Updated on October 5, 2011

What is Chem 13 News?

Chem 13 News is an informal magazine published monthly by the Department of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo for teachers of introductory chemistry courses, especially at the high school and Year 1 college levels. Approximately 3000 teachers subscribe from 30 countries. Many of our authors are high school teachers.

Chem 13 News appears nine times per year, from September through May (with a double holiday issue). Issues typically consist of 20-24 pages, including some advertising.

What is new for Chem 13 News...
	Chem 13 News Periodic Table project. Online table is finally ready. The poster have been sent out to all participants in September. The poster will also be sent to all high schools across Canada. Come see the traveling display of the project at STAO 2011.
STAO 2011 Come and meet Jean Hein, current editor and Lew Brubacher, past editor. Let us know how we are doing and consider submitting an idea, article, lab... We will also have our International Year of Chemistry Chem 13 News Periodic Table traveling display.
We will be announcing the winners for the 2011 "Chemistry in Pictures throughout the year. All winners will be on the cover of Chem 13 New. Runner-up photos can be foudn inside the issue.
	First day of school issue Chem 13 News,May 2011 Selected material and referenced articles now posted.
Chem Ed 2011 was great. John Fortman will be the Reg Friesen speaker Obtain John's references for conference.
Our Top Forty Contributors named in 2008. See published articles.

Material from September 2008 to May 2009 can be found with Our Top Forty Contributors.

All 47 mini reviews for chemical education websites are now posted. Read these reviews and link to the ones of interest.

Power Point Slides for "Creating a buzz", published November 2009. The story of the introduction to nylon is modified using an invention students can relate to: the iPhone. It is an effective way to illustrate the impact that the new polymeric material (nylon) had on society.

We publish a mix of

teaching ideas
experiments and demonstrations
background articles
contests and puzzles
humour, cartoons
book reviews

March 09 issue : Ron Gillespie

In the March issue (page 14) Ron Gillespie mentions one of his past articles called "Some applications of the Electron Pair Domain Models" published in Chem 13 News, May 96. (The publication date given in the March issue was incorrect.)

Updated on October 5, 2011

Issues starting January 2006 to May 2009 [click here]

We are in the process of updating our issues webpage.

Chem 13 News appears nine times per year, from September through May. Issues typically consist of 20-24 pages, including some advertising.

Want to see a sample copy?

Send us your name and postal address, and we'll mail you a couple recent sample issues free if you wish. Fax: 519-888-9168; Email: kjackson@uwaterloo.ca

How to subscribe?

A nominal subscription fee covers part of our costs. Click here.

New teachers

Teachers in their first year, click here for a $10 coupon for a first-time subscription to Chem 13 News.

Back issues

All back issues are available, some in photocopy form. Request an order form from: kjackson@uwaterloo.ca

Who does it?


Jean Hein became the Editor September 1, 2006. Her e-mail address is jhein@uwaterloo.ca	Lew Brubacher (left) is the past editor, and an Emeritus Professor (Chemistry/Biochemistry) at the University of Waterloo. His e-mail address is: Lbrubach@uwaterloo.ca. Kathy Jackson (right) is the secretary. Her e-mail address is: kjackson@uwaterloo.ca.

An Editorial Board provides advice and input. Members include:

Lew Brubacher (Professor Emeritus, University of Waterloo)
Mike Chong (Professor, University of Waterloo)
Ed Doadt (Principal, Waterloo-Oxford Secondary School, Baden, Ontario)
Michael Jansen (Teacher, Crescent School, Toronto)
Andrea Ricci (Teacher, Eastview Secondary School, Barrie)
Morris Tchir (Professor, University of Waterloo)

Submission of articles

We encourage high school teachers to contribute articles (also letters, teaching ideas...) as they know what works best in their classrooms. See our Guidelines for Authors page for further information.

Where does that '13' come from?

Chem 13 News started in 1968, at a time when the high school program in the Province of Ontario ended with Grade 13. Hence the number '13' in our name. Grade 13 disappeared in 1990, but we've become attached to the number!