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07/24/2012

Conference room dedication honors legacy of renowned scientists

More than 90 people—friends, family, and colleagues—attended the dedication of the Kate and Michael Bárány Conference Room (117/119 Smith Hall), Monday, July 23.

The remodeled conference room was a gift to the Department of Chemistry from George Barany, a Distinguished McKnight Professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Francis Barany, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, and their families.

The room honors the legacy of Kate and Michael Bárány (George and Francis' parents). They were Holocaust survivors; internationally renowned researchers in muscle biochemistry, biophysics, and physiology; tireless advocates for women in science and academia; distinguished educators; and supporters of the University of Minnesota.

During their half-century professional careers, the Báránys worked together to make fundamental discoveries about muscle function and were among the first to apply magnetic resonance to the study of living systems. They upheld the highest standards of scholarship and integrity, while encouraging and guiding the development of future generations of scientists.

Their legacy is above all one of love and devotion—to their science, to their colleagues and students, to their children and grandchildren, and, throughout 62 years of marriage, to each other.

Additional information about Kate and Michael Bárány is available at http://tinyurl.com/katebarany and http://tinyurl.com/michaelbarany. Read the moving tribute to Kate and Michael Bárány, published in the Episcopal Homes newsletter. They spent their last days together at Episcopal Homes, and a new courtyard was dedicated in their honor. http://www.ehomesmn.org/blog/82-drs-michael-and-kate-b-r-ny-may-house-courtyard-dedicated-at-episcopal-church-home

Front page photo: College of Science & Engineering Dean Steven Crouch and George Barany unveil the dedication plaque, renaming 117/119 Smith Hall to the Kate and Michael Bárány Conference Room.

Top photo: Room 117/119 Smith Hall was dedicated the Kate and Michael Bárány Conference Room, a gift to the university from the Barany family. At the dedication, Monday, July 23, were (from left) Barbara Barany, Deborah Barany, George Barany, Francis Barany, and Rachel Consecu Barany.