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Chemistry Department News

Chemistry Day at the MOST (PDF of images from the event)
Freshman chemistry students, along with Dr. Kelley Donaghy, celebrated Chemistry Day at The Museum of Science and Technology (The MOST) in Syracuse Oct. 27. The students gave young would-be scientists the opportunity to earn prizes while having fun and learning about chemistry. Hands-on activities and live demonstrations such as making slime, UV active beads  and chromatography butterflies, along with other cool chemistry activities, were all part of the fun.

ESF Alumnus Wins Nation’s Top Technology Honor
Ronald Eby was part of a team that helped protect children against pneumonia and meningitis, developing a vaccine that was hailed as one of the most important advances in pediatric medicine.

Xerox Funds Research into Biodegradable 'Green Polymers' from Renewable Resources
Scientists at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) are getting some help from Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) as they seek to make inexpensive biodegradable plastics from byproducts of wood-based ethanol production.

Dr. Francis X. Webster publishes in Science
Dr. Webster and colleagues have identified the chemicals in a sex pheromone that female cockroaches use to attract males and has replicated the substance in his laboratory for the first time, possibly providing a new tool in the battle against a common urban pest. Read the article.

ESF Graduate Students win NSF Fellowships!
Peter Smyntek and Karen Howard won four-year fellowships from the National Science Foundation to support their Ph.D. research. Peter's award was one of only 37 given nationwide in Ecology, and Karen's was one of only 51 given nationwide in Chemistry. Peter is a third year student working with Dr. Mark Teece, and Karen is a first year student working with Dr. Greg Boyer. 4/03

Dr. David J. Kieber publishes in Nature!
Dr. David Kieber, together with a collaborator, published a paper in the journal Nature in August 2002, describing a new link between the ecology of marine algae and global climate change. The link is through dimethyl sulfide, which has an anti-oxidant function in marine algae. However, dimethylsulfide emitted by these algae affects the formation of clouds. This is the fourth paper Dr. Kieber has published in Nature. 2002

Online Journals Available to the ESF Community

SciFinder Scholar for Chemical Abstracts Access
Using SciFinder in chemical research

The Michael M. Szwarc Polymer Research Institute at SUNY-ESF In recognition of Professor Szwarc's accomplishments in polymer chemistry, the ESF Board of Trustees voted to rename the Polymer Research Institute at its May 2001 meeting. The Institute is now called the Michael M. Szwarc Polymer Research Institute at SUNY-ESF. The family of the first PRI Director, Prof. Michael M. Szwarc, has generously endowed a graduate student fellowship in his memory. A rededication, mini-symposium and dinner were held on June 6, 2002. Read a biography of Professor Szwarc Polymer Research Institute

Dean Edwin C. Jahn (1902-2001)
Our friend, colleague, and leader died on Wednesday 6/13/2001 at the age of 98.  Dean Jahn is remembered fondly as the founder of this Department and its Cellulose and Polymer Research Institutes as well the Empire State Paper Research Association.   He was also the Chief Executive of the College in the late 1960's.  Always pleasant and with an ever-ready story, he will be missed.