State of the Art Research Facilities

PhD Studentships currently recruiting are: 1. Surface and colloid techniques to examine how different polymer additives control and suppress the unwanted precipitation of waxes from crude oil. Supervised by Professor Bernie Binks and Professor Paul Fletcher within the Surfactant and Colloid Group. 2. Investigation of surfactant behaviour of corrosion inhibitor molecules. Supervised by Professor Bernie Binks and Professor Paul Fletcher within the Surfactant and Colloid Group. 3. Aeration of food-containing systems as a means of preparing healthier foods. Supervised by Professor Bernie Binks within the Surfactant and Colloid Group. 4. Investigation of food emulsions and foams, and novel ways of stabilising them. Supervised by Professor Bernie Binks within the Surfactant and Colloid Group. 5. Novel Colloidal “Polymers” based Living Free Colloidal Polymerisation Supervised by Dr Vesselin Paunov within the Surfactant and Colloid Group. For further details see PhD studentship details

In the 2009 National Student Survey our graduates rated us the 3rd English Chemistry Department including a 100% satisfaction rating for our courses. Only three other Chemistry Departments achieved this excellent rating. Combined with the statistic that 95% of our graduates have either jobs or are on further courses after six months puts us right at the top of the 2009 Chemistry National Student Survey and confirms our aim to provide a high quality chemical eductaion in a friendly environment.

The results in detail are:

Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of the course 100%

Staff are good at explaining things 100%

Staff have made the subject interesting 95%

Staff are enthusiastic about what they are teaching 95%

I have received sufficient advice and support with my studies 97%

I have been able to contact staff when I needed to 97%


Why not come along to one of our UCAS opendays and see how good we are.

The Chemistry Department at The University of Hull was placed 5th in the League Tables published by The Guardian on the 12th May 2009. This league table is based on the results of the National Student Survey, the spending per student, the staff student ratio, career prospects and a value added indicator. Therefore, it is a very good indicator of the quality of the teaching and teaching experience that Hull Chemistry students get.

The recent Research Assessment Exercise results show that 95% of research within the Chemistry Department is rated as of an international standard. 50% is rated as internationally excellent.

Angewandte Chemie front Cover showing Prof. Binks' work

A new collaboration between the Universities of Hull, Toronto and Harvard on a method to produce ultrastable particle-coated bubbles in water (as in foams) was published in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 48, 5300 (2009) and the work was selected for the front cover of the journal. Professor Binks teamed up with Professors Kumacheva and Stone to continue his research on particle-stabilised liquid interfaces in which microfluidics is utilised to control bubble formation and particle attachment.

Dr Rob Lewis has been awarded £50k by METRC (The N8 Molecular Engineering Translational Research Centre) to investigate ferroelectric liquid crystal materials for defect free displays, in collaboration with Kingston Chemicals and Forth Dimension Displays

Dr Vesko Paunov's recent work in the journal Soft Matter describing a novel way of producing of magnetic yeast cells with a variety of applications has been selected by the editors of Chemical Science as a landmark news item.

Dr Vesko Paunov

Dr Grahame Mackenzie

Dr Grahame Mackenzie has been invited to lecture on his sporopollenin research at Université d'Orléans, and Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France. During this visit he also acted as an external examiner at the Université d’Artois, for the degree “L’Habilitation a Diriger des Recherches (HDR)” which permits French academics to pass to the level of professor. (An HDR is perhaps best thought of as a French DSc)

Prof. Bernie Binks

Professor Binks has been invited as a Keynote Lecturer at the forthcoming Core-to-Core Workshop on Advanced Particle Science and Engineering to be held in York from 15-17 December 2009. The meeting is to encourage collaboration between researchers in the UK, Australia and Japan. He will deliver a lecture entitled Solid Particles at Fluid Interfaces.

Dr Vesko Paunov

Dr Vesko Paunov interviewed by the editor of Food Navigator as a result of his recent paper on Novel Multifunctional Micro-Ampoules for Structuring and Encapsulation which was featured onthe front cover of ChemPhysChem.

Dr V.N. Paunov from University of Hull in UK and scientists from Unilever Research in The Netherlands have developed novel micro-ampoules made from edible materials, having multiple compartments loaded with oils. The micro-ampoules are prepared using a single-step, in-shear solvent-attrition liquid–liquid dispersion technique, allowing control of particle morphology, as described by V. N. Paunov et al. on p. 2599. Due to their shape, size and surface properties they can adsorb at oil–water or air–water interfaces and could have a dual functionality for foam or emulsion stabilization and encapsulation and delivery simultaneously. Such micro-ampoules can find applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, personal care and food industries. The paper has been selected as a front cover story for the ChemPhysChem journal. Full text available here		ChemPhysChem
Publisher front cover story
Prof. Coupland and Dr Mackenzie invited speakers at "Technology and Sustainable Development" Symposium.
Prof. Keith Coupland   Professor Keith Coupland and Dr Grahame Mackenzie were invited speakers at the “TECHNOLOGY & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT “ international symposium held at the Universté d’Artois, France on Thursday 22nd October and Friday 23rd October 2009 Keith Coupland's talk was entitled "Novel Plants Lipids for Healthcare : a renewable resource with great potential" and Grahame Mackenzie spoke on "Pollen shells as microcapsules with potent antioxidant properties".
Professor Binks has been called as an Invited Speaker at the 21st International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics
Prof. Bernie Binks   Professor Binks has been called as an Invited Speaker at the 21st International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics to be held in Tsukuba, Japan from 1-6 August 2010. He will lecture on aqueous foams and emulsions from particle-surfactant mixtures. He has also been invited to lecture at 2 international companies in Tokyo whilst there; one involved with cosmetics, the other with detergents.
21st International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics
Dr Boyle awarded £0.5 M EPSRC Grant for Dual Functional Nanosensors
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have announced funding of £0.5 million for a project to synthesise new dual functional nanosensors, and use them to investigate the role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in the development of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. ROS are excited state relatives of molecular oxygen, and have recently been implicated in cell signalling and processes leading to disease, but are currently very difficult to study due to their short lifetimes. The new nanosensors will localise to specific sites within cells, where they will be excited by a laser to produce localised bursts of ROS, a fluorescent probe encapsulated within the nanoparticle will then signal the response of the cells by measuring fluctuations in intracellular calcium ion levels. The project is a multicentre collaboration between the Universities of Hull, Nottingham, Durham, and Leeds, and will be led by Dr Ross W. Boyle of the Department of Chemistry, University of Hull.   Dr Ross Boyle
14th Annual UK Polymer Colliods Forum to meet in Hull.
Dr Vesko Paunov is the Organiser of the 14th Annual UK Polymer Colloids Forum which is to be held at the University of Hull between the 14th and 16th September 2009. This meeting will be held at The Lawns Centre building (halls of residence) which is located in the beautiful village of Cottingham, about 3 miles from the main campus of the University of Hull. The meeting will have 4 sessions, starting at 2.00 pm on Monday, 14 September 2009 and finishing at 1.30 pm on Wednesday, 16 September 2009. The general topics (not exclusive) for this meeting will be: 1. Stabilisation of foams and emulsions with colloid particles. 2. Fabrication and applications of multifunctional colloids. 3. Novel techniques and materials for microencapsulation. 4. Self-assembly of novel functional materials and smart surfaces. 5. Nanosensors and detection based on colloids and polymers. Keynote Speakers include: Prof. Brian Vincent, University of Bristol, UK “Microgel and Core-Shell Particles for Controlled Uptake and Release". Prof. Orlin D. Velev, North Carolina State University, USA "Programmed Assembly of Janus, Patchy and Dipolar Particles by Electric and Magnetic Fields" Prof. Paul Luckham, Imperial College, London, UK “Synthesis and characterisation of functional particles” Prof. Steve P. Armes, University of Sheffield, UK “Colloidal Nanocomposite Particles” Invited lecturers include: Prof Paul Fletcher, Prof Martin Snowden, Dr John Aylott, Dr Simeon Stoyanov, Prof Bernard Binks, Dr Tommy Horozov, Prof Simon Biggs and Dr Alan Dalton. There will also be short presentations and poster sessions. Registration deadline 1st August 2009   Vesko Paunov
UK Polymer Colloids Forum 2009
Andrew Main Lecturer for 2009, University of Alberta, awarded to Professor BP Binks
Professor Binks was named as the Andrew Main Lecturer by the Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. The lecture is within the D.B. Robinson Distinguished Speaker Series and was sponsored by the Centre for Oil Sands Innovation and Imperial Oil. He was there from 1-4 April 2009. His lecture was entitled “Foams and emulsions stabilised solely by solid particles” and was attended by researchers of the Science & Engineering Faculty.
Dr Boyle invited to the House of Lords
Dr Ross Boyle, Head of the Photobiology and Photomedicine research group has been invited to a reception at the House of Lords hosted by Sir Halley Stewart. The reception is for holders of awards from the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, which supports research into tropical and third world diseases. Dr Boyle’s grant from the Trust funded a project investigating the use of light activated drugs to treat cutaneous Leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection transmitted by the bite the sand fly. The reception will bring together around a hundred investigators from UK universities who have been funded by the Trust in the last five years.
Professor Binks invited to be international expert for FOM-Shell Industrial Partnership Programme
Professor Binks has been invited as one of three international experts to form the Evaluation Panel for the Dutch joint Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie-Shell Industrial Partnership Programme entitled "Innovative Physics for Oil and Gas". He will review proposals and interview candidates in Utrecht in May 2009.
Sally Peyman wins poster prize at Houses of Parliament
Third Year Chemistry PhD student Sally Peyman was selected to present a poster at SET for Britain event, hosted by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee at the Houses of Parliament on 9th March 2009 (http://www.setforbritain.org.uk/). She was met by Hull North MP Diana Johnson and others. Sal’s presentation was well received and she went on to win the LGC sponsored prize for analytical chemistry!
Becky Kift wins best poster prize at RSC Solid State Group Meeting.
Becky Kift with her prize winning poster   Congratulations to Becky Kift who won a prize for the best poster at this year’s RSC Solid State Group Christmas meeting. The prize was sponsored by The Journal of Materials Chemistry. Becky’s poster was entitled ‘Low Temperature Synthesis of Intermetallics’ and describes her work under the supervision of Dr Tim Prior into reductive synthesis of intermetallic compounds. The method obviates the need for melting during synthesis and this gives enhanced control of stoichiometry. Intermetallic compounds have potential in a huge variety of fields including magnetism and thermoelectricity - control of stoichiometry is a key step in controlling the properties of these solids.
Chemistry Christmas Lectures Go with a Flash and a Bang!
The Department of Chemistry at The University of Hull welcomed over 900 Year 11-13 school pupils from around 25 local (and some not so local) schools to the annual Chemistry Christmas lectures held on the 15th and 18th December. These were organised by Dr Archibald who also educated and entertained the students with help from Dr Young. Dr. Steve Archibald The lectures were sponsored by both The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Department of Chemistry. For information about next year's Chemistry Christmas lectures contact Dr Archibald (s.j.archibald@hull.ac.uk). For information about our schools' liaison work contact John Bradley (j.s.bradley@hull.ac.uk). Dr. Nigel Young
Vaughan Weighill and Tim Handley from E.On got The Institute for Chemistry in Industry’s 2008-2009 Technology Club season off to a fine start when they spoke about the "The Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm".
The Institute for Chemistry in Industry’s 2008-2009 Technology Club season got off to a fine start in November when around 40 delegates attended a presentation given by E.On entitled "The Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm". Offshore Wind Development Manager Vaughan Weighill and Project Developer Tim Handley gave an entertaining and informative talk about the proposed wind farm to be built off the Holderness coast, and illustrated their presentation with two videos, one showing an "artist's impression" of the proposed Humber development, and the other showing another offshore UK wind farm under construction. The knowledgeable audience, made up primarily of delegates from industry and the Local Authorities, fired many questions at our speakers leading to the event over-running by an hour! The Technology Club would like to express its thanks to Vaughan and Tim for their excellent presentation and for travelling all the way from a meeting in London that morning to talk to us!
Dr Young chosen as Chair and Organiser for Gordon Conference on Matrix Isolation
Dr. Nigel Young is the Chair and Organiser of the forthcoming Gordon Research Conference on the Physics and Chemistry of Matrix Isolated Species that will be held at Magdalen College, Oxford, July 19th -24th 2009. Matrix Isolation is a method of stabilising very reactive species for spectroscopic characterisation, and sessions are planned on its application to astrochemistry, quantum solids, new organic species and biomolecules, high temperature and unstable inorganic species and atmospheric chemistry. Dr. Nigel Young
Dr Grahame Mackenzie to visit Université de Limoges and act as an examiner and jury member for “d’Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches”.
Dr. Grahame Mackenzie Dr Grahame Mackenzie will be visiting the Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, Université de Limoges, France, where he is Professeur Invité, on the 8th December 2008 and will be acting as examiner and jury member for a candidate attempting to graduate with the high level French diploma “d’Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches” which is the qualification required in the French university system to be promoted from the level of lecture (Mâitre de conference) to that of Professor. He will also be presenting a talk on chemistry relating to sporopollenin which is the highly resistant polymeric material from which pollen shells are made.
Dr. Mehl is organising a one day meeting on biaxial nematic liquid crystals at The Univeristy of Hull on January 16th 2009.
Dr. Mehl is organising a one day meeting on biaxial nematic liquid crystals is to be held in the Chemistry Department of The Univeristy of Hull on the 16th January 2009. Dr. Georg Mehl
Biaxial Nematic Liquid Crystal Meeting
Professors Haswell, Kelly and Fletcher awarded EPSRC grant.
Prof. Haswell   Prof. Steve Haswell, with Profs. Kelly and Fletcher, has been awarded a research grant of £337,000 by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for the “Development of novel catalytic structures and thermal regimes for continuous flow reaction chemistry.”
Prof. Fletcher to give invited lecture at 13th International Association of Colloid & Interface Scientists
Prof. Paul Fletcher has been invited to deliver a lecture on the theme of Novel Surfactants at the 13th International Association of Colloid & Interface Scientists, to be held in New York during June 2009.   Prof. Fletcher
Prof. Binks to deliver Invited Lecture at Nanoparticles 2009.
Prof. Binks Professor Binks has been asked to deliver an Invited Lecture at the forthcoming conference entitled Nanoparticles 2009 to be held in Liverpool from 2-4 September 2009. The title of his lecture will be Nanoparticles as foam stabilisers.
Double Duty in Canada for Dr Boyle
Dr Ross Boyle has been appointed to chair a PhD defence on Fluorescent Enatioselective Sensors at the Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada in December. During the same visit Dr Boyle has also been invited to present a seminar on his work in the area of Photo-activated Drugs for anticancer and antimicrobial applications.
Prof. Binks invited as Keynote Speaker at "Association in Solution II: Structure, Function & Performance" International Conference.
Prof. Binks Professor Binks has been invited as a Keynote speaker to the international conference entitled "Association in Solution II: Structure, Function & Performance" to be held in Tomar, Portugal from 26-30 July 2009. His lecture will be on particle-surfactant interactions in aqueous foams.
Professor Binks involved in D. B. Robinson Speaker Series, University of Alberta, Canada
Professor B. P. Binks, FRSC   Congratulations to Professor B. P. Binks, FRSC, named as the Andrew Main Lecturer for 2009, as part of the D. B. Robinson Distinguished Speaker series (a family of seminars presented by internationally-celebrated experts in the fields of chemcial and materials engineering). The D. B. Robinson Distinguished Speaker Series features eight internationally-renown engineers and scientists, which will inspire students and faculty members alike. The series also includes four featured lectures: the ICI Distinguished Lectureship, the Andrew Main Lecture (sponsored by the Imperial Oil-Alberta Ingenuity Center for Oil Sands Innovation), the Alberta Energy Research Lectureship, the Schlumberger Lectureship, and the Mackiw Lecture in Metallurgy. Professor Binks will deliver his lecture in April, 2009.
More information
Dr Kohonen invited to Frontiers of Science Symposium in Japan
Dr Mika Kohonen   The UK-Japan Frontiers of Science Symposium (October 4-6, 2008) is aimed at bringing together some of the very best young scientists to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in their fields in a format that encourages informal, collective as well as one-to-one discussions amongst delegates. The purpose of this meeting is to bring together the best young researchers - the next generation of leaders in science, in the UK and Japan, and explore new opportunities for collaboration; attendance is via invitation only.
Poster Prize for Sally Peyman
Professor Malcolm Smyth of the RSC Analytical Division presenting the poster prize to Sally Peyman.   Congratulations to Sally Peyman who won a prize for best poster at this year’s Analytical Research Forum, ARF 2008. The prize was sponsored by the “Analyst” journal and was presented by Professor Malcolm Smyth, president of the RSC Analytical Division. Sally’s poster was titled “A continuous flow microreactor for performing fast, multi-step (bio)reactions using magnetic particles as mobile supports”. Under the supervision of Dr Nicole Pamme, Sally has developed a lab-on-a-chip device in which she can manoeuvre small magnetic particles through various reagent streams in order to perform precisely controlled reactions on the particles’ surface. Such a device could have applications for bioanalysis and chemical synthesis.
Best NEBOSH Safety Diploma Student
From Left: Mr Stephen Pace, Specialist Course Director; Mr William Taylor   This year one of our NEBOSH Safety Diploma students was recognised as the student with the highest marks in the country! Mr William Taylor was awarded the prize for the best marks in the Unit B examination and the best overall performance in the National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. He collected his prizes from Professor Dame Carol Black, the Government’s first ever National Director for Health and Work who was guest of honour at the NEBOSH Graduation ceremony held at the University of Warwick on 25 June 2008. Many congratulations to William on his excellent achievement! Stephen Pace, the Specialist Course Director, was proud to attend the ceremony on behalf of the Institute for Chemistry in Industry to congratulate William and all the University of Hull students who successfully graduated with their NEBOSH Diplomas. A fine achievement for all! From left: Mr David Morris, NEBOSH Chairman; Professor Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work; Mr William Taylor; Mrs Teresa Budworth, NEBOSH Chief Executive
Prize winning performance at the Dalton Conference
Dr. Steve Archibald   Graeme McRobbie and Ryan Mewis, both final year PhD Students working with Dr Steve Archibald, were selected to represent the Department of Chemistry at the RSC Northern Universities Regional Dalton meeting in Huddersfield on 24th June. Both Ryan and Graeme presented excellent talks that were very well received by an audience of over 150 researchers and senior academics. Graeme was awarded one of the two top prizes for his contribution on new metallodrugs to inhibit HIV infection. The meeting was attended by inorganic chemistry researchers from the Universities of Manchester, Leeds, York, Sheffield, Huddersfield and Hull. Talks were given by PhD students and selected on a competitive basis.
Prof. Binks visits America
Prof. Binks   Professor Binks has been invited to visit and lecture at 2 American companies in Sept. this year with a view to setting up funded research projects. One company is in New Jersey involved with additives in food, the other is in Massachusetts involved with pigments.
Hull Chemists invade Scotland
Dr. S. J. Archibald   Inorganic chemists from Hull participated in the recent joint RSC coordination chemistry/ Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms meeting held in Edinburgh on 18-20 June 2008. Dr Steve Archibald chaired one of the sessions and two PhD students presented research results, one giving a talk and the other participating in the round table discussions. Overall, this was a highly successful incursion north of the border and provided an extremely strong representation of the diverse chemical research that is carried out at the University of Hull. The quality of the contributions from PhD students at the conference was particularly commended by a senior U.S. academic, stating that the quality matched the best on offer in North America.
July 15, 2008: Graduation Day
Chemistry graduates in Hull City Centre   Congratulations to all of our graduates this year.
Sporopollenin: an exciting polymer from pollen
Dr. Graham Mackenzie   Dr. G. Mackenzie gave an invited lecture at Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 6514, Synthèse et Réactivité des Substances Naturelles, Poitiers, France on July 17, 2008. Sporopollenin is the substance exploited by Dr. Mackenzie's spin-out company, Sporomex, Ltd.
Andrew Main Lecturership for Professor Binks
Professor Binks has been invited to give the Andrew Main Lecturer at Chemical & Materials Engineering Department at the University of Alberta in 2009. Professor Binks's research on solids adsorption at fluid interfaces and non-aqueous colloids has been noted as being closely tied to one of the Centre for Oil Sands Innovation research directions at Alberta —the “non-aqueous extraction” of bitumen from the oil sands.   Professor B. P. Binks, F.R.S.C.
Materials Shine in Philadelphia
Dr Ross Boyle from the Department of Chemistry has been invited to speak at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia in August. Dr Boyle will be presenting research carried out in collaboration with Dr Georg Mehl, also from the Department of Chemistry. The lecture will present the latest work on highly light-active, self-assembling materials. These materials have similar self-assembling properties to liquid crystals, for which University of Hull is famous, but unlike other liquid crystals the new materials incorporate an intensely fluorescent molecule, which can optically signal changes in the supramolecular structure.
Departmental Photograph now avaliable
To order the photograph taken of the Department of Physical Sciences, please see Ms. J. Blackmore in C001.
Keynote invite for Professor Binks
Professor Binks has been invited as a Keynote speaker at the International Symposium on Food Rheology and Structure to be held in Zurich from 15-18 June 2009. He has also been asked to give a seminar at the ETH in Zurich in February 2009   Professor B. P. Binks
Drs. Horozov and Kohonen invited to speak in the USA
Drs. Tommy Horozov and Mika Kohonen invited to lecture at the Sixth International Symposium on Contact Angle, Wettability and Adhesion, Maine, USA (July 14-16,2008). Dr Horozov will speak about the measurement of contact angles of colloidal particles using a novel \"film calliper\" method. This work was recently featured on the front cover of the journal Langmuir. Dr Kohonen will speak about insect adhesion and friction, focussing on results obtained in collaboration with MChem students H. Loeffler and J. Borovicka.
Dr Vesko Paunov invited to give a keynote lecture at the American Chemical Society Colloids & Surface Science Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina
Dr. V. N. Paunov   Dr. Vesko Paunov has been invited to present the keynote lecture at the ACS Colloids and Surface Science Symposium meeting which will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina (15-18 June 2008). He will speak about the recent developments in the area of Anisotropic Micro-particles and Microcapsules and will present an overview of his own research in this fast developing field.
More information on Dr. Paunov
Professor Binks to lecture at Manchester University
Professor B. P. Binks   Professor Binks has been invited to give a seminar at the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester in November 2008. His lecture will be on Aqueous foams stabilised by nanoparticle-surfactant mixtures.
Conference invite for Professor Binks
Professor Binks has been invited to present his work on Particle stabilized emulsions and foams at the Symposium on Surface and Colloid Science for Advanced Materials which will be held in Lund 19-21 November, 2008.   Professor B. P. Binks Surface and colloid science is essential to the art and science of making advanced modern and future materials. Accordingly, the aim of the symposium is to highlight the role of surface and colloid science for the synthesis and processing of advanced polymeric and inorganic materials. Four main topics will be covered, namely, polymers and organic coatings, materials from renewable resources, porous materials and nanoparticles.
Surfactant & Colloid Group research hit the front cover of Langmuir
Langmuir, March 4, 2008, volume 24, issue 05   The research by Drs. Horozov and Clint with Professors Fletcher and Binks has been highlighted on the front cover of the American Chemical Society journal Langmuir. Cover image by Tommy S. Horozov illustrates the principle of a novel film-calliper method for measuring the contact angle of colloidal particles at the air-water or oil-water interface. The method utilizes the behavior of particles when they are simultaneously attached to both surfaces of a free-standing thin liquid film, thus forming stable particle bridges. The interference pattern from the film image taken in reflected monochromatic light (left) is used for measuring the film thickness he where the particle is located. The contact angle of a particle with a known diameter is calculated by the simple formula shown (right). This method differs from the existing experimental techniques by its simplicity, reliability, and applicability in measuring the contact angle of submicrometer particles in real time without using sophisticated instruments or complex calculations. It was successfully used for measuring the contact angle of particles with diameters between 630 nm and 10 m at the air-water interface. For more information, see \"Novel Film-Calliper Method of Measuring the Contact Angle of Colloidal Particles at Liquid Interfaces\" by Tommy S. Horozov, Dulce A. Braz, Paul D. I. Fletcher, Bernard P. Binks, and John H. Clint on pages 1678-1681 of this issue. Copyright 2008 American Chemical Society
Further information
Lecture invitation for Professor Binks
Professor Binks has been invited to speak at the Rideal Lecture & Supporting Symposium entitled Reves colloidaux to be held in London on 6th May 2008. His lecture will be on Double inversion of emulsions stabilised byparticle-surfactant mixtures.   Professor B. P. Binks
Grant for Institute for Chemistry in Industry
We are pleased to announce that Ian Dobson, Consultancy Manager for the Institute for Chemistry in Industry, has been awarded £29,000 from the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). This application for funding was focussed for the purchase of the latest Mettler Thermogravimetric Analyser. This will be used to further develop the Institute's capability in the characterization of sealants and adhesives. The caravan manufacturing industry is a major employer in the Humber Region and the Institute has developed a range of analytical skills and procedures especially designed to support this local industry.   Ian Dobson
Find out more
IOSH Course Dates 2008
Mr. S. C. Pace   The Institute for Chemistry in Industry is pleased to announce the following dates for their 2008 Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Certificate in Managing Environmental Responsibilities course: Course 1: April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1. Course 2: October 2, 9, 16, 30, November 6. Further information may be obtained from Mr Steve Pace or from the website of the Institute for Chemistry in Industry at http://www.hull.ac.uk/ici
Institute for Chemistry in Industry
Dr. Tommy Horozov invited to speak at an International Conference
Dr. Tommy Horozov is invited to give a lecture at the Particles 2008 Conference to be held in Orlando, Florida, USA 10-13 May 2008. He will talk about Solid Particles in Liquid Films.   Dr. T. S. Horozov
Further informations
Drugs that work at the flick of a switch
Treatment of cancer cells with P-Mabs and high intensity red light   Dr Ross W. Boyle from the Department of Chemistry has been invited to present a keynote address to the newly formed European Platform for PhotoMedicine (EPPM) at their first meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia this Easter. EPPM is a Europe wide organisation bringing together scientists and clinicians to promote all aspects of the treatment and diagnosis of disease using light. Dr Boyle has been asked to present his research groups work on photosensitiser – monoclonal antibody conjugates (P-Mabs) for the treatment of cancer. P-Mabs bind selectively to cancerous tissue and, once a high, localised concentration has been achieve in the tumour, high intensity red light activates the photosensitiser causing selective destruction of the tumour.
Cover page for Hull University Spin Out Sporomex at Innovations in Pharmaceutical Technology
Work by Dr. Grahame Mackenzie's group in association with his research spin-out company, Sporomex, Ltd. has been featured in the journal Innovations in Pharmaceutical Technology. The work exploits pollen particles as, inter alia a natural encapsulation technology for drug delivery.   Dr. Grahame Mackenzie
Want to find out more?
Design engineering of self-propelling robots
Dr. Vesko Paunov   Dr. Vesko Paunov's research on the development of chemical means for self-propulsion has been highlighted by the journal Design Engineering.
Read the article
Inaugural Lecture for Professor Greenway
Professor G. M. Greenway will present her Inaugural Professorial Lecture on Why good chemical measurements matter to everyone! on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 18H00 in The Middleton Hall, The University of Hull. All are welcome to attend.   Professor G. M. Greenway
Read more about Professor Greenway
Annual Chemistry Christmas Lecture for Schools
Dr. S. J. Archibald   The 2nd Annual Chemistry Christmas lecture for schools, jointly sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and the local section of the RSC took place on December 10-11, 2007. Over 800 pupils from 25 local schools attended the event. This years event was organised by Steve Archibald, and involved, inter alia, a lecture entitled A Chemistry Christmas Cracker, given by Steve Archibald with help from Nigel Young, and assistance from Graeme McRobbie and Ryan Mewis.
Learn more about Dr. S. J. Archibald
Hadronic Mechanics Prize for Dr. Dunning-Davies
Dr. Jeremy Dunning Davies, Senior Lecturer in Theoretical Physics, and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, has been awarded the Hadronic Mechanics Prize by The Santilli-Galilei Association for the first and only structural generalizations of thermodynamics for matter as well as antimatter since the birth of the discipline.   Dr. J. Dunning-Davies We congratulate Dr. Dunning-Davies on his achievement.
Indian invite for Professor Fletcher
Prof. Paul Fletcher presented an invited talk entitled Evaporation: the effects of microstructure at the International Symposium on Recent Trends in Surface and Colloid Science held in Kolkata, India on 15-16 Nov 2007.   Professor P. D. I. Fletcher
SRG-sponsored Student Industrial Placement Prizes
Congratulations to Fourth Year Undgergratuate Phil Smith for winning this year's Industrial Option Competition, generously sponsored by SRG. Congratulations also to the proxime accesserunt Kathryn Hughes and Ella Mumby.
Science invents 'dry water' to transform cosmetics
Professor B. P. Binks with the new cosmetic powders   "Professor B. P. Binks believes hydrating moisturisers and skin creams could become a thing of the past as they are replaced by water – sold in a powdered form. His research at Hull University's laboratories has found a way of turning water into dry particles by mixing it with silica, which can then be rubbed into the skin as a moisturiser." The above was taken from an article in Yorkshire Post on Friday, November 9, 2007 highlighting Professor Bink's recent research work.
Read the article in full
Hull Physical Sciences (Chemistry & Physics) rated as excellent by The Sunday Times University Guide (September 23, 2007).
THe University of Hull was highly rated in a recent review of UK universities by The Sunday Times (September 23, 2007), ranking as "one of the best places to study in Britain, according to the students themselves". In particular, it highlighted that Hull Chemistry and Physics are rated as excellent.
New high potency drugs to inhibit HIV infection
Metal containing drugs are being developed that stop viral infections, cure cancers and help to diagnose diseases. Research in the chemistry department is making a major contribution to this research area. Dr Steve Archibald presented a talk at the recent Dalton Discussions 10: Metals in Medicine and Healthcare meeting. All talks were selected on the basis of accompanying refereed papers to be published in a special issue of Dalton Transactions. The paper has now been published and describes interdisciplinary work to produce new metal containing drugs that are highly active against the HIV virus.   X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies were carried out at the Daresbury laboratory, in conjunction with Dr Nigel Young, and used to probe the key binding interactions which inhibit the virus entering and infecting cells. Anti-viral testing was carried out in collaboration with Professors Erik De Clercq and Christophe Pannecouque at the Rega Institute in Leuven, Belgium.
Want to read more?
Hull Chemistry voted UK best for student satisfaction
The Department of Physical Sciences at the University of Hull was rated first for overall satisfaction in the National Student Satisfaction Survey 2007 of physical sciences departments.
Industrial interest in Hull\'s expertise in drops and bubbles
Professor B. P. Binks, FRSC   Following a recent conference, Professor Binks has been invited to the chemical company BASF in Ludwigshafen to lecture on drops and bubbles stabilised by solid particles. His visit is on 21-22 January 2008.
Monitoring the environment: Prof. Greenway to lecture in China
Professor G. M.Greenway   Professor Gillian Greenway has been invited to give a Plenary Lecture on A new approach to environmental monitoring at the 4th Asian-Pacific International Conference on Pollutants' Analysis and Control APICAC 4¯Beijing, China, October 10-15, 2007.
The phase inversion of particle-stabilised materials
Professor B. P. Binks, FRSC   Professor Binks has been invited as a Keynote speaker at the conference Particles 2008 to be held in Orlando in May 2008. He will speak about the phase inversion of particle-stabilised materials.
Molecular electronics in plant reproduction: Ph.D. student wins prize
Professor Christian Amatore (Knight of the Order of Merit at the French Academy of Sciences and Special Science Advisor to President N. Sarkozy) and Matthew Thomasson   Congratulations to Matthew Thomasson (pictured), a first year postgraduate student, working under the auspices of Dr. Grahame Mackenzie within the Synthesis sub-section of the Sub-Faculty, who was awarded a Poster Prize for his work (experiment and theory) on the unravelling the electron-hopping dynamics occuring over spherically-capped sporopollenin exines extracted from Lycopodium clavatum, and exploring the use of these natural-selected molecular wires, at the Electrochem2007 conference held at Imperial College, London on Spetember 3-4, 2007. The meeting saw the award of The Faraday Medal to Professor Christian Amatore (pictured with Matthew Thomasson) honouring his many contributions to Physico-analytical Chemistry and for his pioneering work on electrochemistry on single cells.
Controlling and understanding the synthesis of nitric oxide under biomimetic conditions: Ph.D. student wins a prize
Congratulations to Louise Evans, a second year postgraduate student working in the Measurement sub-section of the Sub-Faculty, who was awarded a Poster Prize for her work (experiment and theory) on the dynamics of nitric oxide electrogeneration via concerted dissociative electron transfer at the Electrochem2007 conference held at Imperial College, London on Spetember 3-4, 2007.   Matthew Thomasson with the winning posters
Nanosensors in stem cells
Dr V. N. Paunov   Dr V. N. Paunov will be presenting his latest research on Novel technique for introducing nanosensors in stem cells at the European Colloid and Interfacial Society Conference (ECIS) that is being held in Geneva, 10-14 September 2007.
Further information
PhD students selected for international conference talks
Dr. Grahame Mackenzie   Two of Dr Grahame Mackenzie's research students, Peter Geary (jointly supervised by Dr Grazia Francesconi) and Matthew Thomasson (jointly supervised by Professor Steve Atkin) have been invited to present their work at the Nestlé PhD Student Symposium 10-11 September at the Nestlé Product Technology Centre, York. This is a prestigious invitation since Nestlé organise this meeting and invite their various collaborators around the world to meet and discuss work in current collaborations along with other people where there is a common interest.
A Greener Chemistry for Industry
Dr. Grahame Mackenzie   Dr. Grahame Mackenzie has been invited to speak at the conference 'A Greener Chemistry for Industry' in Lille 3-5 October 2007. He shall speak about sporopollenin exines exhibiting antioxidant properties and being exploited for targets for microencapsultion.
Further information
Stabilising emulsions using particles
Professor B. P. Binks   Professor Binks has been invited to lecture at the joint IChemE/Univ. of Leeds symposium on Engineering Functional Colloidal Particles to be held on 30th April 2008. His talk will be on novel ways to stabilise emulsions using particles.
Dr. Tommy Horozov to lecture at Imperial College London
Dr. T. S. Horozov   Dr. Tommy Horozov is invited to give a seminar at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Imperial College London on 7th September 2007. He will talk about Emulsions and Foams Stabilised Solely by Colloidal Particles.
Professor Binks invited to present to Imperial College London
Professor Binks has been invited to lecture at the Dept. of Chemistry, Imperial College, London in January 2008. His lecture will be on the phase inversion of aqueous foams to dry water.   Professor B. P. Binks
Professor Binks invited to speak about nanomaterials
Professor Binks will be an Invited speaker at the 1-day SC/SCI conference entitled Nanostructured Materials to be held in London on 4th December 2007. The meeting will incorporate the award of the McBain Medal to Prof. A.I. Cooper, Univ. of Liverpool   Professor B. P. Binks
Dr. Tommy Horozov invited to speak at the University of Edinburgh
Dr. T. S. Horozov   Dr. Tommy Horozov is invited to give a lecture at the School of Physics, University of Edinburgh. He will talk about Colloidal Particle Interactions at Fluid Interfaces on 3rd September 2007.
Further information
Dr. Tommy Horozov invited to the Editorial Board of Physical Chemistry journals
Dr T. S. Horozov   Dr. Tommy Horozov has recently joined the Editorial Board of the Open Physical Chemistry Journal and Open Physical Chemistry Reviews. These are Open Access online journals, which publish original research and expert review articles in all areas of physical chemistry related to the studies of molecules, materials, nanomaterials, devices, catalysis, surfaces and interfaces
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Another unpleasant effect of global warming
Dr R W Boyle's group are working on an improved treatment for a debilitating flesh-eating disease which is on the rise due to global warming. Should global warming continue to ravage our planet at current rates, the numbers of people suffering Leishmaniasis, a flesh-eating and sometimes fatal disease will increase dramatically. Leishmaniasis is caused by a parasite transmitted via sand fly bites usually found only in tropical climates. Rising temperatures will increase the number of countries the sand fly colonises, moving further north and through Europe.
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Fast breaking News Research Highlight for Dr Pamme
Highly cited work by Dr N Pamme on Magnetism and Microfluidics has been highlighted as fast breaking news for Computer Science. This important work stresses the ability of researchers to progress further towards bringing microfluidic devices or lab on a chip devices to the market place.   Dr N. Pamme
Further information
Editorship for Professor Kelly
Professor Kelly has been invited to be an Associate Editor of the Journal of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (JNM). This international journal is one of the scientific journals published at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. It publishes a wide variety of peer-reviewed original articles in all branches of mathematics, operation research, statistics, physics, biological sciences and chemistry.   Professor S. M. Kelly
Hull Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Graduation, July 17, 2007
Graduation Day, July 17, 2007   Congratulations to all Final Year students leaving this Academic Year. Good luck with the future.
Professor Kelly to organise Nanoscience Meeting
Professor S. M. Kelly   Professor Kelly has been invited to join the organising committee for the International Association of Science and Technology for Development's International Conference on Nanotechnology and Applications, NANA-2008, September 29-October 1, 2008, in Crete, Greece.
Further information/Call for papers
Recruitment of RCUK Fellowship in Colloidal Nanotechnology
Hull Chemistry invites applications for a UK Research Council Fellowship in Colloidal Nanotechnology. The successful candidate is guaranteed a Lectureship in Physical Chemistry after five years.
Further information
Hull Chemistry Alumni Reunion Weekend
Professor S. J. Haswell   Approximately 200 Chemistry Alumni at Hull University will meet for a reunion on July 6-8, 2007. A particular highlight of the event is the talk by Professor S. J. Haswell on Minaturisation - new frontiers for Chemistry which will occur on July 7 at 11H in Conference Room 3, Staff House.
Ms Amanda Sparke wins the Departmental Research Colloquy
Ms Amanda Sparke (from Dr S J Archibald's group) was awarded the Prize for the best colloquium at the Departmental Research Forum held on June 18-19, 2007. Ms Sparke's work, in the field of Lanthanide macrocylic complexes, MRI and optical contrast agents is a significant step-forward in Clinical Chemistry, funded via the Hull University Clinical Biosciences Institute.   Professeor Fletcher awarding Ms Sparke with the Departmental Prize We gratefully thank Dr P Watts for all his organisational efforts, and in ensuring a smooth running of the days.
The Clinical Biosciences Institute
Double Inversion of Emulsions Using Nanoparticles and Surfactants
Professor B. P. Binks One of Professor Binks' recent papers, in press at Angewandte Chemie, has been selected for a press release which appeared yesterday. The paper reports a double inversion of a nanoparticle-containing emulsion - the successive addition of a surfactant into this system ebables the conversion of an oil-in-water emulsion into a water-in-oil emulsion and then back again.
Read on
Andrew Main Lecturer for 2009, University of Alberta, awarded to Professor BP Binks
Professor Binks was named as the Andrew Main Lecturer by the Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. The lecture is within the D.B. Robinson Distinguished Speaker Series and was sponsored by the Centre for Oil Sands Innovation and Imperial Oil. He was there from 1-4 April 2009. His lecture was entitled “Foams and emulsions stabilised solely by solid particles” and was attended by researchers of the Science & Engineering Faculty.
Emulsion With A Round-trip Ticket - Press Release on Professor Binks' research
Professor B. P. Binks   One of Professor Binks' recent papers, in press at Angewandte Chemie, has been selected for a press release which appeared yesterday. The paper reports a double inversion of a nanoparticle-containing emulsion - the successive addition of a surfactant into this system ebables the conversion of an oil-in-water emulsion into a water-in-oil emulsion and then back again.
Read the story
Nanoparticle grant for Professor Binks
Professor B. P. Binks   Professor Binks has just been awarded a 2 year postdoctoral grant from industry for £147,702 to extend his studies on nanoparticle-surfactant interactions in foams and emulsions.
Professor Binks has been elected to the Advisory Board of the 17th Surfactants in Solutions Conference
Professor B. P. Binks, FRSC   Professor Binks has been elected to the Advisory Board of the 17th Surfactants in Solutions Conference, to be held at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Golm, 18-22 August 2008. Further information can be obtained from the flyer, which can be downloaded from HERE.
Further information
Dr Vesko Paunov invited to lecture at the NATO-ASI conference in Sinaia, Romania
Dr. Vesko Paunov has been invited to lecture at the NATO Advanced Study Institute meeting which will be held in Sinaia, Romania (4-15 June 2007). He will speak about his collaborative work (between the Surfactant & Colloid Group at the University of Hull and the Centre for Analytical Bioscience and Department of Immunology at Nottingham university) that lead to the development of a Novel technique for nanosensor delivery through cellular membranes with applications to stem cell research.   Dr. Vesko Paunov
Dr. Tommy Horozov invited to speak at the University of Manchester
Dr. T. Horozov   Dr. Tommy Horozov has been invited to give a lecture at the School of Chemistry, University of Manchester on 30 May 2007. He will talk about Colloidal Particles at Fluid Interfaces.
Opening of new NMR suite
The University of Hull’s Clinical Biosciences institute is pleased to officially open its £800,000 magnetic resonance spectroscopy suite. The suite, which is situated in the Department of Chemistry, was opened by Professor David Drewry (Vice-chancellor) and Professor Sir George Radda FRS on Monday 14th May. Distinguished scientists from Oxford, Leeds, York and Hull attended the opening celebrations. They produced a fascinating afternoon of talks and discussions providing insights into how the new facility will be used in the future. This state-of-the-art facility, which uses the same technology as medical MRI scanners, provides one of the most powerful analytical tools know to science. It is being utilised to great effect by chemists, biologists and medics alike. Together they are investigating a di-verse range of clinically relevant issues ranging from heart failure and cancer to sleeping sickness and antibiotic resistance in bacteria.. (From left to right): Professor David Drewry (Vice Chancellor), Dr Mark Lorch, Prof Sir George Radda, FRS, Dr John Greenman (head of Clinical Biosciences) and Dr Anne-Marie Seymour.
Opening of new NMR suite
There will be an official opening of the 500MHz NMR suite recently purchased by the Department, and currently being used by Dr Mark Lorch. Accordingly, there will be an afternoon of talks in Staff house - Conference room 1 from 13:45. All are welcome to attend   Dr Mark Lorch
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