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Have camera, will travel (also win Nobel Prize) - The Boston Globe

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 8:13 GMT by The Boston Globe
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Boston College Celebrates Nobel Laureate in Chemistry with an Intimate Photo Exhibition

Boston College is stepping out of the lecture hall and into the realm of visual storytelling. This week the campus unveiled a new photo exhibition titled “From Molecules to Memories: The Life of Dr. Evelyn R. L. (E. R. L.) — Nobel Prize‑Winning Chemist” in the renovated Gasson Library Atrium. The collection—drawn from a private archive and donated by the chemist herself—offers a rare glimpse into the personal side of a scientist whose research reshaped our understanding of catalysis and drug discovery.

The exhibition opens with a striking portrait of Dr. L., taken in 1982 during the inaugural ceremony of the American Chemical Society’s “Women in Chemistry” awards. Beneath the image, a handwritten note reads, “A snapshot of a moment that still feels as bright as the first photon.” As visitors wander through the atrium, the photographs chronicle her journey from a small town in Idaho to a world‑renowned laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and finally to her current post‑doctoral research at Boston College’s Department of Chemistry.

Why Boston College?

While Dr. L. earned her Ph.D. at MIT and spent a decade at Harvard, she has a deep, almost personal connection to Boston College. She earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry from the college in 1974 and returned to campus in 2010 to establish the Institute for Advanced Catalysis—a joint venture between the university and the College’s School of Business. According to Dr. L., “Boston College has always been more than a place of learning; it’s a community that values both intellect and humanity.” The exhibition, organized by Dr. L.’s former mentor, Professor Thomas G. “Tom” McCarthy, reflects that philosophy.

“Seeing these images in context reminds me of why we pursued science in the first place,” says McCarthy, who served as Chair of the Chemistry Department for 15 years. “The pictures capture the joy, the frustrations, the breakthroughs that drive a career.” His own contributions to the exhibition include a set of candid shots of Dr. L. in the lab, holding a glass beaker that had contained the very compound later awarded the Nobel Prize for its role in a breakthrough HIV drug.

A Nobel‑Winning Legacy

Dr. L. was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2021 for her pioneering work on enantioselective organocatalysis, a field that allows chemists to create molecules with precise three‑dimensional shapes—a key factor in drug development. The photographs illustrate the arc of that breakthrough, from the early, clunky prototypes of her catalytic system to the sleek, industrial‑scale apparatus now used in pharmaceutical plants worldwide.

The exhibition also includes a section on her post‑Nobel research, where she is developing sustainable catalytic processes that use renewable feedstocks. Dr. L. hopes the images will inspire younger scholars, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, to pursue careers in chemistry.

Interactive Elements

To enhance the educational experience, the exhibition houses a digital kiosk where visitors can explore the chemistry behind each photograph. By clicking on a photo, viewers can access an interactive 3D model of the reaction mechanism depicted. The College’s Office of Science Education has worked closely with the National Science Foundation to incorporate the exhibition into a series of workshops for high school students, who will have the chance to conduct a virtual “lab” session mirroring Dr. L.’s experimental setup.

Community Reception

Students and faculty have responded with enthusiasm. “I’ve seen so many of her talks, but these photos—especially the ones of her at the whiteboard with her notes—make it feel personal,” says graduate student Maria Chen, who is studying organometallic chemistry. “It’s inspiring to see that someone who was once in the same class as me has achieved something as monumental as a Nobel Prize.”

Faculty members note that the exhibition is already fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. Dr. L.’s own interdisciplinary research team, which brings together chemists, biologists, and computer scientists, is using the exhibition as a springboard for a new course titled “The Intersection of Visual Art and Chemical Innovation.” The course, slated to launch next semester, will explore how scientific imaging and visual media can influence research direction and public engagement.

Beyond the Exhibition

Boston College has also announced a partnership with the Boston Museum of Science to host a traveling exhibition of Dr. L.’s photographs. The museum plans to run the show for six months, with special talks featuring Dr. L. herself, the College’s faculty, and science communicators.

The College’s president, Dr. Karen E. Kett, emphasized the broader significance of the exhibition: “Dr. L.’s story is not just about a Nobel Prize; it’s about perseverance, curiosity, and the power of collaboration. These photographs embody that narrative, and they remind us that science is a human endeavor.”

Closing Remarks

As the exhibition draws a steady stream of visitors, it’s clear that Dr. Evelyn R. L.’s life story—captured in these photographs—has resonated far beyond the confines of the laboratory. The images serve not only as historical documentation but also as a beacon for future scientists who will walk through the same halls, inspired by the legacy of a Nobel laureate who once stood where they now stand.

For more information on the exhibition schedule, upcoming talks, and how to book a visit, please visit Boston College’s Department of Chemistry website or contact the Office of Science Education.