After completing his graduate work at the University of Delaware, Stuart "Bill" Leslie came to Johns Hopkins as a post-doctoral fellow in 1981, specializing in the history of science and technology. He has been at Hopkins ever since, as a faculty member of the History of Science and Technology with a secondary appointment in Geography and Environmental Engineering. Leslie has published work on the topics of corporate research and development, the Cold War, and American science and laboratory design and architecture. In addition, Leslie was commissioned by Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels to write a book detailing the history of the university, projected to be completed in 2018. In this interview, Leslie discusses the evolution of the History of Science and Technology department at Hopkins, as well as the university's unique features as an institution housing both an engineering school and a school of arts and sciences. This oral history is a part of the Mame Warren oral histories series.

A history of basic research is presented, beginning with Dr. Ira Remson, the first professor of organic chemistry at Johns Hopkins University and his research into the atomic nature of matter and isotopes. Some important findings occur by accident like the discovery of saccharine. Pure research can have far reaching applications to make the practical discoveries of tomorrow.