Occasional remarks upon life's pleasures and pains.
I Love Chemistry
After a career of 25 years of lecturing in chemistry , I grew to quite love the deep understanding I developed of the basic underlying structures of “substances” which surround us in this world. From the rocks to the trees to the rivers to the animals, and, yes, the substances that make us up and make our bodies work. From the paint on the walls to the plaster in them, the wood and steel, and aluminium, alloys, plastics, and so on, I came to deeply understand what makes it all hold together, how it comes apart, and malfunctions, and so on, I find it all magical, even out to the infinitude of the cosmos.
Young chemistry student
Even after 27 years of retirement, I adore it, and respect what I see modern chemists doing. It amazes me, and they amaze me. Think plastics, as in cell phones and cameras. Think metals, lubricants, and anticorrosion agents. Think printing inks and papers. Think medical applications, from the simplest tablets to complex DNA manipulation – all chemistry. Chemistry turned me on from a very young age, and I was lucky enough to study it deeply, and then impart it to innumerable students. I couldn’t agree more with the following article:-
Australian happily married man, age late 70s, interested in science, psychology, politics, botany - esp. fungi, also music - esp. jazz. Plays jazz piano, (late starter). Non-militant atheist, believer in voluntary euthanasia.
Studied Chemistry at Melbourne University in the 50 and 60s, with BSc and MSc and Dip Ed. Retired lecturer in Organic Chemistry at RMIT, Melbourne after career of 25 years. Three adult children, 4 grandchildren. Enjoys photography, and writing own web site elfram.com. Has caravanned around parts of Australia for many years, but overseas has only visited Vanuatu, twice.
Afflicted by long-standing endogenous depression, reasonably controlled, but potentially suicidal. Also dealing with strong pain from spinal arthritis, extending into neurogenic pain of sciatica in both legs. Various surgical methods have been applied to the spinal stenosis, but no longer operable. Partly, but barely controlled by codeine and Lyrica. Has a severely curtailing effect on physical capabilities and also mental state. Cursing a clouded intellect most of the time, with occasional periods of clarity.
Good sense of humour but hates pranks. Can't stand most USA TV programs and films, but enjoys good British and European shows. Strong supporter of the ABC. Politics would be called Liberal by Americans, and socialist by Australian right-wing. Supports Labor party, but also Greens. Broadly a social democrat. Strongly concerned by total mismanagement of global warming and climate change, and convinced that over 2 degC rise is inevitable, with catastrophic effects on human civilization and the ecology of the planet.
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2 thoughts on “I Love Chemistry”
G’day Bill!
Great to see you’ve started blogging again. I’m enjoying your adventures as I sit here far away in Manila. Hope you remember me. I wrote to you a few years ago.
Hi Rx, – Yep – I remember your adventures in chemistry leading to a life of luxury in Manila, minus the dollars extracted by a vindictive bloody Korean
G’day Bill!
Great to see you’ve started blogging again. I’m enjoying your adventures as I sit here far away in Manila. Hope you remember me. I wrote to you a few years ago.
Hi Rx, – Yep – I remember your adventures in chemistry leading to a life of luxury in Manila, minus the dollars extracted by a vindictive bloody Korean