Always at the forefront of innovation, the University of Waterloo initiated a collaborative
student-design project to celebrate 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry. Chem 13
News together with the Chemistry Department and the Faculty of Science encouraged
chemistry educators and enthusiasts worldwide to adopt an element and artistically interpret
that element to eventually be brought together in a mosaic of science and art. A year later,
with the project complete, we have designs by chemistry students from all Canadian
provinces and territories, 20 US states and 14 different countries. Each element captures a
unique and creative spark but together they ignite a passion for chemistry.