National Chemistry Week Information

What is National Chemistry Week?

• A celebration of the chemical professions in Canada
• An opportunity to educate Canadians about the positive aspects of chemistry
• A one week focus on chemical outreach within the CIC's Public Understanding of Chemistry year-round outreach program

When does it take place?

• Events are held starting the Saturday following Thanksgiving and for the next eight days, ending on Saturday

Who gets involved in National Chemistry Week?

• Educational institutions from kindergarten to graduate studies
• Industry and government through activities and sponsorship
• All ten Canadian provinces and the three territories
• The general public is involved through participation in events

How is National Chemistry Week celebrated?

• Activities vary from town to town
• Involvement can mean one person talking about their interest in the chemical profession to a friend or it can mean outreach programs involving large numbers of people
• The National Crystal Growing Competition for high school students takes place across the country
• Educational materials are distributed to elementary and high school students
• School visits and displays
• Industrial tours
• Shopping mall, open house and museum displays
• Environmental clean-ups
• Regional competitions: essays, posters, quizzes
• Promotional material is available: posters on chemistry, chemical engineering and chemical technology; pocket periodic tables; buttons; balloons; and more
• Industrial tours

What is the National Crystal Growing Competition?

• Teams of high school students from anywhere in Canada are eligible to compete to grow the largest, best quality crystal in the allotted time period
• Students are judged regionally, with the top entries from each region competing for the national trophy
• Crystals are judged according to size and quality (absence of occlusions, lack of broken edges, formation of faces, clarity) by a team of experts
• Prizes are awarded regionally and nationally to the winning schools. First, second and third place teams nationally are awarded prizes for their schools and members of the national first place team receive individual awards
• The competition begins in September, with a growing period growing period of four to six weeks, depending on the crystal grown. Regional judging takes place during national Chemistry Week, national judging occurs shortly afterwards
• Instructions for growing crystals

How can you get involved?

• Contact the Manager, Outreach at The Chemical Institute of Canada's National Office for the national picture or check out the list of activities
• Contact nearby university departments of chemistry, chemical engineering or college departments of chemical technology. Many have coordinators who are organizing events
• Organize an event yourself! and be sure to list it on the NCW Web activities page.

2007 Activities

Sponsors

For more information, please contact publicunderstanding@cheminst.ca.