UOIT students to showcase work at undergraduate chemistry conference

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) will send four chemistry students to the annual Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference at Queen's University on Saturday, March 15. UOIT's Faculty of Science, led by Dr. Krisztina Paal, hosted the tremendously successful conference last year.

The all-day conference provides UOIT and additional fourth-year chemistry students from across Southern Ontario with the opportunity to present the results of their thesis research work to their peers, professors and numerous representatives from within the scientific community.

UOIT will be represented in Kingston by Concurrent Education and Science (Chemistry Specialization) undergraduates Jennie Eastcott, Amanda Northcott and Stephanie Mavilla, and Lori Van Belle, a student in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Chemistry program.

All four will be accompanied by their respective chemistry professors: Dr. Brad Easton (Eastcott and Northcott), Dr. Shari Forbes (Van Belle), and Dr. Paal (Mavilla). UOIT has developed a national reputation for its commitment to research excellence, which includes opportunities for students to collaborate with their professors on significant research projects - even at the undergraduate level.

"This conference is another reminder that every day UOIT students are playing significant roles in groundbreaking research work here on campus that will have an impact on society," said Dr. Easton. "This event provides the forum for these students to showcase their research results as part of a group that represents the most outstanding chemistry students from across the province."

Each student will present his or her findings individually. Van Belle will share her results in Determination of Nitrogen Released During Decomposition by Reaction with Ninhydrin, while Eastcott's presentation is Ceramic Carbon Electrodes for Fuel Cell Systems.

Northcott will detail her findings of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Based Upon Sulfonated Polysiloxanes, and Mavilla will present Covalent Modification of Human Serum Albumin - Potential Vehicles for Tumour Targeting of Anti-Cancer Drugs.

UOIT's faculties of Education and Science collaboratively offer the five-year concurrent Bachelor of Education/Science program, enabling students to pursue a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree while also obtaining a Bachelor of Education. The emphasis on technology in teaching is a defining element of the program, allowing students to develop an understanding of how to integrate technology for application in the classroom.

Students in all Faculty of Science programs are provided with state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation, computer-based simulations and case-study based learning. The programs are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world; men and women who challenge and inspire students to push their boundaries of thinking and learning.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.