Overview

The Inorganic Discussion Weekend (IDW) has been bringing together researchers from across Ontario and Quebec for over 50 years. The conference was initiated in 1968 by Dr. Barry Lever, now a Professor Emeritus at York University, as a means to facilitate discussions with fellow Inorganic Chemists. IDW has since grown to become a perennial celebration of the scientific contributions of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are active in the field of inorganic chemistry, including inorganic material science, catalysis and inorganic biochemistry.  

IDW2019 will feature three high profile scientists as keynote speakers:

Prof. Cathleen Crudden of Queen’s University is a Canada Research Chair in Metal Organic Chemistry and Past President of the Canadian Chemical Society. She pioneered research on functionalization of metal surfaces by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes. In addition to her main group at Queen's, Prof. Crudden runs a satellite group in the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules in Nagoya, Japan. She is an active player in the areas of transition metal- and boron- based catalysis.

Prof. Milko Erik van der Boom of Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, is a holder of the Bruce A. Pearlman Professional Chair in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. Being the head of the Department of Organic Chemistry, Prof. van der Boom is a world-recognized expert in organometallic chemistry and has an influential voice in the area of transition metal based functional materials, molecular electronics, self-assembly and nanoscience.

Prof. Christopher M. Kozak of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, is known in the areas of synthetic organometallic & coordination chemistry, catalysis and green chemistry. His recent research is mainly focused at ligand design, formation of new chromium complexes, small molecule activation and catalysis, specifically carbon dioxide fixation and polycarbonate synthesis.

It is anticipated that this year’s conference will attract 60 oral presentations and 60 poster presentations. Attendees of the conference traditionally participate in all events organized over the three-day period, providing a great opportunity to make connections, and strengthen relationships between the members of the Inorganic community.