Southwestern Students Strut Their Stuff.

On March 24, 2001, the University of Toronto at Scarborough proudly hosted the 29th Southwestern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference (29th SOUSCC). This conference is an important step in the chemical careers of Ontario University undergraduates who have been engaged in research, either for fun or for credit. At SOUSCC they are given the opportunity to present their findings to interested peers and chemistry faculty from all Universities across the province in a relaxed, encouraging environment. The name of the conference reflects its origins in 1973 at the University of Western Ontario (UWO), where it was held for the first 10 years. In 1982, the venue moved to the University of Guelph and it has been held at a different Ontario University every year since. This year's conference had 170 registrants of which 78 were student presenters. Because of its traditions, UWO always sends the most representatives and this year was no exception -- 26, of which 20 were presenters! Other Universities repr esented were Brock, Carleton, Guelph, McMaster, Queen's, Ryerson, Toronto, Toronto at Mississauga, Toronto at Scarborough, Trent, Waterloo, Windsor, and York.

The day dawned bright, but windy and cool. Registration at 8 am. was accompanied by a continental breakfast. The proceedings began at 8:40 with short welcoming words, on behalf of U of T at Scarborough, from Jim Thompson, FCIC, Chair of the Physical Sciences Division. David Farrar, MCIC, an alumnus of UTSC and the present Chair of the UT Chemistry Department then welcomed the attendees on behalf of the University and his department. Karen Henderson, Chair of the Organizing Committee for the 29th SOUSCC, thanked her committee of faculty members Ann Verner and Janet Potter, and students Aseem Bishnoi, Jennifer Smith and Liz Casimiro. The presentations began! The conference concluded at the Awards reception and banquet held at the Highland Creek Branch of the Canadian Legion. The Durham Ham Strings, a string quartet (with Wanda Restivo, one of UTSC's chemistry faculty at the cello!) added a touch of class to the reception. Following dinner, P. (Sundar) Sundararajan, MCIC, vice-president, CSC, addressed the stude nts and informed them of the purpose of the CSC and encouraged them to become members upon their graduation. Sundararajan's speech was followed by the presentation of the awards. Because the publishers were such generous donors, we were also able to hold a draw (for all student). The first prize was a chemical Model kit (value [sim]$300) donated by Freeman (VHPS). The remaining 25 tickets drawn won a choice from a large selection of books, model kits and magnetic 'Chemistry Poetry'.

In order to mount a conference of quality, the cost has largely been borne by the generosity of CIC/CSC Local Sections and local industries. This allows the registration fee to be as low as $35. This year, for each participant, the fee included a booklet of abstracts, refreshment breaks and an awards banquet, and, of course provided generous cash and book prizes. Appreciation for their exceptional generosity is expressed to this year's institutional sponsors: CSC, CIC Chemical Education Trust Fund, Toronto CIC Local Section, Organic Chemistry Division, Inorganic Chemistry Division, Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Division, Surface Science Division, Environmental Division, Analytical Chemistry Division, Chemical Education Division, UTSC -- Principal and Dean's Office, UTSC -- Physical Sciences Division, UT -- Chemistry Department, UTSC Association of Chemistry and Biology Students, UTSC Centre for Instructional Technology Development, and to this year's generous private sector sponsors: Agilent Technologie s, Crompton Co., Freeman (VHPS), Genpharm, Harcourt Canada, Houghton Mifflin (Nelson Thomson; Wadsworth), John Wiley & Sons, Merck Frosst, Pearson Education, Robin and Haas, Torcan, and Varian Instruments.

A mini-exhibits area included displays from Varian Instruments, Agilent Technologies, Pearson Education Publishers and the CIC/CSC.

The UTSC student club was an enormous help in the organization and running of the conference. In the elections for a new 2000/2001 executive in April 2000, they added a special position of 'Conference Coordinator'. This position was ...