Conference room naming honors legacy of renowned scientists

The Department of Chemistry's recently renovated faculty/staff meeting rooms, 117/119 Smith Hall, are being renamed the Kate & Michael Bárány Conference Room, honoring the parents of Distinguished McKnight University Professor George Barany and his brother, Professor Francis Barany of the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. 

George and Francis, with their families, have made a generous gift to the Department of Chemistry as a memorial and tribute to their parents, who both passed away this summer. Survivors of the Holocaust and married for 62 years, Kate and Michael Bárány were internationally renowned research scientists and distinguished educators who made fundamental and pioneering contributions to muscle biochemistry/biophysics/physiology, and to magnetic resonance of living systems.

During their lifetimes, Kate and Michael demonstrated their commitment to students and young scientists by several philanthropies, including prior gifts to the University of Minnesota. A formal dedication of the room and unveiling of a plaque will occur some time this summer.