Professor emeritus Roald Hoffmann, chemical and chemical biology, cannot contain himself to just the arts or the physical sciences. In addition to continuing his research on molecular bonding structure, he spends his time writing poetry, studying ceramics and managing a science-oriented cabaret in New York City.

Hoffmann was born in Zloczów, Poland in 1937 and moved to New York City in 1949 at the age of 11. In 1955, he began his studies at Columbia University in chemistry. He next attended Harvard, where he earned his M.A. in physics in 1960 and his Ph.D. in chemical physics in 1962. Three years later, Hoffmann came to Cornell University as an Associate Professor of Chemistry.

“It was the only place that gave me a job,” Hoffmann joked.

Over the 47 years that Hoffmann has been at Cornell, he has amassed innumerable honors and awards, not the least of which is his 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, shared with Kenichi Fukui. He won this honor for his use of quantum mechanics and the wave properties of matter to anticipate the course of chemical reactions — each molecule has a unique electron structure that helped Hoffman determine the result of certain reactions.

According to Hoffman, his current research involves determining the “bonding and electronic structure of any molecule under the sun, including some that have not yet been made.”

“We are solving a bonding puzzle,” he said. He and the other five members of his lab try to derive meaning from the bonding patterns that occur in different molecules.

He compared the project to the analysis of poetry, saying that they were trying to answer the question: “What makes a poem new? They’re all made out of the same words.” It is the way they are connected and the meaning that comes from those connections that makes a poem unique.

Hoffman also works in collaboration with professor emeritus Neil Ashcroft, physics, to study matter under high pressure, sometimes at levels equivalent to those at the center of the Earth. The pressure distorts the bonding patterns in the matter, leading to unique properties.

Even with his enormous success in the sciences, Hoffmann’s passions are not restricted to chemistry. He has published numerous poems, co-authored two plays and published multiple books, including one on the interaction between science and the Jewish tradition.

A prime example of his dual interest in humanities and science is his cabaret, “Entertaining Science,” which has been performing in the Cornelia Street Café in New York City for about seven years. The performances combine scientific themes with entertaining performers. Next week’s theme is annihilation — the physical process of anti-matter colliding with matter — and features a discussion by astrophysicist Nidhal Guessoum, special effects expert Fred Buchholz and magician Mark Mitton. Anni­hilation, it seems, need not be left to the scientists.

Post-doctorate student Eva Zurek, who has known Hoffman for only a little over a year, recognizes him not only for his “great intuition in all fields of research,” but also his dedication to the members of his lab and to undergraduate students.

“It’s very easy to get along with him,” she said. “I admire that he does so many extracurricular activities and that he always has time to talk to you.” Regardless of all of his accomplishments, she said, he still treats everyone as an intellectual equal.

In fact, it is his concern for students — undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc alike — that has kept him at Cornell for so long.

“I am now retired from teaching for 43 years, often undergraduate introductory chemistry, and I miss it,” he said. “I have sometimes thought about stopping, but the young coworkers and students have kept me going.”

In addition to working at Cornell, Prof. Hoffmann continues to travel all over the world, giving lectures, presenting at scientific conferences, and being recognized for his accomplishments.

“I’ve just allowed the world to come into my life and Cornell has been very good to me. It’s given me the time and the freedom to do what I want,” Hoffman said.

After publishing over 535 scientific papers in the field of chemistry and chemical physics, one would think that Hoffmann would tire of the work, but he admits that the invisible bond between two atoms still fascinates him.

For a more extensive biography of Dr. Roald Hoffmann, including his theatrical productions, books, poetry and awards, visit his website: http://www.roaldhoffmann.com/pn