Welcome to the Department of Chemistry

Chemistry, the central science, is an integral part of modern life and forms the basis for advances in nearly all areas of science and technology.  Students and faculty in Chemistry at the University of Maine work together to answer questions related to major societal issues:  energy, the environment, modern materials, and health and medicine.  We invite you to explore our undergraduate and graduate programs and to learn more about our research.  If you have questions or would like to make arrangements for a tour of our department, please contact Dr. Alice Bruce, Chair, 152/271 Aubert Hall, 581-1168/ 581-1182, abruce@maine.edu

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Weekly Graduate Student Seminar

Schedule For Fall 2020

Weekly Seminar will begin on September 15th, with the Annual Safety presentation via Zoom.  A Zoom link will be emailed prior to the start of the session.

The rest of the information is below:

  1.  9/22 – Brief Organizational Meeting
  2.  9/29 – Maine Impact Week; culminating with UMaine Student Symposium
  3. 10/20 – Grape Senkum
  4. 10/27 – Christian Geci
  5. 11/3 – Peter Kelly
  6. 11/10 – Saad Ali
  7. 11/17 – Nayeem Ibnul

Aubert Hall Study Space(s)

Looking for a place to have a Zoom session or just a quiet spot to study?  The UM Chemistry Department has several small conference rooms available in Aubert Hall.  Rooms 165, 265, and 365 are available for up to 3 people at a time socially distanced and Room 262 is available for up to 6 people at a time socially distanced.  A signup sheet is posted outside each room with time slots.  Please hand write your name in the slot or email Diane Muir (diane.muir@maine.edu) with your request and she will do her best to accommodate your needs.

Department News/Announcements

Roadmap for Fall 2020

The Chemistry Department prioritizes the importance of providing a safe environment for our students, faculty, and staff who will return to campus for the Fall 2020 semester. The decisions we have made stem from careful consideration of University of Maine protocols, the current situation of the virus, and social distancing guidelines.

After careful consideration, our faculty have adapted their chemistry courses for the fall semester as follows:

  • Large enrollment general chemistry (CHY 121/123 and CHY 131/133) and organic chemistry classes (CHY 251/253), including the co-requisite lab courses, will be remote.
  • Faculty and staff have been working hard all summer to construct lab kits that will provide students enrolled in general chemistry lab (CHY 123, CHY 133) and organic chemistry lab (CHY 253) with a hands-on laboratory experience.
  • Our upper level laboratory courses, including quantitative analysis (CHY 242), advanced integrated lab II (CHY 492) and independent research (CHY 498) will be in-person.
  • Other chemistry courses, including chemistry graduate courses will be offered in-person or with a blend of in-person and remote modalities.
  • Graduate Student Seminar (CHY 693) will be remote via Zoom links on Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.  Abstracts along with Zoom link will be emailed per the norm.

Safety measures

  • Our building has been labeled with entry and exit signs to ease the flow of foot traffic. 
  • Signage promoting safe and sanitary practices have been posted in classrooms and hallways.
  • All classrooms have been marked to follow social distancing guidelines. 
  • Protective face coverings are required to be worn indoors and outdoors on all University of Maine System campuses.
  • If you arrive to Aubert Hall without a face mask, you can pick one up in the Lobby on the first floor.

In person class meetings: What to do, what to expect (courtesy of Dean Haddad, CLAS)

  • Cover your face with a mask that fits tightly against your face and completely covers your nose, mouth and chin.
  • Leave stored furniture where it is. Don’t move it into the active part of the room.
  • Sit only in the seats designated for use. Don’t move furniture around.
  • Sit in the same seat every day. That way, if someone in the class gets Covid-19, they will know who was sitting near them.
  • Don’t eat or drink during class.
  • Use a wipe to clean your area at the end of class.

If you don’t feel well or if you think you may have been exposed to Covid-19: don’t come to class!

  • Notify your professor so that they are aware of why you are absent and can help you stay caught up. If your class has the opportunity for remote participation, try to join that way instead.
  • Feeling sick? Call Cutler Health Center at 207.581.4000.
  • Concerned about possible exposure? Call the Dean of Students Office 207.581.2681.