Canadian University Press Releases/Newswire

Source: St. Mary's University
http://www.smu.ca/newsreleases/2006/10-16-16-16-16-2006.html

Taking it One Ion at a Time

October 16, 2006

We are
living in an age when the world is transfixed with notions of created
substances being returned to the natural world, in a word – biodegradable.

For fourth year honours chemistry student Darrell Dean, this quest has taken
on new meaning.

Dean, a native of Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia, recently travelled down
under to the island continent of Australia to pursue his research passion.
What he did there will likely impact him for the rest of his academic and
professional life.

"I was performing research with ionic liquids. Specifically, I was looking
at a new class of ionic liquids that have been show to be biodegradable by a
number of methods. I worked on both the synthesis and applications of these
ionic liquids," says Dean.

Ionic liquids are substances that consist in the main of ions that are in
turn made up of an atom or a group of atoms. Dean’s odyssey from rural Nova
Scotia to Australia has been made possible by the work he was able to
initiate at Saint Mary’s University in 2004. The catalyst was a NSERC USRA
(Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Summer
Research Award) that helped give wings to Dean’s exploration.

Dean sees this particular experience as informing his final year inquiry,
"The research has been a groundwork for my honours thesis that I am writing
this year."

Exposing oneself to new questions in new surroundings was very formative for
the SMU student, "Being able to work with a new group of people, in a
different lab, with a different supervisor allowed me to really understand
what it is like doing research."

Dr. Rob Singer, who is a professor of Chemistry at Saint Mary’s, was key to
helping Dean actualize his down under ambitions.

"He [Dr. Singer] has basically given me this opportunity, and set up the
relationship that I now have with Professor Peter Scammells, my research
supervisor at Monash University. Peter was instrumental in my success in
Australia and Dr. Singer allowed me to get there and helped me find funding
for the trip."

Dean credits his Australian sojourn with having an ongoing impact on his
career.

"The ramifications of this experience will be felt for the rest of my life
and especially over the next few months while applying for grad schools and
graduate scholarships," he says. "It also allowed me to remove myself from
the ordinary situation that I had been used to for the past few years, and
see what I am planning to do for the rest of my life in a completely
different light. This experience will also be great on my resume after I
finish my PhD and am looking at academic positions."

The realm of Green chemistry has a new practitioner - Saint Mary’s
University honours student Darrell Dean.

Saint Mary's University is known for its community outreach projects, both
in Canada and around the world. Saint Mary's, founded in 1802, is home to
one of Canada's leading business schools, a Science Faculty widely known for
its cutting-edge research, a comprehensive and innovative Arts Faculty and a
vibrant Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

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For More Information:

Paul Fitzgerald
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: paul.fitzgerald@smu.ca
www.smu.ca