On the occasion of the 1150^th anniversary of Muhammad Ibn Zakariya Razi's birthday, a seminar on the Alchemist of the East was held by the Division of Chemistry, Department of Bacis Sciences of the Academy on Thursday, February 2^nd. Prof. Mehdi Mohaghegh, professor of the history of science, chairman of the Society for the Appreciation of Cultural Works and Dignitaries, and fellow of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature delivered a lecture on "Razi and Alchemy".

The audience included Prof. Reza Davari Ardakani; Prof. Yousef Sobouti; Prof. Mohammad-Gholi Nadalian; a number of the chairmen of the specialized divisions of the Academy; fellows, associate fellows and invited scholars of the Department of Basic Sciences; university professors; students and other interested people.

At first, Prof. Mojtaba Shamsipour, Chairman, Division of Chemistry of the Academy, welcomed the audience. Then Prof. Mohaghegh talked about Razi and alchemy and referred to some Razi's great achievements. He emphasized that we should introduce important Iranian scholars more than ever while Iran's enemies try to discredit our scientific culture.

Afterwards, Prof. Davari Ardakani greeted the guests and stated that in order to develop science, we should focus on its history since we are in need of the history of science. He mentioned that Prof. Mohaghegh has led us to the origins of science by his researches and great scientific works. Prof. Davari Ardakani honored Prof. Mohaghegh regarding his expertise in the history of science and the history of Iranian culture.

Prof. Sobouti, chairman of the Department of Basic Sciences of the Academy also thanked Prof. Mohaghegh for his thought-provoking speech.

At the end, two other lectures were presented by Prof. Ali Akbar Mousavi Movahedi, professor of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran and associate fellow of the Academy and Prof. Prof. Khashayar Karimian, Invited Scholar, Division of Chemistry of the Academy.