RACI WA Branch Newsletter APRIL 2020

In This Issue: p1 President Corner p5 Chemaraderie Schedule p5 Vale Wilf Ewers p5 Young Chemists p6 Mentoring p6 Career Development p7 Rowe Scientific p7 Women in Chemistry p8 Bayliss Youth Lecture p8 Lord & Co p10 Walker Scientific p11 Wilf Ewers Award p12 Rowe Calendar of Events p12 Newsletter Advertising & Deadline Contact the RACI WA Branch: www.raci.org.au/branches/wa-branch Branch Co-ordinator: Ben Fletcher 0403 022 968 wabranch@raci.org.au ABN: 69 030 287 244 IRN: A0040386D ARBN: 102 726 429 Follow RACI: Facebook at facebook.com/RACInational Twitter at @RACInational Instagram at @racinational

President Corner Dear RACI WA Branch members and readers New RACI website coming soon.

The team at RACI are working hard on delivering your new RACI website in the next few months. Your new website will make it easier for you to manage your memberships, provide simpler access to conferences and events, be a source of information on chemical sciences and awards, enable networking, and provide a host of educational resources. This website is for our members and we would like to feature as many of you as possible. We currently have an opportunity for members to provide images and testimonials that will be used throughout the new website. If you would like to participate, please email communications@raci.org.au by Fri 17 April for further information. Can you help with COVID-19 testing? ASM is looking for volunteers. The Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) is putting together a database of qualified people who are willing to be called upon in case of a potential staff shortage to assist with COVID-19 testing (or any other requests required) at hospitals or any other diagnostics lab across Australia. This database will be shared with local public health hospitals and diagnostic labs. It is envisioned that in the event of a staff shortage, volunteers can be trained to support ongoing COVID-19 testing. ASM is also looking for people who can donate molecular biology reagents for COVID-19 testing in particular viral swabs and unopened RNA extraction kits. Submit your details here https://buff.ly/3biYv90 Please contact

laurence.luu@unsw.edu.au if you have any questions. Continued next page

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 2

President Corner (Continued) Ancient Rome The Romans were prodigious builders, expert civil engineers, and their thriving civilization produced advances in technology, culture and architecture that remained unequalled for centuries. Western societies more generally, tend to look back on ancient Rome as the pinnacle of western civilization. We emulate their institutions and cultural practices. When trying to explain to people in general what Roman life was once like, nothing gets to the heart of the matter more poignantly than intimate details about their daily life. Despite all their accomplishments, ancient Romans engaged in some practices that many people today would find thoroughly revolting. Hygiene in ancient Rome included the famous public Roman baths, toilets, public facilities, and despite the use of a communal toilet, they often grabbed a tersonium (technical term for a “toilet brush for your butt”) an ingenious little device made by attaching a natural sponge (from the Mediterranean Sea, of course) to the end of a stick which they would use to wipe him or herself. After use they would simply rinse the tersonium in a bucket of vinegar and salt water, and leave it for the next person to use. In addition to the tersonium, there were other materials used by the Romans for “wiping” such as an abrasive ceramic disc, moss, snow, wool, corn cobs grass, fruit skins and many more. Everything else “butt” a roll of toilet paper! Backyard Dunny In the 1950’s and early 1960’s Australia had outdoor dunnies and thunderboxes. The backyard dunny is a great Aussie icon. If you are a senior citizen you would remember stumbling into the night with a torch, half asleep, only to find a redback spider under the seat to make you feel more comfortable and when you done you would grab pages from a book, newspapers, catalogues etc to clean yourself. The waste went into the pan and it was collected by a “night soil man” or “dunnymen” who changed the pan once a week. A horse and cart and later a truck would drive into the back lane, pull the pan out, tip it into an empty can full of sawdust, which they would tip into a wooden box. The collection of the waste is akin to our weekly rubbish collection that we have today. I never imagined that I would write an article about “loo” (toilet paper) paper. The fact that there is a toilet paper shortage in 2020 is easily one of the weirdest things Australia has ever witnessed. So why is this happening? Are people fearing and believing that the last days are here or do they believe that doomsday has finally arrived and we will all get caught with our pants down? People are stampeding our supermarket shelves around the country bulk buying in the face of a coronavirus pandemic. Others are hoping to cash in and prey on vulnerable people. If we don’t stop this unsightly behaviour it is quite possible that the economic and social implications of the coronavirus will be more serious than the disease itself. It is history repeating itself. During the SARS outbreak in 2003, people become reluctant to travel and this hesitation inflicted greater economic damage than the actual outbreak itself.

When we are scared we do not make decisions via our brain’s cortex. Instead it is an emotional response. It is also driven by the fact that we see other people do it. Humans are social animals and our behaviour is influenced by what those around us are doing. This phenomenon is termed “social proof”. We don’t just do this at times of crisis. Even in normal circumstances, if you see one product left on the shelf (you think) it means it must be good or important so you also reach for the product even if you do not require it. In Australia there is little chance of running out of raw materials for toilet paper, which is made from softwood plantations such as pine, using thinning and sawmill residues. About 150,000 to 250,000 tonnes of softwood pine fibre is exported from WA each year, ultimately returning and being manufactured into Australian toilet tissue, and tissues and sanitary products. We have enough wood fibre to keep up with the demand for a long, long time. Toxins Are there toxins in your toilet paper? Yes with the most dangerous of these toxins being chlorine. Unfortunately, most conventional toilet paper is processed with chlorine bleach. Chlorinated toilet paper Continued next page

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President Corner (Continued) contains the highest amount of furans (furan is a heterocyclic organic compound, and related to Pyrrole; Thiophene) out of all cosmetic tissues.

Dioxins are environmental pollutants. They belong to the so-called “dirty dozen” a group of dangerous chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants. Dioxin is a bleaching by-product and one of the most toxic human made chemicals. Dioxins and furans not only enter the air but also waterways, soil, and the food chain. Dioxin has also been linked to an increased risk to breast cancer. And, sadly enough, there are many different chemicals used during the manufacturing process for toilet paper, and these dangerous toxins can build up in your body and be the cause of serious health concerns. Please realize that while there are some things you have no control over, there are somethings you can do to protect you self and those you love. Look for toilet papers on the market that don’t include chlorine, just check the label carefully. As we watch “toilet paper gate” unfold in front of our very eyes, we realise that the humble toilet paper has made an enormously impact on our lives. One cannot conceive a world without toilet paper, or a bidet, being available to clean up after one’s self. Toilet paper continues to evolve, but it’s important to look back at the toilet paper dark ages and reflect upon our predecessors, our leaders, investors, great thinkers and iconic artists and ask “How did they accomplish all that stuff without ever getting to enjoy the GO?” We can however win “World War Loo”. I have two recommendations. Firstly, we can all learn from the Romans and start making tersoniums. Almost all sponges are found in marine environments, they live in both shallow coastal water and deep sea floor (ring the Fisheries Department, I am sure they’ll know all about tersonium). You can buy a stick and a bucket from Bunnings, chlorine and salt from the supermarkets and add water. Secondly, install a Japanese electronic toilet (Woshuretto or warm-water cleaning toilet seat). These toilets are one of the most advanced types of toilet worldwide. I was in Japan last April and had the pleasure of test driving one of these pieces of dazzling cutting edge technology. It felt like driving a F1, the cleaning/squirt button is on the right hand side of the seat. When you push it upward, it will squirt water with more force. On the left hand side, if you push it down, it will squirt water with less force so you can take corners and before you hit the home stretch for the final hurrah, you can feel the hot air coming from the turbo thrust from both sides of the exhaust pipes before you hit the finishing line…. whaaaaaa….what a crescendo. It was one of the highlights of my trip. WA Branch Response to COVID-19 As you know, we are currently experiencing a global situation that most generations have not experienced before. The RACI Board has informed all Branches to be cautious of their duty of care to all committee members, groups, members and volunteers and their role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Currently, all face-to-face meetings for the RACI have been cancelled/postponed. During this time the WA Branch will be following the National Office guidelines for the benefit and well-being of our members and everyone else connected with the RACI and to ensure the chemical science community remains connected both socially and professionally. We will do our very best to inform you and update you on the latest development as they come to hand by emails, social media and our WA Website. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact Ben Fletcher, our coordinator, or myself. In these times of uncertainty, we all need to come together as one. Take care of your health and protect others by all doing the extra 1 percent. Retirees in the Swan Valley - Pinelli Estate Wines Winemaking as a form of food preservation is as old as civilisation. Wine has been an integral component of people’s daily diet since its discovery and, it plays an important role in the development of society, religion, and culture. Continued next page

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President Corner (Continued) Amongst the fresh valley air and pretty vistas you’ll find the Swan Valley, which is Australia’s oldest wine region and home to more than 40 wineries. On February 26th, the RACI retirees visited Pinelli Estate Wines, an award winning winery. The Pinelli family are second-generation winemakers dating back to 1955 when founder Domenic Pinelli emigrated to Australia. We were greeted by Daniel Pinelli, winemaker and owner. Daniel gave us an in-depth description of the wine making process while his team were crushing several tons of freshly hand-picked grapes (cabernet and merlot) from their vineyard. After this we walked through the cellar door to explore a wide range of premium award winning wines. As the noise level got louder, we walked under the rustic pergola covered in decades old vines to the restaurant that offered an exciting modern Italian menu. The food was great, the wine was excellent. the 12 amazing people that came along had a fantastic day. The highlight of the day was celebrating Don and Jean Swift’s 55th wedding anniversary. On behalf of the WA Branch and our members, congratulations Don and Jean, may there be more to come. We also thank Daniel and staff for their hospitability.

Ferdie Ferrante RACI WA Branch President

Here with you,

working for you.

Photo credits: Ferdie Ferrante

Photo credit: Luke McGuinness

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 5

RACI WA CHEMARADERIE

Please come to the RACI Chemaraderie. This is a great chance to meet fellow members and be entertained by guest speakers. All welcome – membership is not a prerequisite to attendance (so please bring a friend).

Date: Usually 3rd Tuesday of every month Time: From 5.30pm. Seminar/presentation commences at 6.15pm. Refreshments prior and at seminar conclusion Venue: Exhibition Area, Building 500, Curtin University Cost:: $5 charge to cover refreshments (limited drinks and snacks) (receipts can be

provided) RSVP: wabranch@raci.org.au to assist with catering purposes Or register online (preferably by Friday before meeting)

All Chemaraderies are cancelled due to COVID-19

Vale Wilf Ewers

Wilf passed away on 27/02/2020.

Wilfred E. Ewers, FRACI. The WA Branch of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute honours Wilf each year by presenting the “Wilf Ewers Citation Award” to a worthy nominee. In 1992 Wilf received the CSIRO Brodie Hall award for his outstanding work as Officer in Charge in WA for establishing and managing the CSIRO minerals research group in WA. The WA Branch of the RACI offers condolences to Wilf’s children, Graeme, Ann, Penny and their families for their loss.

YCSWA is a special interest group for early career chemists (students, graduates, post graduates etc under 35) in Western Australia. Our monthly events at the Cheeky Sparrow aim to providing a networking platform with talks that cover interesting scientific topics, career development and things

you didn’t learn at uni, in a casual environment.

Facebook @YCSWA

For the next few months, YCS meetings will be held online. Please stay in touch on our

Facebook page for further information. The YCS group would also like to make a call

for speakers who would be willing to participate in online meetings. We would love to

hear about your work experiences and about the chemistry you work with every day.

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 6

Are you a young or early career chemist interesting in gaining experience through having a mentor?

Are you are an established chemist interesting in mentoring

the next generation of chemists? The RACI has started running a mentoring scheme and are looking to expand this to include Western Australia. For information on the mentoring scheme see: https://www.raci.org.au/jobs-careers/career-development-program The program for 2020 is already underway, so if this scheme was implemented in WA it would start in 2021. We need to know if there is sufficient interest to start planning for this to run next year.

If you are interested in being a mentor or a mentee, please send an Expression of Interest to Ben at wabranch@raci.org.au

RACI Career Development Program 2020

The RACI Career Development Programme continues with a webinar entitled:

“Good Job Applications” which takes place on Thursday 16 April at 6.30pm AEST.

With companies receiving hundreds of job applications per ad. What makes a successful application? Here we will be giving you an insight into all that is involved in the screening and selection process. We will discuss how you can better your application and further your chance of being selected. Participants will have the opportunity to ask their own questions. This webinar is free. Registration is available to all. More information, including details of how to register, can be found here: https://www.raci.org.au/events/event/webinar-good-job-applications The 2020 Mentoring Programme has been affected, like everything, with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the banning of face-to-face meetings. Many meetings are moving to an on-line format and are open nationally, despite being run by a particular state or territory. All RACI members are encouraged to refer to the RACI Events Calendar https://www.raci.org.au/events. For more information contact the relevant Regional Coordinator. If you would like more information on the Mentoring Programme or Career Development Programme please email mentoring@raci.org.au or access the website here: https://www.raci.org.au/jobs-careers/career-development-program.

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 7

Q: What happened to the man who was stopped for having sodium chloride and a nine-volt in his car? A: He was booked for a salt and battery.

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 8

Bayliss Youth Lecture 2020 The Bayliss Youth Lecture Series kicked off on March 10th at the University of Western Australia, Wilsmore Lecture Theatre. Dr Georgina Sauzier from Curtin University, School of Molecular and Life Science, gave a lecture entitled, “Shining a light on crime: Applications of spectroscopy to forensic science”. This was an extremely interesting insight into the wonderful world of different parts of analytical chemistry and its application to real life problems. Georgina provided an engaging and thought-provoking lecture to a packed audience of high school students, UWA students, members of the community and RACI members.

Georgina presenting at John Curtin College of Arts

Photo credits: Dino Spagnoli

Continued next page

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 9

Bayliss Youth Lecture 2020 (Continued)

Georgina provided a personal account of her journey to date, where she studied and how she got interested in forensic science. She explained her research in a very understandable way. Georgina’s research, which she started during her honours year, focuses on how chemistry and spectroscopy in particular, can be used to determine where the paint on a car comes from. To determine this Georgina and her team gets the chemical fingerprint of the paint from spectroscopic techniques. Georgina then uses Cheminformatics to determine trends from the large amount of chemical data. As you can imagine, for the police who are investigating a crime involving a car, this is extremely valuable information as manufacturers like using specific types of paints on their cars. Georgina also explained that she has been doing a six-year continuing experiment to see if paints change their chemistry make up when exposed in the sun over time. This involves bolting car panels down on the roof of the Resources and Chemistry Precinct building on Curtin’s Bentley campus and taking regular samples. Georgina has also completed two other legs of the lecture series. She presented to a large crowd of engaged high school students at John Curtin College of Arts and also at Curtin University. Future lectures are planned for Margaret River Senior High School and in Darwin, but are currently on hold due to COVID-19. Dr Dino Spagnoli MRACI Chair, Chemical Education Group

Georgina presenting at the Bayliss Youth Lecture on UWA campus

You know you’ve worked too long in a lab when:

• You are strangely proud of the collection of junk you’ve stolen from vendors at trade shows.

• You’ve used dry ice to cool beer down.

• Burning eyes, nose and throat indicate that you haven’t actually turned on the fumehood.

• You are slightly too fond of the smell of (pick one or many) xylene/Afar/ethanol/acetic acid/alcoholic handwash.

• You’ve left the lab wearing a piece of PPE (personal protective equipment) because you forgot you had it on.

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 10

DOCTOR VS ENGINEER An engineer who was unemployed for a long time decided to open a medical clinic. He

puts a sign outside the clinic: “A cure for your ailment guaranteed at $500; we’ll pay you $1,000 if we fail.”

A Doctor thinks this is a good opportunity to earn $1,000 and goes to his clinic. Doctor: “I have lost my sense of taste.” Engineer: “Nurse, please bring the medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in the patient’s

mouth.” Doctor: “This is Gasoline!” Engineer: “Congratulations! You’ve got your taste back. That will be $500.” The Doctor gets annoyed and goes back a couple of days later to recover his money. Doctor: “I have lost my memory, I cannot remember anything.” Engineer: “Nurse, please bring the medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in the patient’s

mouth.” Doctor: “But that is Gasoline!” Engineer: “Congratulations! You’ve got your memory back. That will be $500.” The Doctor leaves angrily and comes back after several days, more determined than ever

to make his money back. Doctor: “My eyesight has become weak.: Engineer: “Well, I don’t have any medicine for this. Take this $1,000,” passing the Doctor

$500. Doctor: “But this is $500….” Engineer: “Congratulations! You’ve got your vision back! That will be $500.”

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 11

WILF EWERS AWARD 2020

Nominations from RACI (WA) members are now called for the W E Ewers Citation Award. The citation recognises contributions made to furthering the profession of chemistry. It is expected these contributions will normally be made by virtue of the nominee’s activities within and for the RACI Western Australian Branch. The Wilf Ewers citation is not meant to cover achievements in chemical science and technology since these are recognised by other RACI awards such as the H G Smith and Applied Research Medals.

Previous Wilf Ewers award winners are: 1990 Dr David Phillips, Curtin University (Editor, Branch Newsletter) 1991 Mrs Margaret Martin, Aquinas College (BYL activities) 1992 Mr Reg Wray, Wray Associates (WA Branch President) 1993 Mr Chris Dodd, CCWA (Analytical Chemistry Group activities) 1994 Mrs Jan Hosking, CSIRO (12AC/3EC Chair and organiser) 1995 Dr Armand Zurhaar, Zedcon Scientific Services (NCW activities) 1996 Mr Harry Douglas, E&DG Consultancy (WA Branch Coordinator) 1997 Professor Mel Sargent, UWA Chemistry Dept. (SAC Chair for WA) 1998 Mr Ian Sills, Curtin University (Chair, Analytical Chemistry Group) 1999 Dr Steve Errington, Curtin University (WA Branch activities) 2000 Mr Roger Schulz, CCWA (Health, Safety & Environmental activities) 2001 Dr Mauro Mocerino, Curtin University (Chair Chem. Ed. Group) 2002 Mr Stewart Jones, Aust. Govt Analytical Labs (WA Branch activities) 2003 Mrs Oana Chirila, Aust. Govt Analytical Labs (WA Branch activities) 2004 Mr Peter McCafferty, CCWA (WA Branch activities) 2005 Mr Mike Rowe, Dept of Industry and Resources (Services to the WA Branch) 2006 Dr Paula McLay, National Measurement Institute (Branch Newsletter Editor) 2007 Mr Rick Staker, SGS Australia Pty Ltd (Chair, Analytical Chemistry Group) 2008 Mr Reg Rowe, Rowe Scientific Pty Ltd. (WA Branch Committee, Treasurer, Sponsor) 2009 Mr Kelvin Lord, Lord & Co (WA Branch Committee, Treasurer, Sponsor) 2010 (not awarded) 2011 Dr Maree Baddock - St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls (Chemical Ed Group activities) 2012 Dr Kathryn Linge, Curtin Uni (WA Branch Activities) 2013 Mr Shane Koenig, Nufarm (WA Branch Activities) 2014 Professor Simon Lewis – Curtin Uni (WA Branch & Chemical Education Group activities) 2015 Mr Peter Anstis, NMI (Analytical Chemistry Group) 2016 (not awarded) 2017 Dr Alf Larcher, CSIRO (WA Branch Activities) 2018 (not awarded) 2019 Dr David Ralph, Murdoch Uni (Titration Stakes WA Finals organiser) Nominations must be submitted to the RACI WA Coordinator, wabranch@raci.org.au, before COB Friday, 31 July 2020. All nominations will be considered by a selection committee consisting of the Past President, current President and two non-Branch Council RACI members. The award is a cheque for $250 and an official scroll which will be presented at the Branch Awards Dinner in August 2020.

The graduate with a Science degree asks, "Why does it work?" The graduate with an Engineering degree asks, "How does it work? The graduate with an Accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?" The graduate with a Liberal Arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?"

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: April 2020 12

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2020 Presented by Rowe Scientific Pty Ltd

www.rowe.com.au 21.04.2020 Branch Committee Meeting Online. WA Branch RACI 19.05.2020 Chemaraderie Online.. WA Branch RACI 9.06.2020 Branch Committee Meeting Online. WA Branch RACI 16.06.2020 Chemaraderie Online. WA Branch RACI late.06.2020 Titration Stakes Part 1. In Schools Chem Ed Group 21.07.2020 Chemaraderie Murdoch Uni? WA Branch RACI

30.07.2020 Australian National Chemistry Quiz (ANCQ) Various schools/online RACI National

11.08.2020 Branch Committee Meeting Room 500.3101 “pod”, Building 500, Curtin Uni WA Branch RACI 15-23.08.2020 National Science Week mid.08.2020 Branch Awards Dinner Venue TBA WA Branch RACI 20.08.2020 Chemaraderie UWA? WA Branch RACI Aug 2020 Titration Stakes Final Murdoch Uni, Building TBA Chem Ed Group

Details for all above events are uncertain due to COVID-19.

Some may be held electronically, others may be postponed or cancelled. Details will be available closer to the planned date.

Enquiries to Branch Coordinator Ben Fletcher: 0403 022 968, wabranch@raci.org.au

RACI WA wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe Easter

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Deadline is close of business (5 pm) on the nominated dates. Please submit all articles to raciwanewsletter@gmail.com