Impacts of Science on Society

Sir Harold Kroto won the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes (or Buckminsterfullerenes after the architect, Buckminster Fuller, who conceived of geodesic domes), a structural form of carbon also known as buckyballs. During his talk at Oceanit, he discussed the impacts of science on society—almost prophetically as today, his Nobel-winning discovery is being examined for applications in areas as diverse as solar panels, military armor, and medicine.