Announcements

Chem 13 News Magazine

A Note to Readers

With the departure of our long-serving editor, Jean Hein, this past summer, we are in the midst of planning our strategy for the years ahead.

ChemEd 2021 website launched

The ChemEd 2021 committee has already started planning the 5 day conference at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Author: Jean Hein, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario

Chem dates

Upcoming events in Winter and Spring 2020

To have your program listed, email Kathy Jackson at: kjackson@uwaterloo.ca Author: Chem 13 News, Chemistry Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

2019 Canadian chemistry teacher of the year: François Raymond

This year’s Chemical Institute of Canada Beaumier Award for excellence in teaching chemistry at the high school or CÉGEP level in Canada is François Raymond. Author: Gale Thirwall, Chemical Institute of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

Unveiling an international masterpiece

The Timeline of Elements interactive exhibit and Mendeleev Mosaic

Chem 13 News and the Department of Chemistry are excited to announce the unveiling of the final pieces of our Timeline of Elements Project! Both the Timeline of Elements interactive exhibit and the accompanying Mendeleev Mosaic will be highlighted during an official unveiling ceremony on October 26, 2019. Author: Victoria Van Cappellen, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

It’s official! ChemEd 2021 in Canada

The next ChemEd will be hosted by the University of Guelph, July 25 – 29, 2021. Author: Jean Hein, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario

ChemEd 2019

Come for the chemistry, stay for the fun!

ChemEd 2019 is quickly approaching! If you think you're coming to ChemEd to learn about the best in chemistry education, you're absolutely correct! Not only will you enjoy the chemistry, you'll have a great time engaging with chemistry teachers from around the world with the added bonus of Naperville’s ideal location, just 30 miles from downtown Chicago. Author: Jean Hein, Chem 13 News Editor, University of Waterloo, Ontario

A ChemEd 2019 featured speaker: Theodore Gray

Exciting news: Theo Gray will be a featured speaker at this summer’s ChemEd — another great reason to attend the largest conference for high school chemistry educators in North America. Author: Jean Hein, Chem 13 News Editor, University of Waterloo

Deborah Blum at ChemEd 2019 this summer

ChemEd 2019 is excited to announce that Deborah Blum will be one of the featured keynote speakers at their conference this summer! Author: Jean Hein, Chem 13 News Editor, University of Waterloo, Ontario

Canadian Chemistry Contest: 2019 exam and 2018 winners

Do you have one or more students who excel in your chemistry class and would enjoy a challenge? Have these students participate in The Canadian Chemistry Contest (CCC). Save Monday, April 15, for the 2019 edition of CCC. Watch for more information in future issues of Chem 13 News. This article provides some contest guidelines and announces the 2018 winners.

ChemEd 2019 Reg Friesen Lecturer: Diana Mason

The Reg Friesen lecture is a special part of the ChemEd conference. Diana Mason has been selected as the 2019 Reg Friesen lecturer.  

Remembering great chemistry teachers

Jeff Hepburn and Harvey Gendreau

It has been a sad two years for the ChemEd community. In February 2017, Jeff Hepburn passed away, and just this past summer, we lost Harvey Gendreau. Both were dedicated chemistry teachers, who were full of knowledge, a willingness to share and a passion for chemistry.

Consider presenting at ChemEd!

People often ask "What should I present?" Present your passion! What do you do in your classroom that you're proud of? We. Want. To. See. It. If you love what you are teaching, we'll love your presentation! If you were looking for a more direct answer, many ChemEd attendees report that they love presentations that are hands-on, make 'n takes, relate to curriculum and how you personally implement your pedagogy.

STAO/APSO Conference November 8 – 10, 2018

The annual Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario conference will be held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport and Conference Centre, Toronto, Ontario.

In memory of Robert Le Roy

For nearly 50 years, university professor Robert Le Roy was a presence in the University of Waterloo, Department of Chemistry. It is with deep regret that we learned he passed away quietly at home earlier this month, surrounded by his family.

Make plans for ChemEd 2019!

Although the school year has just begun, the ChemEd 2019 planning committee is getting ready to welcome YOU for chemistry, networking and FUN next summer!

2018 Canadian chemistry teacher of the year: Jailson Lima

This year’s Chemical Institute of Canada Beaumier Award for excellence in teaching chemistry at the high school or CÉGEP level in Canada is Jailson Lima. Jailson completed his teaching certificate, BS, MS and PhD in chemistry from the University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Views from the classroom of award winning chemistry teachers

As a new teacher attending the Michigan Science Teacher Association annual state conference, I quickly learned who the best presenters of chemistry content were and from then on, I specifically searched for their names in the program so that I would not miss their talks.

University of Waterloo highlights at 2017 STAO/APSO

Are you looking for new ways to encourage your chemistry students to stay engaged with the course material? To help them self-assess their learning? To provide them with more practice problems or enrichment material? At Waterloo, we are developing freely available, interactive online lessons for grades 11 and 12 chemistry.

ChemEd 2017 Irwin Talesnick Award: Jean Hein

Jean Hein, editor of Chem 13 News magazine has won the Irwin Talesnick Award at ChemEd 2017...

2017 Canadian chemistry teacher of the year: Michael P Jansen

Readers of Chem 13 News will recognize the name of this year’s winner of the Chemical Institute of Canada Beaumier Award for excellence in teaching chemistry at the high school or CÉGEP level in Canada...

University of Waterloo highlights at 2016 STAO/APSO

Students cite the 1st year chemistry lab as one of their biggest challenges — and fears — as they transition from high school to university.

2016 Canadian chemistry teacher of the year: Michael Ng

Michael Ng of Paul Kane School, St. Albert, Alberta has won the Beaumier Award for High School/CÉGEP Chemistry Teachers. This annual award is presented in recognition of excellence in teaching chemistry. The award is a one-year high school teacher membership in the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC), a plaque and a $1,000 educational grant to use towards chemical supplies, equipment, books or other material to enhance the teacher’s classroom.

High School Program for BCCE 2016

The Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) is closer than most of us realize, July 31― August 4, and this summer it will be held at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to interact with educators from across the United States and around the world, discuss what they are doing in their classrooms and learn new ideas to take back to yours.

STAO/APSO Conference, November 12 – 14, 2015

The annual Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario conference will be held at the International Plaza Hotel, Toronto ON. The theme of this year’s conference is Celebrating Science.

Chemistry highlights at 2015 STAO/APSO

We’ll discuss modern interpretations of some of the most fundamental and important concepts in chemistry: things like atomic mass, the hydrogen bond, oxidation state and entropy. We will focus on our approach in 1st year at the University of Waterloo.

2015 Beaumier Award for High School/CÉGEP Chemistry Teachers: Yvonne Clifford

Yvonne Clifford, Jacob Hespeler Secondary School, Cambridge ON is the 2015 winner of the Beaumier Award for High School/CÉGEP Chemistry Teachers. This Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) award was presented by Dr. Pierre Beaumier — the award sponsor —at an outreach event at the University of Waterloo in April 2015.

Plan to have a sweet National Chemistry Week

Sugar and spice and everything nice… that's what National Chemistry Week (NCW) is made of. For 2014, that is! This year’s American Chemical Society (ACS) theme “The Sweet Side of Chemistry — Candy” showcases the chemistry of candy and confections.

Beaumier Award for High School/CÉGEP Chemistry Teachers

Jennifer Pitt-Lainsbury, University of Toronto Schools, Toronto ON is the 2014 winner of the Beaumier Award for High School/CÉGEP Chemistry Teachers.

Canadian Chemical News gets schooled

High school science teachers across Canada now have free online access to Canadian Chemical News (ACCN). The initiative, says Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) Chair David Fung, will allow teachers to enrich their chemistry classes with news of the latest chemical science innovations.

Kathy Kitzmann wins James Bryant Conant Award

Kathy Kitzmann has won the James Bryant Conant award for High School Chemistry Teaching. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. sponsors this award to recognize, encourage and stimulate outstanding teachers of high school chemistry in the United States, its possessions or territories, at the national level.

The American Chemical Society to fund American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT)

We all know that it is important to have prepared chemistry teachers in place at our schools. Unfortunately, some of us have stories that punctuate the struggle that many new chemistry teachers face as they try to wade their way through the curriculum, required content, preparation of labs and activities, etc.

ChemEd 2013 workshops

At ChemEd 2013, 500 chemistry educators from around the world gathered together at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON and shared their ideas and teaching successes. Here are a few photos that capture some of the fun and learning at the conference —hands-on learning at its best.

Singing Flame Tube at ChemEd 2013

The Generations Symposium is a special event at ChemEd in which teachers new to classroom work with mentor teachers to present chemistry demonstrations, resulting in a series of five-minute presentations totaling two hours. Micaela Ferreira is a new teacher at my school and together we were fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in Generations at ChemEd 2013.

ChemEd 2013 traditional Mole Day Run

Thinking about attending the next ChemEd at Kennesaw State University? Then start training for the Mole Day Run — walk, run or skip. Why? Photo evidence provided below. More photos of the run and ChemEd events are on the ChemEd2013 website.

ChemEd 2013 So You Think You Can Demo contest

The answer is YES!! We have photographic evidence for those who were not able to attend the ChemEd 2013 Opening Ceremonies this summer.

The birth of Chem Ed conferences – The genie in a bottle

In the latter years of the sixties, the late Len Sibley was Assistant Head of Science at St. Catharines Collegiate, and I was Head at Lakeport High School, also in St. Catharines.

STAO 2011: Rusty iron balls

Those who attended STAO 2011 might remember the smashing rusty iron balls at the STAO Committee booth. In fact, several hundred pounds of rusty iron balls were given out with money raised going towards Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

ChemEd conference memories

I've attended 11 ChemEd conferences. I look forward to them! One of my favourite memories was during my second ChemEd, in 1991 in OshKosh. As a new teacher at the time, I was surprised as I walked into George Hague's presentation.

JCE welcomes new precollege editors

If you attended a recent BCCE or ChemEd conference, perhaps you encountered Deanna Cullen, either as a presenter or active participant. A science teacher for 21 years, Deanna currently teaches chemistry and advanced placement chemistry at a public high school in Whitehall, Michigan.

Joseph Priestley dephlogisticated air show (ChemEd 2011 session)

Dressed as the man himself, Ronald Blatchley performed a series of chemical demonstrations as he shared the life and work of Joseph Priestley with the conference attendees.