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NAU chemistry professor discusses her work on vaccines for HPV, HIV, opioid addiction (VIDEO) – NAU News

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Danzig

Is it possible to have a vaccine to prevent HIV or treat opioid addiction? Naomi Lee, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at NAU, believes it is, and her research is focused on that goal.

At a time when talk of vaccines is focused on the speed of the development and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, Lees work is different; her team is building a foundation of these long-standing conditions that have plagued people for decades. She has focused particularly on diseases that disproportionately affect Native Americans.

The vaccines were developing are in the very early stages among a small research group vs. the COVID-19 vaccines being developed at large pharmaceutical companies with many researchers across the world, Lee said. In addition, the COVID-19 vaccines were developed quickly due to the advancements made over the years towards other coronaviruses and mRNA vaccine technology.

Learn more about her work in this March 2020 video from NAU-TV.

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NAU chemistry professor discusses her work on vaccines for HPV, HIV, opioid addiction (VIDEO) - NAU News

There is a chemical process behind love it doesnt come from the heart – Utahstatesman

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

on February 5, 2021 at 1:23 am

Romantic comedies such as The Notebook, The Fault in our Stars and 10 Things I Hate About You, all have one thing in common: love.

These movies show love can be found through sacrifice, desire and vulnerability; whether or not a person may be looking for those things.

We watch these movies hoping we too will find that perfect person to fall in love with and live our happily ever after.

But what if love had a formula? What if it was something that we could control and had less to do with our hearts and more to do with actual scientific chemistry? Its a complicated answer.

According to an article written by Harvard microbiologist Katherine Wu and Rutgers anthropologist Helen Fisher, love can be broken down into three different categories: love, attraction and attachment.

Though there are overlaps and subtleties to each, each type is characterized by its own set of hormones, Wu wrote. Testosterone and estrogen drive lust; dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin create attraction, and oxytocin and vasopressin mediate attachment.

With each of these categories or steps comes feelings some may describe as butterflies and reactions like sweaty palms, a fast-beating heart or loss of concentration.

And, have you ever thought about why you can never see those red flags when youre in the beginning stages with your new crush? Science explains that too.

CNN reports the brain on love deactivates the amygdala, which controls the perception of fear, anger and sadness. At the same time, the brain dampens the ability of our mid and frontal cortex to use logic, criticize or think clearly. We literally suspend our ability to analyze and judge the object of our affection.

Missy Kofoed, a professor at Utah State University with a Ph.D. in biochemistry, explains that, chemically speaking, love is a result from the release of a group of molecules. These molecules, called neurotransmitters, act as chemical messengers between neurons in the brain.

Although this may all sound like its meant to discount love and try to convince you true love is not a real thing, its really only telling one side of the story.

The fact that the feeling of love stems from the brain, rather than the heart, is very true. However, the topic of love being a complete chemical reaction is actually somewhat of a controversy.

Parashkev Nachev, in his article on BBC Future, argues if the neural mechanisms of love were simple, you should be able to induce it with an injection, to extinguish it with a scalpel while leaving everything else intact.

Nachev also points out that labeling love as just being brain chemistry totally misses the point.

Like art, he said, love is more than the sum of its parts.

Kofoed agreed with this statement.

The reasons behind how, why and when people experience love goes beyond being able to describe love as just a simple chemical reaction, she said.

We can control how we feel and what emotions we choose to express. Wu said it best when she stated that, ultimately, everyone is more than capable of defining love for themselves.

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There is a chemical process behind love it doesnt come from the heart - Utahstatesman

North Carolina’s Chemist Spirits Offers Up A New Single Malt – The Whiskey Wash

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Danzig

Chemist Spirits, a distillery based out of Asheville, North Carolina, recently announced the release of their Founders Reserve Single Malt Whiskey. The spirit is named after chemist and founder Debbie Word, who curated the beverage from hand selected barrels and local artisan malts.

Female led by a mother-daughter partnership, Chemist Spirits specializes in both gin and whiskey and was created through whats described as an appreciation of traditional distilling and modern science. Danielle, Debbies daughter, is a chemist who brings her science background to the small, family run business. The distillery is inspired by the turn-of-the-century Chemists who continued to persist through the prohibition era.

It is noted by the distillery that its name pays homage to those brilliant scientists and today we are refining the science of fine spirits, artfully crafted in Asheville, NC.

Crafted in partnership with Riverbend Malt House, the spirit is aged in charred American Oak barrels to create whats described as a deep Scottish-style red ale and single malt whiskey blended to cask strength. Official tasting notes speak of expecting the color to be amber with copper tones. The nose will tickle and tease of toasted oak, honey, apricots and fig. A sultry dance on the tongue, flavors of dark stone fruit, Amaretto, toasted cereal, and vanilla tobacco leaf take the lead into a creamy, full-bodied and strong willed mouthfeel.

Riverbend Malt House, for its part, is a barley malt supplier based in North Carolina that supplies local craft brewers and distillers. The company has a mission based off of supporting family farms and supporting Southern agriculture.

Chemical engineering alumna named Woman of the Year in Engineering – Penn State News

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Danzig

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn State chemical engineering and Schreyer Scholar alumna Paula Garcia Todd has been named Woman of the Year in Engineering by Women in Technology (WIT). She was recognized at the virtual 2020 Woman of the Year in STEAM Awards Gala on Nov. 12.

Paula Garcia Todd, Penn State chemical engineering and Schreyer Scholar alumna.

IMAGE: Provided by Paula Garcia Todd

Each year, WIT celebrates female leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with the WIT Woman of the Year STEAM Awards. According to the WIT website, the awardees are female visionaries that have made important contributions in their fields to make a difference in their communities.

Women in Technology holds a mission to empower girls and women to excel in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM) from the classroom to the boardroom, Garcia Todd said. Im deeply passionate about introducing STEAM to students, especially underrepresented populations in STEAM, and serving as a role model to children who didnt grow up with an understanding of the importance and everyday applicability of STEAM.

To receive this award, Garcia Todd had to meet criteria in a number of categories, including inspiration, innovation, leadership and serving others.

During Garcia Todds professional career, she has worked to promote STEAM educational tools in K-12 classrooms, and she has become an engineering role model in her community.

Garcia Todd is currently a global strategic marketing manager at DuPont Nutrition and Bioscience, where she manages the companys largest pharmaceutical excipient portfolio. She works to grow the companys business by first understanding the needs of its customers. In this position, Garcia Todd also serves as a mentor to many younger employees.

From a young age, I understood that engineers solved important problems and made an impact on everybody, and I was surrounded by an encouraging family and Penn State community that helped me believe that I was suited to be an engineer, Garcia Todd said.

After realizing that many K-12 teachers struggle to find female role models in STEAM, Garcia Todd made it one of her goals to help address that need.

She started connecting and collaborating with local schools and organizations to introduce students to STEAM-related educational material. Before the pandemic, Garcia Todd would often visit schools to give students hands-on experience with STEAM-related topics. Now, she is able to expand her connections and virtually connect to schools and organizations across the country. She has created numerous videos that explain the various fields in STEAM and distributed that content to more than 100 schools in the Atlanta area.

I strongly believe that bringing more girls into STEAM careers is critical toward the fight for womens equality, Garcia Todd said. STEAM careers are extremely impactful and provide foundations to make strong leaders in our communities whether that be in technical fields, business, government or any other discipline.Putting more women into these paths is what will finally ensure our voices are included and inequities are discontinued.

In 2019, Garcia Todd was chosen by the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences as one of only 125 women across the country to become an IF/THEN ambassador. She used the grant to fund a mentorship partnership with Science ATL that supports STEM education.

The STEM Professional School Partnership (SPSP) program partners teachers with a STEM professional for a full year tobuild and strengthen partnerships between schools and STEM businessesto benefit students, teachers, employees and companies, Garcia Todd said.

Garcia Todd said she hopes that her work in her local community and with the SPSP program will help promote STEAM education and open the eyes of students to all the opportunities in the STEAM fields.

My wish for all young girls is to be surrounded by optimism and encouragement that shows engineering has a place for them and their perspectives, Garcia Todd said. As women, I think it should be intrinsically part of our jobs to support other women to achieve their definition of success and to serve as role models to younger generations to demonstrate what is possible.

Last Updated December 09, 2020

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Chemical engineering alumna named Woman of the Year in Engineering - Penn State News

Dolphins continue to build team chemistry while adding to their win column – WMBB – mypanhandle.com

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Danzig

LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB) The Mosley boys basketball team opened the year by losing two games at a tournament in central Florida.

However, the Dolphins said they were just getting to know each other at the tournament with the football players not joining them at practice until later November.

Starting the season on the road down there in Wildwood with those guys not having any practices under their belt, were still trying to find out who we are and what our identity is, Mosley head boys basketball coach Michael Memmen said.

Once the Dolphins returned home, they beat South Walton, a win that built their confidence.

Once we won that first game, then we won that second game, we realized we could be winners, Mosley boys basketball player Chase McCarter said.

Mosley then beat Bay by one point and Arnold by three in their following two games.

Its exciting, its scary in the moment too because you dont know whats gonna happen until the buzzer goes off, Mosley boys basketball player Jake Piorkowski said.

As long as we keep moving forward in the right direction, I think well be able to be where we need to be, come February, Memmen said.

Memmen said his team has a goal to become the first Mosley boys team to go to the state playoffs three years in a row and become the first team to win a playoff game for the program in several years.

I believe the last time Mosley won a playoff game was 2007 or 08, but Mosley has never been to the playoffs three years in a row, and thats something they want to accomplish, Memmen said.

Next up for the 3-2 Dolphins is a game at Marianna on Monday night.

Just keep watching us were gonna get better from here were excited to play Marianna Monday its gonna be a good game, Piorkowski said.

Rebuilt Cajuns believe they found the right chemistry – KATC Lafayette News

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Danzig

Since winning 27 games in 2018, Bob Marlin has rebuilt his team. And rebuilt it some more. The 2020 Ragin' Cajuns have a fresh look once again.

Seven of the team's 14 rostered players are new to the program, and like a medieval alchemist, Bob Marlin believes he made gold.

"I've done this long enough I can tell this group has it," he said Wednesday during the program's virtual media day. "They get a long well. It's just different personalities and egos. We don't have the same players that we had last year. So, the group that we have now are all high character young men."

Devin Butts, Michael Thomas, Jacobi Gordon, Theo Akwuba, Kentrell Garnett, Isiah Richards, and Brayan Au are all new to the team, and will have varying roles. Freshman Thomas, and junior college transfer Au drew rave reviews from Marlin and players alike Wednesday, while Gordon, a Cal transfer, brought the biggest headline when his transfer waiver was approved, making him eligible this season.

"He's a really good shooter, Tim. He's smart. He's got a great body. His body reminds me of Bryce Washington a little bit, and he just knows how to play," said Marlin.

In with the new, means out with the old. Louisiana graduated guard P.J. Hardy, guys like Jalen Johnson and Kristian Lafayette and Calvin Temple transferred. Johnson led Louisiana in scoring averaging 15.5 points-per-game last year. But change can be good, and senior Cedric Russell says the locker room is better for it.

"There's no egos getting in the way of anything," he said. "You know, it's like, there's no one here, they're saying, 'Oh, I have to go get X amount rebounds, I gotta go get X amount of points,' you know? Everyone is really bought into winning. And that's, you know, I'm going to say that's something that we didn't really have last year."

Last season the Cajuns added eight new players, seven in 2019.

Louisiana opens the year Saturday, November 28th against Loyola after Xavier of New Orleans canceled Wednesday's game. The Louisiana women have also canceled their first two games and eye a December 4th tip-off.

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Rebuilt Cajuns believe they found the right chemistry - KATC Lafayette News

Senior advisor appointed to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board – BIC Magazine

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Danzig

Bruce Walker has been appointed to a Senior Advisor post at the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), where he will work in policy and outreach in support of Chairman Lemos.

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial accidents and providing recommendations to protect people and the environment.In his new role, based in the Washington, D.C. headquarters, Walker will be chiefly involved in interfacing with our stakeholders on the Hill and in the community, and improving the flexibility of interagency interactions around multi-jurisdictional incidents.

Previously, Mr. Walker served in many leadership roles within the aerospace and defense industry, with a major focus on government relations and homeland security. Mr. Walker holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from American University, and received a scholarship from the American Chemical Society for his contributions to the field of plume and hazard analytics.Im excited to answer the call to serve, said Walker. Safe operations of the facilities and industries within CSBs purview are critical to the safety of people and the environment.

Chairman: We are fortunate to have Bruce Walker join the CSB. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and relationships directly relevant to the CSBs mission. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Walker.

USMNT: Berhalter focused on chemistry with quick turnaround to WCQ – ProSoccerTalk

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Danzig

2020 has presented a very unique and difficult set of challenges for everyone, and that includes the USMNT as Gregg Berhalter and Co., prepare for the start of 2022 World Cup qualifying in a few months time.

[ MORE: USMNT 0-0 Wales |Player ratings | Three things we learned ]

Speaking ahead of Mondays friendly against fellow CONCACAF nation Panama, Berhalter described some of the challenges he and his staff have faced to assemble a group of players that they feel can return the USMNT to the World Cup, as well as the difficulty to do so with only this months training camp to include the vast majority of first-team figures between now the start of qualifying.

[ MORE: Berhalter thrilled when Weston McKennie flips a switch ]

Most notably, Berhalter indicated that further building chemistry and on-field relationship is his main priority to complete this camp. In previous situations of back-to-back friendlies, the distribution of minutes would be more freely spread out among the players called into camp, whereas this time around his focus is squarely on the USMNT players most likely to kick off qualifying at a still-to-be-determined time in 2021.

When I first took over, we were switching guys left and right. Now, as were getting toward [qualifying], were starting to feel the urgency. This group wont be in until March again, and then potentially Nations League [in June], and doubtfully for Gold Cup, so were basically going to have four more games together after this game. Thats a small number, so it is crucial that we get guys playing together and comfortable with each other.

Were going to try to build on what we had last game, so it will most likely look similar but with some slightly different personnel.

One thing Ive noticed, especially when youre working with young players or a group thats just forming, is you go through different stages of team development. With this group in particular, it is more of individuals looking for their position within the team. We clearly want to move to more of a team-oriented standpoint as we get into qualifying.

Its completely natural whats happening now a guy wants to come into camp, he wants to make a good impression on the coaching staff, he wants to play really well and focus more on himself. As he gets more comfortable, now hes focused more on his teammates. We certainly want to get to that stage by qualifying, because thats going to be really important.

One of the small number of changes that Berhalter revealed is that Reggie Cannon will be inserted into the USMNT starting lineup at right back. Sergio Dest, who started there against Wales, figures to shift to the other side of the field and play left back. While hes certainly competent on the left, Berhalter admits that Dest does face some opponent-specific challenges on his unnatural side.

With Sergio [on the left], sometimes you run into the issue against compact opponents that he has a tendency to come inside, which is completely natural to come onto his strong foot. If theres no space, it may be difficult.

On the right, hes used to arriving more something weve been working with him on, getting really deep into the penalty box that he can create dangerous plays. On the left, hes ball-secure, hes good combining if you have a winger that stays wide, it could be a really good combination.

As for the opponent, Panama, precious few players in the camp have participated in a World Cup qualifier against CONCACAF opposition, and thats an experience they will have to take in stride when the games take on a new meaning next year. Monday will serve as but a small glimpse into a brand new world.

I think [facing Panama] is a great opportunity for some of the guys that arent as familiar with CONCACAF opponents to get that experience, so were really happy with this game.

Check back on PST for full coverage of the USMNT vs. Panama, including recap, player ratings, three things we learned, and comments and quotes from Berhalter and the players after the game.

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USMNT: Berhalter focused on chemistry with quick turnaround to WCQ - ProSoccerTalk

Shin-Etsu Chemical Has Developed a Molding Silicone Rubber That Realizes Lighter Weight for Rubber-Molded Products – BioSpace

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Danzig

Nov. 18, 2020 07:40 UTC

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo, President, Yasuhiko Saito) has now developed a new low-density type of molding silicone rubber that realizes lighter-weight rubber molded products. Shin-Etsu is the first company in the industry to have developed this type of molding silicone rubber using LIMS (Liquid Injection Molding System) materials.

Demand for lighter-weight rubber molded products is growing in many industrial fields such as automobiles and transportation vehicles like airplanes, as well as in other diverse fields such as wearable devices, and with the development of lighter weight products, further expansion of silicone rubber applications are expected.So far, in order to make lighter-weight silicone rubber, a foaming agent was added to millable-type silicone rubber and molded into a sponge-like form. However, our new product does not require the adding of a foaming agent. Furthermore, because it can be molded using our advanced LIMS, it can meet the demand from molding-makers for superior quality and improvements in productivity.

This new product is available in two types: a low-density/high strength type *1 and a very low-density type *2. Both can make continuous automatic molding possible through the use of an injection molding machine, and therefore can efficiently produce high-quality rubber molded products, resulting in realizing not only improvements in productivity but also energy saving as well.

Shin-Etsu Chemical has a silicone rubber molding technical center. This Shin-Etsu Molding Technical Laboratory, which is located in Higashimatsuyama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, is carrying out demonstrations of molding using our new products, and at the same time, we are working on molding technology improvements as well as enhancing technical services to our customers.

Silicone rubber combines many superior characteristics such as excellent heat resistance, cold resistance, weatherability and stable electrical insulation properties, all of which are not found in ordinary organic rubber. For this reason, it is used in a wide range of applications such as in automobiles, electric-electronics equipment, OA equipment, home appliances and products for daily use.

Taking advantage of Shin-Etsu Chemicals superior product quality and technological strengths as well as our system for detailed response to our customers requests, going forward Shin-Etsu will continue to strive to meet the needs of the diversifying market.

*1 Low-density/high strength type: Compared to conventional silicone rubber molding products, this new type of product realizes about a 20-30% reduction in weight.

*2 Very low-density type: Compared to conventional silicone rubber molding products, this new type of product realizes about a 50-60% reduction in weight.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201117006371/en/

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Shin-Etsu Chemical Has Developed a Molding Silicone Rubber That Realizes Lighter Weight for Rubber-Molded Products - BioSpace

Interview With Sidley Chemical on the Market Situation of Mortar Additives and Cellulose Ethers – The Ritz Herald

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Danzig

How the business development of Sidley Chemical Co., Ltd in 2020

In 2020, Sidleychem sales increased by 20% over 2019. It mainly due to the increase in orders for pharmaceutical Hydroxypropyl MethylCellulose (HPMC)/HPC and other products. On the condition of factories being at full capacity, we have satisfied the order needs of most pharmaceutical companies. And we have developed a product named HPMC 931. HPMC931 can be used as a thickener for washing-free gels as the replacement of carbomer. The effect is also very good. It has made part of the contribution to global anti-epidemic work.

In 2020, what is the plan for Sidleychems development?

The company expects to add a Redispersible Polymer Powder(RDP) production line to produce high-quality redispersible polymer powder and to meet the order needs of foreign customers. Emulsion materials are from suppliers such as Celanese and Dalian Chemical. Our RDP product performance can completely replace the RDP product of Wack. After we optimized the production line, the production cost of redispersible polymer powder will be greatly reduced, then the market competitiveness will be improved also.

What marketing plan does Sidleychem have in 2020?

Due to the impact of the epidemic, the exhibitions in the first half of 2020 were postponed to 2021. But we will attend the 2020 China Paint Show in Guangzhou, Exhibition Number: Hall No.3.2; Zone No.8; Booth No.3.2H27. At the same time, we have been actively participating in the network exhibition to improve the companys brand awareness.

What new product Sidelychem will launch in 2020

The company has an advanced mortar application laboratory for providing technical support to dry mortar customers. After a year of research and development, we have pushed out our new Cellulose ether product coded MR15101, and new redispersible polymer powder coded RDP8012, especially used for tile adhesive. In tile adhesive, it has very good performance of water retention, anti-sagging, and workability. In gypsum products, we have new products like HPMC MR24163/MR 22110 and etc. No matter in machine spray gypsum or manual plastering gypsum, their performance are all excellent and well-received by customers.

What is Sidelychemsplan for 2021?

We believe that the global economy will fully recover in 2021. In particular, there will be a significant increase in demand for construction chemicals. We will increase the promotion of our mortar and paint additives. Cellulose ether, redipersible polymer powder, Hydrophobic agent and Calcium formate are our dominant products, their sales are expected to increase by 40% over 2020. Sidley will attend the European Paint Exhibition 2021, Exhibition Name: European Paint Exhibition (ECS 2021); Exhibition time: March 23-25, 2021.

SIDLEYCHEM was founded in 2005. The company is mainly engaged in the production and sale of cellulose ether and construction chemicals. Products include: HPMC; HEC; CMC; RDP; Calcium formate; Hydrophobic agent; Starch ether; Water reducer and other products. Mainly used in food, medicine, dry mortar, concrete, water paint, and other industries.

Mr. Rony was the founder of SIDLEYCHEM. He is engaged in the cellulose ether industry for 20 years and having a very rich industry experience.

Website: sidleychem.com.

Searching for the Chemistry of Life: Possible New Way to Create DNA Base Pairs Discovered – SciTechDaily

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Danzig

Artists impression of young Earth. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

In the search for the chemical origins of life, researchers have found a possible alternative path for the emergence of the characteristic DNA pattern: According to the experiments, the characteristic DNA base pairs can form by dry heating, without water or other solvents. The team led by Ivan Halasz from the Ruer Bokovi Institute and Ernest Metrovi from the pharmaceutical company Xellia presents its observations from DESYs X-ray source PETRA III in the journal Chemical Communications.

One of the most intriguing questions in the search for the origin of life is how the chemical selection occurred and how the first biomolecules formed, says Tomislav Stolar from the Ruer Bokovi Institute in Zagreb, the first author on the paper. While living cells control the production of biomolecules with their sophisticated machinery, the first molecular and supramolecular building blocks of life were likely created by pure chemistry and without enzyme catalysis. For their study, the scientists investigated the formation of nucleobase pairs that act as molecular recognition units in the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).

From the mixture of all four nucleobases, A:T pairs emerged at about 100 degrees Celsius and G:C pairs formed at 200 degrees Celsius. Credit: Ruer Bokovi Institute, Ivan Halasz

Our genetic code is stored in the DNA as a specific sequence spelled by the nucleobases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). The code is arranged in two long, complementary strands wound in a double-helix structure. In the strands, each nucleobase pairs with a complementary partner in the other strand: adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine.

Only specific pairing combinations occur in the DNA, but when nucleobases are isolated they do not like to bind to each other at all. So why did nature choose these base pairs? says Stolar. Investigations of pairing of nucleobases surged after the discovery of the DNA double helix structure by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. However, it was quite surprising that there has been little success in achieving specific nucleobase pairing in conditions that could be considered as prebiotically plausible.

Nucleobase powder and steel balls in a milling jar. Credit: Ruer-Bokovi-Institut, Tomislav Stolar

We have explored a different path, reports co-author Martin Etter from DESY. We have tried to find out whether the base pairs can be generated by mechanical energy or simply by heating. To this end, the team studied methylated nucleobases. Having a methyl group (-CH3) attached to the respective nucleobases in principle allows them to form hydrogen bonds at the Watson-Crick side of the molecule. Methylated nucleobases occur naturally in many living organisms where they fulfil a variety of biological functions.

In the lab, the scientists tried to produce nucleobase pairs by grinding. Powders of two nucleobases were loaded into a milling jar along with steel balls, which served as the grinding media, while the jars were shaken in a controlled manner. The experiment produced A:T pairs which had also been observed by other scientists before. Grinding however, could not achieve formation of G:C pairs.

In a second step, the researchers heated the ground cytosine and guanine powders. At about 200 degrees Celsius, we could indeed observe the formation of cytosine-guanine pairs, reports Stolar. In order to test whether the bases only form the known pairs under thermal conditions, the team repeated the experiments with mixtures of three and four nucleobases at the P02.1 measuring station of DESYs X-ray source PETRA III. Here, the detailed crystal structure of the mixtures could be monitored during heating and formation of new phases could be observed.

At about 100 degrees Celsius, we were able to observe the formation of the adenine-thymine pairs, and at about 200 degrees Celsius the formation of Watson-Crick pairs of guanine and cytosine, says Etter, head of the measuring station. Any other base pair did not form even when heated further until melting. This proves that the thermal reaction of nucleobase pairing has the same selectivity as in the DNA.

Our results show a possible alternative route as to how the molecular recognition patterns that we observe in the DNA could have been formed, adds Stolar. The conditions of the experiment are plausible for the young Earth that was a hot, seething cauldron with volcanoes, earthquakes, meteorite impacts and all sorts of other events. Our results open up many new paths in the search for the chemical origins of life. The team plans to investigate this route further with follow-up experiments at P02.1.

Reference: DNA-specific selectivity in pairing of model nucleobases in the solid state by Tomislav Stolar, Stipe Lukin, Martin Etter, Maa Raji Linari, Krunoslav Uarevi, Ernest Metrovi and Ivan Halasz, 9 September 2020, Chemical Communications.DOI: 10.1039/D0CC03491F

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Searching for the Chemistry of Life: Possible New Way to Create DNA Base Pairs Discovered - SciTechDaily

Swiss cleantech UniSieve lands 3.9 million to help the chemical and energy industry conserve energy and reduce waste – EU-Startups

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Danzig

Zurich-based cleantech startup UniSieve, which has sustainability at its core, has landed around 3.9 million in a round led by Wingman Ventures, the GREEN DEAL Grant (from the European Innovation Council), and the EIT Climate-KIC initiative (from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology).

Founded in 2018, UniSieve supports companies from the chemical and energy industry in conserving energy and reducing waste. The high energy demand of state-of-the-art separation used purify chemical products is responsible for over 10% of global energy use. By challenging state-of-the-art separation technology.

The proprietary UniSieve membrane solution facilitates saving up to 90% of the energy required to purify the worlds most frequent chemical feedstocks. Customers can therefore significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution, recover valuable chemicals, and save operational costs. In addition, highly efficient separation technologies are enabling technologies to increase the economic attractiveness andsustainability of the growing renewable chemicals market.

The fresh funds raised will allow UniSieve to establish pilot production and co-finance industrial testing at customers chemical sites. It is expected that the investment will sustain the startup until the closure of sales agreements for full-scale separation units

Lukas Weder from Wingman Ventures, who will be joining the board of UniSieve, explains the firms decision to invest: With UniSieve, we back a highly innovative platform technology which optimizes the production process of the worlds largest chemical feedstocks by significantly reducing the amount of energy used in the process. We truly believe the UniSieve team can significantly contribute to the net zero economy.

Originally posted here:
Swiss cleantech UniSieve lands 3.9 million to help the chemical and energy industry conserve energy and reduce waste - EU-Startups

Improving executive diversity is a priority | Opinion – Chemistry World

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Danzig

Diversity. Its a simple concept people from different cultures and with different life experiences bring different viewpoints to problems. Drawing on a broader range of viewpoints should allow teams to identify and solve problems in ways that benefit everyone, not just the comfortable majority.

But our industries and organisations do not (yet) represent that diversity very well. Women and members of under-represented populations are overwhelmingly concentrated in lower-paid, lower-prestige roles, and often all but absent from boardrooms and leadership teams.

While this is changing, progress is slow. Partly that slow progress can be attributed to deeply ingrained systemic inequalities. There can be no doubt that these exist, even if they are invisible to those whose privilege of birth has meant they have never encountered them. Breaking down those barriers requires uncomfortable cultural changes, and a level of sustained effort that is often emotionally and professionally exhausting to those who take up the struggle. It shouldnt have to be this way.

There is, of course, a logistical element companies with tens of thousands of employees cannot radically change their demographic makeup overnight. But at the leadership level, the numbers are much smaller boards and executive teams might be 1015 people, even at large firms. Press releases can make grand-sounding claims about increasing board representation of various groups, but when that corresponds to hiring just one or two people, it sounds significantly less impressive.

It is all too easy for executive recruiters to claim that suitable candidates from diverse groups dont exist, or are too difficult to find. They absolutely do exist, albeit in small numbers. And the benefits of their perspective surely outweighs the extra effort in finding them. Without the same opportunities for training and advancement, the leaks in the pipeline will never be plugged, and the flow of diverse candidates will remain a trickle, overwhelmed by those who look and sound the same as were used to.

If inclusion and diversity is really as important as all the strategy documents claim, then it is the responsibility of every company to examine its structures and actively break down those barriers and stereotypes. While ensuring under-represented groups have opportunities to advance throughout the company is important, providing mentorship and training to help prepare promising candidates for leadership positions is crucial (and, thankfully, increasingly recognised across the industry).

But the final problem is a little more insidious. History tells us that promises are easy to make, and just as easy to break when there are no repercussions. Grand strategies are all very well, but when they dont translate into action and results, they are more part of the problem than the solution. Its up to all of us not to continue to allow that to happen.

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Improving executive diversity is a priority | Opinion - Chemistry World

Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19 – Wittenberg University

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Danzig

When the coronavirus pandemic forced Wittenberg University to abruptly switch to online classes last spring, Professor and Chair of Chemistry Justin Houseknecht seized the opportunity to investigate how the transition to remote instruction would impact learning in an organic chemistry class. With the help of biochemistry and molecular biology major Lucy Bates, class of 2022, the pair co-authored a manuscript presenting the results. The study was recently published online in a special issue of the Journal of Chemical Education.

A proponent of active, hands-on learning, Houseknecht regularly collects data on the effectiveness of the Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) and collaborative learning methods he uses in his organic chemistry classes. He often engages students in the research process; Bates was scheduled to spend the summer in-person helping Houseknecht analyze data related to metacognitive and self-efficacy skills.

However, the pivot from in-person teaching to remote instruction presented an opportunity to add a unique component to Bates summer research project: to study if student learning and behavior changed during the spring semester.

The first part of this project was the transition to remote learning and assessment where student scores in Organic II were compared before and after the switch to learning completely online during quarantine, said Bates, who received funding from the chemistry departments Virginia Ellis Franta Fund to support her summer research. There was no significant difference in students' ability to master course material even with a different mode of learning and assessment.

Wittenberg students are fantastic, said Houseknecht, referencing the results. They roll with the punches.

Houseknecht and Bates co-authored article, Transition to Remote Instruction Using Hybrid Just-in-Time Teaching, Collaborative Learning, and Specifications Grading for Organic Chemistry 2, was published as part of the Special Issue: Insights Gained While Teaching Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19.

This research is useful for chemical education and the large potential for online learning during a world pandemic, said Bates, who hails from Brownsburg, Indiana.

Bates also spent part of the summer analyzing data collected from Organic Chemistry I.

We looked at the potential growth in metacognitive and self-efficacy skills by using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire at the beginning and end of the semester, she said. We concluded that to find significant growth, we would need more data and a larger sample population. Further research could be done.

Bates learned some valuable skills during her summer of research, including a new programming language for statistical computing.

I learned how to code using RStudio, do computational work, write professional and publishable papers, and I learned how to work efficiently by myself on a large research project.

Houseknecht offered high praise of Bates work ethic, particularly her ability to learn RStudio on her own when training courses werent available because of COVID-19.

She is an incredibly motivated, enthusiastic student, very detail-focused, he said. She sees a goal and goes after it. She took a lot of initiative to figure out how to do the work. She definitely earned her authorship.

Wittenberg has helped me prepare for my future by giving me research opportunities and professors that care about the success of all students, said Bates, who serves as treasurer of the Marine Science Club and is a member of the fishing club and Outdoors Club. She hopes to pursue a masters in molecular biology after graduating from Wittenberg.

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Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19 - Wittenberg University

Why Google, BASF and Sephora are coming together on safer chemistry – GreenBiz

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Danzig

It's probably fair to say that nobody expressly set out to devise a sunscreen to bleach coral reefs or a yoga mat to emit carcinogens. Yet toxic substances circulate in waterways and bloodstreams, leached out from all the consumables of everyday life.

Shortsightedness and paltry data in the cycles of product design and engineering are partly to blame for this collateral damage of modern chemistry. Most product designers are unlettered in chemistry, and the practice of green chemistry remains in its early years. Even a basic count of all the industrial chemicals in use is scarce somewhere over 80,000, according to the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory, although the EPA total for recent output is less than 9,000.

It's simply asking too much of most people formulating a consumer product only to include ingredients that are proven not to harm living systems.

But what if design teams seeking safer ingredients didn't have to know much about the molecules that comprise the stuff they're making? What if they had a handy menu that graded each chemical? In theory, picking a less-toxic choice could be as simple as shunning an "F" or "C" ingredient for an "A" or a "B" on the list.

We really saw this as a key to unlock in order to improve safe and circular chemistry.

That's the vision being advanced by ChemFORWARD, a mission-driven nonprofit backed by leading corporations with serious ambitions to accelerate safer chemistry. The effort is attracting pioneers in green chemistry, design and data to build a first-of-its-kind clearinghouse to help design teams and supply chains ditch hazardous chemicals for good.

"We really saw this as a key to unlock in order to improve safe and circular chemistry," said Mike Werner, circular economy lead at Google, who serves on the nonprofit's advisory board. The search giant pushes for safer chemistry and a circular economy on myriad levels, including within its office spaces, at its data centers and inside the devices it sells. "ChemFORWARD fits [into] this really big important puzzle toward making materials healthy and safe."

Google is among ChemFORWARD's roster of "co-design" partners that includes Sephora, Target, Levi's, HP, Levi Strauss, H&M, Nike, Steelcase and Method, each recognized for various leadership efforts toward safer chemistry. Last year, for example, Sephora became the first major cosmetics retailer to broadcast its policy on chemicals. Target's Sustainable Product Standard came on the scene in 2013. Nike has its own Chemistry Playbook. Levi's innovations include its recyclable Wellthread denim line. Other ChemFORWARD partners include the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals.

ChemFORWARD's technical advisory board is led by Art Fong, Apple's green chemistry lead. Corporate scientists and chemists also come together via ChemFORWARDfor regular meetings and peer reviews with third-party toxicology firms. The nonprofit isbetting that teaming up with such pathfinders will help spark lasting industry innovation via its tool, in the processlowering the cost for even small companies to find safer chemical alternatives fortheir products.

"Our intention is to reverse decades of negative impacts from the inundation of toxic chemicals that we find in our products, our economy, our environment and our bodies," said ChemFORWARD Executive Director Stacy Glass, who has led the effort from a project within theCradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute to its current iteration, housed within the Washington, D.C.-based Healthy Building Network, a nonprofit that advocates for sustainable building materials. "We need new solutions, new ways of thinking about things to have safe, circular products."

We are fundamentally changing the way that chemical hazard data is created, maintained, distributed and financed.

ChemFORWARD seeks not only to display what chemicals not to use, but also what's available instead. This aim progresses away from the longtime industry reliance on restricted substances lists that can leave product makers empty-handed, while liberating data that until recently has been trapped in various PDF reports or proprietary databases.

ChemFORWARD seeks to stand apart from other data plays by building bridges in the supply chain with its "collaborative, harmonized" approach. "We are fundamentally changing the way that chemical hazard data is created, maintained, distributed and financed," Glass said.

However, ChemFORWARD is entering an area that's already seeing a lot of activity. Multiple hazards assessment standards are available in increasingly usable formats to help companies identify problematic chemicals. The for-profit firm Scivera, launched in 2008 in Charlottesville, Virginia, offers a subscription database SciveraLENS, with color-coded grades for chemicals based on their inherent hazards.

ChemFORWARD's web-based software pools together data from some of the best-known chemicals assessment methodologies. A color-coded letter grade rolls up information from the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification, Cradle to Cradle (on material health) and the EPA SaferChoice Safer Chemical Ingredients List. That results in offering users more than 50 pieces of interpretation and over 20 human and environmental endpoints, such as around neurotoxicity or aquatic toxicity, for each chemical.

"The work that ChemFORWARD is doing and proposes to do will provide important additional information to a community of organizations seeking real-world data to better understand the safety implications of their materials choices," said green chemistry trailblazer John C. Warner, a distinguished research fellow at synthetic biology startup Zymergen.

Think of nearly any consumer-product chemical villain that's dominated recent headlines for disrupting ecosystems or being linked to cancer or hormonal havoc. Chances are ChemFORWARD is building a collection of alternatives to it. These include ortho-phthalate plasticizers found in flexible toys, UV-blocking oxybenzone in sunscreens and halogenated flame retardants in electronics. ChemFORWARD has portfolios of alternative cleaning solvents, cosmetics preservatives and fragrance fixatives. The goal is for ChemFORWARD to scale up from about 200 to 2,000 safer chemicals in 2021.

"The more technical person can see the technical data they need," Glass said. "But most companies need, Can I use it [or] can I not use it? for an answer."

ChemFORWARD is building clearinghouses for electronics and food packaging, but one of its earliest repositories coalesces data in beauty and personal care, with hundreds of safer alternatives. Someone shopping around to include a safer surfactant in a skin cleanser or an emollient in a moisturizing lotion can consult the tool for the green "A" or "B" options.

Sephora, which is mindful of its many eco-conscious young customers and became a co-design partner with ChemFORWARD in March, recently took steps to advance beyond its restricted substances list. The company says 94 percent of all the products it sells eliminate potentially negative "high-priority" chemicals. The Clean at Sephora label for sustainable beauty care products in its catalog features goods from more than five dozen smaller companies, including BeautyCounter.

"We knew the importance of creating a baseline expectation for all brands in terms of safety and the environment," Carley Klekas, Sephora's senior manager of product sustainability, said. "Sephora already had rigorous requirements in place, specifically with our in-house brand, Sephora Collection, that goes beyond EU regulations, but we also wanted to expand this even more across the brands we carry."

It teamed up with ChemFORWARD and EDF on a research project that prioritized four chemical categories c
ommon within beauty and personal care: preservatives; benzophenones; silicones; and ethanolamines. Sephora then sponsored chemical hazard assessments for the alternative ingredients named in the research. As a result of the partnership, safer alternatives have been assessed for 73 percent of Sephoras high-priority chemicals and made available to industry via ChemFORWARD.

"We needed a credible and innovative resource to help us assess alternatives to chemicals within our policy, to ensure they were safe, and that we were avoiding regrettable substitution," Klekas said. "We know this is important work to be done and will ultimately help showcase that there are safer alternatives to the high-priority chemicals we seek to reduce in our assortment, while also help the industry identify gaps where more innovation is needed."

Glass sees ChemFORWARDs highest mission as its potential for furthering innovation. But that requires buy-in not only from retailers and product manufacturers, but also from the chemical producers themselves. The process of making chemical substitutions is only one step along the path to optimizing shiny, new, safer chemicals, which Glass hopes to help propel.

Enter Pat Harmon, industry manager at chemicals powerhouse BASF. Hes been involved with ChemFORWARD for many years after meeting Lauren Heine through a Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (G3C) event. Heine was then executive director of the nonprofit Northwest Green Chemistry and had just joined MaterialWise, the early iteration of ChemFORWARD, where she's now director of safer materials and data integrity.

BASFs sustainability strategy hinges upon developing chemicals that advance sustainability, called "accelerators," which account for more than 25 percent of its sales. Ninety-five percent of BASF's products have been evaluated for potential sustainability contributions. BASF has a history of involvement in collaborative assessments, and it quantifies the sustainability benefits of its products through life-cycle assessments and its Sustainable Solutions Steering methodology.

It's really powerful in terms of thinking about moving to green chemistry.

Harmon aligned with Heine on the need for better third-party assessments for alternatives to troublesome ortho-phthalates, which are tied to multiple health problems. He also liked what she described of how the fledgling nonprofit chemical clearinghouse might lower the cost to companies of chemical assessments while moving away from "negative lists." ChemFORWARD's involvement with leadership brands and retailers, which are ultimately BASFs downstream customers, also helped to elevate the case for BASF getting involved.

Eventually, BASF shared details for ChemFORWARD about several of its plasticizer accelerators, including its ortho-phthalate alternatives Hexamoll DINCH and Palatinol DOTP. These are used in flexible PVC and in a broad range of applications including childrens toys, yoga mats, wiring cable, vinyl flooring and automotive interiors.

"Now, chemical suppliers have the option to market their safer alternatives and to validate their low-hazard claims through an independent, trusted platform," Glass said. "In this way, we create a bridge between chemical suppliers, their customers and prospective customers with data that has been traditionally hard to come by, difficult to interpret and sometimes hard to trust."

Harmon sees ChemFORWARD as a useful tool for companies that ultimately use BASFs chemicals as well as a resource that can help move safer chemistry forward in industry, demonstrating for BASF's customers the value of the safer decisions behind their product formulations. And the involvement with CHEMForward may help BASF to identify potential market gaps in areas where the number of attractive chemical alternatives is slim.

"This is why the ChemFORWARD project is so important," Harmon said. "Its one of the ways to help understand that you're making the right decisions to move to new substances. I would really like to see this approach be used more and more." For example, what if ChemFORWARD could grow to include the broader area of plastics additives in addition to plasticizers, such as flame retardants and light stabilizers? That could bring more of the plastic industry onboard, he added.

"If you make it broader for the whole plastics industry, then you have a lot of people who would have interest in using this type of tool," Harmon said, optimistic that ChemFORWARD may help to advance plastics circularity longer term. For example, if it identifies safer plastics used, say, in medical equipment that's currently discarded, then more IV bags or other consumables finally might be recycled without the possibility of circulating harmful chemicals into the marketplace and the environment, Harmon said.

ChemFORWARD's small team hopes to encourage more chemical suppliers to get involved by providing them a means to bring forth their safer chemicals in a way thats trustworthy, verified and peer-reviewed by a third party, also broadening the availability of their chemicals for certifications and reporting. Companies can use this information for marketing purposes, including for consumer labels, but it's also critical for risk management and verifying internal claims about a product.

"As we get more and more eyes on our platform, we'll be able to make that case even more strongly that: 'Hey, chemical suppliers, if you have good stuff and you want to verify those claims, this is a great place to do it,'" Glass said. "We feel a tremendous sense of urgency to not only stop unknowing toxic chemical exposure, but to empower those who are working to create a safe and circular future for all."

Glass spent a decade in green building, serving as VP for the built environment at the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, which shaped in 2016 the earliest version of ChemFORWARD. Research across industries, up and down supply chains, found that companies lacked information to use better chemistry. Good attempts by other nonprofits had failed to gain traction. Recognizing a larger industry need, the institute spun out the effort, which currently counts less than 10 staff members distributed across the U.S. and a network of toxicologists.

I realized this was a data organization problem, our not knowing what was in our stuff and what were exposed to.

"I realized this was a data organization problem, our not knowing what was in our stuff and what were exposed to, and the incredible tax this exposure is causing to society," Glass said. "Im not a chemist, Im not a toxicologist I said, we can fix this. I see the solution clearly. Ill take any data solution, any scalable solution, that will get this information into the hands of designers and formulators so (they) can make safer decisions."

It's possible ChemFORWARD ultimately could feed data into life-cycle analysis or supply chain management tools. It can't hurt to have Google as a partner, and it's worth noting that the advisory board's latest addition is Kimberly Shenk, co-founder of the AI-driven supply chain transparency startup Novi.

The movement, however, has a long road ahead. It's still relatively cheap for companies to crank out new molecules, and the chemicals industry is a powerful economic engine and lobbying force.

Nevertheless, ChemFORWARD and others pivoting away from the conventional focus in managing chemical risksand instead toward making decisions based on inherent toxicity is a huge paradigm shift, said Mark Rossi, executive director of Clean Production Action, who also created the GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals hazard assessment method with Heine.

"It's really powerful in terms of thinking about moving to green chemistry," he said. "All chemistry should be green chemistry, and how do you get there? This is all part of that movement toward making choices based on hazards."

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Why Google, BASF and Sephora are coming together on safer chemistry - GreenBiz

Stepping towards diversity in industry | Business – Chemistry World

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Danzig

At a time when calls for racial equality and inclusion from the Black Lives Matter movement in the US are reverberating worldwide, major pharmaceutical companies are stepping up efforts to increase the diversity of their workforce, supply chains, executive leadership and boards of directors.

In August, for example, US firm Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) committed to investing $300 million (229 million) in efforts to address health disparities experienced by minority populations, increase the companys clinical trial diversity, boost its support of diverse suppliers, and continue to increase African American and Latinx representation at all levels of the company.

By 2022, BMS aims to achieve gender parity at the executive level globally. It will also double executive representation of Black and African American, as well as Hispanic and Latinx employees in the US. More broadly, the company has pledged to spend $1 billion globally with Black- and other diverse-owned suppliers by 2025.

BMS will release updated demographic information on its workforce and leadership early 2021. In the interim, its most recent data from July 2018 shows that just over 50% of its overall workforce are women, but only about 38% of executives. And while around 29% of its overall workforce come from minority populations, such groups represent just under 20% at the executive level.

Systemic racism is as real as any disease. Our industry is not immune

Stephen Ubl, president of PhRMA

To reach its diversity goals, BMS is adapting its recruitment process, among other things. The company will require diverse interview panels for all executive roles in the US, and will work with women- and minority-owned recruitment firms that specialise in diverse executive talent. BMS says that it is aggressively managing succession plans, and implementing mentoring, sponsorship and development programmes to increase the diversity and readiness of employees seeking executive positions.

Similarly, US-based Merck & Co recently committed an additional $10 million to address disparities highlighted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, Merck reports spending more than $2 billion with diverse suppliers in 2019, defined as those inclusive of women, disabled people and military veterans.

The company, which says it works with 15,000 such diverse suppliers globally, is also a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, a group that recognises firms that spend at least $1 billion annually with minority- and women-owned suppliers.

Currently, three of Mercks 10 executive leaders are African American, including chief executive Kenneth Frazier the first African American man to lead a major pharmaceutical company. A further two of the companys 12 board members (excluding Frazier) are African American (16%), and six are women. Mercks latest data from 20192020 indicate that 25% of its board, 26% of its executives and 29% of its overall workforce come from underrepresented ethnic groups, while 49% of its overall workforce and 50% of new hires were women.

Different companies are at different stages in their efforts to embrace diversity. A survey by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) which represents biotechnology firms, research universities, state biotechnology centres and related associations confirms that diversity is lacking at the top management levels within its sector.

On average, 45% of all US employees at responding companies are women, but only 30% of the executive-level workforce, 18% of board members and 16% of chief executives. In addition, 20% of responding organisations had no women at executive level, and 32% had none on the board.

The situation appears even grimmer when it comes to minority populations representation. On average, 32% of all employees at responding companies are people of colour including Black, Latinx, Asian and Native American. However, they comprise only 15% of executive teams, 14% of board members and 12% of chief executives. 56% of responding organisations had no people of colour at executive level, and 64% had none on their boards.

But while the biopharma industry is increasingly welcoming diversity, US president Donald Trumps administration is moving in the other direction. In September, Trump issued an executive order prohibiting federal contractors and grantees from teaching what it calls divisive concepts like white privilege, unconscious bias, and systemic racism in their diversity and inclusion training efforts.

Stephen Ubl, president of the trade body Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) criticised the presidential directive, arguing that diversity is essential to a robust innovation ecosystem that generates new medicines. In August, PhRMA had issued an open letter on equity, declaring that Systemic racism is as real as any disease. Our industry is not immune, and calling on its members to actively stand up to racism and injustice.

Nevertheless, as it stands, the White House has effectively halted all diversity training efforts at federal agencies while it reviews their programmes and works to implement the new policy.

The issue will likely be a moot point should Trump lose his bid for re-election to Democratic rival Joe Biden on 3 November. If elected, Biden would be expected to rescind the executive order, given he has criticised Trump for attacking diversity training and emphasised that racial insensitivity is a real problem that needs to be addressed in all workplaces.

The chemicals industry is likewise moving to become more diverse. For example, DuPont spinoff Chemours launched a diversity action plan in June that includes expanded employee training and education on eliminating bias and driving diversity.

We are holding ourselves accountable to advancing inclusion and diversity, and are measuring our progress against the goals laid out in our corporate responsibility commitments, which include [getting to] 50% women in our global workforce, says corporate communications leader Alvenia Scarborough.

Women currently make up 22% of Chemours global workforce, Scarborough tells Chemistry World. She describes this figure as solid for the chemicals industry, and says the company is making good progress but still has a way to go. Chemours goal for ethnic minority representation among its US workforce is 20%, and Scarborough notes that the current figure isvery close at 19%.

Noted chemist to focus on renewable energy research, education as new RASEI head – CU Boulder Today

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Danzig

Noted organic chemist Seth Marder has been named the new director of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), one of several affiliated with CU Boulder, effective July 2021.

RASEI (pronounced RAY-see) is a joint institute between CU Boulder and the U.S. Department of Energys National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NREL works to transform energy by advancing renewable energy science, engineering and analysis through research, education and industry partnerships.

Seth Marder

Former RASEI Director Robert McGrath retired. At present, Carrie Eckert and Gregor Henze are serving as interim co-directors.

We are excited that Seth has agreed to take on this new challenge, said Terri Fiez, vice chancellor for Research and Innovation at CU Boulder. He brings unique expertise that will help us create a vital bridge between the sciences and engineering on our campus, and between CU Boulder and NREL on the partnership side.

Marder will have joint appointments in chemical and biological engineering within the College of Engineering and Applied Science and in chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. He will also be named a RASEI fellow and have a joint appointment at NREL.

Marder is presently the Georgia Power Chair of Energy Efficiency and Regents Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and a professor of materials science and engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also directs Georgia Techs Center for the Science and Technology of Advanced Materials and Interfaces.

NREL is proud to welcome Seth to RASEI and we look forward toeven deeper collaborative interactions leading to continued, and highly impactful, solutions for our energy future, said Peter Green, deputy laboratory director for science and technology at NREL. Research partnerships like this one with CU-Boulder on RASEI are critical to the development and deployment of new energy technologies at speed and scale, and Sethsuniqueexperience and expertise enhancesour capability to accomplish our mission.

He received his BA in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After completing his postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford, he moved to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology.

Marder has served on numerous advisory boards for journals and is the founding chair of the editorial board for the Royal Society of Chemistry materials journal Materials Horizons.

He is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Physical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Materials Research Society, the Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), the Optical Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is also a member of the World Cultural Council.

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Noted chemist to focus on renewable energy research, education as new RASEI head - CU Boulder Today

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry/Forensic Science job with UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN | 243062 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Danzig

School of Chemistry

Location:LincolnSalary:From 33,797 per annumThis is a full time permanent post of 1 FTEClosing Date:Sunday 28 February 2021Interview Date:Wednesday 24 March 2021Reference:COS016A

Senior Lecturer salary from 39,152

Lecturer salary from 33,797

The School of Chemistry at the University of Lincoln has quickly established a strong position by developing an ambitions research agenda alongside its successful Employer-Engaged teaching programmes. We are seeking to substantially enhance our position across its key strategic areas of Chemistry and Forensic Science. Substantial investment has been realised in new research and teaching facilities and specialist support to create a dynamic and modern working environment for the School.

For these lectureships, we are targeting individuals with the ability to develop our programme in cutting-edge science and support our future research ambitions. Research in the School promotes inter-disciplinarity and aligns to three research groups: Advanced Functional Materials (e.g. energy capture and storage, electronic and optical materials, supramolecular and reticular materials, solid state materials and catalysis, formulation science), Innovative Analytical Methodologies (e.g. analytical and forensic chemistry, sensors, 2D- and 3D-imaging) and the Chemistry-Biology interface (e.g. green chemistry, drug discovery and development, forensic bioanalysis and toxicology, omic sciences). These research groups map to the Universitys interdisciplinary research themes, particularly Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing, Rurality Heritage and Digitalisation

A commitment to working within multidisciplinary teams and an enthusiasm for developing research-integrated teaching will be strong attributes in the successful candidates.

We are seeking applicants with significant research track record and the potential for strong engagement with the Schools research groups, particularly Innovative Analytical Methods. In addition, an ability to contribute to the School's accredited programmes across chemistry and forensic science will be an advantage. Early career candidates will be able to demonstrate the ability to teach in specialist areas in chemistry and have an enthusiasm for broadening their experience across the chemical sciences.

We strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups. The School of Chemistry is an Athena SWAN Bronze Award holder and the University of Lincoln is an equal-opportunities employer and an Athena SWAN Bronze Institution and rated Gold in the recent Teaching Excellence Framework. For informal enquiries, please contactchemistry@lincoln.ac.ukfor the attention of Professor Ian Scowen, Head of School.

Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen, who coined the term Anthropocene, dies – Chemistry World

Posted on February 7, 2021 by Danzig

Paul Crutzen, the Dutch atmospheric chemist who was a co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel prize for chemistry for his work on stratospheric ozone destruction, died on 28 January at the age of 87 following several years of illness. His passing means that all three chemists who won that pivotal award for atmospheric chemistry are gone now. One of the other two co-recipients of the award, Mexican chemist Mario Molina, died just this past October, and the other joint winner, American chemist Sherwood Rowland, passed away in 2012.

Crutzen, who demonstrated that nitrogen oxides accelerate the depletion of the Earths ozone layer, popularised the term Anthropocene in 2000 to define the current geological era in which human activity is influencing the planet. He was also one of the early adopters of proton transfer mass spectrometry in atmospheric research.

Paul J Crutzen was a pioneer in many ways, saidMartin Stratmann, president of the Max Planck Society (MPG), whose Institute for Chemistrys atmospheric chemistry department was directed by Crutzen from 1980 until his formal retirement in 2000. He was the first to show how human activities damage the ozone layer, Stratmann added. This knowledge about the causes of ozone depletion was the basis for the worldwide ban on ozone-depleting substances a hitherto unique example of how Nobel prize-winning basic research can directly lead to a global political decision.

Crutzen continued his scientific activities for many years after retiring. Chlorofluorocarbon gases were banned and today the ozone layer is slowly repairing itself, thanks to his joint work with Molina and Rowland, the official Nobel prize Twitter handle stated.

Born in Amsterdam in 1933, Crutzen started elementary school just a few months after Germany invaded the Netherlands. His path to becoming an atmospheric scientist was not a straight one.

Crutzen began his career as a civil engineer and then was a computer programmer at Stockholm Universitys meteorology department. After earning a PhD in meteorology in 1968, Crutzen went on to become a professor and researcher at various prominent universities across the world, including Oxford, Chicago and California. He published more than 360 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 15 books, becoming one of the most highly cited scientists in the world, according to MPG.

In the past few years, he grew increasingly concerned about the timely societal recognition of the extent and severity of climate change, the organisation said in its 28 January statement, calling him a dedicated mediator between science, politics, and society.

Crutzen is survived by his wife of more than six decades, two daughters and three grandchildren.

Chemistry Professor Honored with National Teacher-Scholar Award – Newswise

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Danzig

Newswise OMAHA, Neb. (Oct. 30, 2020) Kayode Oshin, PhD, associate professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as a 2020 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, an award honoring young faculty in the chemical sciences.

Oshin is among eight college and university faculty members honored by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation for creating an outstanding independent body of scholarship and for being deeply committed to education with undergraduates. Each awardee receives an unrestricted research grant of $75,000.

His research cited in the award, Developing New Catalyst Systems for Atom Transfer Radical Addition Reactions, seeks to develop new compounds (intermediates) used by pharmaceutical and chemical industries. These intermediates can serve as essential building blocks in the production of drug molecules, therapeutics and household chemicals, Oshin said.

Oshin said he was delighted with the news of the award because it will bring some national attention to all the amazing work performed by my colleagues within the Chemistry Department and Creighton University as a whole.

He plans to use the grant to provide summer research stipends to Creighton undergraduates and support student travel to regional and national conferences to present research results.

Oshin, who is in his fifth year as a faculty-researcher at Creighton, is also the director of the Haddix STEM Corridor Program.

Since its inception in 1970, the Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar program has awarded more than $52 milion to support emerging young leaders in the chemical sciences. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the science of chemistry, chemical engineering, and related sciences as a means of improving human relations and circumstances around the world."

Learn more about the program and the Dreyfus Foundation here.

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Chemistry Professor Honored with National Teacher-Scholar Award - Newswise

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