The 1990s in Pennsylvania represented a change from the traditional heavy industries of the past into an economy dominated by technology companies and startups. However, not everybody benefited from the changes. Those manufacturing companies that were left, faced increasing competition from overseas. In the urban areas there was an increase in crime leading to debates about law enforcement, gun control, and social policies. With the environmental movement, there was increasing interest in recycling the nature of Pennsylvania and increased conservation efforts.
Science in the 1990s, for Pennsylvania saw more discoveries in medicine with advancements in gene therapy and treatments in cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and cancer using immunotherapy. Researchers at Penn State University created “buckyballs,” which was a new form of carbon strength and conductivity with applications in electronics, medicine, and energy. GlaxoSmithKline, in the Philadelphia area, developed treatments for HIV/AIDS, allowing it to become a manageable, instead of deadly condition.
The Annual meetings of the Academy were held at hotels during the entirety of the 1990s. The general format was to have a main speaker, a symposium, and papers given by students and faculty in sessions.
Below are the highlights of the Annual Meetings of the Academy, if they are known.
66th Annual Meeting – April 20-22, 1990 (Greentree Holiday Inn, Pittsburgh, PA): The address at this meeting was given by Dr. Sol Katz of the Department of Anthropology of the University of Pennsylvania. The symposium at this meeting was on “A Blueprint for Maintenance of Biodiversity in Pennsylvania.”
67th Annual Meeting – April 19-21, 1991 (The Inn at Reading, Wyomissing, PA): The address at this meeting was given by Gary Alt of the PA Game Commission on “Research and Management of Pennsylvania Black Bears.” The symposium was on “A Demonstration Project for State Networking in Seeking Science Education Excellence.”
68th Annual Meeting – April 3-5, 1992 (Mt. Airy Lodge, Mt. Pocono, PA): The address at this meeting was given by Gerald J. DeMenna of Chem-Chek Consulting (Piscataway, NJ) on “KItchen Chemistry.” The symposium at this meeting was on “Sexually-Transmitted Diseases.”
69th Annual Meeting – April 2-4, 1993 (Sheraton Berkshire, Reading, PA): The address was on “Science and Thomas Jefferson” – speaker unknown. There were two symposiums. One on “Health Care in America: Status, Outlook, and Potential” and the other on “Presque Isle.”
70th Annual Meeting – April 8-10, 1994 (Mt. Airy Lodge, Mt. Pocono, PA): An address was given by Dr. Allen Vicory of the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission. The symposium was on “Economy, Historical, and Water Qaulity Aspects of Pennsylvania Rivers.”
71st Annual Meeting – March 31 – April 2, 1995 (Mount Laurel Resort, White Haven, PA): The address was given by Dr. Thomas Brettell of the New Jersey Crime Lab on “Microanalysis in Crime Fighting.” The symposium was on “The Impact of Science and Technology on the Government and Economy of Pennsylvania.”
72nd Annual Meeting – April 12-14, 1996 (Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, PA): The address was given by Dr. Alex Wolzozan of the Department of Astrophysics at Penn State University, who spoke on “Discovery of a Planet Outside our Solar System.” The symposium was on “Future of Graduate Education.”
73rd Annual Meeting – April 11-13, 1997 (Desmond Great Valley Hotel, Malvern, PA): The address for this meeting was given by Howard Brody of the Physics Department of the University of Pennsylvania, who spoke on “The Physics of Tennis.” The symposium was on “Ethics and Academic Integrity.”
74th Annual Meeting – April 3-5, 1998 (Radisson Hotel, Monroeville, PA): There were two addresses at this meeting. On Friday evening, Dr. H.M. Kingston spoke on “Speciated Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry.” The address on Saturday was given by Dr. Frank Vertosick, who spoke on “Medical Science: Oxymoron?”
75th Annual Meeting – April 9-11, 1999 (Pocono Manor and Resort, Pocono Manor, PA): There were three speakers at this meeting. On Friday, Gary Alt of the PA Game Commission spoke on “Black Bear Management.” On Saturday, William A. Uricchio spoke on the “History of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science” and Deborah Runkle spoke on “Science for Life: Meeting the Challenge of the Animal Rights Movement.”
Go to Chapter 11: Pennsylvania Academy of Science in the 2000s