Chemistry

Forever chemicals are in our waterways and oceans. Recent research by VIU alum Misha Zvekic shows they are also turning up in marine life.

Forever chemicals, also known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS, are persistent, human-made substances. They’re called forever chemicals because they hardly break down in the environment and could last for decades. These chemicals are commonly found in stain-resistant and water-repellant consumer products as well as some firefighting foams.

Doing research as an undergraduate student has helped Savannah Mercer make the connection between what she is learning in class and how it can be applied in the real world.

The fourth-year Bachelor of Science student is part of Dr. Heather Wiebe’s Molecular Modelling Research Group, which specializes in computational chemistry. The group uses computer simulations to answer scientific questions.

Savannah, whose hometown is Parksville, decided to attend VIU because it was close to home and offered small class sizes.

Angelina Jaeger expanded her research horizons for three months in Germany after earning a spot in a prestigious summer internship program.

She received a German Academic Exchange (DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) scholarship. Angelina is the first Vancouver Island University undergraduate student to receive this scholarship and competed with students from North American, British and Irish universities. Only 320 scholarships were awarded.

Editor’s note: This feature article is being published posthumously with the permission of Armin Saatchi’s family. Armin passed away in October 2022, prior to defending his Master of Science in Chemistry. To honour his memory, the family is establishing a memorial award in his name at Vancouver Island University. To contribute, please connect with the VIU Foundation.   

VIU alumnus Armin Saatchi has a strong vision of where he wants his life to go.

Gordon Skocic is graduating this June with a Bachelor of Science, major in Biology and minor in Chemistry. He is a co-valedictorian for the faculty of Science and Technology, sharing the honour with fellow Bachelor of Science grad Baneesha Gill.