Chemistry Help

Stockholm, Oct 04: American Roger D Kornberg, whose father won a Nobel Prize nearly 50 years ago, was awarded the prize in Chemistry today for his studies of how cells take information from genes to produce proteins.

Disturbances in that process, known as transcription, are involved in many human illnesses, including cancer, heart disease and various kinds of inflammation. Understanding transcription also is vital to the development of treatments using stem cells.

Kornberg had spent the previous two days travelling from Europe to his home in California when he was called and told of the award.

"So when the telephone first rang I was completely bewildered," he said in a telephone interview with journalists in the Swedish capital. "I`m still shaking.

Building on the core elements of organic and physical chemistry, Introduction to Polymer Chemistry provides an articulate, well-rounded presentation of the principles and applications for natural, synthetic, inorganic, and organic polymers.

The book organizes its organic-intensive chapters in the front, allowing greater time for students and teachers to become familiar with the topic before embarking on physical aspects. Relating to all types of polymers, the chapters examine synthesis and polymerization reactions, reactivities, techniques for characterization and analysis, energy absorption and thermal conductivity, physical and optical properties, and more. Each chapter contains up-to-date problems, learning summaries, practical glossaries, and recommended Web sites for further study.

Students with aspirations of becoming high school chemistry teachers could receive some extra help from South Dakota State University.

Beginning in the 2007-08 school year, the SDSU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will award two $6,000 per year, renewable scholarships to students pursuing a chemistry or biochemistry major with the intent of teaching high school chemistry. The scholarships are being funded through a donation made by the Hach Scientific Foundation, a nonprofit company dedicated to promoting chemistry education across the country.

“These are very substantial scholarships,” said Dr. Jim Rice, head of the department, emphasizing that receiving one of these scholarships could mean a total award of $24,000 for an incoming freshman.

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must have a 3.0 GPA, be currently enrolled as an undergraduate chemistry major and be willing to sign a yearly agreement committing to become a chemistry teacher.