Loss of Brian Bent, Sidebar Article

by Russell Steinthal

Professor Bent's work also helped answer some long-standing surface chemistry questions. More than 75 publications reported his explanation of the mechanism controlling the Fischer-Tropsch process, by which German industry was able to manufacture 15 million barrels of fuel each year during World War II. He also synthesized dimethyl silicon chloride, the basic product of a $1 billion dollar U.S. industry, from silicon and methyl chloride; according to Professor Kenneth B. Eisenthal, chairman of Columbia's Department of Chemistry, "No one had ever succeeded in completing this reaction under controlled conditions, in a vacuum."

In memory of Professor Bent, the Chemistry Department is accepting contributions to two memorial funds (see sidebar). The first will benefit Professor Bent's two children: Rachel, age three, and Andrew who is eight months old. The second fund will be used to fund a memorial lectureship to be held in the Department of Chemistry.

Professor Bent was born in Minneapolis in 1960 and in 1982 he graduated summa cum laude from Carleton College. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1986 from the University of California, Berkeley he spent two years at AT&T Bell Laboratories doing postdoctoral research into the mechanisms of chemical reactions in the manufacture of electronic devices.

Donations in memory of Professor Brian E. Bent can be sent to the following addresses:

Contributions to the Brian Bent Memorial Fund, to benefit Professor Bent's two children, should be made payable to the Brian Bent Memorial Fund and should be sent to:

Brian Bent Memorial Fund
Attn.: Marianne Miller
Columbia University
3000 Broadway, Mailcode 3168
New York, NY 10027

Contributions to the Brian Bent Memorial Lectureship Fund should be made payable to Columbia University and should be sent to:

Department of Chemistry
Columbia University
3000 Broadway, Mailcode 3176
New York, NY 10027

(Contributions to the Brian Bent Memorial Lectureship Fund are tax-deductible, and an acknowledgement will be provided by the University.)