On Wednesday the 20th January between 1 and 2 pm Prof. S. O. Kelly will be giving an academic seminar on her research into the nanostructuring of electrode surfaces in developing sensitive biosensors to detect and predict the progression of cancer and other disease states. Research has gone into encompassing nanomaterials-based electrodes into a chip platform, a more robust and practical analytical format.

It will be located in Davenport East (3rd floor Lash Miller – directly below library). CSU is providing pop and a good selection of sandwiches.

This year, the McMaster Undergraduate Society for the Chemical Sciences (MUSCS) are hosting the 10th annual Southern Ontario Graduate Information Session at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. At this session, representatives of 17 universities from across Canada will be giving presentations regarding their graduate programs in chemistry or related disciplines. This is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate chemistry students interested in pursuing graduate opportunities to examine the possibilities available throughout Canada. The session is completely free of charge and will include a complementary lunch. It will occur on Saturday the 30th of January between 11 am and 4 pm. Also, if students register in advance, MUSCS will subsidise travel costs to and from the event. You can register and get more information by e-mailing their VP Jeffrey Price at pricej4 [at] mcmaster.ca.

The CSU in collaboration with a graduate students physics group and a nursing students’ union have organized a delicious Italian $5 lunch at Hart House for Wednesday the 13th of January, starting at midday. Here is the menu and below is a map showing directions to the Great Hall. Although the event is supposed to go on till 2 come early to avoid disappointment as the food goes quickly. All are welcome.

The University of Toronto Science and Engineering Career Exposition is a new career event with a focus on employment and internship opportunities for students in engineering or in the sciences (including computer science and professional faculties such as pharmacy). This is unique opportunity for students and alumni to connect directly with employers as they begin applying for summer positions, co-op terms or full-time employment after their studies. You’re Next! 2010 will be held at the University of Toronto Examination Facility, located at 255 McCaul Street on the first and second floors on Friday, January 15th, 2010 from 10 am to 4 pm.

You’re Next! 2010 is organized by University of Toronto students with support from the University of Toronto Career Centre. This event not only allows students to speak directly with hiring employers, but also gives students the opportunity to learn about different career paths and life on the job. Students can also learn networking skills and gain experience speaking to recruiters.

To learn more about the Career Exposition, visit their website at http://www.yourenext.ca. In addition to a updated list of companies participating in the Expo, there are also tips and tricks on how to prepare and make the most of your time.

In the CSU’s second academic seminar Prof. Miller will be giving a fascinating insight to his research, and to how atoms can be observed in real time. It will be held in LM108 (see other or old posts for a LM floorplan) on Wednesday the 25th of November from 1 to 2 pm. Subway sandwiches and pop will be provided.

All CSU members (anyone taking at least 0.5 FCE of an undergraduate course run by the Department of Chemistry) are encouraged to attend this General Meeting. There will be two important votes on Executive positions. If you want to fill the potential Vice President vacancy then read the writ of election, fill in the nomination form, and send it along with your schedule to csu@chem.utoronto.ca by the end of the 20th of November 2009. In particular, 2nd and 3rd year students who love chemistry and want to help out with our events are encouraged to run!

The meeting will be in LM128 on Monday the 23rd of November from 1pm to 2pm.

The University of Toronto Journal of Undergraduate Life Sciences are looking for up to 3 undergraduate chemistry students who have a good amount of background in the field to work as a member on the Editorial Review Board. Successful applicants will be required to go through only 2 manuscripts, and will receive additional training and support to do so. Here is the application. Please complete and send to juls.applications@gmail.com by the end of Tuesday the 17th of November 2009. Please forward all queries to the above email.

Prof. Murphy will be holding this informal, casual information session for anyone interested in doing graduate work in the environmental sciences – whether in Canada, the USA, or Europe. Get your questions answered by someone knowledgable in the field. See the flyer here.

It is on Tuesday the 10th of November, and starts at 5pm. It will be in LM108, see floorplan below, and subway sandwiches and pop will be provided.

For lots of free food and a good time all chemistry students are invited to the CSU Pub Night at Paupers this Friday, the 6th of November from 6:30 pm. Paupers is at 539 Bloor St W, just east of Bathurst (see maps below) and we are booked into the second floor lounge.

The CSU will host the first academic lecture, by Prof. Abbatt, on Monday the October the 26th from 1 to 2 pm in LM108.

Atmospheric aerosols, small liquid and solid particles suspended in air, are known to be active in affecting air quality and the Earth’s climate.  In particular, gases interact heterogeneously with the particulate surfaces, so affecting the gas-phase composition of the atmosphere.  The particles are also hygroscopic to varying degrees, so they act as the sites for cloud droplet nucleation.  Both liquid water clouds and ice clouds are formed in this way.  It is thought that the changing abundance of aerosol particles in the atmosphere from industrial activity has increased global cloudiness, to somewhat counteract some of the enhanced Greenhouse Effect.  This seminar will present the group’s studies in these areas, performed both in the lab and the field.

There will be a free lunch provided. Below are directions to the room.