Space shuttle scientist to speak here

A scientist who has carried the search for new disease-fighting drugs into space will deliver the 1999 Robert M. Hearin Lecture Jan. 26.

Lawrence J. DeLucas speaks at the Colvard Union small auditorium. The 4 p.m. program is open to the public and is made possible by a grant from the Hearin Foundation of Jackson to the College of Engineering.

"Dr. DeLucas is internationally recognized for his work with protein crystals used in the search for new pharmaceutical compounds," said Dean A. Wayne Bennett. "One portion of his work involves crystal growth experiments at reduced gravity levels, such as those provided by the U.S. Space Shuttle System."

DeLucas, who serves as director of the Center for Macromolecular Crystallography for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, conduced crystal growth experiments in space as a member of the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia during its 1992 spacelab mission.

His UAB lab currently is designing new hardware for advanced protein crystal growth methods for use on the space shuttle and eventually on space stations.

For additional information on the Hearin Lecture, telephone Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department head Jerry Gilbert at 325-3282.