Highlights in computational chemistry

Paul von Ragué Schleyer Five years ago, we published the papers submitted to mulating their solutions has formed an entire gene- the Journal of Molecular Modeling Festschrift for Paul tion of computational chemists. I am not sure that he th Schleyer’s 70 Birthday as Highlights in Computational himself appreciates that this is also true for areas such Chemistry. [1] The positive response to this volume has as life-science modeling that have never featured in his th prompted us to repeat the exercise for Paul’s 75 birth- own research. day, which was celebrated by a small symposium in Perhaps this is the real mark of a real scientific per- Athens, Georgia in February 2005. sonality. It is comparatively easy to influence a field in The similarities and differences between the two which you have worked for thirty years. It is far more volumes are fascinating and provide some insight into difficult to shape a generation of scientists who have Paul’s continuing impact on computational chemistry. spread from Paul’s own areas into very different scien- Once again, the response to invitations to contribute to tific subjects and disciplines. This Festschrift provides a Festschrift honoring Paul was overwhelming. Howev- the evidence that Paul has done exactly that.