Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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THE ASHBURIAN If SCIENCE NCDTES CII-INCIC tours and trips this year perhaps have been more interesting than heretofore. On january l-lth we made our usual trip to the Gatineau Power Company, where once more the horizontal generators were very fas- cinating to watch in action, and we gained much from our visit. The next tour took us to the Gatineau Commercial Alcohols Limited, where we saw the production of lfthyl Alcohol from Sulphite Haste Liquor. Une of the more interesting features here was the Automation, which has been gaining so much prominence in recent years. The process entails the addition of lime to the waste Sulphite Liquor, and then by the normal fermentation process, alcohol is obtained through a succession of distillations. Nothing is wasted here. The steam in the process is used until all the heat is extracted, and the waste carbon dioxide is taken over to the Magnesia Plant the building of which was a direct outcome to use up this gas. ln the Nlagnesia Plant, we saw the manufacture of all kinds of insulation materials. At the same time that this tour was in progress, a group of Kliddle School boys travelled to the MacLaren Pulp and Paper Company and saw the manufacture of newsprint. The long paper machines proved to be of great interest. This tour was supervised by Mr. Snelgrove. On February 13th, a group of Upper School students travelled to the Montreal Road Plant of the National Research Council. The Chemistry Building was first on the Tour, where we saw some appli- cations of radioactive elements, a pilot plant for extracting oil from Alberta sands, and a method for drying grain in storage, to name a few. From here, we moved to the Aeronautical building to see the supersonic wind tunnel and the spinning tunnel, then on to Building Research to observe tests on stresses and strains on prefabricated houses. From here we travelled to the Radio and Electrical Engineering Divi- sion to see the new Underwater Television Camera which has been developed here. XVe found that the earliest underwater Television sy- stem on record was given experimental trials at the Bikini atomic site in 1947. It was also used in connection with the loss of the British submarine Affray , four years later. The newest one developed by N.R.C. has been used to study the animal and plant life in the sea, and in salvage operations. We also saw in action a giant lightning generator. Finally we were intrigued with one group of scientists who were attempting to get rid of the screech from airplane jet engines. Saturday, Feb. 28th, saw a few Sixth Form boys on tour of Computing Devices of Canada. We went first to the XYestboro property of the firm, and were fascinated by the great computer used for in-

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16 THE ASHBURIAN dustrial work. This fantastic instrument typed us a welcome, and is able to solve all kinds of complex mathematical problems. VV e also saw some of the products- which can be made with the new Transistors- tiny radios, and small television sets. Then we moved to the Bell's Corners Plant, and saw the manufacturing facilities and offices. Here the new PHI is manufactured which is a new revolutionary air navi- gation system which fits into a suitcase, which was explained in great detail. Refreshments were served, and this most absorbing tour came to a reluctant close. A group of Senior students also attended the Annual Student night of the Chemical Institute of Canada, where the speaker was the President of the Research Council, Dr. XV. R. Steacie, M.Sc., Ph.D. He discussed the topic: Careers in Chemistry and was most emphatic in telling all who considered any branch of Chemistry as a Career, that they should make up their own minds, as never before in the history of Canada, have there been such great opportunities. XVe also saw a film, courtesy of the Monsanto CCanadaQ Limited, entitled De- cision for Chemistry which gave case histories, showing problem solu- tions, and results of chemical research. On April 16th, a group of Senior Science students were invited to the Sussex Street National Research Council on an interesting ex- periment through the courtesy of Dr. Keith MacDonald, Director of Cold Temperature Research of the Council. The boys followed Phy- sics and Chemical Research all the morning under the tutelage of Dr. MacDonald, then had lunch with a group of the Research Staff, and then went on in the afternoon to see work done on the Mass Spectro- graph, the liquid nitrogen plant, and were able to experiment them- selves with liquid nitrogen. This was by far the highlight of the year, and one which will be remembered long after the year is over by those who attended. The humour, inspiration, and cooperation of Dr. MacDonald will always be remembered, as well as his brilliance and interest. This year as usual, the trips and tours have been in the hands of Nlr. Sibley and Mr. Snelgrove, ably assisted by the Science students of the Upper Sixth Form. SENIOR SCIENCE TRIP TO MONTREAL me Senior Science Trip this vear was to Montreal. Leaving School on XX ednesday afternoon, Nlarch the 17th, we arrived late that evening and pllf up at the HY . After a quite pleasant breakfast in the Vs cafeteria next morning, we set about the business of the day. The hrst plant on the list, Shell