Walter J. Chute Lecture Series

The Walter J. Chute Lecture Series brings eminent researchers to the Department to present annual lectures. The Chute Lecturers are often Nobel Laureates and, in many cases, the Department has anticipated future winners of Chemistry's top prizes.

Upcoming Walter J. Chute Lectures can be found in the Seminar Schedule.

Biography of Walter Chute

Walter Chute was born in Brooklyn Corner, Kings County, Nova Scotia. After obtaining his B.Sc. (Honours) from Acadia University, he went to study with Professor G.F. Wright at the University of Toronto and was awarded the doctorate in 1943.

In the same year he accepted an appointment at Dalhousie where he played a major role in the education of thousands of Dalhousie students. From 1954 to 1969 he guided the Department of Chemistry as its sixth Head, maintaining a tradition that commenced in 1863 when Dr. George Lawson was appointed a Professor of Chemistry and Head of the Department. Although Professor Chute formally retired in 1978, he continued to be active in research, teaching and administration, besides serving as the historian of Chemistry at Dalhousie, until his death in December, 1991.