ISSUE 21, 2012

I'm really excited about the changes planned for our second and third year teaching laboratories this summer. Our Level 4 (Inorganic chemistry) laboratories will be completely rebuilt to serve as a modern, integrated senior undergraduate laboratory. Level 5 will be similarly and simultaneously transformed into our new second year laboratories. These transformations are being led by our Second and Third Year Laboratory Coordinators, Chris Ling and Chris McErlean, but with substantial contributions from many members of our technical team. The scale of the renovations is daunting but the benefits to our students should be spectacular and enduring.
As if this project isn't challenging enough on its own, it is taking place amidst many other changes in the school and across the university. Many personnel changes are being forced upon us by budgetary constraints as well as other circumstances. Fortunately we've been able to appoint a bunch of outstanding new people across the board, lessening the impact of change.

A great opportunity afforded by the teaching laboratory consolidation is the freeing up of more of Level 3 for research space. Some laboratories and research group offices are being relocated from Levels 4 and 5, but for the first time in many years space will not be the limiting factor in the School's research planning.

I'll step down as Head of School early in 2013, and I must confess to looking forward to handing the reins over to Professor Kate Jolliffe. The job of Head of School can be satisfying, and I've particularly enjoyed getting to know and appreciate the strengths and talents of our (old and new) general staff members from all areas of the School's operations. I also value the willingness of academic staff to commit time to our collective activities of undergraduate teaching and research training. The administration and development work that keeps our programs fresh and effective only gets done because so many people contribute, and I'm acutely aware that this can be hard to prioritise when research beckons. But now I'm looking forward to a different research/teaching/administration balance, and to being more like somebody that I used to know.

Kind regards,
Greg Warr  |  Head of School |  School of Chemistry

CHEMISTRY NEWS

Queen's birthday honours
University of Sydney alumni were strongly represented in the Queen's Birthday Honours this year with more than 70 alumni receiving recognition for their contribution to Australian life and humanity at large. Chemistry alumnus, Professor David Black, BSc 1959, MSc 1960 was one of them. AO for distinguished service in the area of organic and heterocyclic chemistry, through leadership roles within professional organisations, and as an educator and mentor.

Chemistry seminars are held throughout Semesters 1 and 2 on Wednesdays (9am in Chemistry Lecture Theatre 2) and Fridays (11am in Chemistry Lecture Theatre 4) unless otherwise stated. If you would like to be notified of these weekly seminars and other weekly chemistry news and events please email Anne Woods and she will add you to the electronic mailout. Alternatively you can visit Upcoming Seminars. Seminars are also advertised on our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

To keep up-to-date with the latest news and events in the School of Chemistry visit ChemNEWS and EVENTS.

Donations can be made to the following funds by using our online donation form.

To find out more about these funds please visit:

• Inorganic Fund
• Cornforth Fund
• Hush Fund
• Michael Bishop Fund
• Hans C. Freeman Lectureship Fund

The School of Chemistry would like to take this opportunity to thank Alumni and Friends for their very generous donations. Your support continues to make a profound impact on our various programs. To view our current list a donors please click here.

In profile, Chiara Neto discusses how through nanotechnology we can now try to mimic nature to solve some of the world's most pressing problems. Read more, including Chiara's bio, here.

Dr Jim Eckert returns with his fascinating articles on the history of the University, and in particular, the School of Chemistry. To read more please visit the School's History page.

• The Early Years
• Gargoyles and Curtain Walls
• Toastracks and Air-Raid Shelters

NEWS ARCHIVE

Don't forget to post your own news on the new Chemistry Alumni Facebook. Our Facebook site is a great way to get in contact with fellow alumni and we'd love to hear about what you're doing now and about your time with us.