At the suggestion of his father, who was an economist, Alfredo Angeles-Boza set off for college in his native Peru with designs on becoming an industrial engineer. That was before he took his first college chemistry course. Once introduced to the world of atoms and ions and especially the myriad challenges of working with inorganic […]
Faculty News
Prof. John Tanaka, in memoriam
John A. Tanaka, 87, emeritus professor of chemistry and former Director of the Honors Programs at The University of Connecticut, died April 14, 2012. John Tanaka gave over 45 years of service to the department and university and impacted thousands of students through chemistry, the honors program, the pre-dental society, and, occasionally, glass blowing. John […]
Boosting Biofuel Production
A new $1.8 million project with the Department of Energy (DOE)—led by chemistry professor Steven Suib—will develop new biofuel sources, catalysts, and reactors that would be suitable for the Northeast. The goal of the interdisciplinary project is to develop the technology to the stage where it could be transferred to small biofuel businesses that would […]
A Better Way to Photo Gray
Greg Sotzing, professor of chemistry and a member of UConn’s Polymer Program, recently perfected a method for creating quick-changing, variable colors in films and displays, such as sunglasses. Sotzing and his colleagues have made these materials less expensive and less wasteful to manufacture than any previous method. And aside from creating vanity glasses, the technology […]
Dr. Harry Frank Recognized by AAUP
The UConn Chapter of the American Association of University Professors recognized four faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Science, including Dr. Harry Frank from the Department of Chemistry. The 2010 AAUP Excellence Awards were presented at a ceremony at the State Capitol on April 9th. Harry A. Frank, professor of biological and physical […]
Following in the Footsteps…
I freely admit my return to UConn as faculty seven years ago was one of the more daunting challenges I have undertaken in my career, beginning with an interview process that had me teaching in front of people who didn’t know me at all alongside those who knew me from my time as a teaching […]
Message from the New Dept. Head
It is the people and what they do that make it exciting to take the position of Department Head in Chemistry. The Department is grateful to Steve Suib who steered us through a decade of tremendous growth. In 2001, there were 82 chemistry majors, and now there are nearly 190. In the same time frame, […]
Prof. Steven Suib Wins CMS
Steven Suib, whose work in solid state chemistry and the synthesis of novel materials has a strong environmental focus, was chosen for his “outstanding impact on the field of catalysis and materials science over the past 30 years.” He has collaborated closely with a host of Connecticut companies, including Pratt & Whitney, which funds research […]
Clean, Green Chemistry
Nicholas Leadbeater has a reputation. People call him a “microwave chemist,” because he–you guessed it– is a chemist who uses microwaves in his laboratory. But even though these humble machines have enabled him to develop chemical techniques that are faster, cleaner, and “greener” than many similar methods before them, the associate professor of chemistry doesn’t […]