Chemistry Students' Union of the University of Toronto

On Wednesday the 17th of March, between 1 and 2 pm, Prof. Stephan will be giving a fascinating talk on ‘frustrated Lewis pairs’ in LM108 (see floorplan below). Lunch will be provided.

“The activation of hydrogen has been the purvue of transition metals for 200 years. In recent work we have discovered the first metal-free system capable of H₂ activation. Sterically encumbered Lewis acid and base combinations do not form “classical” Lewis acid-base adducts. Rather, the unquenched Lewis acidity and basicity of such sterically “frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs)” is available for reactivity. Such systems have been shown to effect the heterolytic cleavage of hydrogen and applied to develop  metal free hydrogenation catalysts. FLPs are also shown to exhibit unprecedented reactivity with a variety of other small molecules, including olefins, dienes, alkynes, CO₂ and N₂O. The implications of the discovery of such systems and further details will be presented in this lecture.”

Ranjini (Rini) Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award

The Arts & Science Students’ Union (ASSU) is sponsoring this award to recognize outstanding teaching at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George campus. The award-winning instructor will receive a commemorative plaque and a $500. prize which will go towards a Departmental initiative for undergraduate students.

Any instructor who taught or is currently teaching in the 2009-10 academic year is eligible for nomination. Teaching staff of any rank are considered to be instructors:  Full/Associate/Assistant Professors, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer. Teaching Assistants are not eligible for this award. Nominees must also be published in the ASSU anti-calendar.

Criteria for the Award

The award is made on the basis of excellence in teaching and contributions to undergraduate education. In evaluating nominees, the following criteria are considered:

*Stimulates and challenges students’ intellectual capacity
*Is skillful at communicating the course material to students
*Shows mastery of the subject area
*Is highly accessible to students
*Influences development of students’ intellectual and critical skills
*Does anything else you feel makes them an outstanding educator

Nomination Procedure

Candidates may be nominated by Full-time A&S students registered on the St. George campus only. Nomination forms are available in the ASSU Office, SS 1068. Nominations must include a typed letter outlining the merits of the instructor and why you feel they deserve to win the teaching award. Feel free to attach letters of support.

Nominations close on Monday the 8th of March, 2010 at 5 pm.