QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 05/14/14 -- Celebrated for his entertaining and plain language lectures, Universite Laval chemist Normand Voyer is the winner of the 2013 NSERC Award for Science Promotion - individual category.

This award honours individuals who are inspirational in the way they promote science and engineering to the general public. Nominated by their peers across Canada, the winners stand out for their work to explain science to lay audiences, and to encourage young Canadians to pursue careers in the natural sciences and engineering.

The various science promotion activities that the award can honour vary from science camps and youth programs to co-op program and job shadowing to writing books and mass media content.

Dr. Voyer is known in Quebec for his highly informative and engaging presentations over many years. One of his best known lecture series is on the "chemistry of love," where he explains to teens and adults how various hormones and neurotransmitters -- substances in the body that carry signals from one nerve cell to another -- drive people's feelings when they fall in love.

Quick Facts

--  Dr. Voyer has set up a host of science promotion programs over the
    years, including:
    --  Colloque annuel des etudiantes et etudiants de 1er cycle en chimie
        de l'Universite de Sherbrooke (Universite de Sherbrooke's
        Undergraduate Chemistry Students' Annual Conference);
    --  24 heures de la chimie (24 hours of Chemistry);
    --  Chimie de l'amour (Chemistry of Love);
    --  Attraction chimique (Chemical Attraction); and
    --  Caravane Defi-Chimie (Chemistry Challenge Caravan).

--  Since 2010 he has also helped to create four new undergraduate programs
    in biopharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, materials, and environmental
    chemistry at Universite Laval. These new programs have helped the
    university to significantly increase the number of undergraduate
    students.

Quotes

"Canadians eager to pursue careers in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering will be key to improving our prosperity and quality of life. I would like to congratulate Dr. Voyer on winning this award and thank him for his unique approach to engaging and educating the next generation of young chemists and scientists."

The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

"I congratulate Dr. Voyer on winning this award, which recognizes individuals for their work in promoting science and engineering to the general public. His energetic and creative presentations have helped many students across Quebec learn more about chemistry and consider careers in the field."

Janet Walden, Chief Operating Officer, NSERC

"Dr. Voyer's passion is contagious - it must be a matter of 'good chemistry'. His contribution to the popularization of science is exceptional. It has inspired many careers in science, and we are very happy that Dr. Voyer's role is being recognized. His passion confirms our University's dedication to maintaining strong ties between the sciences and all generations of society."

Sophie D'Amours, Vice-Rector, Research and Creation, Universite Laval

"It is an honour for me to receive this award which recognizes my efforts to promote the sciences and particularly chemistry. I share this award with all those who, thanks to their collaboration, have helped me to achieve many initiatives in science. These people have had a significant influence on a new generation of chemists and have helped raise awareness in the general public about the importance of chemistry."

Normand Voyer, Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Universite Laval

Associated Links

http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Prizes-Prix/SciencePromotion-PromotionScience/Index-Index_eng.asp

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging over 2,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.