Eric Da Silva, C.Chem.
ACPO Treasurer, District 6 Councillor, and Board of Examiners Committee Member
Assistant Professor, Ryerson University, Department of Physics
Why would you encourage a colleague to join the ACPO?
The ACPO provides a great network of chemical professionals who are highly interested in identifying key needs in the field as well as key areas of necessary regulation for all chemical professionals. Joining the ACPO allows for the development of a great network of like-minded individuals.
How has ACPO brought value to your career?
Being a member of the ACPO for several years has allowed me to greatly increase my network. Further, as an academic who is concerned with high education and teaching, it has allowed me to identify societal needs in the field via personal interaction with so many industry professionals which has had a direct translation into the lab and classroom.
What Chemical Industry do you work in? What do you love about your Industry?
I work in the field of academia and am also an entrepreneur, owning a distillery. My day to day mostly focuses on academic research and teaching. My expertise is in analytical chemistry, spectroscopy, chemical physics, and separation science.
Why would you encourage a student to major in the Chemistry field?
Considering that the field of chemistry is concerned with matter and its transformation, I would highly encourage students to major in chemistry because the field overlaps with so many other scientific fields that relate directly to industrial needs. The skills acquired in chemistry programs are also highly marketable in various other areas.
If you could have coffee with any chemist in history, who would that be and why?
One of my favourite scientists, who, I would classify as both a chemist and physicist, is Henry Moseley. The advancements he made to our understanding of the atom, and to one of my favourite analytical techniques, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, in such a short period of time has always astounded me. He is certainly one of my role models.
