Leading researchers will join their peers at West Virginia University Thursday, Oct. 30, to dedicate new equipment that allows scientists to study the structures of molecules.

An $850,000 Varian Inova nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer is housed in renovated lab space on the first floor of Clark Hall. The Department of Chemistry acquired the NMR spectrometer with funding from the National Science Foundation.

This high-resolution spectrometer will not only enhance the research being conducted by faculty in our department, but by researchers throughout the University and state,said Harry Finklea, department chair.

NMR spectrometry is an important tool that has found widespread use in biochemistry, structural biology, chemistry, physics, materials science and medicine. Since its inception, six Nobel Prizes have been awarded to scientists using NMR to better understand nature. This years Nobel Prize in medicine went to Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield for their work in the development of magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI .

Thursdays activities will begin with an NMR Symposium at 3 p.m. in 312 Clark Hall. Four prominent scientists will give presentations describing their work in NMR spectroscopy. Lecturers will be Philip Grandinetti, Pat Hatcher and Charles Pennington, all of Ohio State University, and Joseph Ackerman of Washington University in St. Louis.

M. Duane Nellis, dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, will dedicate the NMR facility at 7 p.m. in 101 Clark Hall.

The symposium and dedication are open to the public.