Bright and expressive, Megan Rutherford, is a third-year physical chemistry student who is working with Dr. Chris Wiebe (chemistry). She enjoys taking the ideas of physics and applying them to chemistry. She is curious about the quantum behaviour of matter, so much so, she spent 10 weeks in France studying it at two prestigious French institutions — the Université Grenoble Alpes, and the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL) both in the city of Grenoble.
She spent her first six weeks at the Université Grenoble Alpes attending lectures and conducting lab work on the topics of crystallography, neutron scattering, and synchrotron radiation. After completing this study, Rutherford was awarded an internship at the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL), an international flagship research centre for neutron science.
During this time she was able to work on the diffuse scattering spectrometer D7. The D7 is an instrument that is used to study short-range magnetic order with polarized neutrons. This study-abroad experience and working in the ILL facility brought Rutherford a new level of excitement in her program of study. It also confirmed her love and commitment to the field.
“Overall, I am so excited to bring what I have learned back to Canada as I continue my studies in physical chemistry,” Rutherford says.
Dr. Chris Wiebe
“I am very proud of Megan’s achievements. The ILL summer program is very competitive, and she was easily able to compete with many of the best students in Europe during her stay in Grenoble,” Wiebe says. “The experiences she had were invaluable towards her science education.”
Chemistry is a fascinating subject with a rich and ancient history. Chemists are at the forefront of unraveling the mysteries of the most complex chemical systems. At The University of Winnipeg, chemistry is an exciting proposition and faculty are keen to help students discover the mystery. The skills gained through these research and work opportunities are valuable in future employment and for admission to graduate and professional schools. To learn more about studying chemistry and research opportunities please visit uwinnipeg.ca.
The Institut Laue-Langevin is an international research centre at the leading edge of neutron science and technology. As the world’s flagship centre for neutron science, the ILL provides scientists with a very high flux of neutrons feeding some 40 state-of-the-art instruments, which are constantly being developed and upgraded.
