McGill professor Ariel Fenster receives NSERC prize for science promotion
McGill University chemistry professor Dr. Ariel Fenster has been awarded the NSERC Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion (individual category) for outstanding achievement in the promotion of science in Canada. The prize, named for the late Canadian biochemist and Nobel laureate, is presented annually by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and comes with a $5,000 award.
Dr. Fenster, 63, is best known for his frequent media appearances, which usually include live experiments designed to make science accessible to a wider audience.
"At the level of the university we are often accused of staying in our ivory tower," Dr. Fenster said, "so it's nice to see our efforts to bring science to the people recognized. I'm honoured to be chosen as a recipient."
Dr. Fenster's public lectures on a seemingly limitless range of science-related topics, from the chemistry of wine to the mysteries of chocolate to cotton vs. disposable diapers, are consistent crowd pleasers across Canada and abroad. The "World of Chemistry" courses he teaches with Prof. David Harpp and Prof. Joe Schwarcz for McGill's science and non-science students alike are as legendary for their popularity as for their engaging content, and he continues to foster a love of science among younger people by offering a special lecture series at McGill for high school seniors.
In announcing the award, Dr. Suzanne Fortier, president of NSERC, said, "Dr. Fenster brings charm, humour and boundless enthusiasm to his work as a teacher and popularizer of science. At ease with scientists and non-scientists alike, he is at once informative, challenging and entertaining."
Born in Bergerac, France, Dr. Fenster holds an MSc from the University of Paris and a PhD in chemistry from McGill. He is a founding member of the McGill Office for Science and Society and has won several awards for teaching and public education. He and his wife of 36 years, Anne-Marie, have two children, Erik and Michaël, both PhDs in chemistry.
