RACI WA Branch Newsletter September 2014

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN CHEMICAL INSTITUTE INC (WA BRANCH)

A.B.N. 69 030 287 244 A.I.R.N. A00 403 86D A.R.B.N. 102 726 429

PO Box 114, North Beach WA 6920 Telephone: 0403 022 968 E-mail: wabranch@raci.org.au http://www.raci.org.au/branches/wa-branch

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome to the September edition of the WA Branch Newsletter 2014. In celebration of National Science week last month, we held a special joint event between RACI, ANZFSS & Curtin. Presented by Dr Simon Lewis & Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis, ‘The Case of Dr Crippen.’ The presentation told the story of the Dr Crippen investigation and explored the science of poisons. A big thank you to Simon & Father, for their entertaining Science Week presentation. On the down side we had to cancel our Science week Brain Break due to the lack of response/ interest The Chemistry Community of WA lost a stalwart member this month with the passing of Ian Ritchie. Our former president Oana Lord has contributed a memorial piece to this newsletter “Remembering Ian Ritchie” This month the Monthly Members Meeting will return to the Curtin Exhibition space. Presenting will be Dr Jeff Davis, Chemistry in safety and regulation - a practitioner's perspective. So please join us on the 16th of September. Register here. Also nominations are now open for the biennial Alton Mc Allan Batty Medal. See details below in newsletter. Nominations must be received by WA Branch Coordinator no later then Monday the 15th of September. Regards, Tim Brown Branch President.

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 2

RACI Monthly Meetings

Please come to the RACI Members Monthly Meeting. 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: 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)

September Tues 16th

“Chemistry in safety and regulation - a practitioner's perspective” by Jeff Davis (Dangerous goods regulation) Register Here

October Tues 21st

“Chemistry- Intellectual Property-Protection, a practitioner point of view" presented by Lord & Co. This MMM presentation is at a later time than usual, after the AGM Register Here

November Tues 18th

Australia’s Largest Resource Development Project: A Chemical Flythrough! Speaker: Dr Alf Larcher, Laboratory Superintendent, Chevron Gorgon Project Register Here

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 3

WA Branch AGM - 21 Oct 2014 Exhibition Space, Curtin Uni

Our AGM will be on the 21st October in the Exhibition Space in Building 500 at Curtin Uni (the venue used for Members Monthly Meetings). The AGM is an important part of the year. Please do not be afraid to come to this meeting for fear that you may be forced to join a committee or working group (that is not how the Branch works). As you can see from the agenda below the business of the meeting itself takes very little time and the majority of the time will be taken up with

networking and the presentation from Lord and Co. "Chemistry- Intellectual

Property-Protection, a practitioner point of view" It would be hoped that most

members can find time in their schedules and make the effort to attend. Please register your intention to attend Register Here Drinks and nibbles from 5.30pm

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 4

RACI ANNUAL WA BRANCH COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

Nominations are invited for the following positions on the RACI Western Australian Branch Committee for the Year 2014/2015: PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, HON

SECRETARY, HON TREASURER, AND FOUR BRANCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

Nominations are also invited for the positions of: Chair (Ex Officio Branch Committee member), Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members for the following Groups: Analytical Chemistry; Chemical Education;; Management and Career Development; Synthetic and Organic Chemistry;

A candidate for the Branch Committee must be nominated by two Corporate Members and indicate her/his willingness to accept office by signing as nominee on the nomination form below. Nomination forms can be emailed to wabranch@raci.org.au by Friday 10 October 2014. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(Please detach here)

WA NOMINATIONS FOR 2014/2015 BRANCH COMMITTEE BRANCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND EX-OFFICIO MEMBER GROUPS

– ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL EDUCATION; MANAGEMENT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT; SYNTHETIC & ORGANIC CHEMISTRY,.

We,..................................................................................…......(Member/Fellow)

and.....................................................................................…....(Member/Fellow)

hereby nominate.................................................................………........................

for the position of..........................................................………............................. (specify office)

for the 2014/2015...... WA Branch Committee...or......................……..........................Group (if not Branch, specify Group)

……….................................................................................. (Signature of Nominators)

.......................................................................………........... (Signature of Nominators)

I consent to this nomination ............................................................…………….. (Signature of Nominee)

Date: ....................................

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 5

Chemistry at Murdoch (CaM)

David J. Henry

After a number of years in hibernation the Murdoch University Chemistry Student Society has been resurrected as Chemistry at Murdoch (CaM). The group is being led by Jessica Hopper and Sheena Trigg and currently has 18 members. The group commenced with a welcome BBQ in Week 4 of semester, which attracted a good turn out from undergraduate students, academics and technical staff and additional events are being planned for later in the year with threats of a staff versus student soccer match.

CaM would welcome any current or previous Murdoch Chemistry Students and can be contacted via their Facebook page or email address. CaM would also like to thank the RACI WA Branch for their financial assistance at their recent BBQ.

2014 Chemistry Careers Night – Monday 1st

September The annual Chemistry Student Careers Nights are organised by the Management & Career Development Group of the RACI (WA). These nights are organised for tertiary students, studying

chemistry at an advanced level, looking to explore the options available for a professional chemist on graduation.

The format for this year’s event will include presentations and displays from employers. There will be several presentations, covering a range of issues and experiences related to chemistry. The formal part of the evening is kept relatively brief to allow enough time for the students to interact with the companies in attendance The 2014 Student Careers Night will be held on Monday 1st September, from 6.30-9.00pm at the Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin University.

If you would like to attend please contact wabranch@raci.org.au or 0403 022 968 or just turn up.

All smiles at the CaM BBQ for students and

academics.

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 6 .

The Alton McAllan Batty Medal for 2014

Nominations from RACI (WA) members are now required for the A McA Batty Medal. The award is made not more frequently than biennially to a member of the Western Australian Branch who has made an outstanding contribution to chemistry, in particular to the field of chemistry applied to industry, commerce, the environment or to the quality of human life.

Other awards made by the RACI are mostly oriented to those who have an academic role in the profession. The conditions of these awards are heavily weighted towards members in CSIRO and universities who have the opportunity to publish much of their research contributions. The intent of the A McA Batty award is therefore to recognise members of the RACI who have not had similar opportunities to publish their work.

CSBP & Farmers Ltd are acknowledged as having made a substantial contribution to the establishment of the medal in 1978. A McA (Bill) Batty died in 1984.

Previous medal winners are: 1978 Mr A McA Batty (CSBP/WAWA) 1980 Mr B Becher (Government Chemical Laboratories) 1982 Mr D T Rigden (BP Refinery/Clean Air Committee) 1984 No Award. 1986 Mr C W Hastie (Western Mining Corporation) 1988 Dr D Koch (CSIRO Division of Mineral Products) 1990 Mr K Thomson (CSBP) 1992 Dr D K Philp (Tiwest Joint Venture) 1994 Mr L C Stonehouse (Alcoa Australia Ltd) 1996 No Award. 1997 Dr G P Power (Alcoa Australia Ltd) 1999 Dr I D MacLeod (WA Maritime Museum) 2001 Dr J E Wajon (Kellogg Brown and Root) 2003 No Award. 2004 Dr Barry Chesson (Alcoa Australia Ltd) 2006 Mr C Eldridge (Ultra Trace Pty Ltd) 2008 Mr Paul Bannister (Ultra Trace Pty Ltd) 2010 Dr Andrew Sierakowski (UWA)

2012 Dr John Bromly (Curtin University School of Chemical Engineering)

Nominations must be in writing and are to include a CV and background information indicating the candidate’s major contributions. Nominations must be submitted to RACI WA Coordinator, PO Box 114, NORTH BEACH WA 6920, before COB Monday, 15

th September 2014. The award will be presented at the AGM in October.

RACI Travelling Chemistry Display 2014

CHEMISTRY – OUR LIFE, OUR FUTURE

Wed 27 Aug – Tues 30 Sep Wanneroo Library & Cultural

Centre 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo

Mon 6 Oct – Mon 3 Nov William Grundt Memorial

Library 11 Roberts Street, Kalgoorlie

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 7

Remembering Ian Ritchie

Wednesday, 21 of September a large group of scientists, friends and former students gathered at Karrakatta to say goodbye to a great

chemist and scientist of WA: Professor Ian Ritchie.

Kelvin and I were profoundly moved by the memories of Ian’s wife, Anne and his son, of a life dedicated to promoting chemistry at

all levels; they talked about his love of life, his wittiness and love of his family and community. His students were his family too and

they gathered often in his home garden to celebrate. Ian’s credo of life, Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If”, was recited by his grandson

with such power that moved me to tears.

Greg Power, Ian’s friend and scientific colleague talked of Ian the innovator, who was the leader of Electrochemistry and

Hydrometallurgy and many other fields of chemistry.

Many other RACI WA members paid their respects: Kelvin Lord, Peter McCafferty, Jane and John Hosking, Graham Chandler, Jim

Avraamides and others.

I remember fondly a pleasant evening at The Western Australian Club in November 2006 for the RACI WA AGM, when Ian Ritchie

and Anne were present. I took over as President of RACI WA Branch on that day and we had animated discussions about many

interesting subjects. The attached photo has a special place in our home since.

In June 2011 Ian presented: “Isn’t Chemistry Wonderful?” for Royal Society of Western Australia Ordinary Meeting in Kings Park

Administration Building, Kings Park in Perth. He was introduced as follows:

“Ian Ritchie graduated from Cambridge University, and obtained his PhD at Melbourne University, subsequently lecturing there and also at the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University, where he held the Chair of

Chemistry between 1984 and 2002. Ian has made many novel discoveries in chemistry spanning an unusually wide range of research

areas. Seen as THE international figure in hydrometallurgy – Ian has received two international awards for his work. Ian initiated

and developed the Cooperative Research Centre in hydrometallurgy - the AJ Parker Centre. Even in retirement Ian continues to share

the joy of chemistry with adults and school children alike.”

Ian, you will be forever in our hearts and minds!

Oana LORD

Past President RACI WA

23/08/14

Oana, Kelvin, Ann and Ian in 2006 at the AGM

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 8

2014 RACI “HACKERS” GOLF DAY

COLLIER PARK GOLF COURSE BENTLEY

Friday the 17TH

of October

TEE OFF Time: 1:00 PM

Cost: $60 RACI members $65 non members

Registration Ben.fletcher@raci.org.au, 0403 022 968

9 HOLE AMBROSE COMPETITION (TEAM EVENT, RULES PROVIDED ON THE DAY, EASY)

LONGEST DRIVE AND NEAREST THE PIN PRIZES

PLUS WINNERS AND HACKERS TROPHIES.

OPEN TO ALL WITH AN INTEREST IN CHEMISTRY You get 9 holes of Ambrose golf, a shared buggy and generous finger food refreshments at the end of the round.

Clubs are available for hire for an extra fee.

Come along if you play every week and go round in PAR.

Come along if you’ve never played and don’t know what PAR means.

Register to play as a single or a team. Teams will be made up on the day.

This is a fun day where everyone can get to mingle with once a year golfers all with an interest and working with

chemistry.

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 9

Murdoch Chemistry Plant Tour of Nufarm David J. Henry

For some time now Murdoch academics Dr David Henry (Materials and Organic Chem) and Dr Damian Laird (Analytical Chem) have been hoping to organise industrial plant tours for small groups of undergraduate students, to reinforce concepts that they teach in their respective units. Recently they were able to organise the first of these tours with the aid of Shane Koenig from Nufarm. Shane kindly made time for the group on Friday 15th August and provided a tour of the Nufarm site including the laboratories where he described the quality systems, the general equipment used and the nature of the testing performed by Nufarm. The group were also given a guided tour of the synthesis plants, with descriptions of the processes carried out in these plants as well as the other features of the site including, the fill-out building for bulk products, raw material storage and dispensary area, engineering and maintenance workshops, packaging preparation area, quarantined / returned goods stores. The students enjoyed the afternoon and demonstrated significant interest in a range of aspects of the plant including the analytical techniques used for quality control and monitoring as well as the scale of the synthesis processes. Experiences likes these give students a greater appreciation of the relevance of experimental techniques and processes taught in undergraduate chemistry and their importance to the operation of full scale chemical plants. The group would once again like to sincerely thank Shane for making the time to provide the tour of Nufarm and his excellent commentary.

Murdoch Chemistry students on tour at Nufarm

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 10 Science Week and the RACI

During National Science Week Curtin University hosted a special joint event between the RACI, ANZFSS & Curtin. Entertainingly presented by Professor Simon Lewis & Lieutenant Colonel Roger Lewis, ‘The Case of Dr Crippen.’ The presentation told the story of the Dr Crippen investigation and explored the science of poisons. This annual event wouldn’t occur without Simon’s drive and enthusiasm and each year the audience numbers have grown. A big thank you to Simon & his Father, for their entertaining Science Week presentation. This is not the only RACI or Chemistry promotion event that Simon involves himself in so it‘s really no surprise that the picture above shows him receiving the Wilf Ewers Citation for 2014 from our Branch President Tim Brown.

The Wilf Ewers citation recognises contributions made to furthering the profession of Chemistry and Simon’s name now joins a distinguished group of selfless individuals that have received this award since its inception in 1990.

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Chemeca 2014: Perth WA, 28 September – 1 October 2014 www.chemeca2014.com

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RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 11 Titration Stakes National Challenge David Ralph

It was Sir William Thompson who expressed the

connection between being able to measure a quantity and

understanding of the phenomenon which gave rise to it.

Two of Lord Kelvin’s quotes would serve very well as the

guiding principle for the National Titration Competition

organised by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and

hosted at local Universities.

"To measure is to know."

"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it."

After a big first round held at Curtin University in July , where more than 70 teams from 30 different

schools took part, the top 15 teams gathered at Murdoch last week to undertake the National

challenge.

Each team has a maximum of 3 hours to standardise their solutions and analyse the amount of a

compound mixed with an inert filler. Each student has a particular, but unknown (to them), amount of

the compound. The analysis requires that the process and the preparation steps are all understood

and carried out correctly. A steady hand is then required to add one solution to a known amount of

another and to stop at just the right time. In addition each student has to perform the mathematics to

correctly calculate their result, although this last bit is often discussed robustly amongst the team

members. Students are awarded gold or silver plaques or medallions depending on the accuracy of

their result. Adding the individual results gives a team result and the chance to make a league table

from all the schools competing.

WA teams have performed consistently well in the National rankings. Over the last 5 years there

have always been at least three WA teams in the top 50. The results from this year look very

promising with 2 teams from Carey Baptist College taking the top two WA places. Other teams from

John Tonkin College and Sacred Heart College performed in the ‘Excellent’ category. A team from

St. Hilda’s and a second team from Sacred Heart College achieved ‘Highly Commended’ levels of

accuracy.

And finally a word or two of thanks from the fill in Newsletter Editor. Some of the more observant of you will have noticed a change in the style of newsletter this month. Dodgy formatting, no jokes or witty puns. This is because your usual editor didn’t do this issue. Paula I just want to say thank you so much for all the work you do getting the newsletter in shape and to me every month for on time publication. To our new contributors this month thank you for the different content. Ben (Branch Coordinator and probationary newsletter editor)

RACI WA Branch Newsletter: September 2014 12

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2014 Presented by Rowe Scientific Pty Ltd

www.rowe.com.au

01.09.2014 Student Career's Night Curtin Uni M&CD Group

16.09.2014 Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI

18.09.2014 Air Quality and Emissions Seminar Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. AC Group

14.10.2014 Branch Committee Meeting Held in Room 2B01, ARRC Building, Kensington WA Branch RACI

17.10.2014 RACI Hackers Golf Afternoon Collier Park Golf Course AC Group

21.10.2014 AGM / Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI

18.11.2014 Monthly Members Meeting Exhibition Space, Building 500, Curtin Uni. WA Branch RACI

23.11.2014 National Assembly Meeting Held at Hotel in Melbourne. National Office

9.12.2014 Branch Committee Meeting Held in Room 2B01, ARRC Building, Kensington WA Branch RACI

Dec 2014 Pre-Christmas Social Mixer Venue to be confirmed. WA Branch RACI

7 -12 Dec 2014 RACI 2014 National Congress Adelaide SA National Office

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

E-MAIL ADVERTISING RATES

Three-quarters of the total RACI WA Branch membership and Environmentalists (totalling about 600 of a select and highly targeted group) are registered to receive e-mail notices from the Branch Committee. Those RACI members who have a need to circulate an urgent message or advertisement of general interest to WA Branch members can request approval (wabranch@raci.org.au) to have the advert (sans attachment) circulated free of charge. If the advert is of a revenue producing nature then a charge of $120 +GST will be made.

NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING RATES

SINGLE ADVERTISEMENT: $120 +GST for one-quarter A4 page, $160 +GST for one-third A4 page, and multiples thereof, for print ready artwork or a print ready MS Word file.

MULTIPLE ADVERTISEMENTS: for three or more consecutive newsletter issues, a discount of 25% applies.

PAYMENT for all issues must be made in advance and within 7 days of receipt of invoice.

Branch Newsletter Deadlines For 2014

Month of Journal Deadline Date

October Fri 26th September

Deadline is close of business (5 pm) on the nominated dates.

Please submit all articles to paula.mclay@measurement.gov.au For September issue submit to wabranch@raci.org.au