Professor Nate Lewis, Cal Tech Today! Department Colloquium "Topic: Scientific Challenges in Sustainable Energy Technology
Host: Matt Bierman" Room 1315 | 3:30 pm
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Department Meeting Room 9341 | 1:30 pm
15
John DiTusa, Louisiana State University Materials Chemistry Seminar "Hosted by Professor Song Jin" Room 1315 (Seminar Hall) | 12:15 pm
21
Tom Picraux, Chief Scientist at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies of Los Alamos National La SPECIAL Materials Chemistry Seminar "Hosted by Professor Song Jin Title of talk: Synthesis and Novel Properties of Si/Ge Nanowires" Room 8335 | 11:00 am
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Prof. Jim Burke<br /><br />
Host: Mahesh Mahanthappa PFLAGS Room 1315 | 9:00 am
Margaret McLean Bender died Monday, April 28. She was the wife of Paul Bender, a long-time Professor of Chemistry. Here is the Obituary from the Wisconsin State Journal: Bender, Margaret McLean, MADISON.
Margaret McLean Bender, age 91, died peacefully at Capitol Lakes Terraces on Monday, April 28, 2008. She was preceded in death in 2004 by her husband, Emeritus Professor Paul J. Bender of the UW Chemistry Department, after 63 years of marriage. Dr. Margaret Bender was an Emeritus Senior Scientist in the Institute for Environmental Studies. She retired from the Institute at the UW Center for Climate Research in 1981. She was the Director of the UW Radiocarbon Laboratory from 1963 until her retirement. Dr. Bender was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma XI, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was a pioneer in the field of radiocarbon dating and is widely recognized for her recognition of two distinct photosynthetic pathways through which carbon is utilized in tropical and prairie grasses. Her seminal paper describing these two pathways as C-3 for starch-accumulating gasses and as C-4 for fructosan-accumulating gasses has been widely quoted by all researchers in all the scientific fields, such as anthropology, that require accurate dating of carbon-containing materials. Her publications while at the UW-Madison totaled 31 and were primarily related to the radiocarbon dating work. Dr. Bender graduated from Mount Holyoke College magna cum laude in 1937, where she also received her master's degree and had four publications from her work with Professor Dorothy Hahn. Her Ph.D. was from Yale University in 1941 in organic chemistry with Werner Bergmann with whom she had three publications. She held an instructor appointment from 1941-1942 at Connecticut College for Women and a post-doctoral appointment at Yale University from 1942-1943. From 1943-1945, she held a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and a lecturer appointment from 1951-1970 with the UW Extension. Her primary teaching responsibilities were with students from the nursing program. She served as Director of the UW Radiocarbon Laboratory from 1963-1981. Margaret and Paul were integral to the development of the UW Chemistry Department and hosted many assistant professors and their families as they found their places in the Madison community. Margaret was particularly knowledgeable about plants and gardens, and many neighbors and colleagues were the recipients of garden plants, flowers, and vegetables for which Margaret could provide their botanical names. She was also a particular role model for women in science and was interviewed concerning her experiences in what was primarily male environment in the early 1940s. Her thoughts and impressions were taped as part of a UW series "Women in Science and Engineering," that was developed by the UW-Madison Oral History Project as part of the archives section at Steenbock Memorial Library. Margaret is survived by four grand nieces, Vicki Smith of La Quinta, Calif., Wilma Kahn of Kingwood, Texas, Wini Mercer of Overland Park, Kan., and Pam Conckle of Los Angeles, Calif. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434 http://www.cressfuneralservice.com.
The Chemistry Newsletter will be going to a Summer Bi-weekly publication after next week’s newsletter. Please continue to drop/send material for the newsletter to me. We will publish the newsletter on the off week for special announcements. Thank You.
Apr. 7:
Laura Kiessling Has Been Awarded a Guggenheim Award | more
We are pleased to announce that Professor Laura Kiessling has been awarded a Guggenheim Award, by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Guggenheim Awards provide fellowships to faculty and other advanced professionals in all fields of physical and social sciences, humanities, and the creative arts. Please join us in congratulating Laura!
Apr. 7:
Ieva Reich Recognized With Three Different Awards | more
We are delighted to tell you that in recent weeks we have learned that Ieva Reich is being recognized with *THREE* different awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the teaching mission of the college, the campus, and the UW-System, as well as her service and leadership activities.
FIRST: Ieva is being awarded the Chancellor's Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching.
SECOND: Ieva is being awarded the Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award. The Underkofler awards are given by the UW-System for academic staff in order to "recognize teaching of outstanding quality that leads to substantial intellectual growth in students". Note that competition for this award is among all the colleges in the entire UW System, so this is truly an outstanding indication of the esteem to which Ieva's contributions are held.
THIRD: Ieva has been awarded an L&S Mid-Career Award by the College of Letters and Science. This award "recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding performance in their position, leadership and service beyond their position, and substantial professional competency and promise of continuing contributions", and consists of a plaque and a cash prize.
Please join us in congratulating Ieva three times in recognition of all of these outstanding honors!
Apr. 7:
Tom Ladell Awarded a 2008 Classified Employee Recognition Award | more
It is a distinct pleasure to announce that Tom Ladell, the Lab Prep Technician working on the first floor with the General Chemistry program, has won a 2008 Classified Employee Recognition Award from the University. Only 5 awards were presented from some 45 nominations this year, so this is a singular honor for Tom. Please join me in congratulating Tom for his work above and beyond. Congratulations Tom!
Apr. 7:
The May 2008 Issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is Now Available Online | more
The May 2008 issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is now available online. In this issue you will find articles about biochemistry, stereochemistry, and many other activities for the classroom and laboratory including:
Editorial: What Price Quality?
Especially for High School Teachers: Connect the Dots
Classroom Activity Extension: Using “Blueprint Photography by the Cyanotype Process”
Classroom Activity Connections: Chemistry and Children’s Literature: Sun Up, Sun Down
JCE Featured Molecules: Molecular Models of Reactants and/ Products from an Asymmetric Synthesis of a Chiral Carboxylic Acid.
Mar. 31:
Tehshik Yoon Wins an Arnold and Mabel Beckman Award | more
Please join us in congratulating Assistant Professor Tehshik Yoon for winning an Arnold and Mabel Beckman Award! The Beckman Young Investigators (BYI) Program is intended to provide research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of academic careers in the chemical and life sciences. Tehshik's award provides three years of funding for his proposal on "Stereoselective Functionalization of Hydrocarbons using Oxaziridines". Congratulations, Tehshik!
Mar. 17:
Sam Gellman Receives 2008 Phi Beta Kappa of Wisconsin Teaching Award | more
Were pleased to announce that Professor Sam Gellman will be receiving the 2008 Phi Beta Kappa of Wisconsin Teaching Award! The award will be presented as part of the PBK initiation ceremony on Saturday, April 5th. Please join me in congratulating Sam on this recognition of his outstanding teaching! Congratulations, Sam !
Mar. 17:
The April 2008 Issue of the Journal of Chemical Education is Now Available Online | more
The April 2008 Journal of Chemical Education issue is now available online. In this issue you will find information about new ACS guidelines, articles about dramatic demonstrations and analyzing multiple-choice exams, and many other activities for the classroom and laboratory including: Editorial: Academic Extensions of Greshams Law. Especially for High School Teachers: Can I Get Help? Where? JCE Classroom Activity: A Candle in the Wind. Featured Molecule: Molecular Models of Products and Reactants from Suzuki and Heck Syntheses. Please note these contributions from the University of WisconsinMadison in this issue: Jim Maynard presents Using Hydrogen Balloons To Display Metal Ion Spectra , and Gordon Bain and John Berry offer Diamagnetic Corrections and Pascal's Constants.
Mar. 10:
Ieva Reich Selected to Receive Chancellor's Hilldale Award | more
We are thrilled to report that Ieva Reich has been selected to receive the Chancellor's Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching! This is a true tribute to the outstanding teaching and mentoring that Ieva does. There is an award symposium associated with this, which is tentatively scheduled for April 24th. Please join us in extending congratulations on Ieva on this singular honor!