Still Time To Organize A Workshop In 2009:
Many Weeks Available June 21- Aug 10

With our sincerest gratitude, we would all like to thank John Straub for his vision and leadership during his presidency of TSRC. Not only did John meticulously care for TSRC’s governance, he has been heroically active in science outreach programs.

TSRC President John Straub at a Pinhead Punk Science Event

Some of John’s personal accomplishments during his tenure as President and President-Elect include:

• Giving two “Pinhead Punk Science” presentations on explosions to young children in 2007 and 2008, attracting the biggest Punk Science crowds ever, averaging 140 people each
• Co-organizing the 2006 “ACS/PRF Summer School on Probing the Dynamics of Liquids and Biomolecules: Theory and Experiment,” with past TSRC President, Ned Sibert, for 25 students, 7 post-docs and 7 faculty
• Participating in the “Pinhead Scholar in the Schools” program twice, presenting chemistry to all 1,800 Telluride regional students during the 2006–2007 academic year
• Presenting, “A Lively Tour of the Periodic Table,” to a Town Talk audience of 230 people in 2005
• Giving the science lecture, “The Chemistry of Mining,” in 2005 as part of the first Telluride Unearthed series, co-produced by Pinhead and the Telluride Historical Museum

• Increasing the number of TSRC workshops to 18 in 2008 and 17 in 2009, a record high
• Increasing the number of scientists participating in workshops to 460 in 2008 and 434 in 2007, record highs
• Bringing the TSTC (Telluride School on Theoretical Chemistry) to Telluride under the auspices of TSRC starting in the summer of 2009
• Bringing ACTC to TSRC for its 2011 Conference (see above)
• Managing the International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy with 180 physicists in June of 2007, the first big conference for TSRC
• Updating the Bylaws
• Changing TSRC’s IRS status to that of “Charitable Non-Profit,” the highest 501c3 status
• Hiring TSRC’s first executive director, Nana Naisbitt
• Smoothly transitioning from Pinhead Institute’s management to self-management, and breaking-even financially the first year despite increased costs of hiring a director

A young Punk Scientist

• Establishing the “Peter Salamon Scholarship Fund For Young Scientists
• Creating the “Pinhead Punk Science” program for children, a long time goal of Stephen Berry (now managed by Pinhead but featuring TSRC scientists)
• Securing funding from the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association to continue producing the increasingly popular Town Talks
• Compiling TSRC history (in process)
• Installing a restaurant-grade coffee brewing system in the TSRC café (seemingly minor but oh so important!)

• Endowment for the Peter Salamon Scholarship Fund for Young Scientists
• Science outreach programs, including the annual R. Stephen Berry Lecture and the Pinhead Town Talks
• Registration fees for students, including Jack Simons' “Telluride Summer School on Theoretical Chemistry”
• Funding for a physical campus
• Unrestricted donation
• To help TSRC meet these goals, mail a tax-deductible check to TSRC, PO Box 2429, Telluride, CO 81435. Or call Nana Naisbitt to make other arrangements at 970-708-0004

Pinhead Punk Science
Second Annual Program for Kids,
Free Admission
6 events held
5 TSRC scientists
488 children
137 adults
31 % locals and second homeowners
69% visitors


Pinhead Punk Science (photo by Nick Wolcott)

Pinhead Town Talks
Sixth Annual Science Lecture Series for Adults, Free Admission
11 events held
10 TSRC scientists
1,113 people, total attendance
18,001 “unique audience” viewers live via webcast
51% locals & second homeowners
49% visitors


Mark Ratner enthralling a Town Talk audience

TSRC Scientist Hosts Pinhead Intern
During six weeks in the summer of 2008, Meghan Cain, Telluride High School, Class of 2009, mentored with Andrew McCammon in his UC San Diego lab under the Pinhead Internship Program. She worked on Avian Flu inhibitors.

“We very much enjoyed having Meghan as a member of our group this past summer! She participated at the level of a good graduate student – some real contributions on the research front and a lively presence.”
J. Andrew McCammon, PhD, Joseph E. Mayer Professor of Theoretical Chemistry at University of California, San Diego

“I'm discovering a whole new ‘world’ of science and education. Honestly, the rate at which I'm gaining scientific knowledge and understanding is incredible - it doesn't compare to high school. I'm glad to be challenging my mind and entering a line of work that is very needed.”
Meghan Cain, Telluride High School, Class of 2009

Scholars In The Schools
Three TSRC scientists participated in Pinhead Scholars in the Schools Program by leading classroom discussions, presenting assemblies, and/or giving demonstrations in the 2007–2008 academic year: David Coker, Joseph Francisco, and Kieron Burke, reached 512 number of regional students


Joe Francisco, Pinhead Scholar in the Schools

Telluride Unearthed
TSRC scientist, Boston University Professor of Theoretical Chemistry David Coker, gave a smoking demonstration on the “Science of Steam” to a rapt “Telluride Unearthed: Rails in the Valley” audience in November 2008, a joint program given by Pinhead Institute and the Telluride Historical Museum

TSRC Mission
Our mission is to inspire substantive scientific inquiry, breakthroughs, and discoveries by hosting scientific meetings in an open environment conducive to productive collaboration and positive contributions to research, policy, and education.