University of New Brunswick
Undergraduate Chemistry Society

National Chemistry Week 2002 Report

As part of the celebration for National Chemistry Week, the UNB Undergraduate Student Chapter decided to invite a guest speaker to UNB. Mr. Alan Stuart, an alumni of UNB and a former instructor of Analytical Chemistry, is now a forensic specialist in the Chemistry Section of the Forensic Laboratory Services of the RCMP in Halifax. Mr. Stuart gave two lectures, the first, titled “Forensics: Fact or Fiction?” which was intended for a general audience, on Thursday, October 24. The Thursday evening lecture was well attended by the general public, including some high school  teachers and students in addition to members and students of the UNB community. The audience, which numbered over one hundred, enjoyed refreshments supplied by Chartwells Impressions, a catering service of UNB. Mr. Stuart also had a chance to mingle with the audience after the speech. The following Friday lecture was more specialized and technical. It was intended as a departmental seminar but attracted members from other disciplines as well. During his lectures, Mr. Stuart outlined the many tasks of the RCMP forensics laboratory, especially the chemistry branch. Along with suppling informative and enjoyable talks, Mr. Stuart provided us with examples of real-life situations in forensics, and contrasted them with the stereotypical image supplied by the media.

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