Canadian Chemical News articles from February 2003

Canadian Chemical News archives from February 2003

Canadian periodicals for Canadian chemists. (Vice-Chair's Column).(chemical professionals must continue to support Canadian periodicals)
February 1, 2003... Two Canadian periodicals have long histories, and the continued support from Canadian chemical professionals like us is critical to their continued success. Two publications -- Canadian Chemical News/L'Actualite chimique canadienne (ACCN),...

Industry. (Personals/Personnalites).(dow Chemical Co. elects William S. Stavropoulos as president and CEO)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Dow Chemical Company board of directors elected William S. Stavropoulos as president and chief executive officer, succeeding Michael D. Parker. Stavropoulos continues in his role as chair of the board. The board reached this decision solely...

Other. (Personals/Personnalites).(Michael Bancroft contributes an essay to 'Innovation: Essays by Leading Canadian Researchers')(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Michael Bancroft, FCIC, is one of only 33 scholars asked to contribute to a new collection of personal essays illustrating the world-class, cutting-edge research taking place in Canadian institutions and thr brilliant minds leading the way. In...

Distinction. (Personals/Personnalites).(Tito Scajano received award for research)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Tito Scajano, FCIC, was recognized in late November as being at the forefront of research, the reason for his win of the 2002 Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. The University of Ottawa chemist's meticulous,...

Errata.(corrections)
February 1, 2003... ACCN may be arriving on time, but judging from two errors in the last two issues, the editorial office of ACCN is obviously not adjusting to the earlier production of the magazine. In the November/December issue [p. 4], Andrew Hart was...

A natural solution to PCB contamination? (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).
February 1, 2003... An environmentally friendly solution to one of the world's most notorious chemical contamination problems may be a step closer to reality, reports a research team from Purdue University and the University of British Columbia. The team has...

Circuit points to future of nanoscale electronics. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Using clusters of gold atoms and a microscopic lever, University of Toronto chemists have created a tiny circuit critical to the future of electronic engineering. "When things are this small, they are fantastically sensitive," says Al-Amin...

Pesticide Myths dispelled with summary of scientific studies. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).
February 1, 2003... A summary of independent scientific studies on pesticide use in Canada and around the world has shown that pest control products are safe when used according to label directions. The paper was released in October by the Pest Control Safety...

Proteomics instead of fungicides may win fight against plant disease. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A University of Toronto botanist has identified a protein that ultimately could provide chemical-free ways to protect crops from disease. "Finding this protein, called DIR1, could help make it possible to genetically engineer crops that...

Harriet Brooks pitcher inducted into hall of fame. (New Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).(student of Ernest Rutherford)
February 1, 2003... Harriet Brooks, discoverer of the recoil of the radioactive atom and of successive nuclear decays, was honoured recently in Ottawa, ON, by being inducted into the Canadian Science and Technology Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held at...

Enhanced International status for Canadian IP. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has been granted status as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty administered by the World Intellectual...

Former Can. J. Chem. Eng. editors insist on solution to publication delays. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).
February 1, 2003... Readers of The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering are owed a valid explanation for its long delays in publication, say former editors Norman Epstein, HFCIC, and Cam Robinson, MCIC, and they are urging "immediate attention to and...

'Gene-gun' blasts viral scourge. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).
February 1, 2003... A Laval University microbiologist has created a new molecular tool to accurately insert genes into Lactococcus lactis, the bacterium used to transform milk into cheddar cheese. For Sylvain Moineau, it's an important step in his quest to...

Federal S&T workers must be retained. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).
February 1, 2003... Chemical professionals in the public service can rest easy knowing that their needs are being represented by the Council of Science and Technology. Two chemists are leading the Council of Science and Technology Advisors (CSTA), which recently...

Air Products props up hydrogen fuel infrastructure. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).
February 1, 2003... Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has enhanced its hydrogen fueling services for the transportation industry with a new hydrogen fueling system that can be relocated to meet a customer's changing needs. The Air Products Hydrogen Fueler, complete...

Agilent method rapidly determines composition of medicinal plants. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Agilent Technologies Inc. has published a simple, reliable and fast procedure for analyzing alkaloids in goldenseal, one of the oldest medicinal plants used in herbal remedies. Popular in Asia, herbal remedies are not regulated by the FDA...

Endangered condors protected by ProMetic. (News Briefs/Nourvelles en Bref).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... One of the products offered by ProMetic Life Sciences of Montreal, QC -- Perfluorosorb[R], a DNA purification system -- is playing an integral part in making a novel vaccine that is being used to immunize the (endangered) condors in the L.A....

Site security practices made easier with online analysis. (News Briefs/Nourvelles en Bref).(Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Members of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) have furthered their commitment to voluntary site security practices with the formal adoption December 10, 2002 of the Security Code of Management Practices as part of...

First public CIS activity report now available. (News Briefs/Nouvelles en Bref).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... This first public report of the Canadian Light Source presents highlights of technical development and scientific programs, covering the period of 33 months between the start of construction in March 1999 and the end of 2001, and describes the...

Pop! Goes the computer weasel: 'round and 'round the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought 'twos all in fun. Pop! Goes the weasel. (Chemputing).(editorial about customer support to resolve computer problems)(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... Before I start, I would like to offer my apologies to those cute little carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela. Unfortunately, that word weasel' has gained another meaning over the years and that term is all too relevant to the computer...

Hot 'n' heavy chemistry. (Chemfusion).(history of aphrodisiacs)
February 1, 2003... I suspect that milking a swamp rabbit is a pretty tough task. Milking the public, on the other hand, is quite easy. Just ask 'Silent George' of Shawneetown. Actually you can't, because the clever conman is no longer with us. But early last...

An engineer and his puzzles. (Articles).
February 1, 2003... Even after more than five decades of inspiring students and influencing the engineering industry, the CIC's newest Honorary Fellow reveals he is just a chemical engineer trying to live in the real world. It's not surprising that Norman...

Recipes for romance: the chemistry of aphrodisiacs. (Articles).
February 1, 2003... Leave it to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of physical love and beauty, to deliver delicacies to tantalize our tastebuds -- among other parts. Aphrodisiacs are said to enhance our sexual desire and performance. And chemistry is the first...

Captain viagra to the Rescue: this month, follow our superhero as he fulfils his first mission. (Articles).
February 1, 2003... Syl de Naphil had heard that knock before. Only the soft, delicate fingers of Oome Wanalot could make rapping on a door seem sexy. Naphil tried to divert his thoughts, but the sound of her supple skin caressing the hard maple door elicited his...

From pillow fights to the pill: the sexual maturity of the 20th century. (Editor's Pick).("Sexual Chemistry: A History of the Contraceptive Pill")(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... The advent of the birth control pill in the middle of the last century marked the beginning of a sexual revolution, but one housed in ancient socio-political debates. This is the premise of Sexual Chemistry: A History of the Contraceptive...

Sex and the single beetle: single female, non-smoking, likes grain and dark corners. Seeking one or more males for a productive, short-term relationship. (Articles).
February 1, 2003... Even for insects, the processes of mate-finding and reproduction are not straightforward. First, an insect must find (or be found by) a potential mate. This is not a trivial task when you are as small as an insect -- visual and auditory...

Contact P: long-lasting, time-released pheromone caplets get rid of your pests. (Articles).(3M Canada Inc.)
February 1, 2003... For years, scientists have searched for alternatives to pesticides for crop protection. Not only do pesticides cause significant environmental damage, but they also destroy insects that are beneficial to crops, such as pollinating bees. ...

Canadian particpation in IUPAC. (Articles).(joint International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry - Canadian Society for Chemistry conference)
February 1, 2003... The joint IUPAC-CSC conference -- set for August -- is predicted to attract $15.8 million to the Ottawa area. Before we get swept up in the international meet-and-greet, we should brush up on Canada's role in the history of this international...

Richard puddephatt nominated for CIC chair 2003-2004. (CIC Bulletin ICC).(Chemical Institute of Canada)
February 1, 2003... P.(Sundar) Sundararajan The Nominating Committee appointed under the terms of CIC By-law Article X, Section 1, has proposed the candidates listed above to serve as Institute officers for 2003-2004. Further nominations are solicited from...

Canada: a partner in global science and technology. (CIC Bulletin ICC).(Partnership Group for Science and Engineering annual symposium)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Canada's co-operative association of national organizations for science and engineering upholds participation in the international arena. The Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE) held its annual symposium at Parliament...

Tom tidwell nominated for CSC president. (CSC Bulletin SCC).(Canadian Society for Chemistry)
February 1, 2003... The Nominating Committee appointed under the terms of CSC By-law 14(i) has proposed the candidates listed below for election to the Board of Directors in 2003-2004. Members are reminded of the provisions of By-law 15(f) which states: "Further...

McAuley visits Taiwan for society anniversary.
February 1, 2003... Alex McAuley, FCIC, professor at the University of Victoria and chair of the 2003 CSC/IUPAC Conference and Shie-Ming Peng, National Taiwan University. McAuley attended the 70th Anniversary celebrations of Taiwan's Chemical Society, located in...

For nature's sake. (CSChE Bulletin SCGCh).(Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference)
February 1, 2003... While politicians battled over Canada's ratification of the Kyoto Agreement, chemical engineers from across the globe united for four days of technical sessions and symposia on energy-related topics. Nestled amidst a myriad of glass...

New in 2003: The Process Safety Management Award. (CSChE Bulletin SCGCh).
February 1, 2003... (Established 2002) Sponsored by AON Reed Stenhouse Inc. The Award will be presented as a mark of recognition to a person who has made an outstanding contribution in Canada, to The Process Safety Management (PSM) Division of The...

Green technology tour. (Local Section News).(Chemical Institute of Canada, Ottawa section tours Science Applications International Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Ottawa CIC Local Section organized a tour of Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) at the Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) in Ottawa, ON, on November 13, 2002. The tour began with Dave Thornton, director of ETC, first...

New Toronto Section website. (CSChE Bulletin SCGCh).(Chemical Institute of Canada)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Toronto Section now has a newly revamped web page, thanks to the efforts of Noel George, MCIC, of Ryerson University. The web address is http://www.cheminst.ca/sections/toronto/. We are hoping to use the web much more effectively than...

More Manitoba Student Awards. (Student News).(Chemical Institute of Canada)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Manitoba CIC Local Section held Student Awards Night on October 3, 2002 on the campus of the University of Manitoba. About 70 people, including students, their families, and members from industry and academe, attended the event. Seven...

Graduate awards honour best presentations: three graduate student presentation awards were given out at the Vancouver CSC conference in June 2002. (Student News).(Canadian Society for Chemistry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... * Donna Gulcev, 'Improving the Stability of Sol-gel Entrapped Enzymes Using Glycerated Silane Precursors,' supervisor John Brennan, MCIC, McMaster University. * Solomon Ssenyange, MCIC, 'Nanoscale Characterization of Grease Thickener...

ACDEG International Inc. Graduate Student Competition winners. (Student News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Thanks to all graduate students who participated in the ACDEG International Inc. Graduate Student Competition at the Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference in Vancouver, BC, last October. A special thanks to all referees for helping out with...

Meetings/Reunions.(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... Canada March 10-11, 2003. Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) Introduction to the Canadian Natural Gas Industry - from Wellhead to Burner-lip, Edmonton, AB. Contact: Sam Chan; Tel: 403-220-2367; Fax: 403-289-2344; E-mail:...

Stable isotope geochemistry. (Milestones of Canadian Chemistry in the 20th Century).
February 1, 2003... Stable isotope abundance measurements in Canada were initiated by Henry ('Harry') G. Thode in the 1940's at McMaster University. Although it was recognized that isotopic species participate in chemical reactions at different rates, there was a...