Simplicity of Molecules and the Joy of Synthesis
Apurba Bhatacharya discusses the intellectual and aesthetic rewards of organic synthesis: devising a retrosynthetic plan and then realizing it experimentally. The talk considers how the distinct chemical properties of elements allow synthetic chemists to construct complex molecular networks. It connects this molecular craftsmanship with academic innovation and the sustained practical work of synthesis, presenting beauty and simplicity as ways to understand its apparent complexity. Speaker: Dr. Apurba Bhatacharya, Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry, Texas A and M University–Kingsville. Hosted by the School of Math and Physical Sciences, Chemistry Seminar Series. Wednesday 30 September 2026, 15:00–16:00 America/Chicago (CDT). The university invites attendees to Nierman Hall, Room 251, Texas A and M University–Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas, USA. Those attending remotely can use the public Zoom link or Join Stream button on the official event page.
Consciousness Aesthetics
We can perceive aesthetic properties such as beauty and sublimity in artworks, environmental nature and even ordinary life. How about consciousness? Does consciousness have aesthetic properties? If so, what kind of aesthetic properties conscious experiences can have? If conscious experiences can have some kinds of aesthetic properties, how can we appreciate them? These questions constitute "Consciousness Aesthetics". In this talk, I will introduce consciousness aesthetics as a new field of aesthetics and discuss some of such questions.
CrossTalk: Conversations at the Intersection of Science and Art
Anjan Chatterjee is a Professor of Neurology, Psychology, and Architecture and the founding Director of the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics. His research explores the field of neuroaesthetics: how our brain experiences and responds to art. Lucas Kelly is a renowned visual artist, with work featured across several solo and group exhibitions, most notably in the survey of abstract painting “The Painted World” at PS1 Museum of Modern Art. As the inaugural Artist in Residence for the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics, Lucas has collaborated with Anjan on a forthcoming exhibition, considering the emotions involved in aesthetic engagement informed by research. This event will feature a moderated conversation between Anjan and Lucas, discussing topics at the intersection of neuroscience and experience of visual art.