With Peter Mahaffy's passion for helping undergraduate students and others see the intricate web that connects chemistry with so many other aspects of life, he has made innovative contributions to science education both in Canada and internationally.
After receiving his Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Indiana University, Mahaffy moved to Canada where he is now Professor of Chemistry at the King's University College in Edmonton, Alberta. Mahaffy collaborates regularly on research with undergraduate students, in the areas of chemistry education, visualization in science, organic chemistry, and environmental chemistry. In addition, he gives numerous chemistry presentations to students and teachers at all levels, and to the general public.
He chairs IUPAC's Committee on Chemistry Education (CCE) and serves on international chemistry education advisory and editorial boards. Elected a fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) in 1999, Mahaffy also received the CIC National Award for Chemistry Education in 2003, given as a mark of recognition for an outstanding contribution in Canada to education at the post-secondary level in the field of chemistry or chemical engineering.
