I just found out that Dr Richard Smalley, the nanotechnology pioneer had died. I found this out by reading Irving Wladawsky-Berger's blog, in which he wrote a long piece about Dr Smalley, a 1996 Nobel prize winner for the shared discovery of a new form of carbon: buckminsterfullerene, better known as buckyballs.

I met Dr Smalley late last year at a large chip conference. He was the lunchtime keynote speaker and on the stage alongside him, sat about 20 distinguished chip industry veterans such as Andy Grove, chairman of Intel. The audience consisted of more than 2000 of the world's top chip experts.

He was talking about energy. He said that the growing need for energy was the number one problem facing humanity. If the energy problem could be solved, by giving everyone the energy they needed, it would solve all the other top ten global problems: hunger, poverty, war, pollution, poor education, lack of clean water...

Dr Smalley impressed me with his eloquence and his directness. He was not afraid to criticize the Bush administration, saying the reelection of the president would not be good for science research.

He called for a new Manhattan project, focused on finding an alternative to oil--which he said was just one month or so away from peak production.

At the press conference

I was sitting with my buddy Mark Osborne, editor of Semiconductor Fabtech, (based in London). Following the speech, Mark and I went to the press conference for Dr Smalley. There were 5 journalists in the room, waiting for him to arrive.

After about ten minutes Dr Smalley walked in and sat on a tall stool. He looked in excellent shape for a man in his early 60s. He looked to be at the top of his form, both physically and intellectually. He sat and answered our questions. The rest of the journalists left after about an hour, leaving just Mark and myself.

We asked more questions, and then more on nanotechnology, and then more on energy. Dr Smalley diligently answered every question, and explained complex issues with patience and thoroughness. And he just sat and talked, and we sat and asked questions. Until finally, we ran out of questions. By that time, it was almost 4pm. Satisfied there were no more questions, Dr Smalley shook our hands and left.

Impressive dedication

Mark and I were amazed at his stamina and his dedication to the subjects of energy and nanotechnology. I learned a tremendous amount about both subjects.

And we were impressed that Dr Smalley did not run out of the room after 20 minutes or so, as is usual in press conferences. He talked until he was satisfied he had exhausted his audience of all questions.

I remember he talked about speaking at conferences on the subject of energy, and how some of the scientists were so inspired by his vision that they would approach him afterwards and ask to become involved in his work.

This was because Dr Smalley had discovered a calling, one to which he devoted a large part of his life. And he communicated that calling through his presence, through his stature as one of the top scientists of our time, and through his passion.

This is what inspired other scientists to approach him and offer their support, and want to join him in his mission. But there was no organization to join, and Dr Smalley said he didn't want to lead one.

I remember thinking that Martin Luther King didn't want to be the leader of his times, he didn't want to be in the front ranks of civil rights marches, facing hails of rocks and men with clubs and dogs.

New leadership

I remember thinking that Dr Smalley had to take on the leadership role directly, because he was the one that raised people's awareness, and communicated his calling to them so strongly that they felt they had to take it up too.

I did not know that he had had a long battle with cancer, and that probably he knew that his battle might be coming to an end. That's why he wanted others to take on the leadership roles.

If you were ever inspired by Dr Smalley's speeches on energy and solving the world's most serious problems, then take any opportunity to carry on his work, in the workplace and in the home place. It is quite probably the most virtuous mission that anybody can become involved in.

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From the Rice University announcement of his death:

"Rick could focus so completely on his goals, and he could inspire his students and his colleagues to a similar focus," said Kathleen Matthews, dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences and the Stewart Memorial Professor of Biochemistry. "He had the ability to persuade others with a rare intensity of thought and spirit. He brought both passion and intellect to his work, and he displayed a degree of dedication and engagement that could motivate others to new levels of achievement."

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Please see SVW: Nobel Prize winner Dr Richard Smalley tells SF chip conference of the urgent need for action on energy issues

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Irving's blog:

Energy - the Single Most Important Problem Facing Humanity