Moviele

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
es

EUGENE, OREGON

INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY November 10, 1959

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
School of Medicine
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Dear Josh:

I enjoyed your letter very much. JI wish that Eugene
were on the way to somewhere like Chicago used to be so that
we could see you much more frequently.

I was interested to learn about your efforts at the
Space Science Board in connection with the Man in Space
program. J understand and concur in your analysis. In
connection with your second point, I wonder if you would have
any ideas of how the Bulletin of Atomic Scientist could be
of help here. It is very interested to have an article on
this conflict between political and scientific interests,
if conflict it be.

I was fascinated to learn that Terusalimskii was
directly responsible for the Soviet sterilization program,
I met him at Prague where I got to know him quite well.
He was the most intelligent of the Russian group and we had
a number of long fruitful conversations. He does, as you
say, fail in his understanding of the basic issues of micro-
bial adaptation. In connection with the note in Pravda,
I think we have the right for more information as to how
the Soviets sterilized their rocket. I will write to
Ierusalimskii if you think it can do no harm,

Incidentally, the Pacific Division of the AAAS is
holding its annual meeting in Eugene next June. An
evening symposium is planned on "Man's Exploration of Space",
largely at the instigation of Henry Eyring. As a local, I
have been made head of the committee to arrange the
symposium. I would like to have the symposium concern itself
mainly with the kind of problems Westex has concerned itself
with. Would you be willing to be moderator and/or one of
the speakers? Who else would you suggest as speakers?
Funds are available to pay transportation expenses,
I was very interested to learn that you are beginning
some work on the TV microscope. I ar had little experience
with either TV or with microscopes I am fascinated by
the problem. I would guess illumination may be one serious
difficulty.

I think it is wonderful that you will be going to Nice
and I will be interested to hear what contributions the
Russians make, should they come. I agree that there is no
point to having another Westex meeting until more concrete
issues develop. However, I am always pleased to have an
excuse to visit you.

Sincerely,

Lava

Aaron Novick
AN:ret