ARIEL FENSTER

OFFICE ADDRESS McGill University, Office for Science and Society 801 Sherbrooke St West, , H3A 0B8 Tel: (514) 398-2618 email: [email protected]

EDUCATION Degree University Subject Year Licence ès Sciences (B.Sc.) Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry 1966

Diplôme d'Études Paris Theoretical and Physical Chemistry 1967 Approfondies (M.Sc.)

Ph.D. McGill Physical and Inorganic Chemistry 1973

AFFILIATIONS Chemical Institute of Canada American Chemical Society Quebec Association of Science Teachers AWARDS Polysar Award for Outstanding Chemistry Teaching presented by the Chemical Institute of Canada, 1982 Catalyst Award for Excellence in Chemistry Teaching presented by the US Chemical Manufacturers Association, 1989

C3 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chemical Education presented by College Chemistry Canada (Inaugural Award), 1990 McNeil Medal for the Public Awareness of Science presented by the Royal Society of Canada, (Inaugural Shared Award with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz), 1992 Beppo Award for Communicating Science to the Public, presented by the Conseil de développement du loisir scientifique du Québec", (Shared Award with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz), 1993 Raymond Gervais Award for Exceptional Contributions to Science Education, presented by the Quebec Association of Science Teachers, 1999 Michael Smith Award for the Promotion of Science in Canada, presented by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2005 Faculty Award for Excellence in Alumni Activities, presented by the McGill Alumni Association, 2013 Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching (Lecturer Category), presented by McGill University, 2013 Science Promotion Prize, presented by the Canadian Council of Biology University Chairs, (Shared Award with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz), 2015

EXPERIENCE 2012- Faculty Lecturer and Associate Director, Office for Science and Society, McGill University 2012- Associate Coordinator, Lorne Trottier Public Science Symposium Series, McGill University Page 1 of 5

1999 - Founding Member, Office for Science and Society, McGill University 1982 - 2011 Senior Adjunct Professor, McGill University 1985 - 2003 Chemistry Professor, Vanier College 1974 - 1984 Chemistry Professor, PUBLICATIONS

1. A.E. Fenster, "CO2-N2 laser light absorption by CO2" M.Sc. Thesis, University of Paris, , 1967. 2. I.S. Butler and A.E. Fenster, "Cyclopentadienylmanganese Dicarbonyl Thiocarbonyl", Chem. Comm. 933 (1970). 3. A.E. Fenster and I.S. Butler, "p-Cyclopentadienylmanganese Thiocarbonyl Complexes", Can. J. Chem. 50, 597 (1972). 4. A.E. Fenster, "Synthetic, Spectroscopic and Kinetic Studies on Some p-Cyclopentadienylmetal Complexes", Ph.D. Thesis, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 1972. 5. I.S. Butler and A.E. Fenster, "Kinetics and Mechanism of cis-Cycloctene Substitution in p- C15H15Mn(CO)(CS)(C8H14) by Triphenylphosphine". Inorg. Chem. Acta, 7, 79 (1973). 6. I.S. Butler and A.E. Fenster, "The Infrared Spectra of 13CO- and 18CO-Substituted p- Cyclopentadienylmetal Carbonyl Complexes", J. Organometal, Chem., 51, 307 (1973). 7. I.S. Butler and A.E. Fenster, "Activation of Carbon Disulphide by Transition Metal Complexes", J. Organometal, Chem. 66, 161 (1974). 8. A.E. Fenster and I.S. Butler, " p-Cyclopentadienylmanganese Thiocarbonyl and Carbon Disulphide Complexes", Inorg. Chem. 13, 915 (1974). 9. W. R. Cullen, A.E. Fenster and B.R. James, "Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Rhodium (I) Complexes with Chiral Tertiary Phosphine Ligands", Inorg. Nucl. Chem. Lett. 10, 167 (1974). 10. I.S. Butler, NJ Coville and A.E. Fenster, " p-Cyclopentadienyl- diphenyldicarbonyl(thiocarbonyl)manganese(I)", Inorg. Synth., 16, 53 (1976). 11. A.E. Fenster, B.R. James and W.R. Cullen, "Hybridobis ((+)-DIOP) Rhodium (I)", Inorg. Synth. 17, 81 (1977). 12. Butler, NJ Coville, S. Cozale, S.R. Desjardins, A.E. Fenster and K.R. Plowman, "Cyclopentadienylmanganese Thiocarbonyls", Inorg. Synth. 19, 188 (1979). 13. A.E. Fenster, D. Harpp and J. Schwarcz, "A Useful Model for the Lock and Key Analogy", J. Chem. Educ., 61, 967 (1984). 14. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp, M. Dore and J.A. Schwarcz, "A Multipurpose Dramatic Combustion Effect", J. Chem. Educ., 63, 349 (1986). 15. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "Chemistry for the Public - The Magic of Chemistry", J. Chem. Educ., 62, 1100 (1985) 16. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "A Useful Balloon Demonstration. Pressure Difference Behavior", J. Chem. Educ., 63, 629 (1986). 17. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "An Unusual Demonstration of the Behavior of Gases", J. Chem. Educ., 63, 715 (1986).

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18. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "A Versatile Demonstration with Calcium CarbideJ. Chem. Educ., 64, 444 (1987) 19. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "A Convenient Demonstration of Combustion and Explosion", J. Chem. Educ., 64, 894, (1987). 20. A.E Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "A Well-Known Chemical Demonstration to Illustrate an Unusual Medical Case", J. Chem. Educ., 65, 621, (1988). 21. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "Chemistry for the Public - Part II. The World of Chemistry: A Course for All", J. Chem. Educ., 70, 771 (1993) 22. A.E. Fenster, D.N. Harpp and J.A. Schwarcz, "Chemistry for the Public - Part III. Evening Public Lectures", J. Chem. Educ., 70, 819 (1993) 23. D.N. Harpp, A.E. Fenster, J.A. Schwarcz, Edith Zorychta, Nathaniel Goodyer, William Hsiao, and Jason Parente, "Lecture Retrieval via the Web: Better Than Being There? ", J. Chem. Educ., 81, 688 (2004). 24. D.N. Harpp, A.E. Fenster, J.A. Schwarcz, “Chemistry for the Public – Our Challenge”, J. Chem. Educ., 88, 729 (2011). COURSES TAUGHT Over the last 30 years has taught a number of different courses in the chemistry department at McGill reaching at total of ca. 50,000 students. These include General Chemistry I & II (Chemistry 110 & 120); Organic Chemistry I (Chemistry 212), Organic Chemical Principles (Chemistry 232), World of Chemistry- Environment (Chemistry 180), World of Chemistry-Drugs (Chemistry 183), World of Chemistry- Technology (Chemistry 182), World of Chemistry-Food (Chemistry 181), Why Chemistry (Chemistry 199)

PEDAGOGICAL INNOVATIONS Developed and integrated a multi-faceted approach to teaching chemistry. This includes visuals, clickers, chemical demonstrations, music and even magic to illustrate chemical concepts Introduced in 1981 (with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz) the course "The World of Chemistry" at McGill University. Today, there are four different courses: Part I: "Food and Water", Part II: "Technology", Part III: "Drugs and Cosmetics" and Part IV: "Environment". These courses are offered to both science and non-science students and are also open as part of Continuing Education. Since the inception in 1981 of "The World of Chemistry" courses, ca. 30,000 students have been given the opportunity to learn about the application of science in everyday life. Developed and implemented with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz the COOL (COursesOnLine) lecture recording system. Introduced in 2000, initially for the World of Chemistry courses, the COOL system is used across the university for nearly 350 courses and can be accessed by ~50,000 students per year (some duplicate counting as students in some faculties have several courses that are recorded.) Developed with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz the first web based MOOC lecture at McGill University "Food for Thought". Total registration reached 28,000 representing 172 countries. Since Winter 2015 the MOOC approach has been applied the Chemistry 181(Food) course at McGill. This winter (2017) enrollment reached 1030 students.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS Over the last three decades developed an extensive programme, offered both in English and in French to bring the relevance and enjoyment of science to the public. This program consists of: Page 3 of 5

Evening Public Lectures (with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz) Developed a series of 70 Evening Public lecture presented at McGill University between 1980 and today to an accumulated audience of 12,000. Public Lectures Created over 60 different lectures on topics of general interest. Titles range from "GMOs’: Boon or Bane" to "Science and Art: Facts and Fakes." This has led to over 1,000 presentations to a variety of groups of all ages and different backgrounds. The lectures have reached an estimated total audience of well over 100,000. Among the most recent presentations 1. “The chemistry of love”, Kirkland public library, January 30, 2016 2. “La chimie du vin, Benny Farm Public Library, April 10, 2016 3. “Les risques de la vie” Ville de Mont Saint Hilaire, May 11, 2016 Exhibitions Developed lectures and demonstrations for the following exhibitions in Montreal: 1. UNESCO pavilion of the Montreal exhibition "Man and His World". These attracted over 80,000 people during two summers (1980 and 1981) (with Profs. Harpp and Schwarcz) 2. Expotec-95 "La Chimie en Fête" at the Old Port in Montreal (with Profs. Harpp and Schwarcz). The exhibition had a total attendance of over 370,000 during its 5 months run. 3. Summer of 2002 "Cooking with Science," a series of activities on the science of food at the Montreal Science Centre. The programme attracted over 18,000 visitors during its 10 days run. Special programs In 2001, introduced at McGill a series of monthly lectures on science aimed at Secondary V francophone students. The programme developed in cooperation with the Commission scolaire de Montréal" has attracted up to 300 students a year. Starting in 2003, developed a similar programme for the intellectually challenged students from "Summit School" in Montreal. Initiated the "Génies en herbe" competition. The competition was developed to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry. It was carried out, on May 14, 2011 jointly by the OSS with the Commission scolaire de Montréal, and Université de Montréal. Eight secondary V high school teams competed on their knowledge of chemistry. Has participated on behalf of the OSS, from 2008 to 2013 years ago, to the Festival Eureka. This annual event, is organized by the Centre des sciences de Montréal and involves more than 60 scientific organizations in Quebec. Radio and television Has appeared over 600 times on TV and radio to discuss health, environmental and technology related topics. Among the most recent topics covered: 1. "Vitamin D Supplementation" Radio Canada Windsor; May 10 2016 2. "Drug residues in drinking water" Radio Canada, Moncton; May 18, 2016 3. Radon gas contamination" Radio Canada Windsor; November 1, 2016 Page 4 of 5

In addition, has also been a regular contributor to the following programs: 1. "Daybreak", CBC Radio 2. "Dominique Poirier" RDI 3. "L'Après midi porte conseille" Radio Canada Has also developed science segments for a number of children’s television programmes including: 1. "Capitaine Cosmos", T.V.A. 2. "Le club des 100 Watts", Télé-Québec 3. "L'infernale machine du docteur V", Radio Canada In 2004-2005 was the science contributor on Radio-Canada's health show "37.50. The daily show, seen on television across Canada had an audience of ~100,000. Was also seen on the Discovery channel for the 10 parts series "What's that all about" which dealt with the science behind everyday things (i.e. microwaves ovens, adhesives, plastic bags, etc.) The show was presented, in French, on Canal D under the title "Fallait-y-penser." Print Media Has been a regular contributor to various print media including, "La Presse", "Le Journal de Montreal", Science et Vie”, "Le Soleil", etc. Weekly column: "Les manchettes scientifiques d'Ariel Fenster". From 2006 to 2013 wrote a column on current scientific topics, which was made available to sent to all the French print and electronic media (~170) in Quebec. It is was part of the offerings of "Agence Science Press" the largest scientific community in French on the web. McGill Office for Science and Society Dr. Fenster is (with Drs. Harpp and Schwarcz) one of the founding members of the "McGill Office for Chemistry and Society." Inaugurated in the Fall of 1999, the OSS is dedicated to disseminating up-to-date information in the areas of food, food issues, medications, cosmetics and health topics in general. This information is specifically directed towards the public, educators and students. In 2011, the OSS was the recipient of a $5.5 million gift from philanthropist Lorne Trottier. PUBLIC SERVICE 2002 - 2011 Member of the Board "Society for the Promotion of Science and Technology" 2000 – 2004 Member of the RCMP Forensic Laboratories Services Advisory Board 2011 - 2013 Member of the jury for the "Prix Pierre Dansereau" of l’Acfas for social engagement 2011 - 2013 Member of the jury for the "Prix Hubert Reeves" of l'Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec for excellence in literary science popularization

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