By Clive HopkinsJune 14, 2014, 2:08 p.m. Pay attention to the details but keep an eye on the big picture too, writes Clive Hopkins. "The Chemistry HSC examination asks students to demonstrate an ability to describe and explain concepts in chemistry across a variety of familiar and unfamiliar situations," says Maree Woods, Head Teacher Science at Aquinas College, Menai. "Depth of knowledge is shown by recognising the big ideas of Chemistry that come from across each core unit, as well as the often forgotten 9.1 Skills." Question 29, HSC 2013 (see below) asks students to assess the range of factors which influence the type and rate of chemical reactions. "This question requires candidates to think critically about the context of the question, and recognise this as an electron transfer reaction," says Woods. "Thus, the use of the data sheet of standard potential values would be essential." Previous HSC Chemistry exams have required candidates to provide a number of explanations across the core and elective section. Explanations require both a cause and effect statement to be made. DO 1. Know the prescribed focus areas and how to incorporate a knowledge of these into your answers. 2. Focus on the areas that … Continue reading →

DEAN KOZANIC/Fairfax NZ TENSION-RELEASE: Paige Allen, one of the exhibit's organisers, with a work by Akky Van der Velde. University of Canterbury chemistry, fine arts and art history students have teamed up to create and exhibit sculptures and graphic designs based on chemical concepts. For their Chem-pare/Comm-trast exhibition, which opened yesterday, chemistry students had explained scientific concepts, art students translated them and art historians curated the final pieces. Senior lecturer in art history and theory Richard Bullen said the collaboration, which was funded by the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry, belied the popular misconception that art and science had no common ground. "Artists and art writers speak of the elegance of a line, or a design," he said. "In science and mathematics also, the elegance of a demonstration or a proof is applauded." Second-year chemistry student Yuri Filatov said his concept had been communicated well in Akky Van der Velde's sculpture and the exercise had helped his own communication of chemical concepts. The sculpture represented the transition state of a chemical reaction. "It went well with the curve," he said. More here: Chemical concepts basis for artworks … Continue reading →

London, UK (PRWEB) June 10, 2014 At present, the clinical chemistry and immunodiagnostics markets in the US are witnessing considerable transformation, underpinned by the convergence of novel and more stringent regulative policies; ongoing technological advances in the diagnostic field, automation, system engineering and also IT; and also by the constantly intensifying competition in the marketplace. Some market sectors, like routine chemistry, already bear a strong resemblance to commodity markets, where cost per test and product positioning are more essential than underlying technology. The evolving clinical chemistry and immunodiagnostics market opens a range of lucrative opportunities for a great variety of novel instruments, auxiliary products and reagent systems. Eiken Chemical, Kyowa Medex, Abbott, Biomedical Diagnostics, Roche, Instrumentation Laboratory, Siemens, Bio-Rad, Agilent Technologies, Sysmex, Wako and Beckman Coulter are among the leading companies operating in the US clinical chemistry and immunodiagnostics markets. New research report 2014 Clinical Chemistry and Immunodiagnostic Testing in US Hospitals, Commercial Laboratories and Point-of-Care/POC Locations worked out by Venture Planning Group (VPG) is now available at MarketPublishers.com Report Details: Title: 2014 Clinical Chemistry and Immunodiagnostic Testing in US Hospitals, Commercial Laboratories and Point-of-Care/POC Locations Published: June, 2014 Pages: 635 Price:US$ 11,500.00 http://marketpublishers.com/report/life_sciences/diagnostics-diseases/2014-clinical-chemistry-n-immunodiagnostic-testing-in-us-hospitals-commercial-laboratories.html The novel report provides an up-close … Continue reading →

Jennifer Dunnigan, 15, a sophomore at Tuscaloosa County High School, uses an instrument Thursday to remove a piece of filter paper as her lab partner, Josh Robertson, 17, a senior at Bryant High School, looks on during an AP chemistry lab offered through CollegeFirst. Math, chemistry, biology and English classrooms at the University of Alabama were filled Thursday with more than 85 Tuscaloosa city and county high school students participating in the fifth-annual CollegeFirst enrichment program designed to prepare students for the challenge of college-level Advanced Placement courses in math, science and English. Impact Alabama in partnership with the UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility and A+ College Ready hosts the program at the University of Alabama campuses in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville for three weeks every summer to help students gain an understanding of the college experience. Its more just showing them the college experience, said Amanda Rushdi, a regional coordinator with Impact Alabama. We just want to expose them to it before they get there. The program recruits college students to help advanced placement instructors in the classroom throughout the three-week period. The students can receive credit or service hours by acting as tutors and mentors to … Continue reading →

Twins Anne, left, and Andrea d'Aquino at the Western Washington University chemistry building Thursday, June 12, 2014. Both are graduating from WWU and heading to Northwestern University where Anne will work on a doctorate in biochemistry and Andrea will work on a doctorate in chemistry. PHILIP A. DWYER BELLINGHAM - When Anne d'Aquino stepped into her first college chemistry class as a sophomore at Western Washington University, she didn't know she'd be changing her life and that of her twin sister. "Neither of us thought we would even end up taking a science class," said Anne, whose sister, Andrea, took the class after she did. But the sisters ended up falling in love with chemistry: the discovery, the problem-solving and the way it could change lives. They will be speaking at WWU's commencement at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14, and after getting their bachelor's degrees, they'll be heading to Northwestern University. Anne will pursue a Ph.D. in biochemistry, hoping to study drug design and interactions, and Andrea will go for a Ph.D. in chemistry, with a focus on clean and renewable energy. The sisters, 23, had come to WWU with other intentions after graduating from Squalicum High School. Andrea planned … Continue reading →