Archive for September, 2009

Approximately 250 year 7 to 10 students from right across northern New South Wales, from Coffs Harbour to Boggabilla, passed through the 1st year chemistry laboratories as part of ‘Science in the Bush’ on August 20th, beginning what we hope will be a life-long involvement with liquid nitrogen, the nylon rope trick, dendritic silver crystals and poly(vinyl alcohol) slime. Each group spent about 45 minutes on the hands-on activities, which added up  to a very full day for technical staff Fran McDonald and Andrew Wallace and the four enthusiastic Honours students who acted as demonstrators on the day.  Science in the Bush is held at UNE annually as part of National Science Week and is targetted at secondary students in the crucial years where it has been reported that most young people lose interest in science. Every year has had a large contribution from Chemistry, but this was the first year we used the larger laboratory to host our activity, giving many more students a chance to work with real chemicals in a real laboratory environment.

Chemistry at UNE is currently advertising for two new lecturers. One of these will be appointed in the area of Medicinal/Biological Chemistry. A second appointment will be open to applicants in any area of relevance to Chemistry’s and the School of Science and Technology’s research interests but who should ideally have a keen interest in undergraduate teaching and Chemical Education.

Chemistry’s homepage provides details of existing staff, teaching and research activities and the School of Science and Technology homepage can be found here.

Applicants should consult the full advertisements and directions for applicants at the University’s recruitment webpage.

informal enquiries can be directed to Professor Graham Leedham, Head of School of Science and Technology, ph: (02) 6773 5009 or email hos-st@une.edu.au or Professor Stephen Glover, ph: (02) 6773 2361 or email Stephen.Glover@une.edu.au.