FOR INFORMATION

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S.90-32

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

MEMORANDUM

10: Senate ?

FROM: ?

Liora Salter

Acting Vice-President

Academic

SUBJECT: External Review

?

DATE: ?

April 26, 1990

The Senate Committee on Academic Planning, at its February meeting this

year, approved a motion accepting the external review report of the

Department of Chemistry, together with responses from the Department

and the Dean of Science. These materials are attached for the information

of Senate.

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I

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

MEMORANDUM

To: Prof. L. Salter, Acting

?

V.P. Academic

Subject:

External Review of

Chemistry

From: C.H.W. Jones, Dean

Faculty of Science

Date: January

30, 1990

.

Please find attached the External Review Report of the Department of

Chemistry and the Department's response which

is

incorporated into a

document entitled: The Department of Chemistry Five Year Plan,

1989-1993.

The Department has responded in a direct and positive way to many of

the recommendations made in the report. I would like to make the following

comments about the report and its recommendations.

The Review Process

The review of the Chemistry Department was conducted with only one

external reviewer, together with two internal reviewers, one from the

Department and one from outside. The reason for the unusual nature of this

committee composition arose from the fact that the Department was not

enthusiastic about having a review in

1987-88

because an external review

of Biochemistry had been held as recently as

1986.

As a result, the Vice

President, Academic proposed a mini-review with one external reviewer. In

retrospect, this was not the best course to have taken and this point was

commented on by the external reviewer himself.

Nevertheless, a wide range of constructive and important recommendations

were made in the report and the Department has responded positively with

its five year plan.

2. Undergraduate Programmes

I) The Department has restructured its lower level courses and has

introduced Organic Chemistry into the second semester of the first year.

This restructuring and the renumbering of the courses was approved by

Senate in November

1989.

ii) Steps have been taken to address the concerns about the poor

fumehood facilities in the Organic Chemistry teaching laboratory. A new,

modern, well-equipped organic chemistry laboratory

is

included in the

plans for the new IMBB building. In the interim, the fumehoods in the

existing laboratory have been made more accessible to studenC

n

Moreover, many experiments have been scaled-down and are

conducted on a micro-scale

so

as to reduce the need for exten

ventilation.

3.

The Department

Graduate

has redefined the M.Sc.

Programmes

and Ph.D. degree

course

requirements and has introduced a number of new courses

includ

student and research seminar course for both the

M.Sc.

and Ph.D.

These were approved by Senate in January

1990. ?

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4. . Research

The external reviewer prpvided

.

a

,vèry. critical analysjs,ofthe research

strengths Of t!

i

e.Deprtment. In so doing the reviewer, who had

apkpo,wledged his own concerns about assessing th.:areasof. physical

chemistry and nuclear chemistry for. example, did not give, in my view,

ppropnate weight to the interdisciplinary nature of the department While it

is true that the NSERC research support from the Chemistry Grant Selection

Committee is:below the nationalaverageon.a

,

p.e,rfacufty member basis, the

Department has distinct strengths in Biochemistry and in Nuclear Science

As we move through the 1990's the traditional boundariesbetween the

science disciplines and their subdisciplines will become less marked and

indeed less,ignficànt; Many.

of

-the new, forefront areas of :re.search are

very interdisciplinary in nature and departments which have strong

interdisciplinary programmes will be well-positioned to develop in those

areas.

Moreover, since the time of thp,repdrt external-research support to the

Department has increased significantly, placing the external reviewers

,sessmçnt in somewhat different light

Nevertheless, the external, reviewer's, comments ?bout the value of adding

high-profile senior appointments to the Department have been recognized

as valid The vacant biochemistry, position referred to in the report will be

filled by a senior (Professor) appointee and a retirement vacancy in the

Department has been authorized to be filled by a seniqr Or

,

anic Chemist

There are many other- reçomm endations, in;the.. report

,

. which- are of value

and which are deserving of consideraion Mn are

a0oi:essp

dt,

directly or

indirectly in the Department's Five Year Plan

an

G that

document should be

consulted for further information

CHWJ End

?

IW' Jes

A

.

L.

:

?

O'!

.

cJgpr, Chair

Dpartm.eht oLOhemis',

.

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REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

?

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

APRIL 1988

T. Durst

Department of Chemistry

?

University of Ottawa

R. Morrison ?

Department of Physics

?

Simon Fraser University

A.C. Oehlschlager

?

Department of Chemistry

?

Simon Fraser University

.

?

3.

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REVIEW' OF THEDEPARTMENT 'OF CHEMISPY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY......................................(i), (ii), (iii)

PREFACE...............................................................1

INTRODUCTION........................................................la

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM:

Quality................................................................ 2

Tr-Semester Operation

.............................................. 2

Tutorial. System..................................................2-3

Co-Op Program ....................................................3-4

Course Evaluations'..... .............................................. 4

Lecture Course.Deficjencies ................... . ....................... 4

Possible Rearangements of First and Second Year ................ 4-6

Upper 'Division, Courses ............................... ............. .6-7

Laboratory Courses.............................. ................... 7-9

Deficiencies..........

9-10

Equipment, for Undergradiate Laboratories ...........................10

Library-Facil-ities .................................................10

Community Service.,............................................10-11

GRADUATE PROGRAM:

The M.Sc. 'Degree ...............................................12-14

The Ph.D. Degree....._.* ........... ....................... 15

Stipends and Entrance Scholarships .......

16

Grading of Students and Internal Scholarships ...................16

Graduate Student Enrollment ...................................... 17

U

nive

rsity Support of Graduate Studies and Research..............17

INTERFACE WITH IMBE... ................... . .......................... 18

EVALUATION OF RESEARCH ........................................... 19-25

FACULTY RENEWAL .................................................. 26-29

EQUITABLE WORKLOADS - TEACHING AND RESEARCH ......................30-32

SPACE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................33

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1

Executive Summary

As a prelude to the development of plans for improvement of undergraduate

and graduate programs, resource planning and faculty renewal the Department of

Chemistry held an internal review in the Spring of 1987. The Mission Statement

developed at that time provided documentation for an external/internal review

held in the Spring of 1988 which is the subject of this report. A five year plan

for Departmental development will be prepared in the Summer of 1988 based on

these two reviews.

.The present reviewers are of the opinion that the undergraduate programs in

chemistry and biochemistry produce graduates of very high quality. Courses are

offered at levels comparable to other Canadian universities. Only a few areas of

course material overlap/gaps were identified. It was recommended that course

content be reviewed and rationalized on a regular basis. Faculty teaching

quality at the undergraduate level is good to excellent on a departmental wide

basis and the department is commended for its ongoing assessment of faculty

teaching quality.

It is suggested by the review committee that the Chemistry Department

discuss internally the resequencing of its first two years of general and organic

chemistry to offer organic chemistry to the freshman class in the second half of

the first year. This change from current practice of offering organic chemistry

in the first half of the second year has been implemented with favorable results

at the institution of the the external reviewer.

•

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A strength of the undergraduate program as seen by the faculty is the

intimate contact between student and professor allowed by the tutorial system.

The chemistry faculty are committed to the tutorial system even though it's

demands on faculty time are high. The review committee recommends that the

department review its goals for the tutorial system and streamline where

possible.

The department offers its first two years and some upper division courses on

a year around basis in support of the COOP program. It is commended for its

participation in this obviously successful program as well as its active

involvement in community relations work in the high schools.

Undergraduate teaching laboratories are under stress due to increasing

enrollments in the recent past. Laboratory instructors are clearly overburdened.

Methods to streamline some of the teaching functions carried out by these

individuals are suggested. The upgrading of equipment in underaduate teaching

laboratories begun in 1987 should be continued. Particular attention should be

given to upgrading the equipment central to the advanced physical and analytical

chemistry laboratories.

The most significant requirement for chemistry in terms of resource

allocation is the upgrading of the ventilation in its undergraduate organic

laboratories. The external reviewer took the view that the standards used for

installation of the ventilation in these laboratories predated the construction

of the university.

. ?

While the final level of achievement of the postgraduate students in the

5.

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11

department is comparable to

.

that at other Canadian institutions, there was a

perception that course and cumulative examination requirements for M.Sc. students

are excessive. The review committee suggests that the department survey M.Sc.

requirements .

at other institutions and revise its requirements downward if this

perception is borne out. Several suggestions are offered as to how this might be

carried out. The course and cumulative examination standards for the Ph.D.

degree are comparable to those of other Cai-iadian universities.

Attraction of excellent graduate students is a problem besetting almost all

Canadian chemistry departments. Success in this area was seen to require two

elements both of which can be addressed by future planning. The first and most

easily' addressable element is that of financial, support for incoming graduate

students. In the Canadian environment the competition for graduate students in

chemistry is keen and the stipends offered by SFtJ are seen to be on the low side

of the national average. The Department is encouraged to approach the

Administration for assistance in this area. As well, the Department should be

creative in finding ways to offer competitive stipends.

The second, and most dominant element, acting to attract excellent graduate

students to a university chemistry department is that of the excellence and

visibility of the research of its faculty. The external reviewer took sole

responsibility for evaluation' of the Oepartment in this area. He pointed out

that it is generally recognized that the Department has a unique connection with

TRIUMF and suggests that these' ties be strengthened by the appointment of

appropriate TRIUMF scientists as Adjunct Professors.

The Department is also different from most traditional chemistry departments

in that its research and teaching activities include biochemistry. The

biochemistry group is seen asi a small but highly active group in teaching and

research. The group' is having difficulties mounting its course offerings, a

situation that will be made wdrse by the departure Of one of' its members. A

replacement appointment of an associate or young: full professor should be the top

priority of the Department. Additional staff in the area of biochemistry should

be added through the IMBB initiative. These should be in addition to positions

targeted by the Department for biochemistry. It is recognized that biochemistry

is a "hot" area and that mid-level appointments will be expensive.

The organic group is also quite small but has high visibility due to the

pheromone research group and the physical organic chemists. The teaching

requirements in this area are significant and this group has 40% of the graduate

students in the Department. The external reviewer concludes that the appointment

of an associate or young full professor of star quality (-$

70K ,

NSERC, top 10%)

to this group and the reasonable progress of existing members could reasonably

yield an excellent graduate program in organic/bioorganic chemistry.

The inorganic group isa solid, active group with good prospects for

increased grant support and a NSERC-URF with excellent pOtential on board.

The physical chemistry group is the largest from a faculty point of view but

the least active in research. This group carries most of the teaching respon-

sibility for the freshman courses. Because of the undergraduate and graduate

teaching requirements in biochemistry and organic chemistry revitalization of the

physical chemistry group from a research point of view may not be feasible at

this time. One of the most popular areas from an undergraduate and graduate

point of view has been polymer chemistry.. The projected retirement of a senior

?

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faculty member should provide an opportunity for a new faculty member with

o. ?

expertise in this area.

Teaching and research is also conducted in theoretical chemistry and there

is stability in this area.

There is no research in analytical chemistry. It is recommended that the

Department be innovative in its approach to the acquisition of a staff member

knowledgeable in this area. One option is to combine requirements in

biochemistry with those in anal

t

ytical chemistry by an appointment of a faculty

member with research interests in biosensors.

The case is made by the external reviewer for the appointment of one or more

faculty of star quality (^

:

$ 70K ,

NSERC). The benefits seen to accrue from this

course of action are: a) immediate visibility in the chemical community; b)

increased ability to attract the best young faculty in what is expected to be a

very competitive next decade; c) increased ability to attract funding for big

ticket capital equipment which should also be of use to younger faculty; and d)

increased ability to attract the very best graduate students.

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PREFACE

Personal Comment of External Reviewer:

After the initial contact was made the external reviewer discovered that he

was the only reviewer not connected with SFU. The external reviewer expressed

the opinion that a comrnitee made up of two or mote external reviewers whould

produce a report with fewer.shortcoming and possibly less bias. The external

reviewer feels confident in assessing organic chemistry and some aspects of

biochemistry and organometallic chemistry. He feels much les confident in

assessment of physical, theoretical and nuclear chemistry and thus feels he may

have missed pointing out important opportunities, possible shortcomings, etc., in

these areas. The university administration and the chemistry department should

be fully cognizant of this. This comment is not a criticism of other committee

members, Drs. Morrison and Oehlschlager. Since they were dealing with their own

departments and colleagues they could not be expected to be in as good a position

to make comparisons. Their presence was, however, vàluabie in explaining in

detail all aspects of the SFIJ operation, and they provided substantial input into

the Review. The external reviewer strongly recommends that future assessment

committees contain two or more reviewers not associated with SFU.

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INTRODUCTION

The review committee had access to much analytical information in addition

to the 1987 Departmental Mission statement. The committee was able to interview

undergraduate and graduate students during a two

faculty, laboratory instructors,

day period.

The review committee would like to thank all those who participated. It was

very favorably impressed with the frank and open discussions of affairs of the

department and the significant effort that had gone into the preparation of the

supporting documentation for the review.

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tJNDERGRAD!JATEPROGRA}1

Quality

The department made the case that the undergraduate program at SFU is of

good to excellent quality, certainly comparable to that of other chemistry

departments in Canada. Data to support this contention such as the breadth of

the course offerings and student performance as measured by the MCAT scores in

chemistry of SFU undergraduates and performance of SFU chemistry graduates in the

graduate programs of other universities are presented in the 1987 Departmental

Review. The interviews with the undergraduates indicated that the students feel

they are getting a good education in chemistry. The external reviewer was able

to peruse a number of upper level organic chemistry examinations and he feels

that the level is comparable to those at the University of Ottawa and most likely

other Ontario universities. It is assumed that the same comments could be made

of

Structure

the other sub-disciplines.

?

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Tri-semèstër Operation

The committee noted that SFU operates on a tn-semester basis and that the

chemistry department offers most of its first and second year and a few third

year courses in each semester. The faculty and students are in agreement with

and strongly supported the frequency of current offerings.

Tutorial System

The committee noted that SFU operates a tutorial system. The ramifications

of the operation of this system are felt most heavily in the first two years of

the program where large lecture course enrollments are subdivided into smaller

(20-30 students) tutorials each met by a professor or teaching assistant. Each

fall or spring semester this generates 30-40 (37 in 1987-3) tutorial session

contact hours each week. Since the corresponding lecture components of the first

and second year courses typically involve 20-30 (27 in 1987-3) lecture contact

hours, the tutorial system more that doubles the time commitment by the

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department. The faculty interviewed recognize the significant investment in

human energy in the tutorial system and were enthusiastic about it. Generally

the faculty felt that the tutorials offered a chance for students to be coached

in problem solving, to be challenged and become more conversant with the

discipline.

In view of the high human resource commitment involved in the tutorial

system the review committee make the following recommendation.

Recommendation: The Chemistry Department should examine the tutorial system,

especially as executed in the first two years, to define the purpose of the

tutorials. The department should evaluate the methods used in the tutorials to

ensure the goals are likely to be achieved. Finally, the department should

convince itself that the pedagogical goals defined for the tutorial system are

worth the human resource effort put into this method of instruction. If it is no

longer certain that this is the best way to utilize its professorial resources,

.

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the other approaches, such' as marked problem sets, might be considered.

Recommendation:

The scheduling of tutorials in upper level courses where enroll-

merit is less than 20 students could be formally discontinued. At this level

students should be encouraged to 'work on their own and to seek individual help

from professors, if necessary.

The Co-O

p

Program

It was clearly pointed out in the 1987 mission statement that the department

and the faculty are pleased with the Co-Op Program. The response of the students

who met with the review committee was also highly positive. The present

frequency of course offerings was seen as necessary to adequately support the

significant involvement of the department in Co-Op. The Co-Op coordinators

interviewed by the committee commented that chemistry has been a most cooperative

department in mounting summer courses at the upper division and expressed the

.

hope that this practice would continue.

The review committee supports this initiative and offers the following

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recommendation for a possible further improvement in the quality of the program

Recommendtjon: The department should

continue

its commitment to offer high

quality undergraduate courses in the summer

semester

in

order

to best serve the

students

in the Co-Op program.

STUDNT EVALUATION OF COURSES

The department is to be commended for the practice of course evaluation.

The currently available evaluatins indicate that the quality of teaching within

the department is generally good to excellent. The opinion was reinforced in

discussions with undergraduate students. The current practice of having a

student in each class designated to convey the evaluation results to the

chairman's secretary and the maintaining of confidentiality until after the

grades are issued is a good one.

Recommendation: In the few instances

where

faculty receive a student course

evaluation much below the departmental average the chairman should encourage the

faculty members to address the criticisms made by the students.

LECTURE COURSE DEFICIENCIES

The students indicated that there were instances of overlap and repetition

in various courses. They expressed the feeling that professors were often not

aware of the overlap and, in some instances, only very broadly aware of what was

being taught in prerequisite and co-requisite courses. This is not an uncommon

situation in most departments. It can be easily addressed and remedied if the

department carries out course reviews from time to time.

Recommendation: The

department

should review its undergraduate course contents

with the view of identifying and rationalizing, if necessary, overlaps and

omissions in these courses.

POSSIBLE REARRANGEMENTS OF FIRST AND SECOND YEAR

A modified approach (shown below) to teaching general and organic chemistry

has been implemented in the external reviewer's institution. It involved earlier

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exposure to the concepts of organic chemistry as well as the structures and

properties of biologically important molecules.

?

This approach is considered by

biologists at the University of Ottawa to be useful and beneficial to their

students. ?

A second year descriptive inorganic chemistry course has become a

strongly recommended option for biologists at Ottawa.

Organic chemistry is taught in the first year at many American universities.

The external reviewer is aware that a number of chemistry departments in

.

Ontario

(Ottawa, Waterloo, McMaster) have rearranged the traditional sequence to the

modified sequence described above.

?

It is also the committee's understanding that

the first year chemistry course at UBC has an organic chemistry component

approximating nearly 50%.

?

This indicates that British Columbia students are as

capable as Ontario students in following the modified approach.

The modified approach does not decrease the amount of time available for

chemistry in the first two years, it merely rearranges it.

The external reviewer is convinced that the approach is pedagogically sound

and feasible. ?

After a term of general principles the students are quite capable

of completing successfully a term of organic chemistry.

?

Some of the "basic"

material that might have been missed by those not taking the second term of

general chemistry such as bonding and hybridization can easily be taught in and

in fact is usually taught as part of organic chemistry.

The relative merits of the traditional and modified approaches continue to

be argued in many universities.

?

The proponents of the traditional approach claim

it is necessary to spend the two terms on general chemistry in order to bring

students with various levels of background to a common solid level from which the

upper level courses can properly be taught.

?

The experience of the external

reviewer is that one of the oft-heard complaints of the general chemistry course,

especially from students with good backgrounds in high school chemistry, is that

they are introduced to very few new concepts.

?

The course is boring and their

interest in chemistry decreases.

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The advantage of the modified approach is that a new area of chemistry is

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introduced. This area is of interest to a broad range of students, especially

those in the biological sciences. If taught well it is likely to increase

student Interest in chemistry or biochemistry and could result in a substantial

increase in the number of chemistry/biochemistry majors in the department.

Recommendation: The following is proposed to the chemistry department for

discussion of a potential reorganization of the teaching of its first year

general and second year organic program.

The review committee feels that the modified approach has considerable merit.

Even though it has not had sufficient time to consider all of the ramifications

to the SFU chemistry department and science faculty it recommends a serious

evaluation of the modified approach or a variation thereof.

Present (traditional) sequence:

Year

1

2

New (modified) sequence:

Year

1

2

Term 1

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry I

Term 1

General Chemistry

(Chemical Principles)

Organic Chemistry II

Term 2

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry II

Term 2

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Organic Chemistry I

Descriptive Inorganic

Chemistry

.

Students in chemistry (biochemistry) and biology would follow the modified

sequence outlined above. Those students who normally do not take organic

chemistry (physics, mathematics, engineering, earth sciences) would be allowed to

take Descriptive Inorgapic Chemistry in the second term of their first year and

,e joined by the 2nd year chemistry and biochemistry majors.

UPPER DIVISION COURSES

The review committee received presentations from each subdiscipline on their

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projected course offerings. By virtue of his previous experience the external

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reviewer felt competent to assess only the submission presented by the organic

group. (See personal comment above.)

As presently constituted, the organic chemistry offering allows students to

take two terms of organic

,

chemistry in the 2nd year, a third year course mainly

dedicated to spectroscopic identification of organic compounds followed by fourth

year electives. The organic faculty expressed the view that students reaching

the fourth level had lost touch with the organic chemistry taken earlier and have

proposed a 300 level organic chemistry course become part of the core chemistry

and biochemistry program.

Recommendation:

The external reviewer is in support of the proposal to add a 300

level

organic chemistry lecture course to the core of the chemistry and

biochemistry program.

Recommendation:

In view of the importance and the increasing use of spectro-

scopic methods, especially NMR, in all aspects of chemistr

y

, biochemistry and

biolog y

, a course emphasizing the application of spectroscopic methods to these

fields in the core program is recommended.

LABORATORY COURSES

Laborator

y

Instructors and Instruction:

The laboratory instructors pointed out that there were extremely high

demands on their tIme and it was recognized by the committee that this was true.

Mechanisms to reduce the workload on laboratory instructors are advisable. Time

to develop new laboratory experiments is practically non-existent since

laboratory instructors are responsible for instruction during all three

semesters.

Recommendation:

Laboratory instructors should

consider

replacing the weekly

laboratory quizzes by an end of term exam or less frequent common quiz schedule.

Laboratory instructors and professors instructing in counterpart lecture courses

should consider the option of alloting time each week to the lab lecture in a

regularly scheduled lecture.

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In this

this case the lab lecture would be given once instead of six or so times

and the laboratory experiment could more easily be related to lecture course

material.

The committee noted that in general all laboratories taught in a sub-

discipline were taught and overseen by a specific laboratory instructor. It

believes that this is not ideal from a pedagodic point of view - no more so than

if all instruction in organic or physical chemistry were given by a single,

however dedicated, professor. In order that laboratory experiments reflect

changes or new approaches in the counterpart lecture courses and to help ensure

that they reflect the rich variety of each subdiscipline we make the following

recommendations.

Recommendation:

In general. the faculty should take a strong interest in the

development of the laboratories.

This is particularly important in the biochemistry laboratories where the

same lab instructor is responsible for all of the four biochemistry laboratories.

The undergraduate students pointed out that some of the foreign graduate

students who serve as teaching assistants have poor English language skills and

thus have difficulty in understanding questions and

.

/or giving useful answers. It

is recognized that these students need the financial assistance provided by a

teaching assistantship. It is also important that undergraduates receive good

instruction.

Recommendation:

The department should make efforts to use foreign students with

poor English language skills in. duties other than laboratory instructors, e.g.,

grading.

It is recognized by all concerned that the quality of the laboratory

instruction by the graduate student teaching assistants contributes significantly

to the excellence of the undergraduate program. . The teaching assistants

therefore should be given access to the student evaluation forms in order to

profit from the comments and improve their teaching skills. True excellence

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should be rewarded and fostered.

Recommendation

The department should consider recognizing excellence among

teaching assistants by

awarding

three

or four awards valued at $100 or more for

teaching

excellence

in each calendar year.

DEFICIENCIES

Analytical Chemistry

The basic analytical laboratories should be upgraded to include instrumen-

tation techniques currently used in industry and the health field. It is the

feeling of the committee that much of the current Chem 218 deals with classical

analytical chemistry. One mechanism of determining possible experiments is to

interview returning senior Co-Op students. Students in Co-Op streams expressed

the view that the analytical laboratory offering should be upgraded. The

department should not be satisfied by the statement that "our analytical course

is as good as another university's". It should strive to lead in this area,

especially in view of the Co-Op program. A second analytical laboratory course

should be mounted and devoted to advanced instrumental techniques. The committee

understands this (Chem 318) is under active development by the department.

Consideration should be given to the inclusion of important nuclear science

techniques such as X-ray fluorescence into this course.

Recommendation: The

department

should

review

its analytical chemistry laboratory

courses in light of the above suggestion.

New equipment

should be acquired (if

necessary)

so that these

courses reflect

modern techniques used in industry and

in

the health fields.

The external reviewer notes that the room devoted to the organic chemistry

laboratory was constructed to standards that predate the university. The

fumehoods are placed in an area that makes them practically inaccessible to

students. Furthermore, many of them are being used for storage space and thus

not available for experiments. This has led to the selection of experiments

that, while adequate, are restricted in scope because of the inadequacy of the

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ventilation in this room. The external reviewer toured other available under-

graduate laboratories and found no other room contained appreciably better

ventilation facilities. The present situation in the orgaric laboratory with

respect to the ventilation must not be tolerated.

Recommendation':

Efforts shduld be made to install hoods over each of the student

work stations if at all feasible. Available fumehoods should be utilized as much

as possible for student experiments rather than as chemical storage areas.

EQUIPMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE

.

LABORATORIES

The Department Mission statement contained several

,

Tables listing obsolete

equipment. During 1987 the department began to replace this equipment but the

replacement is not complete. Obsolete equipment was most noticeable in the

laboratories devoted to physical and instrumental analytical chemistry.

Recommendation:

The commitment to the upgrading of obsolete equipment and

introduction of modern instrumentation initiated in 1987 MUST be maintained.

LIBRARY FACILITIES

The library at SFU has suffered from the same financial and space problems

as other university libraries and has cut the number of journal and book

purchases. The cost ($7.50/article) and the lengthy delays experienced in

getting photocopies of papers from the UBC library was noted. It is recommended

that the SFU librarian be asked to negotiate better and less expensive access to

the UBC library for all SFU researchers.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The committee met with several faculty who described the department's

efforts to make SPU more visible to the general public, Grade 11 and 12 high

school students. The initiatives described seem appropriate, are important, and

should be continued.

Suggestion: The committee offers the following suggestion for attracting more

scholarship quality high school students to SFtJ. Avery successful University of

Western Ontario practice guarantees Ontario scholars space in the university

El

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scholarship quality high school students to SFU. A very successful University of

Western Ontario practice guarantees Ontario scholars space in the university

residence. This practice raises the stature of the university residences in the

eyes of both good students and their parents. Adoption of a similar practice may

make SFU more attractive than other universities (UBC for example) to

scholastically superior students.

r

L

I"

---

GRADUATE PROGRAM,

PROGRAM.

The M.Sc. Degree

Data compiled over the last three years indicates that the average time to

complete an M.Sc. in Chemistry is slightly over 3 years. While this is not as

long as the university average the committee feels that three years is excessive

for M.Sc. completion (1980-1987 Ottawa-Carleton Institute average M.Sc.

?

2.3

years, probably still too long). It was noted that the course and cumulative

requirements for the M.Sc. are significantly heavier than those at many other

universities. Representations from faculty involved in graduate student

supervision as well as graduate students also pointed to excessive course and

cumulative requirements as a major contributing factor for lengthy completion

times for the M.Sc. In many cases students do not begin their research until

eight months after commencement of M.Sc. studies. There was considerable

divergence of opinion as to the amount of research required of M.Sc. students. If

the department is serious about reducing the average time required for the M.Sc.

to approximately two years, then both of the above issues must be addressed. The

outside world is unlikely to

from Ottawa or Carleton. It

students to spend 25% longer

that its entering students a

and thus must be kept longer

standard.

consider that an M.Sc. from SF11 is better than one

is therefore unfair for SFU to ask its chemistry

in order to receive this degree unless SFU maintains

e not comparable to those entering other programs

in order to bring them to an acceptable Canadian

Recommendation:

The department should survey a suitable number of

Canadian universities to obtain a representative sampling of course and

examination requirements. If, as is strongly suspected by the committee, the SPU

requirements are excessive then the depatment could consider the following

possibilities to decrease reliance on present structured courses.

A'o

---

.

-13-

Present SFIJ regulations currently requires 12 semester hours (4 courses) for

the M.Sc. The department should consider asking the university to reduce this to

6 semester hours (2 formal courses). If the university agrees, then the require-

ment for the M.Sc., in addition to a thesis, should be 6 semester hours (2 formal

courses) Cum-1 as redefined below, and a literature seminar. [The requirement

at the Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute is 2 one term courses of 2h1week +

student seminar + thesis.]

If the university does not agree to change the 12 semester hours (4 course

requirement then the department could consider assigning a course credit to each

of the Cum-1 and the literature seminar.

The course requirement for the MSc. be

reduced according to one of the

plans above, in order to bring it in line with other universities in Canada, in

order to help reduce the residency time for the M.Sc.

The committee received strong complaints from the graduate student represen-

tatives concerning the excessive requirements of the present Gum-1. As mentioned

above, in many instances the combination of Cum-1, other courses and laboratory

teaching prevents many students from commencing research

for two or more terms.

The

students feel

that Cum-1 is a

major hurdle, i.e., another exam.

A

candidacy

exam should

not

be necessary for

the

M.Sc. degree. To alter

the perception

of

Cum-1 and still allow

the students' research committee to monitor the research

progress we

make the

following

proposal.

Recommendation: That Cum-1 become a research report. This report should be

scheduled in the first month of the student's fourth term. This cum should be

structured similarly to the present Cum-1 and involve a short typed report and an

oral presentation followed by discussion and questions (this is not the seminar

discussed below).

I

---

-14-

I ]

This process would allow the committee to monitor the progress of the

student's research and offer advice on the direction of the research.

The ,ntroductio,n of graduate students literature seminars was discussed in

the review committee and wit the graduate-student representatives. Positive

feedback was received on the proposal outlined below. Guidelines for the

literature seminar could include the following:

(1

.

) The topic

s

h

ould

be agreed upon not longer than two or three weeks prior

to the seminar date so that the student will not spend an undue amount of time

preparing for the seminar.

(2) Th

e

seminar topic should be outside the student's immediate area of

research.

(3)

The student should be encouraged to use both the blackboard and overhead

transparencies or slides in order to become confident using both techniques.

(4)

The student should prepare a short abstract with key references which

could be appqp4ed to the seminar announcement.

(5)

The chosen topic should not be the subject of a recent review so that

the student will have to read and assimilate data from the primary literature.

Recommendation: Introduction of a graduate student seminar program is

advised. The committee envisages the possibility that an M.Sc. student would

give one seminar based on a literature topic and a Ph.D. student would give two

seminars, the second of which would be a thesis seminar. Under present circum-

stances this would amount to 15-20 seminars per year in, the department. Atten-

dance of all graduate students should, be mandatory and: course credit for this

activity should be given, if necessary. Assessment based on presentation and

understanding of the seminar material is suggested. A group of two or three staff

members could be assigned, on a yearly basis so that reasonably consistent assess-

merits are made.

1

0

---

-15-

STRUCTURE OF THE GRADUATE PROA

The Ph.D. Degree

The length of time for completion of the Ph.D. degree was addressed and

found to be similar to the national average. Based on the experience of the

external reviewer the seven courses requirement for the Ph.D. is average for this

degree. Should the survey recommended above differ substantially from this

figure, the department may then wish to make an adjustment.

SugestiOflS for reciuiremefltS for the P1Lfl.L

(a)

From the B.Sc. (Honours)

6 courses + Cum 1 (altered as above) + 2 seminars + research proposal

(b)

from the M.Sc.

4 courses + thesis seminar + research proposal

The major changes from the present requirements for the Ph.D. from B.Sc.

.

?

would be:

(i)

reduction in one formal course requirement from 7 to 6

(ii)

replacement of the present Gum 1 by a progress report type Gum as

described above

(iii)

replacement of Gum 2 by a seminar program

(iv)

a redefinition of Gum 3 according to:

Gum 3: The preparation and defense of a research proposal near the end of the

Ph.D. degree was seen to be a highly worthwhile requirement. The present

practice of fulfillment of this requirement by an obvious extension of the thesis

topic should not be considered acceptable, and should be discontinued.

Introduction of these suggestions will have the adverse effect of decreasing

the demand for graduate courses and thus in all probability decrease the

frequency of offering and variety of courses available to graduate students. To

•

?

counteract this, each sub-discipline should offer one key course in their area on

---

-16-

a regular basis to ensure

,

that students in all areas can meet their course

requirements within a reasonable time period.

Sti p

ends and Entrance Scholarships

The available data shows that SFU stipends, for M.Sc. or Ph.D. candidates,

are, at best, barely competitive with those of other chemistry departments in

Canada. It must be recognized by the administration of the university that the

supply of Canadian graduate students is limited. It would be unfortunate if

prospective students decided not to come to SF17 because of lower than competitor

stipends.

Similarly the department should pressure the administration to ensure that

NSERC and other scholarship holders find SFU attractive and competitive not only

in research but also from the financial point of view.

Recommendation:

The department should strive to make its stipend offering for

both the M.Sc. and the Ph.D. competitive with other universities in B.C. and

in the remainder of Canada. Consideration could be given to a zero or the

smallest possible differentiation between M.Sc. and Ph.D. candidates. [They do

the same teaching, and initially at least similar amounts of research.]

Recommendation:

Additional university scholarships to major scholarship holders

should

be made

at competitive (or higher)

levels

in

order

to attract more

students of

excellent

quality.

Grading of Students and Internal Scholarships:

The students expressed the opinion that SFU merit scholarships should be

awarded with less emphasis on grades and courses. More weight should be placed

on research productivity.

There seems to be a feeling among students that course marks are not given

uniformly and that it is hard to compare marks for different courses and that a

relative ranking might he a better standard for scholarship allocation and within

---

-17-

fl

?

courses.

Graduate Student Enrollment:

Statistics supplied by the DGSC show an intake of about a dozen students per

year. This has resulted in a relatively constant graduate student population of

about 50. Nearly 60% of this total are visa students. The potential problems

associated with foreign students whose English language skills are poor have

already been noted. The comment in the DCSC submission that graduate student

enrollment is not limited by the number of applications but by research funds is

undoubtedly true but probably refers to the many potentially acceptable

applications from foreign students rather than from qualified Canadians. No

doubt the SFU chemistry department would welcome an increase in its Canadian

graduate student contingent. Recommendations to increase the basic stipend and

the additional SFU scholarships offered to external scholarship holders have

already been made. The increase is especially important for potential M.Sc.

students since such students represent the major portion of the new students

entering each year. In the end, a significantly greater number of high quality

Canadian graduate students will not materialize until the research visibility of

the department compares favorably with its major geographical competitors.

Universit y

Support of Graduate Studies and Research:

The review committee did not discuss in detail the total support offered to

the department by the administration for graduate student assistantships and

storeroom supplies and research equipment. The department should gather data -

probably available from the Canadian University Chemistry Chairmen - to support

its position that it requires additional funding from the university in order to

be competitive and have a chance to excel. The administration must take action

to ensure that researchers receive at least a competitive amount of university

support when compared to UBC or the University of Victoria.

0

?

/

---

-18-

Interface with IMBB:

The IMBB members resident in chemistry expressed a desire to have chemistry

maintain biochemistry as a high priority for future faculty appointments. These

IMBB members were not in favor of the Institute becoming a separate department in

the near future.

Recommendation:

The

committee recommends that the appointments funded by the

IMBB allocation be continued to be distributed between the departments and the

appointment of younger faculty capable of developing an interdisciplinary team be

given priority. The director/dean should favor proposals leading to interdis-

ciplinary research in this area. Hiring of new faculty for the Institute should

emphasize scholars who are likely, by-virtue of background and personality, to

become involved in interdisciplinary research.

.

0

/^ (V

---

.

-19-

EVALUATION OF RESEARCH

The following comments are made by the external reviewer and reflect his

analysis and bias. Comments concerning the shortcomings of a "single reviewer"

analysis were made earlier in this report.

General Comments

The SF11 chemistry department is somewhat unusual in that its members obtain

operating grants from four different NSERC committees (1988 figures): chemistry,

12 + X-ray infrastructure; cell biology, 4; interdisciplinary, 1; sub-atomic

physics, 1. Cross committee comparisons should be made with care. The SFU

chemistry situation is further complicated by the project grants awarded to the

nuclear science group (TRIUMF).

A short analysis of the largest group, those who receive their operating

?

grants from chemistry follows. The average 1988 grant for the 12 chemistry grant

recipients is $28.6 compared with the national average of more than $36K

(estimated) for all chemistry grantees. The corresponding figures for 1987 were

SFU (13 grantees) average

?

$27.6 vs the national average of $34.6K.

Comparisons are made for the same group for the years 1982 and 1985 in the

Table below in order to detect possible trends.

Number of

Average SFU Chem.

Average Canada

Year

SFU Grants

Grant $K

Chem. Grant $K

SF13/Canada

1982

15

17.3

—24

0.72

1985

13

25.2

31.9

0.81

1988

12 ?

(13)*

(28.6) ?

28.3*

—36

0.79

*Includes Infrastructure Grant

To a first approximation one could argue that SFU has increased its stature

in the eyes of the chemistry grant selection committee since 1982, but most of

the progress was made in the 1982-1985 period. Nevertheless, the average SF11

27

---

-20-

operating' grañt fom' the

che

mistycommjttee is still less than 80% of the

national average.

?

Furthermore, amongst the SFU chemistry operating grants only

two are pr&señtly c]!early above the national average and none,, as yet, in the

above $70K range, the amount received by the top 10% of chemistry- grantees (top

50 out of 500 grañtees).

Data can be massaged in many ways to "prove" a point.

?

The department

flattered itself in its 1987 review

by

claiming parity with "McMaster and Ottawa

in terms of NSERC operating grant support and only behind the big six (Toronto,

Alberta, McGill, Western, UBC and Waterloo)",

?

( p.

42 and .Tableon

p.

46).

The SFU computer printout of research grants made available to the committee

show 19 NSERC operating grants from four committees (chemistry, cell biology,

physics, interdisciplinary) with a value of $515K,.

?

The SFU chemistry department

average, excluding TRIUMF, foi 1986 was $27.1K placing SFU at the bottom of the

list, below Manitoba and Carleton.

?

This suggests a very different picture than

that painted by the department.

Neither of these extremes is completely correct, since the nuclear chemists

do belong and contribute to the department.

?

The point is made that statistics

alone can often be misleading unless all contributing factors are taken into

account.

Finally, if one wants to use NSERC operating grant data as a measurement of

research activity a better indicator would be average grant per faculty member.

For example, at Ottawa the average grant size increased substantially several

years ago when a faculty member's grant was reduced from 7K to nil. Obviously it

wasn't a better department as a result of this; in fact, the opposite was true.

At SFU 7 of 28 (25%) faculty members do not receive NSERC operating grants or

project grants at TRIUMF, for the University of Ottawa chemistry department

14/17 (82%) receive NSERC chemistry operating grants.

1), q

---

-21-

Using these comparisons the chemistry department at SFU does not compare

favorably with McMaster or Ottawa. This is not to say that some members of the

department do not have impressive ongoing research and excellent future

prospects. Overall, again not including the nuclear chemistry group which I

cannot judge, I would conclude that at present, the department's research quality

and productivity places it in the lower half, probably in the lower third, of the

following major Canadian departments: (West to East): Victoria, UBC, SFIJ,

Calgary, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Windsor, Western, Waterloo, Guelph,

McMaster, Toronto, Queens, Carleton, Ottawa, McGill, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval,

UNB, Dalhousie, Memorial.

Comments on the Sub-disciplines

?

(i) Nuclear Chemistry

Most Canadian university chemists are aware of the close connection that the

SFU chemistry department has with TRIIJMF. Its nuclear chemistry group is

recognized as unique in Canada. Most of us are unable to judge the quality of

the program but the perception is that it is good and it is known that relatively

large project and team grants are obtained by this group. The connection with

TRIUMF should be maintained and advantage should be taken of new initiatives at

TRIUMF. Expertise could be added to the department from TRIUMF in the form of

Adjunct Professors who could direct graduate students (if available) and PDF's.

Teaching requirements in nuclear chemistry do not justify additional full-time

staff in this area.

(ii) Biochemistry

Most Canadian universities have both chemistry and biochemistry departments

with the latter being either in their Faculty of Science or in Medicine, or

sometimes in both. The biochemistry group in the chemistry department at SFIJ is

small and quite active in research. At present, the group has difficulty in

21

---

-22-

mounting the courses necessary for both an effective undergraduate and graduate

program and several important gaps including nucleic acid'and'protein

biochemistry have been identified by the group.

The department and the university have recognized the importance of this

field and have made major commitments towards its future.

Recommendation:

?

It is recommended that the efforts to attract new faculty to

biochemistry continue since this field is attracting excellent .$t'udents at both

the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The biochemistry group in the chemistry department will suffer a major

setback with the impending departure of one of its members.

Recommendation:

?

It is important that the department replace the leaving faculty

member by someone of comparable stature in order that this research group

,

not

lose its upward momentum.

?

This replacement

must be in additiOn to the recent

IMBB appointment. ?

The committee recognizes the problem of attracting an

outstanding person in a "hot" field; the "price" is likely to be high.

-'

Nevertheless, the effort must be made.

(iii) Organic Chemistry

The pheromone research group has high visibility amongst chemists and

population biologists. It is well funded by both operating' and strategic grants

and is obviously an area of excellence at SFU. Another member is a highly

respected physical organic chemist and a new appointee shows all of the signs

(energy, ability to attract students and grants, excellent teaching skills) to

suggest that he will acquire a national and international reputation.

This group is quite small and one member is within a few years of formal

retirement. The range of expertise in terms of research interets and course

offerings at the senior and graduate level is consequently limited. This group

could strongly benefit from the addition of another member with an established or

so

---

-23-

• ?

growing research reputation. An argument could be made that the area of

expertise of the additional member might be in synthetic organic chemistry. That

person would complement the pheromone group and give considerably more

flexibility in graduate course offerings.

The present organic chemistry group has more than 40% of the graduate

students of the department. In addition it must teach all of the undergraduate

organic chemistry program. These are considerable teaching and research

commitments. In addition, one member has accepted a 5-year mandate as chairman.

The department has made a commitment in its 1987 review to add organic chemistry

staff in the near future; it should keep this promise.

Recommendation: Serious consideration should be made to an addition at the

associate or young full professor level in the area of organic chemistry.

If such an addition is made then SFU could reasonably claim an excellent

graduate program in organic/bioorganic chemistry.

10

?

(iv)

I norganic/Organometallic Chemistry

This group in the main obtains approximately average operating grants from

chemistry for their age profile. It would seem a reasonable expectation that the

research support for this group should increase substantially in the next few

years. The productivity of one member in particular has increased substantially

in the past few years and a new appointee shows excellent potential as a URF.

Recommendation It is important that the department recognize and support the

initiatives by the inorganic group.

(v) Physical Chemistry

This group is the largest (8 or 9 depending on the definition used) from a

faculty point of view in the department. It is relatively inactive in research

and graduate studies (6 graduate students) and has very modest research grants.

(The grant analysis is quite different if one adds TRIUMF to this group. One

0

?

031

---

-24-

TRIUMF member has an impressive $66K operating grant but it is

.not strictly

comparable to the others in chemistry since it comes via Sub-a-tpmic Physics, a

committee which traditionw11y gives relatively high grants). Four members of

this group have not been active in research for some time.

One

member is

"scheduled" for formal retirement in 1989. This leaves only four involved in

research in physical chemistry.

This area of research is clearly a major problem area for the department.

It supplies a lot of undergraduate teaching manpower but outside of first year

the group has relatively few teaching demands.

The other undergraduate and graduate teaching requirements dictate that new

staff be added in biochemistry or organic but this group needs it most of all

from a research point of view. It is almost impossible to address all require-

ments in the same time period. In the end, because of the tenure situation and

other teaching demands the revitalization of research in physical chemistry may

have to be sacrificed.

(vi)

Theoretical Chemistry

The department manages its teaching commitment in this area with essentially

one faculty member and -there is reasonable stability in this area.

(vii) Analytical Chemistry

There is presently no research in this area at SF13. The department could

consider using the IMBB as a vehicle for entering this field in a non-traditional

way - analytical chemistry emphasizing biosensors and biological diagnostics.

These areas are presently of tremendous interest .and have great potential. The

point was made in the 1987 review that IJBC has an active program In analytical

chemistry (traditional?) and thus it might not be wise for SFU to compete

directly with UBC in this area.

4

0

0521,

---

-25-

In summary, the external reviewer rates the present situation with respect

to research and graduate studies in the sub-disciplin

es

as follows:

Biochemistry: reasonable, but the group is small and thus cannot provide the

breadth necessary for this broad area. The loss of one member in 1988 i

serious blow and his replacement must be a first priority. The IMBB, if properly

staffed, could have a very positive effect on this group.

or ganic/orga fl Ometal]

?

Chemistry: reasonable, with good prospects for

improvement if the more recent appointees reach their potential.

Nuclear Chemistry very good, unique in Canada.

yica1 Chemistr

y

: weak, more likely to deteriorate than improve.

Organic hemis

t

ry/BiOorgaThi high visibility in the insect pheromone field but

only two other active researchers.

Theoretical ChemistrLL one researcher.

.

LI

?

55

---

-26-

FACULTY:'-RENEWAL

Assuming form

g

l retirement -at age 65, four po's

:

itions VE11 becoiiie available

between --now and i'99'4 and s'even'by1997. On the surface, his'of-fers a chance for

renewal and a recommitment

:

to r earch excelience. un reality,'if the department

has to depend 'soiel.y on

:

opportunities created by r

:

1?iremënts, 'póéss and

improvements ±n various ;researdh areas will be relatively lOw :s

: e

•

three of the

four retirees are .amongst the active 'researchers in the department.

Thus, if the .univer-s2ty is strongly committed to -improving research and

graduate studies in chemistry in the near future, other means of adding research

oriented staff must be found. It is left to the university and the department to

develop possible initiatives.

?

-

The question of whether to add faculty with an established or rapidly

growing research program ("stars") or young staff was discussed at length amongst

committee members and the department and with the Dean of Science.

Arguments made for the hiring of young staff were 'based mainly 'on the age

profile of the department. Opinions were also given by the faculty that it would

be difficult to attract established stars to SFU. ("Why would they want to come

here?") The university's ability and willingness to commit resources (money,

space, equipment) was not mentioned.

The departmental age profile should be taken into account when planning for

the future and hiring new faculty but it must not be the primary factor. If

excellence in research is considered an important goal then other factors may

have to take precedence. I will argue that assuming excellence is the goal, the

hiring of faculty at the senior or mid-career level, rather than junior appoint-

ments is crucial.

Admittedly, it is difficult and takes consideifable effort to identify and

attract active researchers. Scarce money and space resources have to be

5Lf

---

-27-

reallocated to make it attractive for such a person to move from a present

position. Nevertheless, it has, and continues to be done, even in Canada.

Such researchers have had or will have an immediate impact on their new

departments, very much more so than a young URF or assistant professor.

The appointment of one or several excellent scientists in mid-career

immediately strengthens the department's ability to attract funding for

equipment. The acquisition of such equipment may be crucial to the development of

other research in the department. The atmosphere and the enthusiasm for research

in the department will likely improve dramatically as people realize that the

commitment of the university to research in the department is indeed strong. All

members will tend to speak of their department, faculty and university with

greater pride. The additional visibility is likely to result in increased

enrollment of high quality graduate students. The presence of more excellent

students has a positive effect, not only research but the quality of

0

?

demonstrating in the undergraduate labs.

Finally, and also very importantly, the presence of a number of "stars" and

the atmosphere which this creates has a strong effect on the hiring of future

young staff. Highly promising young scientists will have many more opportunities

for employment in universities in Canada in the coming decade than in the past

due to more openings resulting from the many anticipated staff recruitments.

Given a choice, the best will gravitate to departments which have excellent

research and graduate programs already in place. By not acting decisively now,

the SFU chemistry department may find itself unable to compete effectively

against other Canadian universities when junior staff positions become

increasingly open in the middle to late 1990's.

RecommendatiQiii. That the administration grant the department the opportunity to

---

-28-

make two or preferàb'le three appointments at the niIddle

' orsen '

jor levels in

addition to any appoIntthnts relating to the Bib B.

'

These appointments are crucial for the ñeàr and Long term development of the

future of the 'chemistry department. Withüt thes'e it is ddibfu1 that

SF11

will

be able to claim corfident1y, in the foreseeb1e future, to be the second-best

chemistry department in British Columbia.

3',

---

-29-

.

?

EQUITABLE WORKLOADS - TEACHING AND RESEARCH

The question of what constitutes equitable teaching assignments when

comparing faculty who do little or no research as compared with those who have

major research operations was discussed a number of times. Many wise men have

grappled with this problem. Their analyses and solutions have been acceptable to

some but never to everyone. Despite the fact that the problem is a difficult

one, it nevertheless needs to be addressed as fairly as possible since it is a

source of friction in the department.

The external reviewer would like to state his position as follows: "In

general I would argue that formal teaching is more of a finite activity than

research which, if good, demands essentially an open-ended commitment. In

teaching, preparations for a full course or individual classes are made, the

course is given, individual problems are discussed with students. The assign-

ments, essays or exams are marked and the job is more or less finished. The

cycle repeats itself when the course is given for a second and subsequent time.

For courses at the introductory level of the subject, irrespective as to whether

this is first year general, 2nd year organic or physical or quantum chemistry in

the 3rd year, the preparation time become significantly less after one or two

presentations. Courses on a subject near the present state of knowledge are

likely to require many hours of preparation per lecture no matter how often they

are given."

I would also like to make a distinction between graduate teaching and

research. The department readily gives credit for formal graduate teaching

whether the course is given to one or fifteen students yet it seems reluctant to

give credit for teaching a student how to do research, how to write a paper or a

thesis, prepare a seminar and all other duties involved with training an M.Sc. or

Ph.D. candidate.

2)1

---

- 30-

A peftisàl of.

th ?

teachi :

nS ásigniients in the déaftit over the past two

years indicated tl-iàt there

?

âs Often.sàme diffé tent

ition

between those who have

active research pogams antdse whose research effortsare relatively small

The différencé ?

did ffo€ sèdin sustatjal.

?

It must be

?

ointd out that it was

difficult

to

décidè the extérft of 1nvOlveeñt in the dèpartment'

?

tutorial

sytem, nor did I Cojiie ie6 9

-

kip

'

e

with adithisttativé duties which various

professOrs might have had.

The department is strongly urged to re-evalija

i

te its teaching assignments in

order to attempt to remove some of the friction this is causing.

?

The informal

teaching of graduate students could be included in a new formula.

?

It might be

agreeable to all that a maximum of a one course credit per year, compared to the

average load, could be earned by a professor having 3 or more graduate students.

I would be reluctant to grant greater release from teaching than the one

course mentioned above since it is important that undergraduate students come in

contact with researchers.

?

These professors are

?

often

'

gOod and even excellent

teachers, eager to share their enthusiasm of the subject and their research with

the students.

It need not be stressed that good teaching is iñiportant to a department.

Professors who provide it make important contributions. A number of professors

in the chemistry department at SFU who have low or limited involvement in

research groups have reôeived very good and even excellent teaching ratings from

students. Such professors could be asked to do an etra ëourse/term (2 extra

courses/year). This request should not be seen as punishment for not doing much

research but a rationalization and realization that each member of the staff has

different tale

5,

sbrne are

b

'

et at teaching, others at research and some have

talents in administration. Ideally, each persoh's talents should be used to the

fullest extent.

S

---

-31-

It will take considerable wisdom and tact on the part of the administration

and the chairman, and cooperation from the faculty to bring about substantial

changes in order to use everyone's talents to the fullest extent. In principle

the rewards will make the effort worthwhile since it should make everyone feel

that they are carrying their share of the load and making worthwhile and

important contributions to the overall development of the department.

.

0

3'f

---

- 3.Z

SPACE,.'REU]?R'ENENTS.

The committee toured

:'-.",'

the space available for. various research groups. It

was obvious that -some., of -the labs were, overcrowded.. The committee, did not

identify

. .- .........

-much,.underutilizedspace.

?

--"':"t •''-'.- ?

.

?

It concludes,

, ?

that the comments on

•' ?

the

'

shortage

1

'.'!? ?

'.

of space in, the l987.Depar.tmental.Report

,

are realistic.

S

0

---

RESPONSE TO THE REVIEW

OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

FEBRUARY 1989

.

.

f

. (

Vice

rresido,

ACADEMIC

ql

---

INTRODUCTION

A rèviéw of the Daftnièiit,á:hdld in April-'! 98 Wby,4 cbthi'itte.consisting of

?

ProësoiTony bthib

?

ñfChiistr, Uhiversi?ofttawa, Professor Roy Morrison,

DhMiit ófPlisi; Si°i bn

Fi

?

JhithitàndA C: Qehlôhl ërfthDepartment of

Chemisir, Simon FasêrUhi%ersiiy.TheComthittee hadä

?

s

:

to'much;analytical information

?

in ácitioz tothe 1 987'DáriWeñtäi

t

MAsidh statethent.' The ,

coffifilittee interviewed faculty,

laboratoij' instructors',* undeidaié añdgiaduate

?

during a two day period A

report wasissued by the Coth±ttteinthe Summer of19S8Which was' discussed by the

Departme'nt at severaFmeetings inthé FãlFóf 1988. The departmentalresponse to the Report

is contained in

this dbcuniént.

UNDERGRADUATE. PROGRAM

QUALITY

The Dópartmétit made the case, accepted by the Review Committee, that the undergraduate

program at SFU is 61 good to excellent quality, in comparison to those of other chemistry

departments in Canada.

STRUCTURE

TRI-SEMESTER OPEiATION

The committee noted iat SFU operates on a fri-semester basis and that the faculty and

students are in agreenent with, and strongly support, the frequency of the current

offerings.

TUTORIAL SYSTEM

The Committee noted that the tutorial system as operated in the Department requires the

investment of 30-40 tutorial session contact hours each week in the Fall and Spring

semesters. This more than doubles the time commitment by the Department to mount its first

and second year lecture courses. In view of the high human resource commitment involved in

---

the tutorial system, the review Committee recommended that

the Department examine the

tutorial system, especially as executed in the first two years, to define the purpose

of

the

tutorials. The Department was directed to evaluate the methods used in the tutorials to

ensure the goals are likely to be achieved. Finally, the Department was directed to

convince itself that the pedagogical goals defined for the tutorial system are worth the

human resource effort put into this method

of

instruction. If it is no longer certain that

this is the best way to utilize its professorial resources, the other approaches, such as

marked problem sets, should be considered.

Response: The Department examined its use of the tutorial system and determined that it is

essential to the maintenance of the high quality of the undergraduates produced by the

Department.

The Committee

also recommended that

the scheduling

of

tutorials in upper level courses

where enrollment is less than 20 students could be formally discontinued. At this level

students should be encouraged to work on their own.

Response: The Department rejected this recommendation and elected to maintain the current

system.

THE CO-OP PROGRAM

It was evident to the Review Committee that Chemistry is an enthusiastic participant in

the Co-Op program at SFU. The Committee supported this initiative and recommended that

the

Department should continue its commitment to offer high quality undergraduate courses in the

summer semester in order to best serve the students in the Co-Op program.

Response: The Department has and will continue to increase its summer offerings in support

of the Co-Op program. In 89-2 it will continue to offer its high demand upper division

organic chemistry and biochemistry courses.

STUDENT EVALUATION OF COURSES

•

?

?

The Department was commended for the practice of course evaluations and the current

high quality of teaching within the Department. The review Committee recommended that

in

PA

---

the few instances where a faculty member receives a student course evalisation much below the

Departmental avèràe thE ch4irman should encourage those faduity:merftbers tO address the

critidismc

rne

by the students.

R'esoñse: The thbrs 'of the Department recognié

The

value Of exéllence

Th

teaching as a

critical 'component in the life Of the Department and

will

ideasi- to malfltain high teaching

standaids The chairman will implement a 'fcóuiselling wfth individuals who have

identifiable areas iii •vhidi stjbtàfltiai improvernnt could jé Mhieved.

LECTURE COURSE DEFICIENCIES

The Committee identified a few situations of overlap and repetition in various

Departmental courses. To remedy this situation the Committee recommended that

the

Department review its undergraduate course contents with the view of identifying a'nd

rationalizing,

if

necessary, overlaps and omissions in courses.

Response: This is an ongoing process which has been accelerated

by

the review. The DUGSC

and the Chairman are undertaking this process. Detailed coursC outlines have been required

for some time and are now scrutinized by the DUGSC.

POSSIBLE REARRANGEMENTS OF FISTAND SECOND YEAR

The Committee recommended a modified sequence of general and organic chemistry courses

with earlier exposure to the concepts of organic chemistry and as a result the structures

and properties of biologically important molecules. This modification would not decrease

the amount of chemistry in the first two years, it would merely rearrange it.

The committee

proposed, to the Department, the following reorganization of the first year general and

second year organic program.

q'4'

---

4

Present (traditional) sequence:

Year

rm 1

Term 2

1

General Chemistry

General Chemistry

2

Organic Chemistry I

Organic Chemistry

II

New (modified) sequence:

Year

Term 1

Term 2

1

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry I

(Structure and Bonding)

2

Organic Chemistry

II

Descriptive Inorganic

Chemistry

Response: The DUGC analyzed this proposal from the standpoint of pedagogy, student program

design, manpower and facility requirements, and recommended its implementation over the next

two years. After detailed discussion the Department adopted this recommendation and is now

in the process of discussing the proposal with other Departments whose students will be

affected.

I

UPPER DIVISION LECTURE COURSES

Since the external reviewer was an expert in organic chemistry, this subdiscipline

received the most scrutiny at the upper division.

The external reviewer supported the

proposal made by the organic chemists to add a 300 level organic chemistry lecture course to

the core

of

the chemistry and biochemistry program.

Response: The Department supported this recommendation but warns that until additional

organic faculty are added, it is not feasible to offer another course in this discipline.

In anticipation of this possibility a redesigned organic curriculum has been formulated.

Inclusion of an additional organic course in the core chemistry or biochemistry curriculum

is not probable since these core programs currently match university credit maxima. This

issue is will be assessed by the DUGSC.

it was also recommended that,

in view

of

the

• ?

importance and the increasing use

of

spectroscopic methods, especially NMR, in all aspects

/

45

---

of

chemistry, biochemistry and biology, a course emphasizing the application

of

spectroscopic methods to these fields in the core program be implemented.

Response: The Department agrees with this recommendation. Faculty with knowledge in this

area are formulating such a (third year) course and recommending appropriate revisions to

other courses.

LABORATORY COURSES

Laboratory Instructors and Instruction:

It was recognized by the Committee that laboratory instructors have extremely high

demands on their time and resources. Mechanisms to reduce the workload on laboratory

instructors and provision of time to develop new laboratory experiments were deemed

advisable. The Committee recommended that

laboratory instructors should consider replacing

the weekly laboratory quizzes by an end

of

term exam or a less frequent exam schedule.

Laboratory instructors and professors instructing in counterpart lecture courses should

consider the option of alloting time each week to the lab lecture in a regularly scheduled

lecture.

Response: The Department left this operational aspect of the laboratory courses to the

discretion of the laboratory instructors. The instructors considered replacing weekly

quizzes with less frequent quizzes but rejected the recommendation as a change that would

lead to a decreased understanding by students of their laboratory experiences.

The Committee did not agree with the practice of responsibility for each course resting

permanently with a given laboratory instructor. It was recommended that

the faculty take a

strong interest in the development

of

the laboratories.

Response: The chairman and the laboratory instructors will devise a schedule of long term

rotating laboratory assignments to ensure that the goals of continuity and renewal are

4b

---

achieved. Teaching assignments in 1988 and 1989 reflect the inclusion of some faculty in

upper division laboratory course design (336/356/357/366/367/

416

)

.

Faculty will be asked to

provide consultancy to laboratory instructors in the review and upgrading of laboratory

courses. The key to redesign and upgrading is the provision of manpower to develop new

experiments. This was begun in 1988-3 with the assignment of part of a teaching assistant

to Chem 256 micro refitting. The only visible source of support for manpower to conduct

development is via the work study program and this is being pursued.

Undergraduate students pointed out that some of the foreign graduate students who serve

as teaching assistants have poor English language skills which impedes their teaching

function. The Committee recommended that

the Department should make efforts to use foreign

students with poor English language skills in duties other than laboratory instructors,

e.g., grading.

• ?

Response: No foreign graduate students known to have poor English language regardless of

skills are assigned to direct laboratory teaching as of 1988-3! All such students,

regardless of their need for financial support, are either not given teaching

assignments or are given grading assignments. There is a maximum of one grading

position per semester.

It was recognized by both the Department and the Committee that the quality of the

laboratory instruction by the graduate student teaching assistants contributes significantly

to the excellence of the undergraduate program. True excellence should be rewarded and

fostered. Accordingly the Committee recommended that

the Department consider recognizing

excellence among teaching assistants by awarding three or four awards valued at $100 or more

for teaching excellence in each calendar year.

0

?

41

---

Response: The Department debated this recommendation vigorOusly and was divided on the

issue. There was reasonable doubt on the part of a substantial number of faculty that fair

im

p

lementation was possible or that the measure would lead to improved teaching quality.

The laboratory instructors and the chairman are to

'

develop a proposal for consideration.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSE DEFICIENCIES

Analytical Chemistry

The Committee felt that the Department should strive to lead in the area of analytical

chemistry, especially in view of the Co-Op program. It felt that much of the current Chem

218 dealt with classical analytical chemistry. A second analytical laboratory course,

devoted to advanced instrumental techniques, which was under

'

development by the Department,

was seen as highly desirable. The inclusion of important nuclear science techniques such as

X-ray fluorescence into this course was recommended. The Committee recommended that

the

Department review its analytical chemistry laboratory courses in light of the above

suggestions. New equipment should be acquired (f necessary) so that these courses reflect

modern techniques used in industry and in the health fields.

Response: The DUGSC made the case to the Department that the current structure of the

analytical program allowed students to become familiar with the fundamental concepts of

equilibria, solubility and redox chemistry in the first course (218). In the advanced

course (416) instrumental methods were introduced. Students going through these courses

report that they fare quite well in adapting to the newer, more sophisticated techniques

utilized in industrial laboratories. The Department decided to maintain Chem 218 and 416 in

their current format. The latter is team taught by persons knowledgable in each instrumental

technique (e.g., chromatography, atomic adsorption and X-ray fluorescence).

The external reviewer stated that the room devoted to the organic chemistry laboratory

was constructed to standards that predate the university. The fumehoods are placed in an

area that makes them practically inaccessible to students. Furthermore, many of them are

7

416

---

8

being used for storage space and thus not available for experiments. This has led to the

selection of experiments that, while adequate, are restricted in scope because of the

inadequacy of the ventilation in this room. The external reviewer toured other available

undergraduate laboratories and found no other room contained appreciably better ventilation

facilities. The review committee maintained that the present situation in the organic

laboratory with respect to the ventilation must not be tolerated. Accordingly, it

recommended that

efforts be made to install hoods over each

of

the student work

stations if at all feasible. Available fumehoods should be utilized as much as possible

for student experiments rather than as chemical storage areas.

Response: Three avenues to correct this situation have been pursued: 1) The

fumehoods in this laboratory were cleaned and painted in 1988-2 to make them more

conducive to work. Stored items were moved to positions not occupying work space

so students have access to these hoods. 2) Discussions were initiated with the Dean

of Science that led to the inclusion of space for organic laboratory classes in

the proposed IMBB building.

3)

Professor Slessor and Mrs. Shirley Black carried out a

cost analysis for the implementation of micro experiments in the organic laboratory.

Implementation of avenues

2)

and

3)

will lead to a virtually fume free laboratory

environment for organic chemistry. it is envisioned that acquisition of micro equipment

and the supporting instrumentation ($200K total) will proceed and the conversion be

implemented over the next two years. This will reduce the hazardous vapor pollution

in the present laboratory although not to acceptable levels due to the overcrowding that

will result through implementation of the organic laboratory into the first year program.

The move to properly ventilated facilities planned for the IMBB building will complete the

changes necessary in this area.

EQUIPMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE LABORATORIES

The Department Mission statement contained several Tables listing obsolete equipment.

During 1987 the Department began to replace this equipment but the replacement is not

41

---

complete. Obsolete equipment was most noticeable in the laboratories devoted to physical

and instrumental analytical chemistry. Accordingly the Committee recommended that

the

commitment to the upgrading of obsolete equipment and introduction

of

modern instrumentation

initiated in 1987 be maintained.

Response: The Department endorsed this recommendation. In the 1988-1989 fiscal year the

Department requested $449,879 in capital and renovations. It received $129,000 and

allocated a greater portion of its capital budget ($79.2K) to the acquisition

of

equipment

for undergraduate teaching laboratories than has been done in any other experimental science

Department. With these funds the Department acquired a new atomic absorption instrument for

the advanced analytical laboratory and enabled Professor Gay to begin the renewal

of

the

advanced physical chemistry laboratories by implementation

of

computer interfaced

experiments. In the 1989-1990 capital budget submission the acquisition

of

equipment for

the undergraduate laboratories will also be a high priority.

LIBRARY FACILITIES ?

0

The Committee recommended that the SFU librarian be asked to negotiate better and less

expensive access to the UBC library for SFU researchers.

Response: This recommendation will be pursued by Professor Gay.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Committee applauded activities in the area of high school liaison carried out by

members of the Department. In 1988 the faculty were especially active in this area.

Members participated in Shad Valley Day, Science Day and Futures. They also hosted

Chemistry Enrichment and Chemistry in the 80's programs.

The Committee suggested that a mechanism for attracting more scholarship quality high

school students to SFU would be to guarantee scholars space in the university residence.

---

Response: The Department endorses this recommendation. On behalf of the Department the

Chairman has written to the Director of Student Services recommending that the number of

rooms reserved for scholarship holders in the SFU residences be increased from 30 to 100

(which is the number the Director Vern Lowen feels confident he could effectively utilize).

10

•

---

GRADUATE PROGRAM.

The M.Sc.. Degree

The Committee determined that the average time to complete an M.Sc. in Chemistry is

slightly over 3 years compared with 2.3 years at the external reviewer's home

institution (Ottawa-Carleton Institute). Representations from faculty involved in

graduate student supervision as well as graduate students pointed to the excessive

course and cumulative requirements as a major contributing factor for lengthy completion

times for the M.Sc. The Committee recommended that

the Department survey other Canadian

universities to obtain a representative sampling of course and examination requirements.

If, as was strongly suspected by the committee, the SFU requirements are excessive then

the Department could consider alternative program structures to decrease reliance on

present structured courses.

The committee recommended possible options. Among them that

Cum-1 become a

research report and be scheduled in the first month of the student's fourth semester.

This cum should be structured similarly to the present Cum-1 and involve a short typed

report and an oral presentation followed by discussion and questions (this is not the

seminar discussed below).

The committee also recommended

introduction of a graduate student seminar program.

The committee envisaged the possibility that an M.Sc. student would give one seminar

based on an assigned literature topic and a PhD. student would give two seminars, the

second of which wouldbe a thesis seminar. This would amount to 15-20 seminars per year

in the Department. Attendance of all graduate students should be mandatory and course

credit for this activity should be given. Assessment based on presentation and

understanding of the seminar material was suggested. A group of two or three staff

members could be assigned on a yearly basis so that reasonably consistent assessments

11

would be made.

.

---

12

Response: The DGSC conducted the survey and determined that an alternate program

structure would be desirable to bring our course requirements into line with those at

other Canadian institutions. At the M.Sc. level the proposed program involves the

replacement of Cum I by a Research Seminar course (805) in which the student would

normally enroll in his fourth semester. Students would be required to make written and

oral reports on their research progress in Chem 805. Another seminar course, Chem 801,

also requiring a student presentation would replace one of the formal lecture courses.

Thus, two lecture courses, Chem 801, Chem 805 and a successful thesis examination would

be required of M.Sc. graduates.

These changes have been given approval in principle by the Department.

STRUCTURE OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Ph.D. Degree

•

?

?

The Committee found length of time for completion of the Ph.D. degree to be similar

to the national average. Based on the experience of the external reviewer the seven

courses requirement for the Ph.D. is average for this degree. To keep the M.Sc. and Ph.D.

degree requirements consistent the committee suggested some revisions to the Ph.D. degree

program structure might be necessary.

Response: The DGSC recommended changes to the Ph.D.

program structure which were consistent with those changes recommended for the M.Sc.

Specifically, student seminar courses Chem 805, 801 and 802 were recommended to replace

Cum I, II and III respectively. Each of the seminar courses would be given credit so

only four lecture courses would be required.

These changes have been given approval in principle by the Department.

It is recognized that introduction of these suggestions will have the adverse

effect of decreasing the demand for graduate courses and decrease the frequency of

offering and variety of courses available to graduate students. To counteract this,

---

13

each sub-discipline will offer one key course in their area on a regular basis to ensure

that students in all areas can meet their course requirements within a reasonable time

?

n

period.

Stipends and Entrance Scholarships

The Committee noted that SFU stipends, for M.Sc. or Ph.D. candidates, are, at best,

barely competitive with those of other chemistry departments in Canada. The Department

should pressure the administration to ensure that NSERC and other scholarship holders

find SFU attractive and competitive not only in research but also from the financial

point of view.

The Committee recommended that

the Department strive to make its stipend offering

for both the M.Sc. and the Ph.D. competitive with other universities in B.C. and in the

differentiation

remainder of Canada.

between

Consideration

M.Sc. and Ph.D.

could

candidates.

be given

[They

to a zero

do the

or the

same

smallest

teaching,

possibleand,

?

.

initially at least, similar amounts

of

research.] Additional university scholarships to

major scholarship holders should be made at competitive (or higher) levels in order to

attract more students

of

excellent quality.

Response: The Department has initiated the practice of using NSERC operating funds to

increase the stipends of graduate students during semesters they are on teaching

assistantships. The payments are presently $600 per semester and will be increased to

keep our stipends commensurate with those of other B. C. Universities.

Grading of Students and Internal Scholarships

The students expressed the opinion to the Committee that SFU merit scholarships

should be awarded with less emphasis on grades and courses. More weight should be

---

I"

placed on research productivity. There was a feeling among students that course marks

are not given uniformly, that it is hard to compare marks for different courses and that

a relative ranking within a single course might be a better standard for scholarship

allocation.

Response: The implementation of the revised graduate program structure will allow all

students to be compared in the same course (Chem 805 or 801 or 802) each year. This

should make evaluation of research progress and inter-student comparisons much fairer.

Graduate Student Enrollment

The Department has an intake of about a dozen graduate students per year. This has

resulted in a relatively constant graduate student population of

50

of which 60% are

visa students. A significantly greater number of high quality Canadian graduate

students will not materialize until the research visibility of the Department compares

favorably with its major geographical competitors.

University Support of Graduate Studies and Research

The committee did not discuss in detail the total support offered to the Department

by the administration for graduate student assistantships and storeroom supplies and

research equipment. The administration must take action to ensure that researchers

receive at least a competitive amount of University support when compared to UBC or the

University of Victoria.

Response: These comparisons will be made in the Five Year Plan.

INTERFACE WITH IMBB

The IMBB members resident in Chemistry expressed a desire to have Chemistry

•

?

maintain Biochemistry as a high priority for future faculty appointments. These

IMBB ?

I)')

f

---

15

members were not in favor of the Institute becoming a separate Department in the near

future. In light of these attitudes the Committee recommended

that the appointments

funded by the IMBB allocation be continued to be distributed between the Departments and

the appointment of younger faculty capable of developing an interdisciplinary team be

given priority. The director should favor candidates with demonstrated excellence who

by virtue of their interpersonal skills would be likely to become involved in

interdisciplinary research.

Response: The Department agrees with this approach and has undertaken two initiatives

to strengthen ties between IMBB and non-IMBB members in chemistry with common research

interests: 1) It has actively pursued funding of major equipment such as NMR facilities

which are crucial to new experiments planned by IMBB and non-IMBB members.

2)

It has

encouraged the formation of a Molecular Recognition Group involving IMBB and non-IMBB

members to facilitate fund raising by the Development Office.

?

0

EVALUATION OF RESEARCH

The evaluation of research in the Department was made entirely by the external

reviewer and the response was prepared by the Chairman.

The external reviewer recognized that the SFU chemistry department is unusual in

that its members obtain operating grants from four different NSERC committees (1988

figures): chemistry, 12 + 1 infrastructure (X-ray); cell biology, 4; inter-disciplinary,

1; sub-atomic physics, 1. The situation is further complicated by the project grants

awarded to the nuclear science group (TRIUME).

1•

---

S

His only analysis was of the single largest group, namely those who receive their

operating grants from Chemistry.

He pointed out that the average 1988 grant for the 12

chemistry grant recipients has been consistently 80% of the national average for all

chemistry grantees (Table 1) and that there are no chemists at SFU with operating grants

in the >$70K range, the amount received by the top 10% of chemistry grantees (top 50 out

of 500 grantees.

Average SFU Chemistry Operating Grant vs National Average

Number of

?

Average SFU Chem. Average Canada

Year SFU Grants

?

Grant $K

?

Chem. Grant $K SFU/Canada

1982

15

17.3

—24

0.72

1985

13

25.2

31.9

0.81

1988

12 (13)*

(28.6) 28

.

3*

—36

0.79

*Includes Einstein Infra-structure X-ray Grant

Publication Rates at SFU. McMaster and Ottawa

# Publications ?

Faculty with no

# Faculty ?

(1985-86

?

Ratio publications (%1

SFU

28

147

5.25

5

(18)

McMaster

32

239

7.5

3(9)

Ottawa

16

178

11.0

0(0)

He then argued on the basis of this data that the chemistry department at SFU

does not compare favorably with McMaster or Ottawa but that the quality may more

closely parallel that of, for example, Manitoba. He then concluded that at

present, the department's research quality and productivity places it in the lower

half, probably in the lower third, of the following major Canadian departments:

(West to East): Victoria, UBC, SFU, Calgary, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,

Windsor, Western, Waterloo, Guelph, McMaster, Toronto, Queens, Carleton, Ottawa,

McGill, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Lava!, UNB, Dalhousie, Memorial.

16

---

17

Réspónse: The exteiiial ieviéwr made several ãgUThënt

?

èdóiedãta thatthe

avérage of the oeraig grants'obfaind from the c he

`

itiy'ght '

selectionc6inmittee of

NSERCbymaihIine chemists in the Deartmeii( are'

ie

-

bèkw th iatlönalavérage for

chemistry departments of major institutions.

Weàccépt this°análysis as pointing to a weakness in our departmental research

profile. Wealsoaccétihát our interdisciplinary strengths do not releae the

mainline chemists Of theprôfessionãl obligation to be competitive with respect to their

counterparts in Other in

-

stitutiOns. We also consider that our interdisciplinary

strengths and balanced reéord in bOth basic and applied research are strengths on which

we wish to build.

It is widely recognized that chemistry is a mature discipline and that the rate of

growth of knowledge in the core Of the discipline is growing appreciably slower than

that at the bridging'areas such as biochemistry and surface chemistry. In this respect

SFU is ideally positioned to proceed into the next century by expanding its already

identified high priority area of biOchemistry.

The funds flowing into NSERC operating grant budgets have not kept pace with

inflation over the last two decades while funds to interdisciplinary programs have grown

substantially above the inflationary rate. This trend indicates that the evolving view

of government is that university research laboratories are a resource to be Otilized in

the solution of problems of perceived national interest. Regardless of the validity of

this view the trend is clear. In 1978 Over 80% of funding to si?u chemists came from

NSERC operating grants while in 1988 this has decreased

to

<0%. As we proceed into the

next century the chemical community can expect to see the funds available for curiosity

driven research, with no apparent mission, to decrëasê. AccOrdiàgly the departments

whose faculty recognize the Changing trends and are able to establish track records for

?

0

^i

---

18

timely solution of meaningful chemical problems will be in the best position to

capitalize on the future growth in the funding for this discipline. We consider

ourselves to have a good record in this area and expect to fare well in future funding

competitions.

One high Departmental priority is to raise its research profile in the

international arena and its standings in the competition for NSERC operating funds from

the chemistry grant selection committee. To achieve this the Chairman believes the

Department would be best served by providing the time and resources to our best

researchers so that they can develop to the point where they are recognized and

rewarded by the chemistry grant selection committee. According to reviewers this is the

case with some of the Department's members and we trust that the NSERC-CGSC will respond

to their achievements. We will also attract mid-career chemists that are in similar

situations at other institutions but are recognized by the chemistry grant selection

is

committee. The Chairman believes that a large part of the excellent research grant

profile of the Department of Biological Sciences is due to the early recruitment of

an entire block of top flight scientists from an eastern Canadian government laboratory.

This single action gave that Department instant recognition on which they have built.

COMMENTS ON THE SUB-DISCIPLINES

(i) Nuclear Chemistry

This sub-discipline was recognized as being unique and it was recommended that

expertise be added to the Department from TRIUMF in the form of Adjunct Professors who

could bring new initiatives to this area at SFU.

Response: Dr. Tom Ruth, a Senior Research Scientist at TRIUMF has been appointed an

Adjunct Professor in Chemistry effective Jaunary 1, 1989. He and Professor J. D'Auria

are developing a Summer Institute in Radiopharmaceutical Synthesis to commence in 1989

---

or1990. ?

will cOme ftiext&iial sOurces.

(ii)Biochemistry

The biochemistry group in the Chemistry Department at SFU is small and active in

research. At present, the group has difficulty in mounting the courses necessary for

both an effective undergraduate and graduate program and several important gaps

including nucleic acid and protein biochemistry have been identified by the group. The

Department and the University have recognized the importance of this field and have made

major commitments towards its future. The external reviewer recommended

that the

efforts to attract new faculty to biochemistry continue since this field is attracting

excellent students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

He also recognized

the major setback suffered by the Department with the departure of one of the

biochemists. He felt that it was important that the Department replace him by

someone of comparable stature in order that this research group not lose its

upward momentum. This replacement must be in addition to a recent IMBB hiring.

The committee recognized the problem of attracting an outstanding person in a

"hot"field; the "price" is likely to be high. Nevertheless, the effort must be

made. The replacement should be in addition to the designated IMBB position.

Response: This case was forwarded to the University by the Department. The University

has accepted this position and will permit the biochemistry replacement to be at

the Senior Protein Biochemist level.

(iii) Organic Chemistry

The external reviewer made the argument that the addition of a senior associate or

young full professor in the area of organic chemistry and the expected development of

Pinto could reasonably lead to an excellent graduate program in organic/bioorganjc

chemistry at SFU.

?

0

19

(Do

---

20

Response: This case was forwarded to the University by the Department. The Department

understands that the Dean of Science has recommended to the University that a top CFL

priority for the Faculty of Science in 1989-1990 should be authorization of a Senior

Organic Chemist. The Department is confident that this recommendation will be accepted.

(iv)

Inorganic/OrganOmetalllc Chemistry

It was expected by the external reviewer that the research support for this group

would increase substantially in the next few years. The reviewer recommended that

the Department support the initiatives by the inorganic group.

Response: The expansion of this group by one member will appropriately amplify

the efforts of this group. The Department plans to include a CFL request for the

InorganidOrganometallic group in its top priority list in the next two years.

(v)

Physical Chemistry

As of late 1989 only four of the eight faculty remaining in this sub-

discipline will be active in research. This is clearly a major concern for the

department. This group supplies most of the undergraduate teaching manpower but

has relatively few upper division teaching demands. It was the view of the

external reviewer that because of higher teaching demands in other sub-disciplines

the revitalization of research in physical chemistry may have to be sacrificed.

Response: The Department recognizes that it must build on its strengths and that

areas with higher student demand at the senior undergraduate and graduate level

should receive proportionally more support. The question is how to foster the

continuance and improvement in the research profile of this group with minimal

financial impact on other priorities. Initial efforts have been to replace a

• ?

retiring faculty member whose teaching and research efforts are in the popular

• ?

• (pt

---

21

area of

gr

aduatephysical

..

chemjstry - polymer ëhemistry.

?

nominated

a NSERC/URFapplicant whse sjecialty is polyñier chèmistryänd vhocOuld use much

of the'equipment available in this area.

(vi)

Theoretical Chemistry

The department manages its teaching commitment in this area with one faculty

member. His latest NSERCgrant improved considerably from previàus levels and

indicates reasonable stability in this area.

Response: The Departmenthasno plans to add facilIty in this area.

(vii) Analytical Chemistry

The reviewers recognized that there were no faculty at SFU with specific training

in analytical chemistry. They recommended that the department explore the option of

using biochemistry as a vehicle for entering this field in a non-traditional 'way -

analytical chemistry emphasizing biosensors and biological diagnostics. These areas are

?

S

presently of tremendous interest and have great potential.

Response: Advanced analytical chemistry at SFU (Chem 416) is successfully taught by a

team. The two faculty with'strongest

analy t

i

càlinterests are 'Professors

.

DAuria and

Peterson. Both conduct analytical research in which ëstablish'éci instrumental techniques

are used to probe biOlOgical and ecological 'questiàiis. It is expected that tifese

efforts will expand. The addition of an electrocheniist to amplify the expertise in this

area is 'envisioned if funding currently being explored can be found extérnál to the

university (eg., NSERC Industrial Chair).

6)

S

---

FACULTY RENEWAL

Assuming formal retirement at age

65,

four positions will become available between

now and 1994 and seven by 1997. If the department has to depend solely on opportunities

created by retirements, progress and improvements in research stature will be slow since

three of the four imminent retirees are among the active researchers.

The external reviewer argued that if excellence in research is considered an

important goal the hiring of some mid-career chemists with exceptional records, rather

than only young faculty, is crucial. It was argued that this recommended strategy would

make a fast and significant short term impact on the research profile of the department

and provide a basis for:

- attraction of larger numbers of bright graduate students who

will inspire undergraduates as teaching assistants,

- attraction of the next generation of bright young faculty who

S

will have many positions from which to select, and

- attraction of major equipment funding essential to

maintaining a competitive edge.

By not acting decisively now, it was argued that the Department may find itself

unable to compete effectively against other Canadian universities when junior staff

positions become increasingly open in the middle to late 1990's due to retirements of

aging faculty. Accordingly, the reviewer recommended

that the administration grant the

Department the opportunity to make two or preferably three appointments at the middle or

senior levels in addition to any appointments relating to the IMBB.

These appointments are crucial for the near and long term development of the future

of the Department. Without them, it is doubtful that SFU will be able to claim

confidently, in the foreseeable future, to be the second-best chemistry department in

22

. ?

British Columbia.

(j

---

Response: The Chairman agrs with this analysis. In 1987-1988 several tenure track

positions were advertised by Canadian Chemistry Departments.

The

number of responses in

comparison

to

previous searches was astonishingly low. On average, only 23 qualified

(Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant) candidates applied for each of these positions.

Many universities are now in the position where they are unable to find any candidate to

whom they are willing to make an offer. It is expected that this situation will worsen

in

the 1990's.

The Department hopes to make the following CFL appointments within the next five

years. Placement of the Senior appointments early in the schedule is in accordance with

the reviewer's arguments, the Department's wishes and the Administration's commitments.

REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE BY AREA AND YEAR

Area 1988

?

1989 ?

1990 ?

1991 ?

1992 ?

1993

+

+ ?

+

Bich 4

Protein

Protein ?

Membrane

Struct

Biochem

Nuci Acid

?

Biochem

Biochern

(Senior)

Biochem ?

(expected)

(Junior)

+

(IMBB)

Nuci acid

(Junior)

Biochem

(IMBB)

(Junior)

+

Inorg 4

Inorganic

Photochem

+

+

Org ?

6

Synthetic

Bio-organic

Org

Org

(Junior)

(Senior)

Phys

?

10

-

-

Polymer

Spectro

23

.

Nusc

3

+

Anal 0

?

Electrochem

^q^

---

24

EQUITABLE WORKLOADS - TEACHING AND RESEARCH

The reviewer noted that a perusal of the teaching assignments in the Department

over 1986-1988 indicated that there was often some differentiation between those who

have active research programs and those whose research efforts are relatively small.

The differences did not seem substantial. The Department was strongly urged to re-

evaluate its teaching assignments in order to attempt to remove some of the friction

this is causing. The teaching of research methodology could be included in a new

formula. It might be agreeable that a maximum of a one course credit per year,

compared to the average load, could be earned by a professor having 3 or more graduate

students. The reviewer would be reluctant to grant greater release from teaching than

the one course since it is important that undergraduate students come in contact with

researchers. Furthermore, these professors are often good and even excellent teachers,

eager to share their enthusiasm of the subject and their research with the students.

Good teaching is essential to the health of the department. Professors who provide

it make an important contribution. A number of professors in the Department who have

limited involvement in research receive very good and even excellent teaching ratings

from students. Such professors could be asked to do an extra course/term (2 extra

courses/year). This request should not be seen as punishment for not doing much

research but a rationalization and realization that each member of the staff has

different talents, some are best at teaching, others at research and some at

administration. Ideally, each person's talents should be used to the fullest extent.

Response: The chairman agrees with the goal of providing an environment in which each

faculty member contributes to his fullest in the areas in which he has established

talents. The election of an academic career implies a commitment to a lifetime involved

in the teaching process. Although research is a very effective method of educating

• ?

scientists and maintaining current awareness in one's field, this Chairman does not

?

/

---

take the view -that it is.an

absolute requirement for ail faculty through their entire

professional life. Where a faculty member has chosen not toengage in research it is

expected that contributions in other areas important to the university will increase.

The Chairman considers that his obligation is to foster an efficient and excellent

iñstructiônal and research organization. In 1988-3 the Chairman organized teaching

assignments to:

-

recognize the time commitment of some faculty to graduate teaching and research.

Professors who were judgedto carry a heavy load in this area were expected-to teach no

more than two full time equivalent courses per year. Some relief from excessive grading

requirements was offered to faculty with heavy research commitments who teach large

enrollment first year courses.

- recognize the teaching talents of those who are only slightly active or inactive

in research as judged by their published works by assigning greater teaching

responsibility spanning all three semesters of the year.

•1iki (IJ

The review process provided an opportunity for a comprehensive assessment of the

Department's current strengths and weaknesses. As well it provided an efficient format

for the ongoing debate of alternate strategies for improvement of the undergraduate,

graduate and research components of the Department. Many of the recommendations made by

the review committee were distilled from presentations made by Department members during

the review. For this reason implementation of most of the recommendations of the review

has been rapid.

The Department wishes to thank the university for its investment in this review

process. It has had a significant positive influence on the future development of the

Department.

25

0

A,

10

---

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF

CHEMISTRY

• ?

FIVE YEAR PLAN

1989 - 1993

.

?

(11

---

S

.

I ?

g ? t

---

a

TABLE OF CONTENTS

.

I. PRESENT AND FUTURE ENVIRONMENT

4

U. DEPARTMENTAL MISSION

4

1. Undergraduate Program

4

Majors and Honors Programs

4

-

Service Programs

4

2. Graduate Program

5

M.Sc. Degree

?

,

5

Ph.D. Degree

5

3. Research

5

-

III. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

6

1. Breadth and Interdisciplinary Nature of the Department

6

•

2. Pheromone Research Program

Biochemistry

6

7

3. Biochemistry and the Institute of Molecular Biology and

4. The Nuclear Science Program

7

5. Co-Op Education Program

7

6. Community Relations Programs

7

IV. CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

8

1. Program Content and Structure

8

V. RESOURCE INVENTORY - UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

9

1. Faculty Complement

9

2. Laboratory Personnel

9

Laboratory Instructor Support

9

Teaching Assistantship Support

11

Staff Support

12

a

Technical

---

3. Euipmënt for

t

UndèrgrádUate Laboràtór1

12

4. ?

Spa

c

e

12

5. Study Spä&foUñd8tádüät

13

VI. STRENGTHS & WEAkNESSES OF THE

-

UNDERGRADUATE PROG.

13

1. Sfregth - HighQUäIity

13

2. Arèà for i

?

rööinont-Hi*er Und6

fo^^

dÜ'a,t'ig-b

'i

. s;

cip

line Profike

14

UhdèrrâdUäte PdfriIätIÔn Statisticsán'd Trends

14

3. Ahalytical Chëhiisfri

15

4. The BiochérnjtPrdràth

15

Areas for Improvement - Faculty Con

?

lemént and Curriculum

Revision

16

5. NUäICar Sbie*hdb

16

Future beveIopthèñt Prôbáble

16

6. The Co-00 Educätiöri PÔgrañi

16

Area for lpôvèmêht - InôrOaOdmrner Upper LveI Course

Offerings

17

7. Laboratory Courses in Chemistry

17

Rigorous StrUôturè

17

VII. CHANGES IN CUARICILUM WITI

-N FIVE YEARS

18

1. Lower bivision Sireár' ing

18

. AësOquOfidirid

18

. tipper Level dhdmimey

19

4. Biochemistry Program

19

Development of New

-

?

Biochemithy Lcrtories

20

Protein Structure And FunctiOn

20

-

---

•

Nucleic Acid Biochemistry

20

Biomembranes

20

Immunochemistry

21

5. Nuclear Science

21

6. Computer Laboratories in Chemistry

21

-

7. Service for Non-science Students

21

8. Continuing Studies Activities

22

VIII. GRADUATE PROGRAMS

22,

1. M.Sc Program Structure and Plans for Improvement

22

Area for Improvement - Emphasis on Research & Communication

22

2. Ph.D. Program Structure and Plans for Improvement

23

Area for Improvement - Emphasis on Research & Communication

23

3. Seminar Program

24

IX. RESOURCE INVENTORY - GRADUATE PROGRAM

24

1. Graduate Student Support

24

2. Nonsalary University Support of Graduate Studies

25

3. Research Space

25

4. Fumehood Facilities

25

5. Graduate Student Office Space

26

6. Major Facilities

26

7. Library Resources

28

X. NEW GRADUATE PROGRAM INITIATIVES

29

1. Institute in Molecular Biology and

?

chemistry

29

2. Nuclear Science Institute

30

Environmental Toxicology

31

o

3.

40

---

MW

..

XL

RESEARCH .

INrERESTS OF FACULTY

31

1. Current Research Iptprests

31

External -,Resea

,

rch, Grant ..Support

34

3. Assessment of Quality of Research

35

XI. RESOURCE PLANNING

.37

1. New, Faculty-Appointments

37

Biochemistry Higest Priority

37

Impact of

.

Present,NSERC. URFppointrnents

37

Organic chemistry

37

!norganic/Organometallic,.chemistry

39

Impact of Present. NSERC URF:Appointment

39

• ?

Physical Chemistry

?

.

39

Analytical

Chemistry

40

.2. Future Directions of Development in

.

Qhernistry.andc.Biochernistry

40

Projected Faculty CompIernen 1989-1994

41

Retirements and Resignations With JJFeplacements Qther Than

,CurrèrftURPS

41

Retirements Replaced With Curre

,

nt U.RF'S and Additional Faculty

According tp 11988 Review

41

Detailed Replacement Sphpouleby Ae

?

and Year

41

3. Support Staff

43

Laboratory lnstr., Technicians & Secretarial Support 1987/1988

43

T. A. & Laboratory lnstr. Support of Undergraduate Laboratories

43

Undergraduate Laboratory Technical Support

43

Computer Laboratory Resource Person

44

---

Secretarial Staff

44

Comparison of Secretarial Support in Experimental Departments

in the Faculty of Science

46

4. Capital Equipment Requirements

46

Equipment for the Teaching Laboratories

47

Obsolete Equipment in Introductory Lab Courses

47

5. Development of New Laboratories in Computational Chemistry

48

6. Requirements for Research Equipment

49

NSERC Grant Applications - 1988

49

Major Facilities

50

Research Equipment for New Faculty

51

7. Operating Fund Requirements

51

8. Space Requirements

52

Immediate Space Needs

52

9. Projected Enrollment in the M. Sc. and Ph. D. Programs

53

Projected Graduate Enrollments by Area

54

10. Chemistry Department Five Year Plan Cost Projections

55

Appendix

56

- ?

AREAS OF GRADUATE TEACHING AND RESEARCH

56

FACULTY BY RANK, AREA OF INTEREST AND YEAR OF

ATTAINMENT OF 65

57

EXTERNAL RESEARCH GRANTS JANUARY - DECEMBER 1988 58

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY SPACE INVENTORY 1989-1

59

SUMMARY OF SPACE INVENTORY FOR CHEMISTRY (In Sq.

Ft) 60

FACULTY WITH MAJOR RESEARCH SPACE SHORTAGES

60

GRADUATE STUDENT POPULATIONS 1987/88

60

---

NEW GRADUATE STUDENT ENROLLEES

ADUAIEENROLLMENTS 198270 1988,

GRADUATE STUDENTS BY AREA -OF RESEARCH

:

1988-1989

GRADUATE STUDENTS, BY CITIZENSHIP, 1988-1989W

GRADUATE STU DENT S

j

J p

ERVISQAY COMMITTEES..

GRADUATES IN CHEMISTRY

61 ?

.

61

61 ?

-

61

62 ?

-

63 ?

- -

---

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Report contains the mission statement of the Department of

Chemistry developed during an internal review in the Spring of 1987. This is

- followed by an analysis of the strengths and weakness of the Department

identified during an external review held in 1988. Finally, a five year plan for the

further development of teaching and research programs and resource planning

- ?

is presented.

The present undergraduate programs in chemistry and biochemistry

produce graduates that consistently place in the top 2% of all North American

students taking the MOAT examinations. Our goal in the next five years is to

double the number of excellent undergraduates attracted to and graduating

from our majors and honors programs. The Department will further improve the

attractiveness and quality of its undergraduate programs by: a) reorganization

of undergraduate general chemistry and organic chemistry to present the

concepts of organic chemistry earlier in the curriculum; b) upgrade of equipment

in undergraduate laboratories;

C)

further development of curriculum utilizing

computational methods; d) development of additional advanced biochemistry

laboratories; and e) continued expansion of offerings into the summer semester

in support of the Co-Op program. Key to our success to date and in the future

are: a) maintenance of a very active high-school liaison program;

b) maintenance of a program of quality assessment to ensure continued

teaching excellence; and

C)

support of the Co-Op program. Operating budgets

for the Department are 86% below 1982 levels based on increases in

enrollments and running costs. In spite of the adverse economic conditions

encountered during the recent past the Department has maintained excellent

quality in its programs and increased research funding by 81% during the same

period.

Undergraduate laboratories are under particular stress due to an

increase of 82% in enrollments since 1982. Laboratory instructors and technical

staff are overburdened. One additional laboratory instructor and two additional

technical assistants are required to meet present demands and those

anticipated from addition of advanced biochemistry laboratories. These

- positions as well as an additional secretarial position are justified by

comparison with sister science Departments within the University and chemistry

Departments in neighboring universities. An additional position is required to

- maintain the newly created computer resources laboratory. Approximately

$175,000 per year is required to continue the upgrading of equipment in

undergraduate teaching laboratories begun in 1987 and to fund new

biochemistry and computing laboratories. The Department is 25-30% short of

space but, this will drop to less than 20% after the IMBB building is occupied.

A most significant requirement for chemistry in terms of resource

allocation is the upgrading of the ventilation in the undergraduate organic

laboratories. The standard of ventilation in these laboratories pred

ates

the

construction of the University. Conversion of experiments to micro-scale

* ?

(-$200,000, part of the $175,000 above) coupled with movement of these

liii

---

2

laboratories into properly ventilated facilities in theIMBB building are required

to completely solve current problems of air quality, in these laboratories.

The Department has set as a goal expansion of its.graduate program

from a current enrollment of 50 students to 80 students within the next five

y

ears. 'Toachieve this .the Department must increase its. eternal grant support

?

--

:by 11'%per year. Since

.

1982'the' Department has increased external funding

.4t:-a 10 6 /6

compounded rate. The dollar amounts of requests for funding to

external -agencies accelerated in 1988 to more than double the 1986/1987

?

-

averages It is anticipated that the current rate of funding of applications will

allowthe• projected growth of the graduate program.

Chemistry is central to several rapidly advancing research fronts. Most

forecasts predict increased research activity in biotechnology and materials

science. To position the Department at the forefront in the key basic aspects of

?

- -

biotechnologically related research we- propose to concentrate appointments in

biochemistry and organic chemistry. The overall thrust is to attract a group of

faculty capable of probing the molecular basis for important biochemical

processes and interfacing with those involved in the exploitation of knowledge

gained in these basic research endeavors. To place the Department at the

forefront of key areas of materials science in which we have a competitive

position we recommend appointment of additional faculty in theoretical organic,

inorganic, polymer and electrochemistry.

Developments in nuclear science are linked to the federal initiative to

build a kaon factory at TRIUMF. Should this project proceed we envision

expansion of Lthis group to exploit the scientific opportunities accruing from this

facility.

The highest priority for the Department is the expansion of its excellent

program in biochemistry. During the next live years addition of four faculty

positions in this area is anticipated. Two of these are to be funded from the

IMBB initiative and two from Departmental requests. It is anticipated that by the

end of the term of this plan this group will increase from 4 to 8 members and

?

-•

include new expertise in membrane biochemistry, 'nucleic acid chemistry,

immunochemistry and protein biochemistry.

A high priority for the Department is addition of a senior organic chemist.

This appointment and a further junior appointment in this area near the end of

the plan term are fully justified on the basis of the undergraduate teaching

requirements in this area and the ability of this area to attract a significant

proportion of graduate students (40% at present). A senior appointment will

provide a nucleus of organic chemists which will interact with both the

?

-

biochemistry group and the emerging materials science design group.

The appointment of senior faculty early in the planning period would

benefit the Department by: a) increasing its ability to attract the best young

faculty in what is expected to be a very competitive, next decade; b) increasing

its ability to attract funding for big ticket capital equipment which would be of use

to younger faculty; and c) increasing its ability to attract the very best graduate

Ii'

---

3

. students. Addition of a faculty position in the area of inorganic chemistry would

ensure the continued development of this group in both synthetic and

mechanistic inorganic chemistry. This combination is essential to maintenance

of present group capabilities to design organometallics for use in

opticoelectronic devices. In support of this initiative the Department plans to add

one member in the important area of polymer chemistry. Currently SFU is the

only University west of Thunder Bay that offers training in this important area,

and our single polymer chemist is retiring in 1989. It is recommended that the

Department attract an electrochemist to this group. The Department is

considering combination of expertise in this important area with requirements in

biochemistry by seeking applicants with expertise in biosensors. Much research

equipment is obsolete and new faculty appointees require set up funding. An

annual allocation of $300,000 is required to meet these needs of which the

Department expects to obtain $150,000 annually from external sources.

I

jb

---

4

?

•

?

I. PRESENT AND FUTURE ENVIRONMENT

The Department is located in a region that has historically depended on

resource industries to provide an economic base. Higher education in

disciplines not directly impacting on resource development has been viewed as

a cultural endeavor but not necessary for economic progress.

Technological development is projected to be the engine that drives the

economy of this region in the coming decades. As examples of regional

economic expansion centered around stellar University systems proliferate,

education in disciplines central to the development of new technologies can

expect to receive attention from astute governments. Because of its excellent

record in science education and research and as a Pacific rim University, SFU

can expect to participate in the remarkable economic development predicted for

this region. SFU's undeniable role in this endeavor is to supply the highly

trained manpower and research base for the development of this region's

exportable technologies. As a core scientific discipline, chemistry can be

expected to be near the center of this technological development.

II. DEPARTMENTAL MISSION

The mission of the Chemistry Department is to support excellence in

teaching and research in chemistry, biochemistry and nuclear science. The

mission is carried out through delivery of its programs of undergraduate and

graduate teaching and research.

1. Undergraduate Program

Majors and Honors Programs

The B.Sc. majors and honors programs in chemistry and biochemistry

• • provide students with the intellectual underpinnings in the core areas of

inorganic, organic, physical, biochemistry and nuclear science, as well as the

appropriate background in the cognate areas of math, physics and biosciences.

In addition, students are introduced to broader concepts through courses

outside the Faculty of Science.

• The programs are structured to instill in students an appreciation of the

excitement and fulfillment in the pursuit of the chemical sciences. We consider

the development, in students, of an appreciation for the scientific method a

primary goal. Development of chemical problem solving and laboratory skills as

well as written and oral communication of scientific findings and conclusions

are a high priority.

Service Programs

The Department has a major commitment to serve the chemical

education needs of students from biosciences, physics, kinesiology and

engineering science. We also provide science electives for students from other

ii

---

5

faculties. Students who enter University withOut a background in chemical

concepts can currently take a semester program which then allows them to

enter the general chOmistry program. Due to enrollment pressures the

continued offering

of

this service make-up program is under review. The

development

of

the regional college system in British Columbia is expected to

remove our mandate to offer these courses.

2. Graduate Program

The graduate teaching and research are key to the mission of the

Department. Major emphasis has been on single- investigatordriven basic

research in the forefront fields of chemistry, biochemistry and nuclear science.

-

However, several major initiatives in interdisciplinary research are underway,

and this approach is increasing in prominence. A number

of

projects now also

involve collaborations with private enterprise (e.g., Phero Tech Inc., Moli

Energy, B. C. Salmon Farmers Association, ABI Biotechnologies, Chem-

Biomed, Merck Frosst, etc.).

M.Sc. Degree

The goal of our M.Sc. program is to introduce students to advanced

research practice and methods through development of a research proposal

and its execution. Communication skills are developed during the preparation

and defense of a thesis describing the research.

Ph.D. Degree

The Ph.D. program is structured to produce mature research scientists

with expertise in chemistry and biochemistry. Candidates are required to

contribute significantly to a new body of knowledge through the development of

an independent research program. Communication skills are developed

?

-

through preparation and defense of research proposals and a thesis.

3. Research

Research is of fundamental importance to the Department. Our goal is to

mission:

promote excellence in research in the chemical sciences. In support of this

?

-

- We maintain experimental facilities and technical support which are at

the forefront of the field.

- We provide a stimulating environment conducive to the generation of

new ideas through a Departmental seminar program, participation in named

corporate lectureships and an annual graduate student poster competition.

- We support travel of faculty and students to scientific meetings to

present original research.

0

---

6

- We participate in national professional activities and in the

international peer review process for selection of award winners, funding

proposals and manuscripts.

- We participate in research relevant to the needs of society by

participating in projects with industry, government labs and with other

universities.

III. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

1.Breadth and Interdisciplinar

y

Nature of the Department

Modern research in chemistry is very interdisciplinary in nature and

overlaps strongly with physics on the one hand and with biological sciences

and molecular biology on the other. The breadth represented by the SFU

chemistry Department is unique in western Canada. We have specialists with

interests ranging from nuclear science to genetic engineering. Students have

access to faculty with research expertise in many forefront areas including

organometallicS, X-ray crystallography, polymer science, gas phase reaction

kinetics, organic synthesis and stereochemistrY, photochemistry of inorganic

• and organic compounds, solid-state and surface studies and catalysis,

biochemistry and nuclear science. This breadth is a distinctive strength which

ideally positions us to respond to the challenges of interdisciplinary research

which are emerging at the research fronts.

Faculty in Chemistry are members, along with physicists, in the Energy

Research Institute, while the Chemical Ecology Research Group represents an

excellent example of interdisciplinary research between chemists and

biologists. The members of the TRIUMF research program are engaged in

research which in many universities would fall under the label of physics. To

develop capabilities in the area of biotechnology, the Department has fostered

the development of the biochemistry program and the Institute of Molecular

Biology and Biochemistry which have strong interactions with biosciences.

2. Pheromone Research Program

The pheromone research program is the strongest research program in

the Faculty of Science in terms of the number of active research participants,

level of productivity and external research grant support. It is an excellent

example of applied interdisciplinary research involving faculty both from

bioscience and chemistry. The pheromone research program has introduced

new technologies to combat insect pests in the B.C. forestry and agricultural

industries.

The members of the Chemical Ecology Research Group (CERG) have

- established themselves nationally and internationally. In recognition of this

national stature, CERG has recently been named an Associate NRC Laboratory,

and its members as Associate Members of the Biotechnology Institute in

•I

/iq

---

7

3. Biochemistry and the Institute of Molecular Biology and

Biochemistry

A scientific revolution i& taking place at the interface between

biochemistry and molecular biology. As a result the demand fbr courses and

research training in this area has greatly increased in the past decade. Funding

agencies in the U.S. and Canada have recognized the demand by funnelling

more resources into the area for training and research.

Because of its interdisciplinary nature, the SFU biochemistry program

and its graduate counterpart, the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

are ideally positioned to participate in this revolution. The bridge to organic

chemistry on the one hand and to more biological aspects of molecular biology

on the other has not been difficult to build given the high priority the University

attaches to this most important initiative in the Faculty. The development of the

Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has benefitted the Departments

of Chemistry and Bioscience by providing new appointments in the Institute's

key areas. Future IMBB funded appointments will complement the anticipated

appointments chemistry plans in the area of biochemistry

4.

The Nuclear Science Program

The nuclear science program within the Department is strengthened

because of the University's proximity to TRIUMF. This major national and

international research facility is unique in Canada, and the nuclear science

?

component in Chemistry is stronger at SFU than at UBC, while it is non-

?

-10

existent at U. Victoria.

TRIUMF represents a center of excellence for research and graduate

teaching in Nuclear Science. Current research programs carried on by faculty in

the Department range from the applications of muons in the study of chemical

and physical systems to the investigation of nuclear reaction mechanisms and

nuclear spectroscopy.

5.

Co-Op Education Program

The Co-Op Education Program is a distinctive feature. Chemistry was the

first experimental science Department at SFU to adopt a Co-Op education

program.

6.

Community Relations Programs

?

The Department maintains one of the most active high-school liaison

?

--

programs at SFU. We are more active in this area in the Province than sister

departments at the other two universities. Chemistry has taken the initiative in

introducing a number of key programs including:

i) The Enrichment Program - first introduced in Science by M.L. Heit and

L.K. Peterson.

A*

---

8

?

. ?

ii) The McTaggart-Cowan Entrance Scholarship - L.K. Peterson

and E. J. Wells.

iii)

The "Stinks and Bangs " Lecture - K.N. Slessor & D. Sutton.

This has also become an important feature of all open houses.

iv)

The "Chemistry in the 80's" annual symposium, which attracts

100 high school and community college teaches and top students each year.

Faculty from other Departments have given generously of their time to this

activity (D. Baillie, R. Mathewes, S. Nelson, L. Palmer, H. Weinberg).

IV. CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

1. Program Content and Structure

The core content of the degree program is dictated by the Chemical

Institute of Canada accreditation requirements. These include a first year of

general chemistry (with high school Chem 12, Math 12 and Physics 12 as

prerequisites) and an additional minimum of a full year in lecture and laboratory

work in each of organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry.

Approximately two years of math and physics are also required. Further upper

level courses are required to meet a minimum of 1,000 hours of instruction in

the discipline. A comparison of the SFU and UBC programs with the majority of

chemistry programs across the country show them to be very similar. At SFU,

?

•

?

the upper level elective courses reflect the breadth of the Department, allowing

?

students options in nuclear science and biochemistry as well as in the core

areas.

The first year program presents much of the material in the B.C. high

- school curriculum in much greater depth and introduces new topics on atomic

structure, chemical bonding, thermodynamics and kinetics. This program is

structured to allow students with a wide variety of high school backgrounds to

develop knowledge of the fundamental concepts of chemistry for further study in

the discipline or for study in other areas of science.

- - Courses at all levels are accompanied by tutorials. This structure

effectively doubles the contact hours taught by the Department during the first

two years compared to Departments that do not use the tutorial system. This

large investment is constantly reviewed from the standpoint of its effectiveness

in producing outstanding graduates who are conversant in their discipline. At its

most recent review of the Department's tutorial system in the Fall of 1988, the

faculty reaffirmed their belief that the tutorial system is effectively used in

providing opportunities for discussion of important concepts.

The second and subsequent years include comparable emphasis on the

fundamentals of organic chemistry, including mechanisms of reactions and

synthesis; inorganic reactions including transition metal chemistry; principles of

physical chemistry including quantum and statistical mechanics,

thermodynamics, equilibria and chemical kinetics; instrumental methods of

analysis and principles important in biochemistry and nuclear science.

---

9

Laboratory courses provide experience in synthesis and characterization of

inorganic and organic compounds by spectroscopic methods. Experimental

physical chemistry includes electrochemical methods and Computerized data

acquisition and analysis. Laboratories in biochemistry involve characterization

and study of proteins and nucleic acids.

The biochemistry and nuclear science programs utilize courses in the

introductory cores of chemistry and other Departments. The main body of these

programs are made up of 300 and 400 level courses that introduce the

advanced concepts pertinent to these fields.

V. RESOURCE INVENTORY - UNDERGRADUATE

PROGRAM.

I. Faculty. Complement

The breadth of the undergraduate program covering all the key areas of

chemistry and including biochemistry and nuclear science, is a strength;

However, there has historically been an imbalance in the faculty complement

between physical chemistry (9) on the one hand (with an additional 4 faculty in

nuclear) , and inorganic (5) , organic (5) and biochemistry (4) on the other.

?

. -•

Since physical chemistry is not currently an area that attracts significant

student interest, upper division teaching requirements are low in comparison to

other sub-disciplines. Although faculty with expertise in physical chemistry carry

most of the first year teaching load, there is still an imbalance in faculty

complement. This imbalance will be addressed as new faculty are hired to

replace retiring faculty over the next 10 years.

There are two

prof

essional/administrative staff. Dr. Ken Stuart is the

Departmental Assistant/Laboratory Coordinator (see Resorurce Planning) and

Dr. Alan Tracey is the Director of NMR Services. Each of these individuals

provides a distinctly different and key service to the Department.

2. Laboratory Personnel

Laboratory Instructor Support

Chemistry currently has five full-time equivalent laboratory instructors: Evelyn

Palmer (freshman chemistry) , Mel Heit (lower level) , Lee Hanlan (half-time,

freshman and inorganic) , Shirley Black (organic) , Andy Yim (biochemistry) and

J.C. Brodovitch (half-time, physical, analytical and nuclear). During the past six

years the enrollments in our lower division laboratory courses has skyrocketed.

Current staffing levels are below acceptable levels and some staff are clearly

overworked.

---

I

?

I'

Enrollments In Lab Courses Offered In Fall Semesters

?

COURSE ?

82-3 83-3

?

4r3

?

86-3 ?

73

?

BICH 311

?

21 ?

17 ?

20 ?

20 ?

14 ?

32 ?

25

?

BICH 412

?

12 ?

11

?

18 ?

20 ?

20 ?

16 ?

20

?

CHEM 106

?

86 ?

100 ?

91 ?

76

?

73 ?

51 ?

54

?

CHEM 115

?

179 ?

254 ?

264 ?

260 301

?

360

?

350

?

CHEM 118+119 47

?

61

?

57 ?

86

?

78 ?

80 ?

75

?

CHEM 218

?

3 ?

22 ?

28 ?

28 ?

29

?

39

?

25

?

CHEM 256

?

65 ?

90

?

107 ?

118 160

?

148 ?

170

- ? CHEM 336

?

7 ?

8 ?

3 ?

8 ?

8

?

17 ?

17

?

CHEM 356

?

37 ?

24 ?

30 ?

35 ?

46 ?

36 ?

27

?

CHEM 366

?

10 ?

5 ?

5

?

9

?

5

?

9 ?

17

?

CHEM 416

?

0 ?

13 ?

7 ?

8

?

8

?

0 ?

8

?

TOTALS ?

431 ?

555 ?

564 ?

635 639 788

?

786?

Lower Level Lab Course Sections

?

LAB COURSES 81-2 81-3 82-1

?

88-2 88-3 89-1

CHEM1O6 ?

1 ?

3 ?

2

?

1 ?

2

?

2

CHEM 115

?

1 ?

4

?

2 ?

1 ?

6 ?

2

CHEM117 ?

1 ?

-

?

- ?

- ?

- ?

-

CHEM 118

?

-

?

2 ?

2 ?

1 ?

3 ?

4

.

? CHEM 119

?

- ?

-

?

- ?

1 ?

3 4

CHEM218 ?

-

?

1 ?

1 ?

1 ?

2 ?

2

CHEM256 ?

1 ?

4 ?

3

?

2 ?

6 5

TOTALS ?

4 14 10 = 28

?

7 ?

22 19 = 48

% increase in the number of sections = 71.4%

An increase in funding for personnel in support of our service

undergraduate laboratories is important if the quality of our offerings is to be

maintained. The current formula of financing allows each class to be met, taught

and graded. There are no allocations for development and upgrading of

laboratory experiments. If funding of development is not forthcoming,

introduction of new experimental techniques will, at best, be delayed. Even in

this circumstance we will loose our edge in offering superior educational

opportunities to the province's youth.

Safety in undergraduate laboratories is also a key factor that must be

taken into account in determining the appropriate ratio of students to laboratory

personnel in the experimental sciences.

---

.

Teachin

g

Assistantship Support

The present low level of T.A. support in chemistry is a major impediment

to higher quality teaching in the first two years of the program Teaching

assistants provide direct instruction of students in laboratory techniques and

underlying theory. In addition, they are crucial in the grading of weekly

laboratory reports each week. Teaching Assistants also play a major role in

grading problem sets and examinations in the high enrollment lecture courses.

The Department's FTE increase during the past six years was heavily

skewed toward the first two years. Increased enrollment in the first year general

and second year organic laboratories over the period resulted in 71% more

sections. To compound the problem, salaries of teaching assistants have risen

43% during the period, so we are able to retain the services of 10% less

teaching assistants in 1989 compared with 1981.

To fill part of the void, faculty now teach most tutorials and participate

directly in upper level laboratory courses. In addition, each year the Department

spends $30,000 to $40,000 in sabbatical and sessional replacement monies to

fulfill its T.A. requirements.

It is easy to calculate that to fund the lower level laboratories at 1981

levels while paying current T.A rates would require a T.A. budget in 1988/89 of

$141,50o X 1.43 + (10 X $3,665) => } $239,000.

FTE Enrollments (Annualised)

?

82/83 83/84

84185

85/86 86/87 87/88

?

234

?

239 ?

282 ?

280 ?

296 ?

-315 ?

Teaching Assistantship Support for Undergraduate Laboratories

T.A. Budget

Base units*

FTE Enrollment

Number of lower

1980-81

$141,500

275

250

28

level lab sect

1988/89

%Change

$183,000

+29

250

-10

-315

+26

48

+71

GTA1 (5BU)

GTA2 (5BU)

Average

*se

T.A. Stipend

?

$2,315 ?

$3,355

?

$2,867

?

$3,975

?

$2,567 ?

$3,665

?

units available using, average cost/BU.

+45

+41

+43

One can see that for the first two years of our program there is a real justification

for either an additional laboratory instructor or additional T.A. funds.

e

Qk

---

12

. ?

Technical Staff Support

In support of the front-line instructors there are four technical support

staff: Eva Derton, Tony Parsad, Edna Cheah and Sharon Hope. During the

cutbacks of the early 1980's the Department was required to cut its technical

staff in support of its teaching laboratories from 5 to 4. In the ensuing years the

workload in these laboratories has increased by -70% (above).

There are three additional research/teaching technicians. Ms. Marcie

Tracey operates the high-field NMR and provides graduate and undergraduate

instruction on the Departmental NMR instruments. Greg Owen operates the

Departmental mass spectrometer for all research groups and provides service

to undergraduate laboratories. Paul Saunders is resopnsible for all infrared,

ultraviolet and electron spin resonance spectrometers and provides instruction

on these to graduates and undergraduates.

3.

Equipment for Undergraduate Laboratories

While the emphasis on laboratory course work is a major strength, the

maintenance of adequate laboratory equipment a very major hurdle. There is a

considerable inventory of equipment still in use which dates back to 1965-1970.

Much of this equipment is now unserviceable. There is an urgent need for a

major injection of new money to replace this obsolete equipment. The recent

review of the Department pointed to this problem as one of significance that

should be addressed. Yearly replacements of aging and obsolete

. undergraduate teaching equipment are funded as part of the capital budget. In

1988-89 the Department spent $79.2K of its $129K in capital allocation on

replacement of equipment for undergraduate laboratories. This was a larger

proportion than other science departments spent on this endeavor. Among the

high priority equipment purchased this year and highlighted by the review

committee were items for the advanced analytical laboratory and for

development of computer interfaced experiments in advanced physical

chemistry.

4.

Undergraduate Laboratory Space

While the 39% increase in FTE enrollment over the period 1982 to 1988

followed a national trend, the enrollment increase in Departmental service

courses was in the 95-160% range. This has resulted in capacity use of existing

laboratories (below).

Laboratory Enrollments 1982-1988

Course ?

82-3

83-3

84-3

85-3

86-3

87-3

88-3

Chem 115 ?

179

254

264

260 301

360

350 ?

+

95%

Chem 256 ?

65

90

107

118 160 148

170 ?

+160%

We cannot accommodate more students in these laboratories in the Fall ?

because we lack the physical capacity if laboratories are restricted to normal

?

/

---

13'

working hours. Even in the Spring (89-1) we turned away 46 students from 300

and 400 level laboratory courses because of space restrictions. These students

will be encouraged to enroll in the courses they require for degree completion

in other semesters. Scheduling laboratories outside normal working hours

requires additional resources for technical support staff and equipment.

5.. Study Space for Undergraduates

Study space for undergraduates in the Faculty of Science is at a

premium. Additional lounges and study space are recommended, and the very

Wide corridors running south through the science complex should be examined

as possible locations for desk space.

The Department has committed two-thirds of one trailer to

undergraduates as a common room for the Chemistry Student Union (CSU).

This is woefully inadequate. Other Departments have SU common rooms in the

building, and appropriate space is requested for the CSU.

VI. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

1. Strength - High Quality

The Department has a demonstrable record of producing graduates with

excellent training.

-

SFU students have Scored amongst the highest grades in

examination.

North America in recent years on the chemistry portion of the MCAT

-

B.Sc. graduates from our program successfully pursued Ph.D. degrees

at prestigious schools such as Stanford and M.I.T.

- Our graduates successfully compete for jobs in a variety of industries

including analytical, plastics, polymer, paint, fine chemical and research-based

companies such as Moli Energy and Phero Tech., RCMP laboratories, the

AECL Radioisotope, LaoratQry, at TRIUMF as well as in the mining and pulp

and paper industries A substantial number of graduates also enjoy successful

careers in tèadhing.

Our success in the area of undergraduate education is attributed to a

high level of

commitment to excellence in teaching (2 Master Teacher

Awards since 1985)

coupled with the tutorial system that. allows contact

between the professor and small groups of students at all levels. The

Department is one of very few in the University where undergraduate

counseling and advising is performed by faculty rather than by staff.

? °'.

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14

There is an active Chemistry Student Union and an active CIC Student

Chapter which is supported and encouraged by faculty. Our undergraduates

hosted a Second Annual Western Undergraduate Student CIC Conference in

May 1988. This conference featured four plenary lectures, and 21 poster and

oral presentations by the 32 attending students.

The Department hosts an Annual Awards Ceremony at which the

achievements of our undergraduates are recognized through a number of

private and government funded awards.

2. Area for Improvement-Higher Undergraduate

Discipline

Profile

Undergraduate Population Statistics and Trends

The Department has historically attracted a small number of declared

majors to the discipline, although a high proportion of these subsequently

complete a degree. In 1987 the number of declared majors (Chemistry and

Biochemistry) rose to 191 compared with 133 in 1985/86. This increase was

larger than at most other Canadian universities.

Unergraduate

Populations

85/86

UNIVERSITY

DECLARED

DEGREES

MAJORS, HONS

AWARDED

85/86

86/87 ?

85/86

86/87

UBC

204

228

55

67

SFU

133

191

23

29

Victoria

87

83

22

20

8

Alberta

56

54

11

21

11

Calgary

172

68

92

17

20

Saskatchewan

72

42

12

12

Manitoba

Guelph

42

168

170

48

26

McMaster

200

176

82

77

32

Queen's

169

166

35

28

Toronto

205

35

66

55

Western

3O

298

161

29

23

York

McGill

176

128

98

27

28

Montreal

263

229

43

60

31

Dalhousie

139

127

41

40 ?

1

S1,

---

SFU Degrees Awarded

1982 ?

1983 ?

1984 ?

1985 ?

1986 ?

1987 ?

1988

Chemistry ?

9 ?

8

?

9 ?

9 ?

6

?

5 ?

6

Biochemist 1.6

?

6 ?

13 ?

11 ?

16 ?

12 ?

16

Total

?

25 ?

14 ?

22 ?

20 ?

22 ?

17

?

22

EI

- There is room to increase the number of declared majors and thereafter

the number of B.Sc. graduates in chemistry.

Our goal is to double the

number of majors and honors students attracted to our programs

within the next five years.

To achieve this we will, among other actions

described below, place our very best teachers in lower division classes and

provide them with adequate support to allow them to carry out effective teaching

without time commitments that erode ongoing research.

3. Analytical Chemistry

Area for Improvement

An area covered in the undergraduate curriculum, but where there is a

shortfall in faculty expertise, is analytical chemistry. The Department has been

historically divided on the importance of the role of analytical chemistry in

teaching and research. UBC has established a strong presence in analytical

chemistry and given this, and our current breadth of research and teaching

interests, a major development of this area would appear unjustified. Two of our

faculty, Drs. D'Auria and Peterson, have developed research projects in

analytical chemistry and are team teaching the 400 level course on instrumental

methods in analytical chemistry.

4.

The Biochemistry Program

Strong Chemical Base

The Biochemistry program has a strong-base in chemicalconcepts. Our

belief that there are good pedagogic reasons for this are supported by

discussions with industrial biochemists (Merck Frosst and Genentec) who

unequivocally support the view that a rigorous base in physical and organic

chemistry is essential to the development of scientists who can significantly

contribute in forefront areas such as biotechnology.

.

LI

WON

---

16

?

is ?

Areas for Improvement - Faculty Complement and Curriculum

Revision

-.

As was pointed out in the 1984 external review of biochemistry, a

weakness in the program lies in the fact that the present curriculum requires

addition of courses centered around protein and nucleic acid biochemistry.

A major weakness is the small number of biochemistry and organic

faculty. This has been exacerbated in the former by the loss of Professor

Gresser to Merck-Frosst. Our plan is to strengthen these areas, and the closely

allied area of bio-organic chemistry.

5.

Nuclear Science

The nuclear science minor is a potentially strong area. Although these

courses have not attracted the enrollments we had hoped, the possible

development of a kaon factory at TRIUMF will result in increased funding to this

facility. This will give TRIUMF an opportunity to expand its staff which will, in

turn, yield opportunities for increased instruction in Nuclear Science through

joint and cross appointments. Student interest in this area is expected to

increase in the future.

6.

The Co-Op Education Program

Chemistry continues to lead within the Faculty of Science in the

percentage of its students that participate in this program. While U. Victoria has

a Co-Op program UBC does not. Our close physical proximity to companies in

the lower mainland area gives us a distinct edge over U. Victoria.

Chemistry/Biochemistry Co-Op Education Placements

86-1 86-2 86-3 87-1 87-2 87-3 88-1 882 88-a

Placements 11

?

15 ?

10

?

12 ?

24 ?

15 ?

19

?

35 ?

17

Chemistry/Biochemistry Co-Op Companies

(Vancouver companies unless stated)

Summer Semester 1987

Advanced Chemicals, Langley

?

Circuit Graphics, Burnaby

Diachem ?

l.S.L., Burnaby

Vangeochem

?

Forintek

E.P.S. ?

Sando industries, Ladner

SFU Research Laboratories

?

Quesnel River Pulp

C.I.L. ?

CanCor

AECL Chalk River, Ontario

?

B.C. Cancer Res. Center

Can Test Ltd.,

?

Dow Chemical

a: ?

gq

---

17 ?

.

Summer Semester 1988

Advanced

C

h

emica l s,

LangleyAECL,

Pinawa, Manitoba

B C Hydro Surre

y

Borden Chemicals,

Vancouver

CanTest Ltd., Vancouver

Chatterton Petrochemical, ?

-•

Delta

Diachem,, Richmond

oow, Fort Saskatchewan,

Alberta

McMillan, Bloedel

Dept. of National Defence,

Ralston, Alta

11cqiIl

,

University

Moli Energy Ltd., Burnaby

Montreal

1.

Biotechnology

National Research

Council, Ottawa

Morrow, Engineering, North Vancouver

Pacific Biological Station,

Vancouver

Pulp &. Paper Research Institute

Reichhold Chemicals, Port

Moody

Stuart Plastics, Burnaby

Synphar, Edmonton

Simpn Fraser. University

TRIUMF

Vañgeothem

Waring, Port Alberni

University of Toronto

Comcor, New Westminster

Area for Improvement - Increased Summer Upper Level

Course ,Offerings

A rcognizedveakness in our Co-Op participation has been the limited

upper division course offerings in summer semesters This deficiency has been

substantiaiy addressed with the summer offering of key upper division courses

in organic and biochemistry Increased staff requirements are funded from our

sessional bUdet which .has grown since sabbatical replacement funds were

made ava(lablè. During the next five years we envision steady growth in this

program asa factor In drawing good students to SFU, and in terms of the

numbers of students opting for thisprograrn. While we do not expect additional

faculty will be requiréd to specifically service this program, increasing shortfall

in support staff cannot continue uncorrected.

7. Lpa,pry pqurss

In

Chemistry

Rigorous Structure

A major strength of

3ip

Chemistry program lies in the separation of

lecture and laboratory components This places considerable emphasis on the

obseriation, recording andj n

a

'

terpret

tion of experimental data The demands

placed

on

students are far greater in our program than in those where lecture

go

---

18

?

.

?

and lab are combined. Moreover, the preparation of weekly laboratory reports

?

assists the students in development of technical writing skills.

VII.CHANGES IN CURRICULUM WITHIN FIVE YEARS

To maintain excellence in its undergraduate program the Department

continually reviews its offerings. During consideration of how to better deliver its

first year program, the Department concentrated on two principal criticisms of

these offerings by students: namely that a) they have previously seen a

significant amount of the material and b) that the first year courses are too

demanding. Although it seemed that both these criticisms could not be valid, the

Department has accepted them as recognizable areas for improvement and has

addressed both of them.

1. Lower Division Streaming

To provide courses tailored more closely to student backgrounds and

career goals, beginning in 1987-3 the Department offered two streams of its first

year courses. One is aimed at those students whose probable career choice will

be one of the physical sciences, while the second was developed for those who

are likely to choose a career in the life sciences. The concepts taught are

basically the same, but in the former a more rigorous mathematical approach is

taken.

?

• ?

2. Resequencing

To introduce different and exciting material at the freshman level which

students are capable of mastering and as a result of recommendations made by

the external reviewer, beginning in 1990-3 the Department will implement a

lower division sequence in which the core organic course is given in the second

semester of the first year rather than in the first semester of the second year. In

the new sequence a new student will enroll in a first semester of general

chemistry equivalent to that presently given. In the second semester he will

have the option to enroll in introductory chemistry which he can continue in his

third semester. Alternatively the second semester of general chemistry can be

taken in the third semester. The ability to enroll in organic chemistry early in

their academic career is seen as a distinct advantage to students for whom

biochemistry and molecular biology are career paths.

ResequenCing will require instruction of larger numbers of students inthe

parallel introductory organic laboratory courses. It is estimated that if the

University is limited to its current size, facilities for approximately 500 organic

chemistry laboratory enrollees (current 115 + 356 and 357 fall enrollments) will

be required each Fall.

?

• ?

The ventilation is clearly inadequate in the current laboratory in which

undergraduate organic chemistry is taught The Review Committee external

member, Professor Tony Durst of the University of Ottawa, stated frankly that

- ?

"The present facilities predate the construction of the University.....the situation

requires immediate action." The Department proposes to partially remedy this

---

19

severe problem by initial reduction of the scale of the organic chemistry

laboratory experiments by introduction of microscale exercises. Since most

research techniques involve use of very small amounts of rare chemicals,

students whp learn micro techniques as undergraduates will have a distinct

advantage in subsequent chemical studies. This conversion is therefore seen

as

pedagogically innovative, It is also environmentally Sound and economically

justifiable.

The second component of the remedy is a proposed move of this

laboratory into new and properly ventilated facilities in the proposed IMBB

building. This has been requested, and we understand that adequate ventilated

space for an undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory is a high priority for

inclusion in this building. We earnestly request that this remain a high priority as

plans for this structure are finalized.

This remedy will also solve another problem, namely that we have to turn

away students from laboratory courses because they are filled to capacity.

3.

Upper Level Chemistry

In the last several years a number of major changes have occurred in the

upper division c

h

emistry undergraduate curriculum. The core undergraduate

courses in physical chemistry, Chem 261, 361 and 362 have been revised, and

a new course in kinetics (Chem 363) has been introduced. These revisions

involved a rearrangement of the groupings in which concepts important in

physical chemistry are presented.

Senior level organic chemistry courses have been restructured to better

reflect the development of modern organic chemistry. Recommendations of an

additional organic course at the 300 level were favorably received by the

external review committee and the Department. This is expected to serve as a

central discipline course emphasizing spectroscopic techniques.

The senior level analytical chemistry course is undergoing a major

revision so that students will receive a more systematic introduction to

advanced analytical techniques. Techniques expected to emerge as important

are atomic absorption, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, HPLC, GLPC,

ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques such

as use of ion selective electrodes.

4. Biochemistry Program

Biochemistry remains the highest priority area for development. A

revision of the present undergraduate curriculum is overdue. The present small

contingent of biochemists allow only the very essential service courses in

metabolism and enzymology to be offered on a regular basis. These courses

are taught by Chemistry faculty R.J. Cushley, W.R. Richards, R.B. Cornell and

?

-

T.H. Borgford. We currently also require two sessional appointees to fulfill

minimal biochemistry offerings. New lecture and laboratory courses in nucleic

acid chemistry, protein biochemistry, immunochemistry and membrane

:.

---

20

biochemistry have been identified as highest priority for development. The

offering of these courses will require additional faculty.

Development of New Biochemistry Laboratories

The development of new biochemistry laboratory courses is essential to

ensure the continued development of a first class biochemistry program at the

undergraduate level.

Protein Structure and Function

This laboratory course is designed to familiarize students with current

methodologies for the purification, characterization and manipulation of

proteins. Proteins will be isolated from both native tissue sources (beef and

chicken muscle) and recombinant DNA sources

(Escherichia co/i

and yeast)

using standard techniques for the homogenization of tissues (Waring blender,

French press, sonication) and standard techniques for the fractionation of

subcellular components (centrifugation, column chromatography, HPLC).

Proteins will be physically characterized by electrophoretic methods (SDS-

PAGE, isoelectric focussing) and amino acid analysis (involves HPLC). A

function description of the purified proteins will involve simple kinetic (catalytic)

methods (fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy).

Nucleic Acid Biochemistry

.

This course is designed to familiarize students with current techniques for

the isolation and manipulation of nucleic acids. It will involve the purification of

DNA and RNA from tissues (homogenization, ultra-centrifugation methods,

microcentrifuge methods, column chromatography). Nucleic acids will be

characterized by electrophoretic and spectroscopic methods (fluorescence and

absorbance spectroscopy). DNA will be sequenced by the procedures of Maxim

and Gilbert (chemical) and by the dideoxy method of Sanger (enzymatic)

(involves polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; requirement for gel drier and X-

ray cassettes). The interaction of nucleic acids with specific drugs and proteins

will also be studied.

BlomembraneS

The objectives of this laboratory course are to instruct students in current

methodologies for the purification and characterization of cellular membrane

components. Students will use techniques for the homogenization of tissues

(Waring blenders, sonicators) , extraction and quantitation of membrane lipids

(solvent extraction methods: distillation of solvents, rotary evaporation,

separator funnels, etc.) , and techniques for the separation and identification of

individual components (column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography).

Model membrane systems will be reconstituted and characterized by simple

spectroscopic and calorimetric methods (fluorimetry, scanning density

calorimetry).

.. ?

cF3

---

--

21

Immoi1ethist

T is doUse- Will deñiOnstrat methods fôrthe production and purification

Of átiödi' àid the

value

of thee' piOtèins in

science

and medicine.

Antibodiè

Will

classiéally from immunized rabbits and methods

will b dOthoñstrated which are relevant to the production of monoclonal

antibodies. Antibodies will be used in the detection of antigens at extremely low

concentrations by the methods of radiO immuno assay (RIA) and microplate

aas using' cohjUgate'd antibodies Which have been prepared in the

laboratory.

5.

Nuclear ScièhCe

Major ôhanges in the nuclear science offerings will be outside the

undergrauáte cufricuIuiñ. Beginning in 1990 it is planned to offer a self-

financing eight week

.

Summer Nuclear Science Workshop that will train

participating prbfessioals

in the techniques of radiOpharmaceutical synthesis.

This is an advanced technology in which British Columbia has an adaptive

advantage due to the proximity of nuclear scientists and organic chemists. This

important initiative is co-sponsored by the Department and TRIUMF and is

spearheaded by Professor John D'Auria and Dr. Torn Ruth, a senior research

sciOntist at TRIUMF. In recognition of Dr. Ruth's contributions to this venture he

has been appointed an Adjunct Professor in the Department effective January

1, 1989.

6.

Computer Laboratories in Chemistry

A revolution is taking' place in the application of computational

techniques

to

chemical problems. The Department is the Canadian leader in

the introduction of these' rñethods to the undergraduate cufflulum. The new

modules available to Our undèrgraduàtes involve computerized structural

analysis fOr dCvèlopmê'nt of organic synthetic processes, spectral analysis and

simulation, tnoleäular

aMa

reaction modellingand quantum mechanical

calculations.

bevelopmenf of our undergraduate computer lab has made it possible to

integrate these bohiputational teôhniquOs

as

Well as data analysis in our third

and fouth year courses. The impact of this laboratory on the teaching of

chemistry cáh be Oxpcted to expand to biochemistry as more sophisticated

graphics facilities become available for modelling biomolecules. This facility,

together with a loOal aeä network and satellite facilities in individual

laboratories will have a major impact on the teaching of chemistry and

biochemistry at all levels. A of early 1989 thO facility consists of 14 IBM PC and

Al clones networked to a SUN 3/50 file server, a Roland printer and a HP

plotter. The cot ol thd preetif dOUipmOt and software was $80,000.

q

?

-10

"

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22

7. Service for Non-science Students

The Department has historically offered a sequence of courses (Science

and Society, The Origins of Life, etc.) which are intended as science electives

for non-science students. These courses require considerable breadth in the

faculty member's interests and demand a very special commitment from the

instructor. Only a limited number of faculty have shown an interest in these

courses (S. Aronoff, J. Walkley) but they have certainly been successful in their

endeavor.

These courses generally attract a mature upper-level clientele. The

sophistication of the students and the level of work required justifies

renumbering as 300-level courses. This would be coincident with limiting their

use by

'

science students to use as general electives and not as electives

towards the 44 hr 300/400 level requirement.

The Department considers these courses to be an important aspect of its

mandate and will, within its resources, continue to sponsor their development

and offering.

8. Continuing Studies Activities.

The Department's contributions in offering credit or non-credit courses in

the evening, downtown or through DISC have been limited to OOX offerings. To

the limited extent that these courses have been offered through Continuing

Studies they have been quite successful. A future area of development which

may relate to continuing studies is the Summer Workshop in Nuclear Science

VIII. GRADUATE PROGRAMS

1. M.Sc Program Structure and Plans for Improvement

High Quality

The Department graduates 3-5 high quality M.Sc. students each year.

Unlike many other Canadian schools the SFU Chemistry M.Sc. is not

considered a failed Ph.D. Our students compete successfully for positions in

other graduate schools (eg., Toronto) and private industry. The average time to

complete an M.Sc. in the Department is slightly over 3 years which is -25%

longer than at many other Canadian universities. It was determined during the

recent Department Review that high course and cumulative examination

requirements were the major contributing factors for lengthy M.Sc. completion

times.

Our M.Sc. students currently: a) complete four courses of three credit

units each; b) formulate and defend a cumulative examination on their

proposed research;

C)

complete a suitable research project, and d) prepare and

defend a thesis describing the results of their work.

..

---

23

Area for Improvement - Emphasis on Research and

Communication

The Department has surveyed M.Sc. requirements at other Canadian

universities and determined that these requirements are unduly structured and

excessive. The Department has approved an alternative program structure that

decreases reliance on structured courses and will recommend to the University

the necessary formal changes to its M.Sc. program. These include the

replacement of the cumulative examination (Gum I) by a research report

seminar course (805) in which students would normally enroll in their fourth

semester. Students would be required to make written and oral reports on their

research progress in Chem 805. Another seminar course, Chem 801, also

requiring a student presentation would replace one of the formal lecture

courses. Thus, two lecture courses, Chem 801, Chem 805 and a successful

thesis examination would be required of M.Sc. graduates. The strengths of the

new structure are seen in the early introduction of students to their research

projects and an emphasis on research and communication skills.

2. Ph.D. Program Structure and Plans for Improvement

Good Quality

The Department graduates 5-7 Ph.D. research chemists each year.

Within the group of students graduating since 1980 several have won

prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in national competitions. Our graduates

also compete well for positions in industry and government research

laboratories. After postdoctoral studies, a few have gained academic positions

in Canada (Ottawa) and the U.S. (University of California at Riverside). The

Department considers that there is room for improvement in the area of

producing Ph.D. graduates that are recognized as clearly outstanding.

Area for Improvement - Emphasis on Research and

Communication

The length of time for completion of the Ph.D. degree is similar to the

national average.Ph.D. degree requirements in the Department are: a)

completion of seven lecture courses' preparation and oral defense of three

cumulative examination papers;

C)

execution of a major original research

project; and d) preparation and defense of a thesis describing the project. The

seven course requirement for the Ph.D. is on the high side for this degree. To

keep the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degree requirements consistent, the Department has

approved in principle the substitution of student seminar courses (Chem 801,

802 and 805) for the three cumulative examinations. Each of the seminar

courses would be given credit so only four lecture courses would be required. A

group of three or four staff members could be assigned on a yearly basis so that

reasonably consistent assessments would be made.

Consistent with the proposed changes to the M.Sc. program the goal of

these revisions is to emphasize the research aspects of the Ph.D. degree and

provide a program that hones the communication skills of the candidates. The

qb

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24

?

• ?

increasing importance of interdisciplinary research makes good communication

and interpersonal skills important in graduate education.

It is recognized that introduction of these proposals will decrease the

demand for graduate courses and decrease the frequency of offering and

variety of courses available to graduate students. To counteract this, each sub-

discipline will offer one key course in their area on a regular basis to ensure that

students in all areas can meet their course requirements within a reasonable

time period.

3. Seminar Program

The Department sponsors an excellent seminar program featuring

internationally known scientists. This integral part of our graduate teaching and

research program also attracts faculty and students from UBC and local

colleges.

IX RESOURCE INVENTORY - GRADUATE PROGRAM

1. Graduate Student Support

The Department accepts about a dozen new graduate students per year.

This results in a slowly growing graduate student population that currently

numbers 58 of which 60% are visa students. Attraction of a significantly greater

?

?

.

?

number of high quality Canadian graduate students is a goal of the Department.

Science graduate students receive most support from three sources,

graduate scholarships, research grants and teaching assistantships. In

successful science graduate programs, students do not take time away from

experimental research to earn income to see them through graduate school. It is

certainly the common practice in chemistry across Canada to provide full

support for graduate students. During the last decade, the proportion of

graduate student support derived from research grants and external fellowships

has increased relative to that from teaching assistantships and internal

scholarships.

- The change which has occurred in the profile of graduate student support

has placed faculty grantees in less competitive positions

vis a vis

faculty in

universities where graduate research has a higher priority. Continuance of the

present trend at SFU will seriously affect our ability to attract new graduate

students.

The chemistry external review committee recommended that the

Department pressure the administration to ensure that NSERC and other

scholarship holders find SFU attractive and competitive not only in research but

also from the financial point of view. The Department considers a joint effort by

the University and the Department appropriate in this area. In an effort to make

the yearly stipends competitive with other universities in B.C. and in the

remainder of Canada, the Department now offers both M.Sc. and Ph.D. students

$600 supplements (derived from NSERC operating grants) to their teaching

I

I

---

25

assistantship stipends. Additional University scholarships to major scholarship

holders at competitive or higher levels would be effective in attracting more

students of excellent quality, and the Department recommends this be a

continuing priority of the Dean of Graduate Studies.

.

The Department recognizes that the driving formula for allocation of

teaching assistantship funds is not the need for graduate student support.

However, this important support component should be maintained at levels that

enable the University to "pay an honest day's wages for an honest day's work."

The funding erosion that occurred in this area during the last several years has

spread more work among fewer T.A.s. In this Department graduate students

now put in far more hours than the contracted time to complete their assigned

tasks. This effectively negates any benefit to graduate research that this

program is considered to have. The Department recommends that the

University reconsider the present formulas driving teaching assistantship

allocations.

2. Nonsalary University Support of Graduate Studies

The University supports graduate studies in the Department by the

provision of approximately 15% of the operating budget for acquisition of

supplies directly used by graduate students. This amounts to -15-20% of the

cost of supplies spent in support of this activity. The remaining cost is borne by

external research grants. The Department also receives salary support for 2

technical personnel who operate major installations in mass and nmr

spectroscopy as well as for a director of nmr services. By comparison the UBC

chemistry Department which services three times the graduate population is

catered to by over a dozen technical personnel in equivalent capacities.

The Chemistry Review committee recommended that the administration

ensure that the graduate research program at SFU receive at least a

competitive amount of University support compared to UBC or the University of

Victoria.

3. Research Space

A detailed inventory of space (Appendix) and an analysis of the space

entitlement shows that there is a shortfall of space of16.500 sq. ft. within the

Department. Of this, the most crucial shortfall is 14,300 sq. ft. of graduate

research laboratory space. There is also a shortfall of 1,700 sq. ft. of office

space and 500 sq. ft. of undergraduate lab space.

Amongst the most pressing needs for graduate research space are those

of the biochemists. Dr. Cornell currently has 4 research personnel working in

the space allocation of 2. There are also major shortfalls in bio-organic

chemistry. Dr. Pinto has 10 researchers working in the space allocation of 4.

The inorganic chemists are likewise crowded. Dr. Hill is working with 4

researchers in the space allocation for 2 112. While there have been major

reallocations of space to accommodate new faculty, nevertheless it is the newer

I

0

vt^

---

26

. ?

members of the Department who are in most need of additional research space.

This problem will become worse as we appoint additional new faculty.

4. Fumehood Facilities

Evolving sources of concern are health and safety in the laboratories. Of

particular concern is access to fumehoods for graduate students and other

researchers conducting synthetic chemistry. Over the last two decades there

has been a growing awareness throughout the chemical fraternity of the toxicity

and carcinogenic character of many commonly used chemicals, and the need to

perform most synthetic chemistry in fumehoods. At SFU these hazards are

made all the more acute by crowding in our synthetic laboratories.

In response to a report from the Department alerting the University to the

critical shortage of fumehood facilities in Chemistry, a number of fumehoodS will

be installed in 1988 and 1989 in those laboratories involved in synthetic

research. This will ease the problems of inadequate ventilation, and allow the

existing laboratory space to be used more effectively. Due to the costs involved

in these building modifications the only laboratories for which this remedial

action is targeted are those located on the south side of the building.

The proposed fumehoods are estimated to cost $600,000, and are to be

located in the following laboratories.

1988

Y. L. Chow

6 fumehoods

C7041

1988

R. K. Pomeroy

4 fumehoods

C6005

. ?

1988

D.

Sutton/L.

K. Peterson/R. H. Hill5 fumehoods

C6016

1989

A. C. Oehlschlager

10 fumehoodS

C703012

-

?

5.

Graduate Student Office

Space

Another safety-related consideration is the location of desk-space for

graduate students. It has been common practice to accommodate graduate

student desks in experimental laboratories. While in some cases this is

acceptable, in synthetic laboratories where large quantities of toxic and

carcinogenic materials are handled this practice is dubious at best. Moreover,

the fire hazard in such laboratories suggests that using them as a substitute for

office space is not to be recommended.

The removal of student desks and study areas from the experimental

laboratories would increase safety practice and standards and free up more

serviced experimental lab space for lab work. This ideal rearrangement is

blocked by the lack of suitable office space within the chemistry complex.

6. Major Facilities

400 MHz NMR SPECTROMETER with liquid helium cooled

superconducting magnet. This facility is operated by Ms. M. Tracey as a

Departmental service. Purchased in 1981 at a cost of $450,000, this facility has

had a dramatic impact on the research programs in inorganic, organic and

cq

---

27 ? _0

biochemistry Since its installation over half of the published work emanating

from the Department has utilized this instrument in an intimate way. The

machine is characterized by its high resolution sensitivity and its capability to

perform complex pulsed experiments (e. g. , NOE and 2D experiments).

This facility is operated on a fully saturated seven x 24 hour day basis.

The Department is upgrading this instrument in 1989 using funds from Special

Projects ($40,000) , capital ($40,414) , contingency ($50,000) , special internal

funds ($89,000). A 1989 NSERC equipment grant $150,000 application for this

upgrade was unsuccessful and equivalent funds are being sought from other

sources to allow this crucial purchase to proceed. We have requested $810,000

from the B. C. Science and Technology Research Fund for 1989 to enable

acquisition of a 500 MHz instrument. The importance of this technique in

biochemical research coupled with the increase in faculty in this area dictate

that two high field instruments will be required in the 1990's.

250 MHz BROAD-BAND DEUTERIUM NMR SPECTROMETER This

dedicated facility is operated by Dr. Cushley's research group for their research

on 2H nmr of membrane systems. Dr. Cushley was awarded funds for an

upgrade to the computer driving and processing data from this spectrometer in

the 1989 NSERC competition ($29,392).

100 MHz NMR SPECTROMETER This is a user-operated (graduate

students and post-docs) service machine which is essential to all the synthetic

groups in the Department. It is of recent vintage and will not be replaced over

the five year term of this plan. The requirement for NMR spectra in the

undergraduate teaching laboratories makes the addition of one new instrument

in this class mandatory ($115,000).

60 MHz SOLID-STATE NMR SPECTROMETER This dedicated facility is

used by Dr. Gay's group to measure the nmr spectra of solids which is a very

specialized branch of nmr spectroscopy in which we have recognized expertise.

The present machine is, in part, home-built. A replacement magnet requested

in the 1989 NSERC competition ($97,123) was not funded.

NONIUS CAD-4 X-RAY DIFFRACTOMETER with a Microvax computer for

data reduction and analysis. This facility is operated by Dr. Einstein's group in

collaboration with other research groups in this and other Departments.

GC-FT IR SPECTROMETER This Departmental facility is operated by Mr.

Greg Owen and is available to all research groups. It finds specific application

in Dr. Hill's research and in the work of the pheromone group. Dr. Hill's

research group has expanded to the point that an additional FT-IR instrument

was required and this was funded in the 1989 NSERC Equipment competition

($32,935).

GC-MASS SPECTROMETER This Departmental facility is also operated

by Mr. Greg Owen for the benefit of all research groups. It is the only mass

spectrometer in the University and provides an essential service. The process of

100

---

28

.

?

seeking funding for an upgraded instrument with increased mass measurement

capability has begun with a 1989 NSERC equipment application for $312,000.

SPECTROSCOPIC SUITE This facility is maintained by Paul Saunders

for the Department. It contains several research quality infrared (1), ultraviolet

(2) , fluorescence (1) and electron spin resonance spectrometers (1). All

spectrometers except the infrared and electron spin resonance spectrometers

are of sufficiently recent vintage to permit their use during the next five years.

COMPUTER RESOURCES LABORATORY This laboratory is now one of

the best in Canada for teaching computer methods in chemistry at the

undergraduate level. It is intended to expand this facility to include capabilities

that would allow it to be a resource for graduate research and courses. Indeed,

the first graduate course using entirely computer mounted experiments was

given in 89-1. Graduate students currently use this facility for data analysis,

spectral simulation and modelling of reaction pathways and molecular

structures. Additional funding is required to acquire 3D graphics capability and

in-house high speed computing. In 1989 the Department awarded $40,414 from

NSERC for a high quality graphics facility to be used by graduate and

undergraduate research students.

NUCLEAR LABORATORY Equipment associated with the undergraduate

nuclear science laboratory is also used in the research programs of nuclear

scientists in the Department. This includes radiation detectors, and multichannel

analyzers. Additional equipment is required for these laboratories to provide

computer interfaced experiments.

CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT CHAMBERS Several controlled

environment chambers used in biochemistry and by the pheromone research

group for growing plants and insects under controlled environmental conditions

are nearing the end of their useful lives and need to be replaced.

CENTRIFUGES Several ultracentrifuges are used in the research and

teaching laboratories essential to the Biochemistry Program. Several of these

machines have reached the end of their useful lives and replacements must be

sought in the near future.

TRIUMF Beyond the confines of the Department the TRIUMF facility

represents a very major Departmental and University resource.

7. Library Resources

The holdings of monographs and journals are not keeping abreast of

developments in many fields of chemistry and this is a cause for major concern,

both from the standpoint of senior undergraduate and graduate teaching and

research.

Another area of concern is the computer catalogue which is considered

offia-int

and iimbersome,

while the microfiche are now out of date and less

-

?

-- - - ?

- ?

than useful.

(of

---

29

Desk space surrounding the bound journals and the monographs quite

inadequate, Library policy should restrict access to the journal and monograph

areas to those who need to use these facilities.

Greater emphasis on data base access should be assumed by the library

as it reduces its acquisition rate.

X.

NEW

GRADUATE PROGRAM INITIATIVES

1. Institute in MolcuIar Biology and Biochemistry

Consistent with the 1984 External Review of Biochemistry, the initial

thrust of IMBB is envisioned to be in graduate research. The introduction of the

graduate teaching program in Biotechnology requires addition of faculty with

specific expertise and additional funding to be recommended by the IMBB.

The present faculty who will form the core of the proposed Institute are:

Chemistry

?

Biosciences

T. H. Borgford

?

D. Baillie

W. A.

Richards ?

M. Smith

A. Cornell (Associate Member)

?

A. Beckenbach

M. Gresser (On leave)

?

B. Honda

It is envisaged that three biochemists will be added to the complement of

faculty resident in Chemistry. The focus of interests of the new faculty wil be in

the areas of protein biochemistry, immunochemistry and nucleic acid chemistry.

This will allow the addition of new graduate courses and the development of

research programs in these areas.

Other faculty from Chemistry who have graduate teaching and research

interests in this area are:

B. M. Pinto

?

Conformational Studies and Antibody-

Antigen lnteractionNsERC Oper. $27K/yr. NSERC

Strat. (Biotechnology) $63K/yr.

A. C. Oehlschlager ?

Enzymes in Organic Synthesis NSERC Strategic

(Biotechnology) $56K/yr.

The IMBB members resident in chemistry desire to have the Department

maintain biochemistry as a high priority for future faculty appointments. These

IMBB members were not in favor of the Institute becoming a separate

Department in the near future. In light of these attitudes the Chemistry Review

Committee recommended that appointments funded by the IMBB allocation be

continued to be distributed between the Departments. Hiring of new faculty for

the Institute should emphasize scholars who are likely, by virtue of background

and personality, to become involved in interdisciplinary research. The

Department agrees with this approach and has fostered initiatives to strengthen

ties between IMBB and non-IMBB members with common research interests:

---

30

S

i) It has fostered joint requests for funding of major equipment such as

NMR and molecular graphics facilities which are crucial to research of IMBB

and non-IMBB members.

2) It has fostered the formation of a Molecular Recognition Group

involving IMBB and non-IMBB members to facilitate fund raising by the

Development Office.

2. Nuclear Science Institute

The formation of a Nuclear Science Institute is proposed. It will function to

promote research and graduate teaching in Nuclear Science, to oversee the

Nuclear Science Minor and to promote the offering of workshops in Nuclear

Science.

Nuclear science and radioactivity are subjects which are of high

intrinsic interest to scientists and the lay public. Knowledge of these subjects is

becoming more important in industry and medicine where radioisotopes find

wide application. The general public wishes to be informed on matters relating

to the safety of nuclear power reactors and the anticipated effects of nuclear

weapons.

The teaching programs will include an expansion of the Nuclear Science

Minor in the undergraduate B. Sc. program, as well as mounting of short

courses and workshops. Recognized clientele include those from industry,

S ?

public health and safety Departments, hospitals, high schools, community

colleges and the public.

The Institute would amplify the research and graduate teaching

activities in Nuclear Science by facilitating the organization of seminars and

discussion groups.

The establishment of an Institute would create a Regional Centre of

Excellence at SFU in Nuclear Science which would highlight to the outside

world the strength of our research programs in Nuclear Science. This would

serve to attract more graduate students in this area.

SFU has a strong complement of faculty in Chemistry and Physics with

research and teaching interests which span the range from the more esoteric

aspects of nuclear structure to the practical application of radioisotopes and

nuclear techniques in chemistry, physics, archaeology, biology and earth

sciences. The major research contributors in Chemistry will be:

Nuclear Reaction Studies

Studies of Short-lived Nuclei; ISOL and

Radioactive Ion Beams

Muon Spin Rotation and its Applications in

Chemistry

Mossbauer Spectroscopy; Chemical Effects of

Nuclear Processes

R. G. Korteling

J. M. D'Auria

P. W. Percival

C. H. W. Jones

I

b

---

31

'TRIUMFappojintees

who

.

now have an affiliation with the Department include:

K. P. Jackson ?

Nuclear Structure Studies

.T. ,

Ruth

?

Production of Radi'oisotopes for Medical and

Other Applications

The major research contributors in Physics would

be:

•A. S. Arrott, D. H. Boal, 0. Hausser, D. Huntley, I. Thorsen,

K.Viswanathan, K. Hicks

The major research contributors in Associated Departments would be:

E. Nelson- Archaeology

M. Roberts - Geography

G. Lister- Biosciences

R. Harrop .

Math

The addition ?

of new faculty is

?

not envisaged at this point.

?

The

significance

development

for

of

this

TRIUMF

Institute.

as

It

a

would

kaon factory

certainly

would

provide

have

the opportunity

a considerable

for

expanded staff at TRIUMF and cross

appointments at SFU in conjunction with

could

Chemistry

be achieved

and Physics.

through

Expansion

this mechanism.

of the current course offerings in this

area

3. Environmental Toxicology

There is increasing interest by the public and all branches of government

in improving

methods of disposal of toxic materials and in monitoring their

levels in the environment. The Department has a long standing in development

our

in

of

problems

this

an

knowledge

advanced

area

of

only

environmental

program

in

the

collaboration

Deparment

in

toxicoloty

this area.with

of Biological

?

the

other

Due

Departmentto

Departments

the

Sciences

interdisciplinary

?

envisions

in

has

the

the

University.developments

nature'

most fully

of

?

the

To

developed plans to offer an advanced degree

in this area.

Xl. RESEARCH INTERESTS OF FACULTY

I. Current Research Interests

The breadth of graduate teaching and research programs within the

first-class

Department

research

is apparent

programs

from

indicative

the tables

?

of

in

?

the

the

excellence

Appendix

of

There

the Department.

are a number of

i)

The

chemical aspects of the pheromone research program are

program

conducted

has

in

clearly

the laboratories

established

of

an

K.

international

N. Slessor and

reputation

A. C. Oehlschlager.

for first-class

This

basic

fD4

---

32

• ?

science in this field. This research is also of immediate practical importance to

?

the forestry and agricultural industries of B. C. and of Canada.

ii)

B. M. Pinto has built a first class team to study the factors influencing

the conformation of organic molecules and the application of this fundamental

knowledge to understanding antibody-antigen interactions. This group is one of

the few groups to successfully compete to the last round in the National Centers

of Excellence Competition. As of the date of this report the outcome of this

evaluation is not known.

iii)

R. J. Cushley is internationally recognized for his contributions to the

factors that influence the ordering of molecules in membranes and the

application of this knowledge in understanding the mechanism of

atherosclerosis. He is a member of IMBB.

iv)

P. W. Percival has developed the use of muons in the study of diverse

phenomena such as diffusion in solids and the structure of free radicals. The

recent discovery of Level Crossing Resonance Spectroscopy by the team at

TRIUMF has established it as an exciting forefront tool in free radical chemistry.

v)

F. W. B. Einstein, R. K. Pomeroy and D. Sutton have established

international reputations in the fundamental study of bonding and structure in

organometalliC complexes. This work has important implications in the rational

application of such complexes as industrial catalysts and in determining their

role in nitrogen fixation.

vi)

Y. L. Chow is a world authority in the chemistry of nitrosamifleS and

their possible role as carcinogens.

vii)

J. M. D'Auria, K. P. Jackson and R. G. Korteling are an internationally

recognized TRIUMF team conducting research into the mechanisms of

intermediate energy nuclear reactions, decay of short-lived radioactive nuclei

and the production of radioactive isotope beams.

viii)

I. D. Gay is a pioneering authority in the theory and use of solid-state

nmr spectroscopy in the study of conformations of molecules existing in the

solid state or adsorbed on solids. His work has important implications in

understanding metal oxide catalysts.

ix)

B. L. Funt, who is retiring in 1989, is a recognized authority in the

synthesis and study of electrically conducting polymers. He has been an active

member of the Energy Research Institute.

x)

G. L. Malli has an international reputation in relativistic quantum

mechanics.

---

33 ?

S

One ey to attaining excellence lies in the appointment of first-class

faculty. New faculty who have been hired over the last thirteen years and are

serving as center for growth in the graduate teaching and research programs

are:

Biochemistry:

?

R. B. Cornell (URF)

?

Membrane Enzymology

T. H. Borgford (IMBB)

?

Site-directed Mutagenesis

M. Gresser (On Leave)

?

Enzymology

Bio-Organi.c:

?

B. M. Pinto

?

Organic Conformational Analysis

Antibody - Antigen interactions

Inorganic: ?

ft

K. Pomeroy

?

Organometallics

R. H. Hill (URF)

?

Photochemistry of

Physical/Nuclear: P. W. Percival

?

0 rga no metal

lics

Muonium Chemistry

The Department is justifiably proud of the recent appointments Drs. Pinto,

Cornell, Hill and Borgford. These faculty are rapidly establishing themselves as

first class researchers and teachers.

The primary key to maintaining excellence lies in the ability of the

Department to retain the services of its brightest stars. We were unfortunate to

loose one of ours,

Pr .

Michael Gresser, to Merck-Frosst Canada, where he is

currently Director of Biochemical Research. Although the door at SFU will

remain open until late 1989, the competition for the services of stellar

individuals is keen.

in addition to these strong research programs in inorganic, organic,

biochemistry and nuclear chemistry, a number of initiatives are underway which

will serve

as

patiysts for growth in research productivity in forefront areas:

i)

The Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry will serve as a

major catalyst for growth in graduate teaching and research. Within Chemistry,

this is expected .tolpad to two or three new faculty in protein biochemistry and

nucleic acid àhemistry.

The Institute is expected to foster development of research programs of

those faculty with biochemical research expertise.

ii)

Developments at TRIUMF and creation of the proposed Institute of

Nuclear Science could lead to an increase in emphasis of the nuclear science

related programs. The proposal to convert TRRJMF into a kaon factory is

expected tq be viewed .favorably by the federal government. This development

would involve .cpitaI expenditures of $400 million over four years and see the

current operating bugpt of TRIUMF of $30 million grow to $80 million, that of a

very majàr iniprriatiprfàl facility.

While kaon research is not an area of immediate relevance to the SFU

Chemistry Department, the injection of such major capital and operating monies

will clearly benefit all areas of ;esearch in nuclear science, and will provide the

1o,

---

34

base for the continuing growth and development of TRIUMF over the next two

decades.

A second, lower-cost, proposal is for an On-Line Isotope Separator

(ISOL) at TRIUMF, and this could lead to the development of active research

programs using the radioisotope beams available. An ISOL facility could lead to

interactions with solid-state physics as well as with other groups in Chemistry.

2. External Research Grant Support

In 1988 the Department garnered $1,673,537 in research funds from

external agencies (Appendix). The bulk of external research grant support is

from NSERC in the form of operating, project and strategic grants. With the

increasing emphasis on biochemistry funding from the B. C. Health Care

Foundation ($132,501) and the B. C. Heart Foundation ($46,450) are becoming

significant sources of funding. Our expertise in natural products chemistry has

been recognized by the receipt of $210,650 in IDRC grants in the Department in

the last two years.

The current level of external research grant support is very good indeed,

and shows a significant increase over previous years. Recent grants of

particular note are:

$ for 1988

Borgiord ?

B. C. Health Care

?

35,000

.

?

Chow ?

NSERC Operating

?

45,119

NSERC Strategic ?

46,380

Cornell ?

NSERC Operating ?

25,000

B. C. Health Care

?

35,000

Cushley ?

NSERC Operating ?

46,000

B. C. Heart Foundation

?

29,450

B. C. Health Care

?

25,000

Gresser ?

NSERC Operating

?

41,520

MRC ?

39,000

Hill ?

NSERC Operating

?

22,000

Korteling ?

NSERC Infrastructure ?

107,000

Percival ?

NSERC Operating

?

66,000

Pinto ?

NSERC Operating ?

27,000

NSERC Strategic ?

63,000

Pomeroy ?

NSERC Operating ?

32,256

Sutton ?

NSERC Operating

?

30,000

Dr. Oehlschlager attracts major research support (>$200KIyr) from

several sources.

---

35 ?

.

3.

Assessment

of dUa

l

lity of Research

The only Nobel Pri2es to be awarded to Canadian physical scientists

during the past several decades have been in chenistry. It is arguable,

therefore, that the standards against which Canadian chemical research is

gauged are extreruiëly high. Overall the research activities in the Department

may be described as good with high recognition in selected areas. Two of our

faculty, M. Pinto and A. C. Oehlschlager have received

flätibhàl awards

for

their work at SFU. The latter and Y. L. Chow have won

University Research

ProfeSsorships.

Nine

faculty are Fellows of the Chëmiôal lAstitute of

Canada,

Which is the largest professional scientific society in Canada.

Since the implementation of the peer review system in Canadian science

and engineering in the early 1970's it was considered a safe approximation to

use NSERC operating grants as an index of research quality. As Canadian

science moves to the year 2000 this measure is increasingly inaccurate except

for the most basic research. The number of agencies supplying peer reviewed

research funds has increased dramatically. The proportion of research funding

provided by NSERC operating grants to faculty in the Department has

decreased from -80% in 1978 to less than 40% in 1988.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the research in chemistry

faculty receive their operating or project research grant support from 5 different

NSERC grant selection committees:

Selection Committee

?

Number of Grants

Cell Biology ?

4

Chemistry

?

13

Physics ?

1

Sub-atomic Physics

?

4

Interdisciplinary ?

1

The philosophies adopted by these grant committees differ as do the

average grants. The average operating grant obtained by faculty from all of

these committees was 133,000 in 1988. When operating grants from MRC,

B. C. Health and NSERC Strategic are added, faculty in Chemistry garner

average operating funds in excess of $60,000 per annum and this by any

measure is very good.

A criticism of the Department has been that the average NSERC

operating grant of faculty funded from the Chemistry Grant Selection Committee

is only '-80% of the national average and the Department has no faculty

member commands a grant in the top 10% of grantees in this group (170,000).

It pointed out in the recent external review that the Department would

increase its stature in the community of academic chemists by the acquisition of

two or thiee academics that are either in this stellar category or show high

probability of reaching it. The recently announced NSERC operating grants to

Drs. Pinto (to -$38K) , Pomeroy (to -$42K) and Oehlschlager (to -$59K)

?

-10

---

36

• showed increases in the 30-40% range. These were certainly the highest

increases in the Faculty of Science and suggest rapid progress toward

recognition for excelence in research of mainline chemists within the

Department.

The average NSERC operating grant of faculty funded from

cell biology and sub-atomic physics are well above the national

averages for grants In these disciplines and these represent areas

of strength.

A measure of the commitment to research and success in the peer review

process is the steady increase in funding awarded to the faculty over the past

six years. From 1982 to 1988 external funding to chemistry faculty increased

81% which is a 10% compounded rate. Over 90% of these funds were awarded

in the peer review system as opposed to contract work. Sister science

Departments experienced funding rate increases of 1/3 to 1/2 the rate earned in

Chemistry during this period.

Other measures of quality include:

i)

number of research publications in refereed journals:

?

1984 ?

1985 ?

1986 ?

1987 ?

1988*

?

(71)

?

(79)

?

(82) ?

(103) ?

(105)

*3 75/faculty

ii)

conference and seminar papers presented by faculty at national and

international meetings:

?

1984 ?

1985 ?

1986 ?

1987 ?

1988*

?

(37)

?

(35)

?

(28) ?

(46) ?

(56)

*2

.

0/faculty

iii)

invitations to serve on national bodies and the receipt of national awards:

?

1984 ?

1985 ?

1986 ?

1987 ?

1988*

?

(7) ?

(8)

?

(12) ?

(16) ?

(14)

0 5/faculty

iv)

the positions taken up by our M. Sc. and Ph. D. graduates when they leave

SFU (see Appendix).

S

0 ?

(05

---

37

?

•

?

XI. RESOURCE PLANNING

1. New Faculty Appointments

The divisions described below are based on a purely classical view of

chemistry as a discipline. By the turn of the century these will be blurred by the

formation of research groups that approach research from a problem rather than

a discipline orientation. Thus, physical chemists, inorganic chemists,

electrochemistS and theoretical organic chemists are reasonably expected to

form shifting alliances to tackle problems in molecular design and properties of

new materials. Biochemists, organic, inorganic, nuclear and physical chemists

can also be expected to form alliances to tackle problems in biotechnology. The

appointments recommended below are selected from among the many

specialities available to maximize these anticipated interactions and to build on

present strengths.

Biochemistry Highest Priority

The 1988 review of the Department identified biochemistry as the highest

priority area for new appointments. As a key component of the revolution in

molecular biology and biotechnology, this is a crucially important area in which

the Department currently has an excellent reputation Our current strengths are

in lipid modifying enzymes (R. Cornell) , enzymology of chlorophyll biosynthesis

(W. Richards), protein-membrane interactions (R. Cushley) and study of protein

structure through site directed mutagenesis (T. Borgford). We plan to build on

these strengths by adding biochemists with expertise in the study of the

principal cell constituents. We envision several appointments during the next

five years in the following order of priority: a senior protein biochemist to replace

Dr. Gresser (Chemistry) ; b) an appointee with expertise in nucleic acid

biochemistry (IMBB) ;

C)

an appointee with expertise in protein/nucleic acid

interactions (IMBB) ; d) an appointee with expertise in membrane biochemistry

(Chemistry) and d) an appointee with expertise in immunochemistry

(Chemistry). These appointments will provide the impetus for continued

development of Biochemistry and the IMBB. Set up costs for Chemistry

sponsored appointments are expected to be $100,000 each.

Impact of Present NSERC URF Appointments

Dr. Rosemary Cornell has expertise in the area of membrane

biochemistry and will be competing for a tenure-track position in this area in the

?

- ?

next two years.

Organic Chemistry

The 1988 review of Chemistry identified the appointment of an organic

chemist of outstanding reputation as the appointment most likely to benefit the

Department. This review recognized the organic group at SFU as having the

highest visibility and respect amongst the chemical community in Canada. The

•

jlO

---

38

continued devölopment of Mario Pinto and the appointment of a senior level

orgriic chemist would, in the view of the review committee, bring SFU to the

pcint where it could reasonably claim an excellent graduate program in

Orgnic/bioorganic chemistry.

The research expertise of our current organic faculty are in the areas of

photochemical transformations (Y. L. Chow) , chemistry of pheromones and

other natural products (C. Oehlschlager, K. Slessor and E. Kiehlmann) and

conformational analysis and carbohydrate chemistry (M. Pinto).

The Department is well equipped for frontline organic research and could

reasonably expect to be competitive in its search for an outstanding organic

chemist. It has recently committed substantial internal funding ($200,000 over

two years) to the upgrade of its high field nuclear magnetic resonance

chemist.

spectrometer, which would certainly be required equipment for an organic

?

-

Set-up requirements would be in the range of $150,000-200,000. The

Department would allocate a significant portion of its capital and renovation

budget to minimize the financial impact of this authorization on the University. It

would be ideal if this appointment could be linked to a Shrum Chair

appointment.

Laboratory space of 2000 square feet would be required. This is

expected to be available from the increased efficiency of use of existing

laboratories due to installation of hooded work areas and from space vacated

by Chemistry faculty moving to the IMBB building. The appointment of an

organic chemist of significant stature is viewed by the Department as

strategically important in its development in the next decade. As retirements

occur in the next decade the University will, as a matter of policy, only approve

junior appointments. Junior faculty in Chemistry will require very expensive

capital items such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers and mass

spectrometers to conduct frontline research. It is generally expected that such

items would be obtained from NSERC in national competitions. Without co-

applicants with stellar reputations junior faculty would not be expected to be

competitive for large ticket items. The teaching demands on organic faculty

completely justify the addition of a second organic faculty member within the

next five years. The Department recommends the second appointment be at the

junior level. The teaching of present organic chemistry courses requires the

hiring of part-time sessional lecturers on a continuing basis. Newly proposed

?

--

courses cannot be offered due to faculty constraints. An additional burden will

fall on orgahic chemistry faculty with the implementation of the new altered

sequence of freshman instruction wherein organic chemistry is introduced in the

second semester of the first year rather than in the first semester of the second

year. The organic group has 40% of all graduate students within the

Department, yet is quite small (6 of 27 with 3 of the 6 supervising graduate

students). Two members (Unrau and Chow) are within a few years of retirement,

and a third (Oehlschlager) has accepted a 5 year mandate as Chairman.

Organic chemistry interfaces directly and closely with biochemistry. The addition

of a highly reputable organic chemist within the Department would strengthen

---

39

the IMBB initiative by providing expertise in synthetic and/or mechanistic

organic chemistry.

Inorganic/OrgaflometalliC Chemistry

The 1988 Review identified the inorganic group as an emerging strength.

It was considered that the research profile of this group would increase

substantially in the next few years. The review recommended that the

Department solidify its commitment to this area by the appointment of one

additional member.

This group has two synthetic inorganic chemists with expertise in

transition metal chemistry (Drs. Pomeroy and Sutton) and a structural chemist

(Dr. Einstein). The availability of other inorganic chemists to teach inorganic

chemistry has been curtailed by requirements in other areas. Dr. Peterson's

commitments to teach advanced analytical chemistry have removed him from

full-time teaching of inorganic chemistry. Dr. Sutton's lecturing abilities are

required in the freshman-level courses, and he has agreed to fill the void left by

Professor Jones. These requirements have left the instructional capabilities in

inorganic chemistry seriously depleted. Development of this group is important

if the Department is to build on its existing inorganic core courses and expand

offerings into materials science. There is an emerging group in inorganic

chemistry with expertise in the important area of chemical vapor deposition.

This group (Jones, Hill and Pomeroy) have expertise in the design and

fabrication of molecules that deposit thin metallic films on existing surfaces.

. This technology is key to the development of new electrooptical materials. It is

anticipated that the addition of one additional faculty member to this group

would provide the impetus for continued development of this initiative.

Impact of Present NSERC URF Appointment

Dr. Ross Hill has expertise in the area of mechanistic inorganic

chemistry. He is developing his expertise in chemical vapor deposition and will

be competing for a tenure-track position in this area in the next two years.

Physical Chemistry

Five of the nine faculty remaining in late 1989 (Professor Funt retires) in

this sub-discipline are active in chemical research (Bell, Gay, Malli, Voigt and

Percival). Three others are active in chemically related research, such as

computer-assisted instruction (S. Lower) , effect of large scale testing on the

teaching of chemistry at the high school level (A. Sherwood) , and the history of

Canadian chemistry (J. Walkley). Expertise in chemical research is varied and

no central theme emerges. Dr. Bell is expert in photochemical processes of

small organic compounds. Dr. Gay is well known for his work on solid-state

NMR of catalytic surfaces, and collaborates with organic and inorganic chemists

on a regular basis. Dr. Malli is a recognized expert in quantum mechanics and

is credited with the significant developments in relativistic quantum mechanics.

?

- ?

Dr. Voigt has an established reputation and expertise in the investigation of the

•

photophysical

s.

processes of large organic molecules similar to chlorophyll

1I2

---

40

Dr. erciahis:internationaiiy recognized as an authority on the chemistry of

mpniürn,

cyclotrongenerated

isotope of hydrogen. It was the view of the

'of Chemistry

.

that because of higher teaching

.

demands in other

sub-disciplines, addition of faculty in the area of physical chemistry must

concerttate future appointments in areas .projected for growth. This is

undeniably inthe.açeaof materials science. lnitiaLefforts,were made to replace

Protessor..Funt,hose teaching and research efforts are in the area of polymer

chemistry. 1eseefforts.entajIedthe nomination of a excellent young polymer

chemistto .

NSERCas a URF. Unfortunately this nominee was not awarded a

URF and we must endeavor to fill the void left by the retirement of Professor

Funt by appointment . We consider this a very important area to continue to offer

courses and graduate training. It is crucial to the development of a pure

research groUp with expertise in the molecular design of materials. The

Departrnentr.equests a OFL position in 1989-1990 in polymer chemistry.

Analytical Chemistry

The 1988 External Review of the Department identified Analytical

Chemistry as an area that should be developed within the Department. The

development of Analytical Chemistry at UBC suggests that this area should only

be strengthened if the new appointee has strong research ties to established

groups In the Department.. Accordingly, it is recommended that an

elect rochemistb,e sought to fill the void in this area. An appointee with expertise

in this area would be a logical participant in the development of a materials

science research group. Set-up costs are estimated at $75,000 for this

appointment.

2. futu:re Directions of Development in Chemistry and

Bioöhemlstry

The retirment pattern in Chemistry will also impinge on the areas of

researc,h and graduate teaching activity. Within the next seven years the

following

.

faculty

wiil

reach retirement age:

8. L. Funt (Physical Polymers) 1989

A. M. Unrau (Organic) 1991

E. M. Voigt (Physical Spectroscopy) 1993

V. .. Chow (Organic Photochemistry) 1994

aR

II'S

?

.

---

41

Specific Areas to be Strengthened

Biochemistry:

Protein Biochemistry - Gresser

Replacement

Nucleic Acid Chemistry (IMBB Funded)

Protein and Nucleic Acid Biochemistry

(MBB

Funded)

Membrane Biochemistry - Rosemary

Cornell (?)

Structural Biochemistry

Inorganic Chemistry:

Physical Inorganic - Ross Hill (?)

Organic Chemistry:

Synthetic Organic (Senior)

-

Theoretical Organic

Physical:

Polymer

Analytical:

Electrochemistry

Projected Faculty

Complement 1989-1994

Retirements

and Resignations

With No Replacements Other Than

Current URF'S

.

Area

Biochemistry

1988 ?

1989 ?

1990 ?

1991 ?

1992

?

1993 ?

1994 ?

1994

4 ?

-1

?

+1 ?

5

+1

Inorganic

4

+1 ?

5

4

-1 ?

-1

Organic

6

-1

?

8

Physical

10

?

-1

3

Nuclear

3

Analytical

0

27 ?

26 ?

26 ?

27 ?

27 ?

26 ?

25 ?

25

•

Retirements Replaced With Current URF'S and Additional Faculty

According

to ?

1988 Review

Area

1988 ?

1989

?

1990 ?

1991

?

1992 ?

1993 ?

1994 1994

Biochemistry

4 ?

+2#

+1 @ +1 RC +1

?

8

-1

Inorganic

4

+1RH ?

5

Organic

6

+1 ?

-1

?

+1 ?

-1 ?

6

Physical

10

?

-1

+1

?

-1

?

9

Nuclear

3

3

1

Analytical

0

+1

27 ?

27

30

?

32 ?

34

?

32 ?

32

?

32

#1, Chem;

1,IMBB ?

@

IMBB

"4

---

lnorg

4

+

Inorganic

Photochem

Org

6

+

Synthetic

?

Bio-organic

Org

Phys

10

- ?

+

Polymer Polymer

NucI

3

Anal

0

+

Electrochemistry

Detailed

Replacement

.

Schedule by

Area and Year

Area ?

1988 ?

1989 1990

1991

1992 ?

1993 ?

1994

+

+

+

Bich ?

4 ?

Proteiln

Protein &

Membrane

Struct

Biochem

Nuci Acid

Biochem

Biochem

+

Biochem@

Nuci Acid

Biochem@

+

Org ?

Org

Photo

Spectro

I.

(15

42

---

43

3. Support Staff

In comparison with our sister University Chemistry Departments we are

understaffed in every category.

The Department has only one person, Dr. Ken Stuart, to act as both

laboratory coordinator and Departmental assistant. The myriad of assignments

borne by Dr. Stuart range from maintaining Departmental accounts

($2. 5 million/yr) to overseeing the safe operation of all Departmental

laboratories. Dr. Stuart plays a pivotal role in the operation of the Department.

Laboratory Instructors, Technicians and Secretarial Support

1987/1988*

Lab Lab

?

Sec/ ?

Staff/

?

Sec. /

?

Graduates

?

Inst. Tech. 0th Admin TOTAL Fac.

?

Fac. M. Sc./Ph.D. B.Sc.

UBC 25

?

7 10

?

11 ?

53 ?

0.85 ?

0.17 ?

29 ?

65

SFU ?

5 ?

4 ?

5 ?

4 ?

18 ?

0.62 ?

0.13 ?

7 ?

34

U Vic 13

?

4 ?

3 ?

5.5 ?

25.5 1.04

?

0.22 ?

3 ?

28

*CCUCC

T. A. and Laboratory Instructor Support of Undergraduate

Laboratories

As outlined under the section on graduate teaching and research there is

an urgent need to increase the T. A. support to the Department by 30% or to

add an additional laboratory instructor. This is required for proper laboratory

instruction and for tutorials and grading in the first two years of our program.

Undergraduate Laboratory Technical Support

Some 70 support staff positions were eliminated across the University

during the cutbacks of the early 1980's. In the ensuing years the enrollment has

substantially increased, forcing the extra workload on fewer shoulders. This is

demonstrably true in the Department's undergraduate laboratories, where the

workload is directly related to the enrollments. Here, the total undergraduate

enrollment has increased 60% since 1982, while the technical staff in support of

undergraduate laboratories decreased from 5 to 4. The present technical staff

are stretched to the limit. Each year we have been forced to hire additional

temporary technical support to maintain minimum safety margins in the Fall and

Spring semesters. Increasing numbers of stress-related sick leaves are

requested by staff. The University is certainly cognizant of the risk inherent in

having overworked technical staff overseeing student work with hazardous

chemicals.

The reinstatement of one technical staff position and the addition of a

second position is justified by the present enrollments and projected

development of further advanced biochemistry laboratories. Our immediate

needs are in the area of reagent preparation for lower level courses and

I 1b

---

44

t

development

laboratories Also,

of experiments

the

tech,lical

de,elopment

in'

SUpport

advanced

of new

staff

inorganic

bIoch

Tue

emistraoratory

mmed,ate

and

'

najytical

addition

courses

chemistry

of

will

one

recom me

o'chnical:suppo,D:sff.

ñded

p

ition'Iollow'ed lby aseàond within two years is

Computer i!áboratory

The continuèd

;

success of the Chértistry Cc iixitOr ta

?

atory '

wilI rely in

installationamajor

part on

ndservicing

the presence

oPequipment,

of a Resource

I

mplementation

Person to coordinate

of software

t

he

and

purchase

to assist

•afUlI-timeth

faculty

is

1

'$200;000and

.

positionat

students

:

fádility.

in

:the

the

Grade

use of computers

10 Tecinicài

in their

Suport

work

Staff

It is

poition