August 6, 2010 � Department of Chemistry

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Important Dates & Events

August 21st: 44th Annual Gunning/Lemieux Chemistry Golf Tournament

August 23rd: Department of Chemistry Professional

Development Series presentation “Building Resilience” (see attached

flyer)

August 25th: President’s Staff Appreciation Picnic [UofA Support Staff]

BUILDING UPDATES Domestic Hot Water Upgrade I am happy to report that the Domestic Water Upgrade project will finish ahead of schedule. There is one remaining floor (5th) to be tied into the system and that should be completed by the release of this newsletter (August 6th). There will a final inspection conducted of all floors early next week, at which point in time, Delnor will clear out of the building for this particular project. My thanks to the site supervisor, Chris Rutter, and his crew, who responded in such a timely and positive manner to all reported concerns. Chemistry West 5N Renewal Project

With July’s hazmat abatement, even more asbestos was discovered than originally thought would be present thus delaying the demolition process by an additional month. It is anticipated that the abatement will be completed by mid-August. In the meantime, the block walls located on the west side of the 5th floor of Chemistry West will be removed over the next week and once the abatement is completed on the east side, they will then remove the block walls on that side.

Once the wall removal is completed, Delnor will move to complete the demolition which includes floor tile removal, air duct removal. Those demolition activities will result in intermittent harsh vibration and loud, disruptive, banging noises.

The call for tender to determine which subtrades will be selected ended as of August 4th. Upon closure, the Project Manager, Kent Love, will identify both cost and scope to meet the design needs and award the contracts by the end of August.

Heating Control Valve Replacement for Chemistry East

While all of the activity in Chemistry West, Chemisty East occupants no longer need to feel left out. From August 09 to September 10, Arpi’s (a local standing order company who do mechanical construction) are slated to come into Chemistry East to replace the heating control valves from top to bottom.

With financial support by federal deferred maintenance program, the scope of this project to is replace all of the control valves that serve the radiators along the outside walls, the thermostats, and the ceiling cooling/heating units with the intent of creating a more consistent and better heating system. Each room in Chem East will be changed out and Arpi’s will first start with the upgrade teaching labs on the 1st and 2nd floors. The Project Manager, Jim Nielson, will work closely with personnel from EH&S to procure the necessary lab clearances (if required) starting Friday, August 6 for the work to start on the 9th. Jim has done a quick assessment and anticipates that the only involvement by each lab will likely to be to clear off a desk that is pushed up against the radiator so that the Arpi’s trades can access the rad and the ceiling unit. Please refer to a more detailed email sent by Jill dated 06 August for process, as it pertains to this project.

Jill Bagwe

Did You Know?

The U of A’s Devonian Botanic Garden, established in 1959, is a stunning 190-acre property located just south of Edmonton’s city limits and is made up of manicured gardens, mixed woodland vegetation, and an extensive nature trail system. Highlights of the garden include the beautiful Kurimoto Japanese Garden, butterfly and cactus showhouses, ornamental flower gardens, alpine gardens, herb, sensory and healing gardens and more.

From UofA Facts

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Continue ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONGRATULATIONS TO.... 6th Annual Erlenmeyer Cup Winners:

Congratulations to the SNAG Team on winning the tournament, as well as to Thunderballs FC, who won the consolation bracket. Azn Sensation received the sportsmanship award. The majority of players for these teams were from NINT, the Cowie group, and the Vederas group, respectively.

Champions The SNAG Team

Consolation Team Thunderballs FC

Sportsmanship Award winners Azn Sensation

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO.... Congratulations to Michael Dang (Dr. Veinot), who passed his MSc final exam July 19, 2010.

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO.... Congratulations to Michael Dang (Dr. Veinot), who passed his MSc final exam July 19, 2010. Mike Slaney was awarded a "Best Poster Award" at the 24th International Conference on Organometallic Chemistry, held recently in Taipei. Cudos also to Jed Harrison, who placed third in the NASCC Eurasia Cup GT Invitational Race at the 2010 Edmonton Indy. He details the race below.

people. I want to say thank you to my crew of Terry, Abebaw and Marty for getting me there and keeping me going, as well as to all those who machine and make parts for me, or give me sound advice on keeping the car running well.

Jed Harrison’s 1983 Mazda Rx7 in the NASCC Eurasia Cup GT Invitational I had a long hard fight all race long with a well prepared Volkswagen, driven by a champion Ice Racer. I could power past him by the end of the front straight, with my 140 hp (at the wheels) rotary engined car, but to pass him I had to go on the inside of the corner, and as I swung wide he would come by me on the inside of the next corner. Finally I got by him, only to spin out, and watch him go by again. Then, in the very last lap he had a slow exit onto the back straight and I got him at the “comin’ at ya corner”, we drag raced down the next straight side by side, and I had the inside line to the corner. I was surprised, not unpleasantly, to see him spinning in my mirrors, as we turned onto the front straight. Since three cars in front of me broke, I was lucky enough to finish third, at the end of a very long, very hot, hard–fought race. In fact, I had to lie down on the

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Champagne and a podium finish; it was alright!

By Jed Harrison

July 23 through 25th brought the Edmonton Indy back to the City Centre Airport, and I participated in one of the support races that always accompanies a big racing event. For the fourth year, I raced my 1983 Mazda Rx7 in the NASCC Eurasia Cup GT Invitational on the same track as all those famous racers, like Danica Patrick and Dario Franchitti. This was not my best year of driving; I think last year was, but it was my best finish, coming 18th overall out of 45 cars, and third in GTP4 class, for a podium finish. While there is no prize money, it surely is a thrill to stand on the podium and then spray champagne on everyone there after racing in front of thousands of

CGSS Website Launch Visit the newly re-vamped CGSS website (http://www.chem.ualberta.ca/~cgss/CGSS/Home.html) for photos from past events, details about future events, and much more!

djjjjj …contin

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Healthy Workplace Tip

Eating Right While Working Hard Always make sure to have breakfast. Many people skip breakfast because it takes too long to eat in the morning or because they’re trying to lose weight. Studies show that people who eat breakfast are healthier & more likely to remain at a healthy weight. Also, pack a lunch as often as possible. You’ll save time, money, and are more likely to eat a healthier meal.

Bring your lunch and join HPaWS’ informative sessions from 12:05 –

12:55 p.m. Register at:

www.learningshop.ualberta.ca Budgeting During Tough Economic Times Goran Ogar, Human Solutions Thursday, August 12, 2010—CAB 273 All Work and No Play? Robert Manolson, Powerful Play Experiences Wednesday, August 18, 2010—Education South B-64 Get Happy! Elizabeth Manuel Tuesday, August 24, 2010—Education South 113

University of Alberta Lunch and Learn Program

Introducing… Professional Development Series, "Building A More Effective You": The Department's Social Environment Committee is proud to present a new professional development series titled "Building A More Effective You". This series has been tailored specifically to the Department of Chemistry and addresses many of the problems that our Researchers, Students and Staff encounter on a regular basis. Speakers will present methods of identifying and coping with various issues such as: stress, time management, depression, enhancing communication and dealing with conflict and anger. Seminars are open to all Chemistry staff, students, post docs and researchers and will usually take place on the third Monday of each month over the lunch hour in room E3-25. Fresh fruit and water will be provided so bring your lunch, have a snack and learn ways to make yourself more effective and find a happy work/life balance. Watch for flyers with information on upcoming seminars.

Champagne…continued from page 2

tarmac to recover for a while after the race, before dashing off to the podium! (I figure that makes up for last year when I was running third when I was passed under a full course yellow and the other driver was not penalized, so I lost out on the champagne spraying.) Almost everybody had a spectacular time, and there were quite a few drivers who needed a week or so to get their feet back on the ground.

Third Place Finish for Jed Harrison

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No, he can’t blow you a glass ornament for Christmas… …but he can make you a very handsome fritted funnel. I’m talking about Jason Dibbs, part-time scientific glassblower in our own Chemistry Glassblowing Shop who talked to me recently about the shop down in WB-39. For just over 2 years at the UofA, Jason says he has made everything from fuel cells used to power electrical devices to instruments for oil sands work – and of course many, many fritted funnels. The most difficult thing to make is, understandably, something at the extremes in terms of size or shape. But as Jason says, quoting a fellow glass blower, “If you can draw it, we can make it. “One of my favourite parts about glass blowing is my ability to prototype something very quickly…if you bring a napkin drawing to me I’ll look at it and have to be kind of intuitive as to what my customer wants and then I’ll make it hopefully better than what they imagined,” says Jason. “Does that look like the right angle?” Jason calls to a guy who drops in while we’re talking. It’s all yours… It was a good guess?” The gentleman leaves with a smile on his face. Another satisfied customer.

Pottery Kiln in Glassblowing Shop

Although just about any kind of piece can be made from scratch, most of the work done in the shop starts with ready-made, cost-effective parts. Heating the glass at high temperatures with a torch, blowing air on the glass through a tube to stretch it and/or using shaping tools, makes a new shape. Once a piece is formed, it must be annealed, i.e., heated at 560° for 1.5 hrs and cooled for 3. This strengthens the glass by removing the strain (stress) caused by manipulation. If not removed, the strain could cause the glass to malfunction. Not much has changed in the way of technology

since the shop’s inception in the ‘60s, including the ovens, one of them a standard pottery oven. The lathe Jason uses has a #13 on it and is probably about 50 years old, he says. We wonder if it’s the 13th one of its kind ever made for this application. The torches – a dozen of them – and the ovens, one of them a standard pottery oven, could easily have been the first ones used in the shop too.

Jason at the Diamond Saw: “People are always worried I’ll cut my finger off.”

As well as the hot working area, there is a cold section in the shop. Jason showed me the diamond saw that can cut things in a variety of ways [so they have a sharp or dull edge -- or even make something perfectly flat, like a flange. Cutting must be done with water to cool the grinder; otherwise the blade could lose its diamonds. Showing me different grinders, Jason says that the blade is so fine on one of them that it is not sharp to the touch. And he proceeds to cut a piece of glass, putting his fingers (gasp) directly on the spinning blade. “People are always worried I’ll cut my finger off…I’ll leave the door open and somebody will come by and look mortified.” Yes, I would think so.

Nifty High-performance Cryogenic Cup and Klein Bottle Made in Jason's Home Shop

If you would like to talk to Jason about the repair or crafting of a special piece of glass, you are welcome to drop by the shop on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays.

Bonnie Gover

Our Own Glassblowing Shop

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