Carl Djerassi: in his own words.

Carl Djerassi (1923–2015)

Few lives at the top of chemistry and industrial accomplishments in the 20th century have been as remarkable as that of Carl Djerassi, who died in San Francisco on January 30 at the age of 91. To a considerable extent, his life became known as ‘fascinating’, catalyzed by his own portrayal of it. This feature of his persona cannot, and will not, dilute the one major scientifi c contribution he m...

Howard Eichenbaum

with fi erce intensity. Most of these centered on science and/or the fl aws of its practitioners, often coupled with broader societal themes. He staged his plays in Vienna, London and New York and elsewhere, and had hoped to have reviews like Michael Frayn got for ‘Copenhagen’, for example, but these did not come. He also wrote four autobiographical works and in the fi nal one, published only m...

Cannot See the Flowers nor the Tree: Plants and the Pill.

T modern world suffers from a syndrome known as plant blindnessthe inability to perceive plants. The lack of awareness occurs in the natural environment, the home landscape, and even the scientific lab. The third article in the inaugural issue of the American Chemical Society’s ACS Central Science recognizes Carl Djerassi’s pioneering work in steroidal syntheses. However, the article belies th...

Current Cnmments”

With his first novel, distinguished scientist Carl Djerassi bridges the gap between the two cultures with a major contribution to science in fiction. Describing the quest for the Nobel Prire, he focuses on one of the key issues of the scientific community: trust and how it affects human relationships. Describing the process of science in exquisite detail, Canror’s Dilemma makes for an exciting ...

Carl Djerassi: Chemist and entrepreneur