Dept. of Chemistry statement on racism, equity and inclusivity
As we reflect on issues of racism in science and society, #ShutDownAcademia, #ShutDownSTEM, and #Strike4BlackLives, I would like to emphasize that the ۲ݮƵ Chemistry Department remains committed to the high principles of equality and inclusivity. We are proud of our incredibly diverse population of students, staff, and faculty who came to ۲ݮƵ from 6 continents and over 30 different countries.
Arthur Saul Perlin (1924-2020)
It is with great sadness that the Department of Chemistry announces the passing of Professor Emeritus Arthur Saul Perlin on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, just a few days short of his 97th birthday. Professor Perlin was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and spent all of his early years in the Maritimes, many of them working on the family farm, The Sanitary Dairy. He eventually came to ۲ݮƵ to study Chemistry and Music, where he obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees.
Congratulations Jeremy Dawkins who won 1st Prize at the 3 Minutes to Change the World
On February 5, at Hôtel Château Laurier Québec, the Association Québécoise de la Production d’Énergie renouvelable (AQPER) held the 3 Minutes to Change the World student competition during its 2020 symposium. Jeremy Dawkins from the Mauzeroll group won the 1st prize money with his presentation on Li-Ion Batteries. Congratulations Jeremy!
The Passing of Professor Joan Power
Joan F. Power (1958-2019)Associate Professor of Chemistry, ۲ݮƵ University. Joan was the first woman faculty member to serve in the Department of Chemistry.
Beloved daughter of Bernard Power and the late Pauline M. Power (Coty), sister of Michael Power (Ruth) of White Horse, Yukon, Christine of Ottawa, and Mark (Mariette) of Blainville, Quebec.
Post-doctoral fellow Mingxin Liu wins prestigious 2019 IUPAC-Zhejiang NHU International Award for Advancements in Green Chemistry
The IUPAC-Zhejiang NHU International Award for Advancements in Green Chemistry is a collaborative award established to encourage young and experienced chemists, and to emphasize the importance of advancements in Green Chemistry and the value of sciences to human progress. Mingxin is one of the 3 awardees in the junior category
The Canadian Society for Chemistry and Chemical Institute of Canada are highlighting our department for excellence
This year, the department was recognized by 4 prizes and awards from the Canadian Society for Chemistry and Chemical Institute of Canada to highlight the excellent of our researchers. Congratulation to profs. Lumb, Ariya, Barrett and Friscic for your remarkable successes:
1) JP Lumb – Keith Fagnou Award in organic chemistry (link: https://www.cheminst.ca/awards/csc-awards/keith-fagnou-award)
SFU announces 2019 Honorary Degree recipients - Dr. Joe Schwarcz
Canada’s first female general surgeon of First Nations descent, a cultural visionary, and a co-founder of Vancouver’s Amnesty International chapter are among 10 distinguished individuals to receive honorary degrees in 2019 from Simon Fraser University.
Two chemists recognized at the Principal’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media
The Principal’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media was created to recognize those who go beyond their studies and research to engage with the media or the public. The department of chemistry was doubly recognized this year, as two of its members received awards.
Professor Theo van de Ven received the John S. Bates Memorial Gold Medal
The John S. Bates Memorial Gold Medal is the highest distinction awarded to a Member of PAPTAC (the Pulp And Paper Technical Association of Canada). The Gold Medal is in recognition of long term scientific and technological contributions to the pulp and paper industry. The last time this medal was awarded to a Member of the Chemistry Department was in 1994, when David Goring received this award. Prof.
Researchs make a new kind of plastic from crustacean and insect shells
Thomas Di Nardo (MSc) and Audrey Moores discovered a new method, based on mechanochemistry and aging, allowing to turn chitin into a new, long molecular weight chitosan. This new material has interesting mechanical properties and is envisaged for applications to biomedical, food packaging and high value fibers. This discovery was covered in a number of news outlets:
Better CRISPR Through Chemistry and Collaboration
CRISPR has jumped to the forefront of gene editing, with game-۲ݮƵ applications like gene therapy, GMO-free designer crops, and synthetic organisms. It makes precise engineering and control of nearly any genome possible. But CRISPR is not perfect and its continued development relies on understanding and modifying the naturally occurring enzymes.
Two ۲ݮƵ Women Chemists Awarded!
Aurélie Lacroix (currently PhD student in Dr Hanadi Sleiman lab) and Dr Maryam Habibian (former student from Dr Masad Damha lab and currently postdoc fellow at Stanford in Dr Eric Kool laboratory) were both awarded the Chu Family Foundation Scholarships for Early Career Women in Science.The award by The International Society of Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids (IS3NA
Grinding enzymes to break down cellulose
Cellulose, one of the three major components of plants, is showing great promise as a renewable source for many convenience products. It is made of glucose, a molecule which can be fermented by microorganisms into virtually any desired small molecule of interest. More especially it can be converted to ethanol to make sustainable biofuels.
Watching energy flow in solids with ultrafast electron bursts
The way individual atoms and molecules move in materials has important consequences on properties such as electrical conductivity, heat capacity and acoustics. Even in solids, atoms are always moving back and forth about some average position, and this motion occurs through specific wave-like modes called phonons.
Linking Localized Corrosion of Stainless Steel to Titanium
۲ݮƵ University researchers have discovered the consequence of adding titanium and other stabilizing agents to high performing stainless steel on the material’s localized corrosion mechanism.
In a study published in npj Materials Degradation, the researchers describe a suite of electrochemical techniques used to characterize the material’s corrosion properties both on the macro and micro scale.