Canadian Chemical News articles from March 2008

Canadian Chemical News archives from March 2008

Why chemistry?(GUEST COLUMN/CHRONIQUER INVITE)
March 1, 2008... Like many other undergraduate students, I was in awe of the complexities behind simple chemical transformations that were taught in organic and organometallic chemistry classes. These reactions served as a toolbox of methods to synthesize even...

Nano Web site in the works.(LETTERS/LETTRES)(Letter to the editor)(Website overview)
March 1, 2008... DEAR EDITOR, A suggestion was made to develop a comprehensive Web site for nanotechnology for Canadians in the Nov/Dec 2007 ACCN article "Framing Nanotechnology Now" by the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP). I am...

Chemists solve biological challenge.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... Chemistry professor Ronald Kluger, FCIC, and PhD candidate Svetlana Tzvetkova have made discoveries that could not only allow scientists to generate new kinds of proteins--the building blocks of life--but also eventually lead to practical...

Turning trash to green power.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)(Plasco Energy Group Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Plasco Energy Group Inc. has begun to receive loads of municipal solid waste (or "garbage") from City of Ottawa trucks at the Plasco Trail Road Demonstration Plant. A total of 20 tonnes of garbage was received in the first transport. The...

Collaborating for Carbon Capture Storage.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC) and the Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI) have announced the inception of the PTAC Carbon Capture Storage Project. PTAC has initiated collaboration among 17 producers, transportation companies,...

Nucleaire : le Canada se compare au monde.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)(L'Association nucleaire canadienne (ANC) a publie un nouveau rapport intitule L'industrie nucleaire aujourd'hui : Etude des structures nationales et internationales)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... L'Association nucleaire canadienne (ANC) a publie un nouveau rapport intitule L'industrie nucleaire aujourd'hui : Etude des structures nationales et internationales. Le rapport prepare par SECOR compare le cadre de l'industrie nucleaire au...

Wind energy's global growth record.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Enough electricity is produced by wind energy in Canada to meet the needs of 560,000 homes. A global record was set in 2007 with the production of 20,000 megawatts (MW) of new, emission-free wind power. Canada's...

CIC/CCR response to the 2008 Federal budget.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... The Federal Government presented its 2008 Budget on February 26, 2008. The CIC, through the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR), chaired by CIC executive director Roland Andersson, MCIC, has identified several positive initiatives: *...

Reactions to proposed QP amendments.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has proposed amendments to the Qualified Persons (QP) provisions of Ontario Brownfields Regulations (ON 153/04) as outlined in EBR Registry 010-2364. If these amendments were to be accepted, chartered...

Suncor approves $20.6 billion operation.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)(Suncor Energy Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Suncor Energy announced its final approval of a $20.6 billion investment expected to boost crude oil production at the company's oil sands operation north of Fort McMurray, AB, by 200,000 barrels per day. The expansion plans include...

L'UdeS presente les premiers ingenieurs biotechnologiques.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)(la 1re cohorte de 35 finissantes et finissants en genie biotechnologique de l'Universite de Sherbrooke )
March 1, 2008... Une nouvelle profession prend d'assaut le marche du travail : l'ingenieur biotechnologique. A la fin decembre, la 1re cohorte de 35 finissantes et finissants en genie biotechnologique de l'Universite de Sherbrooke (UdeS) etait prete a offrir...

Stress relief for plants.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... A University of Saskatchewan (U of S) team of scientists is the first to isolate a gene that helps plants to resist stress. The study published in the top-ranked plant journal The Plant Cell could pave the way for development of...

L'UQAM acquiert un << Hubble du nano >>.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)(l'Universite du Quebec a Montreal acquiert un appareil de spectroscopie de resonance magnetique nucleaire)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] La Faculte des sciences de l'Universite du Quebec a Montreal (l'UQAM) annonce l'acquisition d'un appareil de spectroscopie de resonance magnetique nucleaire (RMN) de tres haute resolution, evalue a pres d'un million...

2008 Canadian Chemical Directory.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... The 2008 Canadian Chemical Directory is now available for shipment. This 388-page directory is the most comprehensive listing of suppliers of feedstocks, intermediates, minerals, metals, resins, and pharmaceuticals in Canada. The price for the...

McMaster-Mohawk Bachelor of Technology Partnership.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] More than 100 employers, government officials and educators met in Hamilton, ON, on January 22nd to help chart the future of an innovative partnership between McMaster University and Mohawk College. Participants...

2007 E. Gordon Young Memorial Lectureship.(NEWS/NOUVELLES)
March 1, 2008... The E. Gordon Young Lectureship is an annual event made possible by a bequest to the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) by E. Gordon Young, MCIC, a distinguished chemist and former CIC president. It is administered by the CIC Chemical Education...

Action Energy Inc. (AEI) announces the resignation of R. D. (Bob) Bowman, the company's president and CEO.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Action Energy Inc. (AEI) announces the resignation of R. D. (Bob) Bowman, the company's president and CEO. Bowman served AEI for the last two and a half years.

Aux Sable Canada Ltd. (ASCL) and Dow Chemical Canada Inc. have entered into an agreement relating to the sale of an ethane/ethylene stream from Aux Sable's Heartland Offgas Plant.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Aux Sable Canada Ltd. (ASCL) and Dow Chemical Canada Inc. have entered into an agreement relating to the sale of an ethane/ethylene stream from Aux Sable's Heartland Offgas Plant. ASCL will be the first company in Canada to extract ethane and...

Catalyst.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Catalyst president and CEO Richard Garneau announced that the company has appointed Steve Boniferro as senior vice-president of human resources.

Dalton Medicinal Chemistry Partners announced that it has achieved another targeted milestone in its Medicinal Chemistry agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Dalton Medicinal Chemistry Partners announced that it has achieved another targeted milestone in its Medicinal Chemistry agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. Dalton is designing and synthesizing novel compounds against an antiviral...

DiagnoCure Inc.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... DiagnoCure Inc., a life sciences company commercializing cancer diagnostic tests and delivering laboratory services, has announced the appointment of Jean-Francois Bureau as chief financial officer.

ImmunoVaccine Technologies Incorporated (IVT), a clinical stage vaccine development company, will receive $3 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, under the Atlantic innovation Fund.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... ImmunoVaccine Technologies Incorporated (IVT), a clinical stage vaccine development company, will receive $3 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, under the Atlantic innovation Fund. This funding will enable IVT to undertake a...

Imperial Oil Ltd.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Bruce March has been named CEO and chair of Canada's largest oil company, Imperial Oil Ltd. He will replace Tim Hearn, who plans to retire March 31, 2008.

Neurochem Inc.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Gary Schmid and will serve as CEO of the new business Neurochem Inc. has announced it is creating to develop and market nutraceuticals.

Ontario Power Generation.(INDUSTRIAL Briefs)
March 1, 2008... Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has won the Performance Improvement Award from the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). The award was made for the strong improvement made in performance by the Darlington Nuclear Power Station in...

Discovering Michael Faraday.(CHEMFUSION)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 19th century London, the hottest ticket was to Michael Faraday's public lectures at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. The response to these celebrated lectures was so enthusiastic that it resulted in the...

An image problem: most chemists aren't mad. Chemicals are neither good nor bad. And the public image of chemistry is due for a make-over.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I'll be the first to admit that chemistry has an image problem. It's largely due to the widespread misunderstanding of the word "chemical." A colleague of mine was once waiting at a bus stop after attending a meeting...

CAPA-tilizing on chemistry 2201: computer-based assignment system allows students to arrive at the correct answer.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There I sat, staring at my students' grades from my latest midterm exam. Maybe I'm not teaching right? Maybe my tests are too hard? Being at the front of the classroom is still new to me, and I was experimenting...

CIC's public understanding of chemistry program/ Programme de sensibilisation a la chimie de L'ICC.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most people do not realize the importance of chemistry in our daily lives. The fact is, to paraphrase one chemist, "We sit on it, we wear it, we eat it." Nevertheless, chemistry is a part of the vast majority of...

Home improvements? Germany makes the bold move to renovate chemistry programs in keeping with the Bologna Process. Will Canada get on board?
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Germany is renowned for its chemical industry and its accomplished chemists. So what are they doing with chemical education as we begin this new century? They are abandoning the very university system that has been...

SNC-LAVALIN plant design competition.
March 1, 2008... The Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering offers the SNC"LAVALIN Undergraduate Plant Design Competition for students enrolled in undergraduate chemical engineering programs at Canadian Universities. Individuals and groups of undergraduate...

You be the chemist: the chemical industries face tough competition for bright, young minds. YBTC programs provide north American students a fighting chance.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The likelihood of a young student spontaneously answering, "I want a career in the chemical industry" is low. I suspect it would be an unpopular answer for adults also. Some...

An Apple A Day: The Myths, Misconceptions and Truths About the Foods We Eat.
March 1, 2008... AN APPLE A DAY The Myths, Misconceptions and Truths About the Foods We Eat By Joe Schwarcz, MCIC * Hardcover $32.95 * ISBN: 978-0-00-200764-1 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We all want to be healthy and make the right choices when it comes to...

Eco Canada's class act: round table ramps up environmental education in Canada's public schools.
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ECO Canada hosted a round table discussion nn January 23, 2008 to address the issue of environmental education in Canada's elementary and secondary school systems. The round table brought together key decision makers...

Robert Ackman, FCIC, has been inducted in the Discovery Centre Hall of Fame.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)
March 1, 2008... Robert Ackman, FCIC, has been inducted in the Discovery Centre Hall of Fame. He is best known for his pioneering work in lipid analytical chemistry at Dalhousie University.

Le professeur Andre Bandrauk, FCIC, chercheur au Departement de chimie de la Faculte des sciences de l'Universite de Sherbrooke, a ete nomme fellow de l'American Physical Society.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Le professeur Andre Bandrauk, FCIC, chercheur au Departement de chimie de la Faculte des sciences de l'Universite de Sherbrooke, a ete nomme fellow de l'American Physical Society. Cette rare distinction lui a ete...

Lors de la recente remise des Prix du Quebec, Maher I. Boulos, FCIC, a remporte le prix Lionel-Boutet pour la recherche et le developpement en millieu industriel.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Lors de la recente remise des Prix du Quebec, Maher I. Boulos, FCIC, a remporte le prix Lionel-Boutet pour la recherche et le developpement en millieu industriel. Ne au Caire, monsieur Boulos est professeur a la Faculte de genie de l'Universite...

NSERC Strategic Projects Selection Panel.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)
March 1, 2008... Amares Chatt, FCIC, has been appointed to the NSERC Strategic Projects Selection Panel, Healthy Environment and Ecosystems 2, for a one-year term. Chatt is a professor of chemistry in the Trace Analysis Research Centre and the SLOWPOKE reactor...

The Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) is pleased to welcome Bernadette Dacey to its staff in the newly established position of marketing manager.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) is pleased to welcome Bernadette Dacey to its staff in the newly established position of marketing manager. Dacey brings 20 years' experience working with professional...

The King's University College chemistry professor, Peter Mahaffy, FCIC, has been awarded the prestigious 3M Canada Teaching Fellowship.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)
March 1, 2008... The King's University College chemistry professor, Peter Mahaffy, FCIC, has been awarded the prestigious 3M Canada Teaching Fellowship. The award honours educational leadership and excellence in undergraduate teaching. The 3M Fellowship is...

Ray March, FCIC, professor emeritus of chemistry at Trent University will receive an honorary degree from the Universite de Provence, Aix-Marseilles.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)
March 1, 2008... Ray March, FCIC, professor emeritus of chemistry at Trent University will receive an honorary degree from the Universite de Provence, Aix-Marseilles in recognition of his significant academic achievements. Match has developed many new...

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research announced the 2007 recipients of the Canadian Health Research Awards, and Peter Singer, MCIC, was chosen as one of the two Health Researchers of the Year.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)(Awards list)
March 1, 2008... The Canadian Institutes of Health Research announced the 2007 recipients of the Canadian Health Research Awards, and Peter Singer, MCIC, was chosen as one of the two Health Researchers of the Year. Singer is senior scientist at the McLaughlin...

The University of Manitoba's University 1 and the University Teaching Services have awarded Teaching in Excellence Awards to Elena Smirnova and Jennifer van Wijngaarden.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)
March 1, 2008... The University of Manitoba's University 1 and the University Teaching Services have awarded Teaching in Excellence Awards to Elena Smirnova and Jennifer van Wijngaarden, MCIC, from the department of chemistry.

In memoriam.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)(Obituary)
March 1, 2008... The CIC extends its condolences to the families of: L'ICC desire offrir ses condoleances aux familles de : Patrick J. Dunn, MCIC Donald MacLean, MCIC R. W. Missen, FCIC Stanley A. Robinson, MCIC

International collaboration.(RECOGNITION/RECONNAISSANCE)
March 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: International collaboration. The Royal Society of Chemistry's editorial director of publishing, John Haynes meets with CIC executive director Roland Andersson, MCIC, at National Office.

Upcoming student conferences.(EVENTS)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... The Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) is proud to support the following student conferences: Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) March 15, 2008. Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference in Kingston, ON. Hosted by...

Canada: conferences.(EVENTS/EVENEMENTS)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... May 24-28, 2008. 91st Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Edmonton, AB, www.csc2008.ca May 26, 2008. Short Course in Industrial Oilfield Chemistry at the 9ist Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Edmonton, AB,...

U.S. and overseas.(EVENTS/EVENEMENTS)(Calendar)
March 1, 2008... April 14-16, 2008. LogiChem, 7th Annual European Bulk and Speciality Chemical Supply Chain Conference, Dusseldorf, Germany, www.logichemeurope.com April 14-17, 2008. Hazards XX: Harnessing Knowledge--Challenging Complacency, Institution of...