This fall, carve some time out of your work or school day to enjoy the engaging Rutherford Aris Seminar Series. This distinct speaker series is presented about as often as the Olympics and features a paralleling variety of topics, each with a different perspective on a predetermined, global topic. This year’s focus is on design. Past topics include education, ethics, and the concept of elegance.

Professor Rutherford Aris (1929-2005) introduced the series to give his graduate students a well-rounded education. A celebrated chemical engineering professor, Aris was known for his innovation in the field. His research contributed extensively to the design and redesign of chemical processes, which has led to greater energy efficiency in industrial manufacturing and other arenas.

The 2008 seminar series includes perspectives on design from the theatre arts, health care, architecture, marketing, geology, product design, and more.
Of particular interest to Weisman fans is a talk by Edwin Chan of Frank Gehry and Associates titled @foga.com (foga’s the acronym for Frank O. Gehry and Associates). The firm is currently finalizing plans with the Weisman for the museum’s upcoming expansion.

The series is co-presented by the University’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, the College of Design, and the Weisman Art Museum.