Tara Smith
LANCE WRITER

he University of Windsor’s chemistry and biochemistry department brought its research to the people during a science demonstration and lecture on green chemistry at Devonshire Mall last Friday afternoon.

“I think it’s definitely important to reach out to the community. It’s what some of us want to do with our future,” said Chris Allan, a PhD student in chemistry, who attended the event.

Bulent Mutus, a chemistry and biochemistry professor at the university, brought a group of graduate students to interact with the mall crowd. This is the third year the department has held Chemistry Day at the Mall.

“The idea is to get the public to understand what we’re doing. We’re not all mad scientists,” said Mutus. “The presentation focused in on the positives of green chemistry and how scientists around Canada and at the University of Windsor are trying to enlighten people who aren’t so familiar with it.”

Graduate students put on a show of chemistry magic, creating nylon material and a slime-like substance, to the delight of kids watching from the audience.

“There’s really interesting work going on in our department, and all the people doing this work are students,” said Mutus.

Guest speaker Preston Chase, a product development scientist from Green Centre Canada in Kingston, Ont., enlightened the crowd of about 20 people gathered in front of The Bay department store. The presentation highlighted the important ways chemicals are used, and how many of them aren’t harmful to people or the environment.

“We actually try and bring green chemistry ideas to the marketplace,” said Chase of Green Centre Canada. “… to help bridge the gap between academics and industry … for the betterment of the environment, as well as the economy.”

“The research done at the University [of Windsor] and across Canada is important to the environment and to people’s everyday lives,” added Chase. “All the research in green chemistry around the world won’t make a difference unless it’s used.”

“Green chemistry is trying to make its way into the chemical world and promote some good.”