenges. We need young people from all over the world as future scientists.”

PROF. FRANCES H. ARNOLD, NOBEL LAUREATE IN CHEMISTRY

Enzymes Do It in Water

“Water is where life happens.”

PROF. HARRY BARKUS GRAY

Dynamics of Unstructured Parkinson’s and COVID Proteins in Water

“Science involves setting goals, trying hard to reach those goals, and often (almost always!) making mistakes along the way.”

PANEL DISCUSSION:

PROF. PERNILLA WITTUNG-STAFSHEDE, PROF. FRANCES H. ARNOLD, NOBEL LAUREATE IN CHEMISTRY, PROF. HARRY BARKUS GRAY

CO-MODERATORS: DR. LORIE KARNATH & PROF. DOUGLAS CLARK

PROF. BENGT NORDÉN

The Role of Water for Life

“I am optimistic about our possibilities to mitigate the challenges that currently trouble planet Earth.”

DR. PETER G. BREWER

Hydrogen Bonds and Microbial Swimming – And Sperm Too

“This finding bridges the 50+ year long divide between the fluid dynamics and chemical physics views of microbial swimming efficiency.”

PROF. DAVID SEDLAK

Adventures in Water Decontamination

“If water is the essential ingredient of life, then water supply is the essential ingredient of civilization.”

PANEL DISCUSSION:

PROF. BENGT NORDÉN, DR. PETER G. BREWER, PROF. DAVID SEDLAK, PROD. ANDREW Z. FIRE, NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE

CO-MODERATORS: DR. LORIE KARNATH & PROF. OMAR YAGHI

PROF. JESSICA FAYNE

Surface Water from Space: Mapping Changing Water Levels Using New Radar Satellites

“Using satellites, we can understand the dynamics of water quantity and state, which helps us understand current and historical hydrologic trends and improve our resilience to ongoing climatic changes.”

CYNTHIA KOENIG

Wello: A Novel Approach to the Global Water Crisis

“Great ideas only become solutions once you act on them.”

PROF. OMAR YAGHI

Shaping Water Behavior in Water Harvesting From Air

“We need to care about the things that we do not see - we need to study those things and bring them fruitfully to society.”

PANEL DISCUSSION:

PROF. JESSICA FAYNE, CYNTHIA KOENIG, PROF. OMAR YAGHI

CO-MODERTAORS: DR. LORIE KARNATH & PROF. BENGT NORDEN