Rice University is a National Historic Chemical Landmark for its Space Science Building where the buckyball was discovered in 1985.  It is the first such designation in Texas!

In 2010, Rice celebrated the Year of Nano which includes a commemorative technical conference, celebration and gala in October.  On the evening of Monday, October 11,2010 the American Chemical Society presented the NHCL plaque at the Bucky 'Ball' Celebration on Rice's campus.  This event was open to the public. 

The technical conference  included invited talks from world leading carbon nanotechnologists including Dresselhaus, Hirsch, Geim, Cohen, Endo and Dai.  A special session  highlighted the buckyball discovery with a fireside chat with the Nobel Research Team ... Curl, Kroto, Heath & O'Brien.  The conference was free and open to the public.