UQ academics get the chemistry right

Australia’s leading research chemists have thrown themselves in the mix when it comes to celebrating the 2011 International Year of Chemistry.

UQ's chemistry researchers, whose work consistently ranked as above world standard in more fields than any other Australian university in the recent Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) ratings, are enthusiastically taking up the call to increase the profile of the chemistry discipline as part of the international celebrations.

Professor Mary Garson, from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, kicked off the year with al presentation for the official International Year of Chemistry 2011 launch at UNESCO headquarters in Paris and initiated a world-wide chemistry breakfast for more than 5000 female chemists from 44 countries to mark the100th anniversary of Marie Curie being awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

And now the School’s ARC Federation Fellow, Professor Paul Burn, has launched, a new UQ web portal, Chemistry@UQ - a one-stop web entry point for those seeking information on study, research, facilities and contacts in chemistry, which has already attracted hits from 14 countries around the world.

“Chemistry at UQ is a vibrant and exciting discipline that is found within a number of Schools, Centres and Institutes, with research ranging from fundamental to applied science,” Professor Burn said.

“We wanted to make it easier for students considering a career in chemistry to find undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the one place across all the areas of chemistry and we wanted to also showcase the breadth of research happening across the University.

“In ‘materials’ chemistry, research is undertaken in the areas including biomarkers and bone tissue engineering; nanomaterials; photolithography; and organic optoelectronics.

“In the area of ‘biological’ chemistry, research encompasses drug discovery; natural products and chemical design; and the development of new drugs and vaccines.”

Head of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Professor Melissa Brown, said that during the year the school will host a range of events to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry.

“Activities will include a special chemistry focus on Open Day, an international symposium and two public lectures”, Professor Brown said.

For more details on International Year of Chemistry events see www.scmb.uq.edu.au/events.

The Chemistry@UQ webportal is at http://chemistry.uq.edu.au/

For further information, please contact Ms Rosalind Boulton, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, r.boulton@uq.edu.au, 07 3365 4043 or Mr Mark Starkey, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, m.starkey@uq.edu.au, 07 3365 4621.