Inorganic Chemist and Violinist

Deanna D'Alessandro MRACI CChem

Why Chemistry?

During the Christmas holidays before the start of Grade 12, I attended the 1996 National Youth Science Forum in Canberra. That two-week experience of being immersed in science gave me my first taste of the university atmosphere at the ANU – and I was hooked on doing a science degree in chemistry, physics and maths. Chemistry emerged as a clear favourite early on at university thanks to the exceptional chemistry teaching staff at JCU.

Chemistry explains so much about how and why the world works the way it does and it is such a rich and beautiful subject. It’s inherently interesting, colourful, diverse, fundamental, occasionally smelly, but always logical, objective and completely practical. Chemistry is also a universal language that transcends cultural and political boundaries. It has opened doors to the world for me and I cannot think of a more fulfilling career.

Mentors

My chemistry teacher at Smithfield State High School in Cairns, Mr John Kennedy, had a wicked sense of humour and he always made difficult concepts easy to understand through lots of experiments and interesting demonstrations. He established an advanced science course to augment our science curriculum as well as ‘science retreats’ up in the Daintree rainforest.

As a result, we had a great exposure to science beyond the classroom: we learnt electrochemistry based around our mining industry and marine science while snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef; we dissected cane toads and synthesised esters that made the classroom smell like fruit salad. Mr Kennedy taught me about the importance of experimentation in chemistry, and that the entire world was our chemistry lab.

At James Cook University in Townsville I came across a wonderful and inspiring chemistry teaching staff, especially in inorganic chemistry with Professor Richard Keene who later became my PhD supervisor. During difficult periods of research, Richard helped me to turn my frustration into excitement and motivation, and he encouraged me to trust my chemical intuition. The realisation that research is a series of ups and downs, but that with perseverance, determination and hard work you can surmount the barriers, has been an invaluable lesson in chemistry and in life.

VIOLINIST AND INORGANIC CHEMIST

Chemistry is a universal language
that transcends cultural
and political boundaries.

Violinist

This photo was taken recently but I played the violin in my primary and high school orchestras, various string quartets, as well as the Cairns Youth and Chamber Orchestras where I grew up in Far North Queensland. I later played in the Townsville Youth Orchestra during my time at James Cook University. Music gave me my first opportunities to travel through regional Queensland and interstate, and I haven’t looked back.