Inside Volume 79, No.1, January 2015 Articles and Features 12 The state of the School: a brief update on the School of Chemical Sciences at the University of Auckland Kevin E. Smith 14 Award winning chemistry teaching laboratories at the University of Auckland Katrina Graaf 17 Erratum: Wohlman’s waters and the Colonial Laboratory Peter Hodder 18 TBA-354: A new drug for the treatment of persistent tuberculosis William A. Denny 22 To RGB and beyond – not just a toy story: Adapting mobile imaging devices for chemical applications Gordon M. Miskelly and Jacob W. Martin 30 The nature of science: teaching the next generation Reece N. Oosterbeek, Cristina Cochrane, Robert James, Sandra Jackson and M. Cather Simpson 36 Alumina microstructure and its properties as an adsorbate: an example of research at the Light Metals Research Centre Grant J. McIntosh, Gordon E. K. Agbenyegah and James B. Metson 42 NMR spectroscopy – a simple yet powerful tool in chemical biology Ivanhoe K.H. Leung 51 Some unremembered chemists: Philip Wilfred Robertson (1884-1969) Brian Halton 59 The 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Brian Halton Other Columns 2 Comment from the President 62 Dates of Note 3 From the Editor 64 Patent Proze 3 January News Inside back Conference Calendar 56 Book Review 1 Chemistry in New Zealand January 2015 Comment from the President in the UK and had a laboratory staff of over 600. I spent five great years exploring many aspects of glass materials science from the most strategic microstructure and glass reaction path studies through to working shifts in the President wee small hours to implement new technologies in Pilk- ington’s flat glass, fibre glass and optical glass subsidiary companies. I quickly learned the essential values of clear communication and hands-on personal demonstration to achieve good tech transfer! Returning to DSIR Chemistry Division in 1979 I worked on a succession of solid state ma- terials chemistry projects over many years, spanning glass, mineral and fertiliser chemistry through the 80s then set- tling in to a sustained period of ceramic materials research through the 90s and 00s. While I have long maintained my interest in ceramic science I have also designed, written and led MBIE programmes in hydrogen materials, geother- mal cement science and most recently in titanium materi- als. The common theme is one of relating very similar con- cepts in terms of materials processing and understanding the complex and iterative relationship between materials chemistry, microstructure and materials properties. I do hope that I can promote awakened interest in materials chemistry in New Zealand during my presidential tenure and I’ll certainly be pleased to both talk about and demon- strate this fascinating and economically important field of chemistry to you all as the year unfolds. I’ve had the good fortune to attend some of New Zea- I’m delighted to lead the profession of chemistry in New land’s premier science award ceremonies in recent weeks, Zealand in my role as NZIC President for 2015. The NZIC in part because I had acted as a member of the judging has a well-managed succession plan for the key leader- panel for some of the specific awards for both the Prime ship role of President that provides a two-year rolling start Ministers Science Prizes and the Royal Society annual sci- for all aspiring Presidential candidates. While supporting ence awards. It was a delight to hear a vivid and memo- and serving the Institute in Vice-Presidential roles over rable acceptance speech for the Rutherford Medal from the past two years I have learned and benefited from ob- the extraordinary Peter Schwerdtfeger but it was equally serving the strong leadership demonstrated by Michèle remarkable to hear the composed and mature acceptance Prinsep throughout 2014 and Michael Edmonds in 2013. I speech from 17 year old Tim Logan, who won the Prime trust that I can sustain and hopefully even further enhance Minister’s Future Scientist Prize. Peter, of course, is one the quality of our leadership in 2015. I’m sure that both of our leading NZIC Fellows and offers a prime example Michèle and Mike would be the first to agree with me that of how the chemical sciences are a key plank to access while strong leadership is essential, the successful opera- and solve science challenges of an increasingly multidis- tion of our Institute is predicated on the remarkable -ef ciplinary nature. At a more local level I was pleased to at- forts of Richard Rendle and Colin Freeman, in their roles tend the Wellington Branch AGM on 19 November where as Honorary General Secretary and Treasurer. Richard and Michèle Prinsep presented a number of our annual NZIC Colin keep our NZIC show very much on the road and we awards to Wellington Branch members. While we correctly are grateful to you both for your ongoing support of our laud our medal and prize winners, I do want us to acknowl- profession and our Institute. edge our new 2014 NZIC Fellows, who represent all that is good about the diversity of our national chemistry talent. A short introduction to you all at the outset of my tenure This year we have recognised the efforts of chemists who might help set the scene. For those that know me – jump are business leaders, project and programme leaders at to the next paragraph! For those that don’t, here’s a quick our institutes, accomplished academics and long contrib- resume of my background and skill set. I have always been uting ‘coal face’ chemists whose skills underwrite so many interested in the industrial applications and uptake of of our best science teams. Well done to you all. I hope to materials science, and materials chemistry in particular. I see such a breadth and depth of applicants for NZIC Fel- completed my PhD in Chemistry at VUW with Prof James lowship in 2015. Duncan in 1974, where perhaps unusually I studied glass chemistry. At the end of my degree James played the ‘old Finally, let me note that in my role as President for 2015 boys network’ card and I accepted the offer of a position I will be the first researcher from Callaghan Innovation in the Pilkington Brothers laboratories in Lancashire, Eng- to hold this honour. It is 12 years since our predecessor land. At that stage Pilkington’s had >20,000 employees organisation IRL was host to the NZIC Presidency in 2003 2 Chemistry in New Zealand January 2015 when David Bibby held the role during the year that he tion and in our CRIs. The fact remains that our research Editor/News transitioned from IRL to VUW. Callaghan Innovation is agencies need a long term supply of talented scientists home to a number of New Zealand’s finest chemists and who can innovate, lead and communicate science to our chemical engineers. Its mandate is to accelerate the com- business leaders. A critical part of this education process is mercialisation of innovation by firms in New Zealand but a broader student exposure to New Zealand’s institutional within that mandate there is great opportunity to under- research capabilities, via summer studentships, extended take and apply high quality chemical science and engineer- internships or sponsored post graduate placements. I’ll be ing to benefit New Zealand. The rapidly changing face of pleased to play my part in encouraging and supporting this chemistry in our many New Zealand research agencies educational pathway for our best and brightest. may be bewildering to some and threatening to others Ian Brown but we must continue to educate our chemists to support Callaghan Innovation those that wish to take career paths in Callaghan Innova- NZIC President 2015 From the Editor Happy New Year! This issue visitors at your institution in the coming year who might gets the year off to a great be persuaded to provide an article that is relevant to our start with an unprecedented journal. Authors may also like to include a very short bio number of contributions - so and photo with articles. This is done in a few journals al- many in fact that some items ready and I very much like the personal feel it gives. Au- have had to be held over to thor guidelines will be updated later this year to clarify the April due to printing costs. content, scope and length of articles but if you have any Thank you to everyone who queries in the meantime, feel free to contact me directly. submitted material so enthusi- astically. I hope we can main- As we were going to press, we received the sad news that tain this momentum throughout the rest of the year. Dr Tony Woolhouse of the Ferrier Institute had passed away very suddenly. Many readers will know Tony and we In addition to articles on a wide range of topics, the Univer- extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and sity of Auckland has provided an overview of the School of colleagues. Chemical Sciences. I found this very informative, and other branches may wish to do something similar if it seems ap- Best wishes for 2015. propriate. Please also consider approaching distinguished Cath Nicholson New Zealand Institute of Chemistry supporting chemical sciences January News NZAS Awards Wellington was the joint recipient phenomena in atoms, molecules and The New Zealand Association of Sci- of the Research Medal, awarded for condensed matter. entists (NZAS) presented its awards outstanding fundamental or applied Two NZIC members have been elect- at the Royal Society of New Zea- research in the physical, natural or ed as Fellows of the Royal Society of land in Wellington on 12 November social sciences published by a scien- New Zealand.