Dr. Patrick Kamau receives the prestigious Frank W. Bachelor Award for Service to the Chemical Profession
Dr. Patrick Kamau, the former Dean of Science and new Dean of Graduate Studies at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), was the recipient of this year’s Frank W. Bachelor Award for Service to the Chemical Profession, the most esteemed honour bestowed by the Association of the Chemical Profession of Alberta (ACPA).
During the ACPA AGM on May 17, 2023, the 2023 recipient was announced, and Patrick was presented with a plaque on June 21st to acknowledge his remarkable volunteer efforts in the chemistry field within the province. Despite his surprise at receiving the award, his friends and colleagues unanimously agree that Patrick is a highly deserving recipient. Throughout his tenure in the ACPA, Patrick has held a prominent leadership position, serving as a member since 2001 and Director from 2014 to 2020. His active participation ultimately propelled him to the esteemed position of President Elect (2018), President (2019), and Past President (2020), enabling him to make a substantial impact on the chemistry community.
When asked about his role in the ACPA, Patrick emphasized the importance of reaching out to students across the province and encouraging them to consider a career in chemistry. “I was part of a student liaison committee that successfully engaged students and we witnessed a positive response to the programs,” he said.
“The key challenges facing the chemical profession, particularly for students, is the need to define the role of a chemist more clearly and to establish a mandatory registration system, similar to other professions like agrology and forestry,” says Patrick. “There have been ongoing efforts to work with the Government of Alberta to achieve these objectives, ensuring that the chemistry profession maintains high standards and ethical practices,” he adds.
“A regulated community ensures that knowledgeable practitioners work with integrity, instilling trust and confidence among the public,” – Patrick
Patrick hopes to see continuing education courses be essential components of the process to keep designations; this will ensure that chemists stay updated on ethical practices and maintain their competency throughout their careers.
Patrick’s integrity and genuine desire to earn the trust and respect of the public serve as his primary motivations for serving the ACPA. It is these qualities about Patrick that caught the attention of the award committee.
Patrick’s advice to young researchers and professionals aspiring to contribute to the chemical profession is to “strive for excellence and work together as a professional entity.”
“I like to refer to the African saying: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!” – Patrick
Reflecting on his most memorable projects, Patrick highlighted the collaboration between Concordia and the ACPA to address the need for managerial skills among chemistry graduates. Recognizing the gap in their training, Patrick worked with Kathy Janzen, former Executive Director, ACPA, and with the Faculty of Management at CUE, to establish the Bachelor of Management and Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) Dual Degrees program that equipped students with the necessary knowledge and technical skills to manage their labs.
“I do believe that because of the synergy between ACPA and Concordia we were able to accomplish this feat. With the Dual Degrees program, students are now being trained to run their labs by understanding how to balance a budget and handle their ledger to understand goods in and goods out, for example, which are valuable skills,” Patrick explains.
It is Patrick’s collaborative spirit and pursuit of excellence that have had a profound impact on the chemistry community, and Patrick looks forward to seeing a great deal more advancement for chemistry students and professionals already practicing in the field.