Reunions 2017: Remembering Hubert Alyea ’25

Professor of Chemistry, Hubert N. Alyea ’25, is remembered among Princeton folk for his outrageous chemistry demonstrations in class and at Princeton Reunions, one nicknamed “100 Explosions in 100 Minutes”. He is remembered beyond Princeton for his popular worldwide lectures on the themes of “Lucky Accidents, Great Discoveries, and the Prepared Mind” and “Atomic Energy: Weapon for Peace.” Moreover, he was the inspiration for the Walt Disney film, “The Absent-minded Professor.” Current Department of Chemistry Lecture Demonstrator, Kathryn Wagner, Ph.D., recounts Alyea’s enthusiastic efforts toward teaching and communicating chemistry and his lasting impact.