2019 Issue 3
...and why Heidi Sobol, MAC'00, always starts with the nose.
Matthias Hermann invented a portable spectrometer to detect toxic metals in water. Now he’s taking his technology in new directions.
From setting things on fire (in high school) to her game-changing research on organometallics, Dr. Cathy Crudden talks about the never-boring world of chemistry.
Victor Snieckus discusses the importance of fundamental science, the wonder of lithium,and the writing of Primo Levi.
A brief history of the Chemistry medal at Queen's.
Steve Snyder discusses his coaching style and the chemistry of a successful football team.
![[photo of Heidi Sobol at the Royal Ontario Museum]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/alumnireview/articles/Heidi%20Sobol_Rembrandt_credit%20Tina%20Weltz%20%282%29%20880x587.jpg "Tina Weltz")
![[photo of Matthias Hermann holding a glass of water]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/alumnireview/articles/BC%200882%20extended%20880x587.jpg "Bernard Clark")
![[photo of Professor Cathy Crudden]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/alumnireview/articles/BC%201711%20extended%20880x587.jpg "Bernard Clark")
![[photo of Professor Victor Snieckus holding his copy of Primo Levi's book The Periodic Table]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/alumnireview/articles/BC%200979%20silver%20background%20880x587.jpg "Bernard Clark")
![[photo of Polina Novoseltseva, 2019 Chemistry medallist]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/alumnireview/articles/Polina.jpg)
![[photo of Queen's football coach Steve Snyder]](https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/sites/default/files/assets/alumnireview/articles/BC%201039%20on%20yellow%20background%20880x587.jpg "Bernard Clark")