Robert Browne

Visiting Tutor for "Chemistry"

Bob Browne joins Quest University after a 36 year career teaching chemistry. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario where he was awarded the Alumni Gold Medal in chemistry, and then came to the University of British Columbia to work on his Ph.D., studying the light emitted from halogen atom recombination reactions. Upon graduation, he taught at the University of Toronto, Trent University, and the University of Saskatchewan before settling down at Douglas College in New Westminster, from which he retired in 2005. Although he continued his interest in research over the years, his real love has always been teaching, and he was awarded the College Chemistry Canada Award in Chemical Education in 1994, the Nova Chemicals Award for Chemistry Teaching in Community or Technical Colleges in 2001, and the Douglas College Award for Faculty Excellence in 2004. He was given Faculty Emeritus status by Douglas in 2006.

Bob has always been interested in the use of technology in education, and undertook a number of projects while at Douglas to experiment with new technologies. One of his last projects was to produce a series of streaming laboratory instructional videos, designed to allow students to review basic techniques before coming into the laboratory. Students who are contemplating taking General Chemistry II may wish to view the following video in which Bob introduces the Second Law of Thermodynamics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywKNrfZ3zOs

Always a strong proponent of professional development for faculty, Bob has served on the executive of College Chemistry Canada for many years, and is currently the web master for that organization. In his spare time, Bob can be found running the trails of Burnaby Lake, or cycling the roads or trails around the lower mainland. During the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, he will be driving members of the IOC around to the various venues in Vancouver and Whistler.