As 2011 is the International Year of Chemistry the topic is a must have in this year’s Café Scientifique series. Dr Rob Keyzers, chemistry lecturer at the Victoria University School of Chemical and Physical Sciences will be here to discuss the amazing world of chemistry.
Rob’s current research is in new medicinal lead discovery, trying to find new potential pharmaceuticals from marine invertebrates. He likens this to finding the active principle in Chinese Herbal Medicines but from marine sources.
His other area of interest is grape and wine chemistry, and in particular trying to link the chemicals found in grapes and the final flavour of wine post-fermentation.
The world of chemistry is enormous, and being the international year of chemistry, the questions directed to Rob will no doubt be flowing thick and fast.
Rob grew up in Upper Hutt and retains strong ties with the valley. Rob undertook all his under-grad and post-grad studies at VUW before heading overseas to take up several research positions. The first were in South Africa and Canada, each for two years, in the area of marine invertebrate-based drug discovery. This was followed by 18 months at CSIRO in Adelaide, Australia, where he was introduced to grape and wine chemistry. He returned to VUW to take up his current role as lecturer in mid-2009.
Venue: Wholly Bagels, Myrtle Street, Lower Hutt
Supported by: GNS Science, Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch, Wholly Bagels and Hutt City Council
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Date: Thursday, August 25, 2011