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Office of the Provost

and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The Provost's

Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series

Fall 2009


Dr. Garon Smith
The Chemistry of Snowflakes, Color and Other Fun Stuff

Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2008 CASE Montana Professor of the Year
NSF Center for Science & Civic Engagement Leadership Fellow

Wednesday, 14 October 2009, 6:00 p.m.
University Center Ballroom

Reception to Follow

photo of Garon Smith

Did you ever wonder how a snowflake can be so beautifully symmetric but unique from all others? How long have you wrongly thought that the colors of the rainbow were abbreviated by the fictitious ROY G BIV? Do you know what chemical compounds changed the name of New Amsterdam to New York City? Explore these and other fun topics in a celebration of whimsical science.

 Garon Smith (Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines, 1983) is an analytical/environmental chemist with broad interests in air and water quality. His research has included the utilization of honeybees as biomonitors, the reduction of air contaminants in urban mountain valleys, tracking underground diesel plumes, and improving process strategies at kraft pulp mills. He is on the Board of Governors for the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and is program chair of the 2010 NCUR conference, hosted by UM this April.

Office of the Provost and

Vice President for Academic Affairs

Phone: (406) 243-4689

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