Throughout its history, Blackford Hall has been the place for scientists, who often work in isolation, to gather during meal times and learn about each other’s work. In 1933, Blackford Hall was the natural place to hold the first Symposium on Quantitative Biology inaugurated by Bio Lab Director Reginald Harris. A unique meeting for its time, Mr. Harris brought together mathematicians, physicists, chemists, and biologists for the Symposium called “Surface Phenomena.”