From Windy City to wilderness champion

In the heart of Lanaudière, Quebec, a 233-hectare tract of wilderness stands as a living testament to the resilience of nature and the generous stewardship of McGill chemistry professor Linda Reven.

The Faculty of Science Excellence award goes to... Chantal!

Kudos to Chantal who received the Faculty of Science Excellence award, a testament to her exceptional contributions to our graduate students and department at large over the past 38 years. Chantal's work is multifaceted, and the success of our nowadays well over 230 Graduate Student Population hinges in great part on her relentless work in our department.

Nanoplastics in Water: Artificial Intelligence-Assisted 4D Physicochemical Characterization and Rapid In Situ Detection

For the first time, The Ariya lab present a much-needed technology for the in situ and real-time detection of nanoplastics in aquatic systems. We show an artificial intelligence-assisted nanodigital in-line holographic microscopy (AI-assisted nano-DIHM) that automatically classifies nano- and microplastics simultaneously from nonplastic particles within milliseconds in stationary and dynamic natural waters, without sample preparation. AI-assisted nano-DIHM i

A para- to meta-isomerization of phenols

Phenols are a common functional group of many naturally occurring and biologically active molecules, including many that are part of the human diet. In 2020 alone, ~60% of small molecule drugs approved by the FDA contained a phenol or a closely related phenolic ether, underscoring their importance to the pharmaceutical industry.

Night Lights and Scientific Delights: Nuit blanche at McGill

by Phuong Hoang, Faculty of Science Communications Assistant 

True to its name, Montréal’s Nuit blanche is an annual celebration of the vibrant culture of the city, with thematic itineraries and extended business hours that ensure festival-goers a night of endless excitement.

Global Undergraduate Awards- Glen Loo

Recently, Glen Loo from the Lumb Group received an award from the Global Undergraduate Awards (GUA) for the work he did during a 5-month research internship. Glen had come to McGill from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and worked with graduate mentor Carlos Azpilcueta-Nicolas on the photoinduced dearomatization of biaryl compounds.

Pallavi Sirjoosingh: Winner, Principal’s Prize for Teaching Excellence (Faculty Lecturer)

A packed Leacock 132 can be an intimidating place when you’re down in front and looking back up at more than 600 undergrads about to study university-level chemistry for the first time.

It’s exactly where Pallavi Sirjoosingh wants to be.

What does a Greek God and former McGill Chemistry Professor Bernard Belleau OC FRSC have in common?

Bernard Belleau was famous for developing the nucleoside analogue 3TC for viral treatment. Here, we show that a nucleoside analogue triggers a cell death mechanism named after Thanos, the Greek God of nonviolent deaths. The nucleoside analog, cytarabine, has been used as the frontline treatment of leukemia for more than 50 years, but patient survival rates are less than 20%.

Memorial Tribute – Byung Chan Eu (1935–2023)

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Professor Byung Chan (“BC”) Eu on August 25th, 2023, at the age of 88 while in hospital. BC was born in 1935 in Seoul, Korea and earned a BSc in Chemistry at Seoul National University in 1959. He was admitted to the graduate school of Seoul National University in 1960, but soon was drafted into the Korean army which he served until 1962.

The Clara Benson Award

The Clara Benson Award is presented to recognize a woman who has made a distinguished contribution to chemistry, in memory of the late Clara Benson who contributed immensely to both CHEM and equity (1st female Prof at UofT). This award is sponsored by The Canadian Council of University Chemistry Chairs. Prof. Karine Auclair from McGill University is the recipient of the 2023 Clara Benson Award.

Detecting airborne viruses in a blink of an eye

Until now, there was no real-time airborne virus tracking technology, hindering the understanding of rapid virus change, transmission and associated health impacts. Led by the Ariya' lab, in collaboration with colleagues at McGill Faculty of medicine and U.

A novel in-situ and real-time four dimensional capability for the nano and microplastic life cycle research

The Ariya lab developed a novel nano-digital inline holographic microscope (nano-DIHM) was used to advance in-situ and real-time nano/microplastic physicochemical research, such as particle coatings and dynamic processes in water.

The Obituary of Dr. John F. Harrod

Dr. John F. Harrod, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University passed away peacefully in Montreal on January 26, 2023, in his 89th year.

 

Biogenic optical devices for solar energy conversion: glass-like shells of diatoms help turn light into energy in dim conditions

A McGill research team led by Professors Mark Andrews (Department of Chemistry) and David Plant (Electrical Engineering) has shown how the glass-like shells of phytoplankton (diatoms) help these microscopic organisms perform photosynthesis in dim light conditions. Despite amounting to only about 1% of the global plant biomass, phytoplankton account for about 50% of the planet’s photosynthetic activity and at least half of the world’s oxygen production.

Introducing Professor Doctor Hélène Seiler!

McGill Chemistry congratulates Dr. Hélène Seiler on her appointment as an Assistant Professor of Physics in the Free University Berlin!