McGill's Chemistry Outreach Group wins Principal's Prize
The Chemistry Outreach Group has taken home the Principal’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media, winning the inaugural 'Collaboration' category for groups of undergraduate or graduate students that engage with the external community and/or the media.
New technique for measuring greenhouse gas production from thawing permafrost
A research team led by McGill University geochemist Peter Douglas has used a new method for measuring the rate at which methane is produced by microbes breaking down thawing permafrost. The breakthrough could lead to an improvement in our ability to predict future releases of the potent greenhouse gas as long‑frozen layers of soil begin to thaw.
Making straws that don’t suck for the environment
With the federal ban of single-use plastics planned for this year, the demand for alternatives to everyday plastic products, such as straws, is set to increase. TreeMaTech, a startup company born through a collaboration between chemistry professors from McGill and Lakehead University, is betting on cellulose for making drinking straws that don’t suck for the environment.
The Faculty of Science celebrates its generous donors
In November this year, around 400 people gathered at the McGill Faculty Club for the Faculty of Science’s annual scholarship reception. The evening’s celebration was an opportunity for donors to the Faculty to meet the students who have benefitted from their generous support.
Undergraduate research celebrated
Around 75 students joined faculty and staff from the Faculty of Science at Thomson House last week to celebrate their experience as undergraduate researchers over the summer.
In his welcoming remarks, Bruce Lennox, Dean of the Faculty of Science, acknowledged the students’ contributions in McGill’s “intense research environments”.
The passing of Prof. Laurie Hendren
Colleagues,
It is with great sadness that I share with members of the Faculty and entire University community news of Professor Laurie Hendren’s passing, on May 27, 2019.
As a member of the School of Computer Science, Laurie was an exceptional teacher, researcher, colleague, and above all, friend.
ComSciConCAN 2019 Communicating Science Workshop
ComSciConCAN is Canada’s first national science communication workshop for current or recently-graduated graduate students. This unique professional development program aims to help the next generation of leaders in STEM fields develop the skills needed to communicate their research and ideas to their peers, experts in other fields, policy makers, and the general public.
Textiles from trees: what's old is new again
Two McGill chemistry professors, Theo van de Ven and Jean-Philip Lumb, have developed a new way to make textiles from cellulose, the basic building block of plants, in a breakthrough that has the potential to revitalize Canada’s forestry industry.
Hairy nanotechnology provides green anti-scaling solution
A new type of cellulose nanoparticle, invented by McGill University researchers, is at the heart of a more effective and less environmentally damaging solution to one of the biggest challenges facing water-based industries: preventing the buildup of scale.
Using DNA technology to track marine life
McGill University marine ecologist Jennifer Sunday is bringing cutting-edge DNA analysis to the formidable task of tracking ocean species along Canada’s Pacific coast.
New cities may make millions more vulnerable to climate change
A forthcoming study of over a hundred new cities being built around the world suggests developers and planning authorities are doing very little to make their projects resilient to climate change. On the contrary, a boom in new city projects in coastal areas – including some on reclaimed land in the sea – appears to fly in the face of the danger of rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events.
Better plastic recycling with enzymes
McGill University chemistry professors Karine Auclair and Tomislav Friščić are following a promising lead on using enzymes to recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the world’s most widely used plastics.
Greener alternative to lithium-ion batteries
The runaway popularity of personal electronic devices has led to a huge global demand for compact yet powerful rechargeable batteries. Since hitting the market in the 1990s, lithium-ion technology has taken the lead in meeting this need.
Potential huge energy savings through nanocatalysts for nitrogen fixation
A fundamental component of protein, nitrogen is the most common pure element on Earth, making up nearly 80 percent of our atmosphere. Yet despite its abundance, atmospheric nitrogen cannot enter the food chain without first being converted into a form that can be used by plants.
Green polymers inspired by biology
McGill University chemistry professor Matthew Harrington is aiming to develop a renewable alternative to petrochemical plastics by mimicking the astonishing chemistry of the velvet worm – a creature that has made a name for itself through its projectile slime.