In the spirit of introducing new fellows, I raise a glass (mug? keg? what-do-you-call-it?)* of virtual beer to local researcher John Ceccatti, who will be the Postdoctoral John C. Haas Fellow for this academic year. Cheers!

CHF museum pieces relating to beer, standing proudly beside John Ceccatti.

Why beer? Well, John is famous (and perhaps infamous) for his research on that bubbly beverage or, rather, the history and chemistry thereof. While with us, he will investigate “The Development of Pure Yeast Culture in the Brewing Industry and Its Influence on Practices and Instruments of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology”—and (proving he is not a one-trick pony) he will also start on a new project relating to science policy.

Want to hear more about the beer? Well, John will be giving a Brown Bag Lunch Lecture entitled “Vital Forces: Yeast, Fermentation, and the Practice of Brewing,” featuring many pretty pictures from CHF’s rare book collections. John will lead us through the fascinating world of 19th-century traditional brewing practices and how they were transformed by new scientific theories and laboratory techniques concerning yeast and fermentation.

In short:

Brown Bag Lunch Lecture with John Ceccatti, September 29, 12 noon, at the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Join us!

Sigismund Friedrich Hermbstädt, Chemische Grundsätze der Kunst Bier zu brauen (1814)

Too lazy to hurl your beer belly (I’m just guessing here) down to CHF that day? You’re in luck: John Ceccatti is a radio podcast celebrity and has spoken eloquently about beer, Philadelphia, and the connection between the two in an enjoyable and downloadable podcast.

So, once more, Sláinte to John—it’s great to have you with us!

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* Although being German, the Fearless Fellowship Leader does not drink beer (it’s just not on her radar) and therefore fails miserably to use proper beer terminology in any context.