Department of Chemistry | University of Guyana

Why study Chemistry?

Have you ever wondered why water evaporates? How acid rain is formed and why it is dangerous to the environment? Why keeping food cold retards spoilage?

The study of Chemistry can answer all these questions and millions more like them.

Chemistry is a central science. It is the study of substances, especially their structures, composition, properties and transformations. This knowledge enables us to understand changes and informs our decisions in making changes around us.

Every academic discipline is in some way linked to chemistry, and studying chemistry can be fun! It can provide you, through laboratory exercises, with the opportunity to observe scientific phenomena firsthand, and explore the possibilities of change within controlled conditions.

Study Chemistry! Begin an adventure that matters!

Careers in Chemistry

The Bachelors Degree in Chemistry can lead to many exciting and rewarding careers. The following is just a "snapshot" of the jobs one can have after studying Chemistry:

Forensic Chemistry: Crime detection (GPF)

Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Pharmacology, Natural product synthesis, marketing of new drugs, discovery of new potent compounds to be used in pharmaceuticals, bacteriology,

Environmental Chemistry: Quality control, toxicology, industrial effluent and standard control. One can be a lab technologist. (IAST, EPA, Iwokrama, OMAI, GNBS)

Kinetics: Explosives, detonation, ballistics

Biochemistry/Medical Chemistry

Food Chemistry: Quality control, product development, product marketing, designing new and exciting products, e.g. flour.
In Guyana, some of the companies where chemists are important are: Food and Drugs Department, Banks DIH, NAMILCO, CHINELLI, VINELLI,

Education

Many, many more exciting areas of work!

For more details please contact the Department of Chemistry.

The Department

The Department of Chemistry offers a Bachelors Degree in General Chemistry, normally completed in four (4) years of full-time study. This selection of courses provides the graduate with a wide survey of disciplines and a rounded undergraduate education. Outside of chemistry courses, undergraduates will study Mathematics, English, Biology, Physics, History & Caribbean Studies, Economics, Management and some applied Chemistry Courses such as Environmental Chemistry and Soil Chemistry.

In the final year of study, students have the opportunity to choose an approved area of research or work with a research idea proposed by the Department. Students develop the skills, which prepare them for the world of further study and work.

Working along with these students is the technical staff of the Department - technicians, a glassblower, and a technologist; and the academic staff, which is qualified in general, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry, and who offer their individual expertise in industrial, food, biochemistry, chemical engineering, kinetics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and the diverse methods of analysis.