November Lectures

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to a very successful day. Please put the following date in your diaries for next year:

Tuesday 23 November 2010
8.30 am to 4.00 pm
Bio 21 Institute
The University of Melbourne

More information to follow in April 2010.

2010 STAV Chemistry Conference

The program is available on the STAV website. Remember to register for this conference before the holidays as it is within the first 2 weeks back in 2010.

Program
STAV website

CEA Scholarship for Teachers

The Chemistry Education Association wishes to support a Victorian teacher of Chemistry to further their knowledge and expertise in the teaching of Chemistry.
For the successful applicant, CEA will provide assistance toward the cost of attending the conference.

More details

Chemical Detectives

A site set up by Richard Morrison to provide spectral information from his spectroscopy workshop sessions. Use the tabs at the top of the page to access the various sections. This has been updated to include the material and compounds from the 2009 Chemistry Conference.

Chemical Detectives
Compound list 2009
STAV session 2009 powerpoint
STAV session 2009 pdf

Mentor Program

The CEA is introducing a mentoring program in order to foster the development of better networking between Victorian Chemistry teachers and to further improve Chemistry teaching. Although there are a large number of resources available to VCE Chemistry teachers, it can be difficult for new and/or isolated teachers to find and sort through resources that meet their particular needs. A mentor who can answer specific queries, make specific suggestions and share examples from their own experience can be very useful. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or a mentee please read the following information and register/apply.

Mentor Program Overview
Mentor Guidelines
Mentor registration
Mentee application

2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry - Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

Ramakrishnan of the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology has won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome. Dr Ramakrishnan shares the prize with Thomas A. Steitz of Yale University and Ada E. Yonath of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

Ribosomes produce proteins, which in turn control the chemistry in all living organisms. The ribosome is found in all living cells, including those of bacteria. Human and bacterial ribosomes are slightly different, making the ribosome a good target for antibiotic therapy that works by blocking the bacterium's ability to make the proteins it needs to function.

Further details: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166899.php

VICS /CEA Outreach Network Meeting and Report

The following report was compiled in order that organisations and teachers could examine the workshops and material available for school use.
Further details

The History of the School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, 1960 - 2000

Dr Valda McRae has published a history of the School of Chemistry from 1960 to 2000. The history continues the story of the School beyond 1959 where the history written by Joan Radford finishes. The book can be bought from the School of Chemistry at The University of Melbourne for $45 plus handling.
Details

VCAA and CEA Partnership
Professional Development for VCE Chemistry Teachers for The Chemistry Study Design to be implemented in 2007 for Units 1 and 2 and 2008 for Units 3 and 4.

The workshops for Units 3 and 4 have been held during May 2007.
There were 15 venues throughout the state and the sessions were 3 hours in length. They were most successful and very well attanded by almost 600 teachers.

The following materials were distributed to the teachers who participated in the workshops in 2007. These materials are for Units 3 and 4.
Units 3 and 4 VCE Chemistry Implementation Workshop Material:
1 Powerpoint for VCE Chemistry Units 3 and 4 May 2007
2 Sample Course Outline Unit 3 May 2007
3 Sample Course Outline Unit 4 May 2007
4 Unit 3 and 4 May 2007 Activities 1 and 2

The following materials were distributed to the teachers who participated in the workshops in 2006. These materials are for Units 1 and 2.
Units 1 and 2 VCE Chemistry Implementation Workshop Material:
1 Powerpoint for workshops
2 Sample Unit 1
3 Sample Unit 2
4 Activities VCE Chemistry Implementation Workshop - May 06

Tutors for Refugee Students
The CEA has been approached regarding the availability of chemistry tutors for two refugee students. The details of the project and the students are included here.

Given the Chance: Refugee Employment and Education Pathways Program, is a program of the Ecumenical Migration Centre (EMC)  at the Brotherhood of St Laurence.  It assists refugees to access training and find employment through the provision of intensive courses on job skills training, workshops, work experience, mentors, and occasionally, tutors. For more details Mentor Information Application.

At present we are seeking tutors for two refugees who are studying year 12. One is an 18 year old Ethiopian man who lives in Moonee Ponds and would like a tutor for chemistry and maths methods. The other is a 23 year old Southern Sudanese man who is studying year 12 and lives in Fitzroy. He would also like a tutor for chemistry.

Would anyone who is interested in tutoring these young men please contact Susan Porter or Jill Carr at Given the Chance, 94160044, or by email jcarr@bsl.org .au.