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Congrats, Dr. Festo!
It is a pleasure to congratulate Festo Kayima with his new-won academic status, and at the same time acknowledge the contributions from his supervisors (Matthias Stadler and Erik Fooladi), the evaluating committee (Inger Marie Dalehefte, Ian Abrahams og Bjørn Grung) and Custos (George Francis)!
Kitchen chemistry with a pinch of culinary science
If you wonder whether you really need to temper the meat before cooking, whether the cake will collapse if you´re not careful when taking it out of the oven, or whether it is possible to make an apple pie without any apples, you need to attend the guest lecture by Erik Fooladi this Monday! Together with professor in food science Anu Hopia (University of Turku, Finland), Erik has written the popsci book «A Pinch of Culinary Science: Boiling an Egg Inside Out and Other Kitchen Tales». 
Cooking is chemistry, biology and physics, but also history, culture, identity and sensory experiences. In this lecture, Erik Fooladi will present the book as well as the thinking behind it. Through this book, the authors have sought to balance scientifc knowledge and thinking with craftsmanship knowledge and sensory experiences. This way, they hope to make cooking a bit more intriguing, the head a bit wiser, and perhaps the food a little better. And maybe it could even promote critical thinking? When: Monday February 12, at 14.15. Where: Auditorium 2, Realfagsbygget (Science Bldg).
The 600 is dead — long live the 600
One of the main working horses among our instruments, the old 600 MHz NMR instrument is now demounted and has left the building. Before the lump in your throat gets too big, remember that we have a powerful new 600 MHz machine at your disposal at NNP!
BTO-day
Reminder: Elisabeth from BTO will be here on Tuesday from 12 o´clock – at your service!
Dr. Annette!
Last Friday, Annette Meland Johannessen successfully defended her thesis on Low Salinity Surfactant Flooding in Sandstone Cores . In the picture, Annette and first opponent sr. eng. John van Wunnik compare how the oil recovery rate is improved by flooding with low-salinity water alone (none!) and in combination with surfactants (considerably). Congratulations!
Lecture: Fluorescent nanodiamonds
On Friday, Petr Cígler, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, gives a talk on the subject of Fluorescent nanodiamonds as responsive optical probes. Note the time and place: Friday Feb 2, at 2 pm, at Auditorium B, Allégt. 66.
Fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) represent a key component in recent development of high precision optical resolution techniques. FNDs can accommodate nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers – an extremely photostable crystal lattice defect emitting in near-infrared region. Defined preparation of NV centers in nanodiamonds, boosting their brightness, control of shape control, as well as chemical aspects in quenching interactions at their surface will be discussed.
Promotion to PhD
Twice a year, newly graduated PhD candidates are promoted to doctors and receive the formal diploma to prove their hard-earned status. For Ina and Ole Johan, this event took place today. Congratulations!
Basen – the new hang-out for chemistry BSc-students
Last Friday, the official opening of the dedicated hangout for BSc-students in the chemistry program took place. The new term to learn is Basen («the base»), fittingly relating freshman chemistry to social aspects. 
From the department point of view, strengthening the social fabric of the BSc-program will hopefully contribute to more students studying on-campus rather than off-campus, getting encouragement from peers, and succeeding in their studies. Instructors (PhDs, engineers, professors) are encouraged to stop by Basen when they see fit, to answer questions or simply say Hello! Basen is located at the ground floor of Realfagsbygget, next-door to the faculty administration.
Dr. Vijay!
It is a pleasure to congratulate Vijay on successfully presenting and defending his thesis “Novel Synthetic Methodology and Total Syntheses of Highly Functionalized Carbazoles and Benzo[c]cinnolines» today! As stated in the preface of his thesis, pulling this feat off is made possible thanks to a great support team, two of his greatest supporters enclosing Vijay in the photo.
Mini seminar in organic synthesis
In connection with Vijay’s disputation on Friday, the two opponents give a two-talk seminar on Thursday January 18, in Tripletten.
14:00 Prof. Hans-Joachim Knölker, Dept. Chemistry, TU Dresden: Transition Metals in Heterocyclic Synthesis.
15:15 Prof. Trond Vidar Hansen, Dept. Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, UiO: Stereoselective Synthesis, Biosynthesis, Biological Activities and Applications of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators: Novel Leads in Drug Discovery.
Your attendance is welcome!