U of M chemistry professor remembers Nobel Peace Prize winner

Former Winnipegger Scott Cairns is a field officer for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chimical Weapons, which is in Syria helping to dismantle that country's stockpile of chemical weapons. (Courtesof of OPCW)

News that a former Winnipeg man is among a group of scientists receiving the Nobel Peace Prize came as a shock to the University of Manitoba professor who gave him his start.

Phil Hultin teaches chemistry at the U of M. He first met Scott Cairns in 1999 when he was in the later stage of getting his undergraduate degree.

“This was a guy who was really interested in the subject and took a serious approach to it,” he said.

“He was someone who stood out because of his interest.”

Cairns is part of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is currently working in Syria to dismantle that country’s stockpile of chemical weapons. It is that work that earned the organization the honour.

Hultin hasn’t spoken to Cairns in some time and had no idea he had joined the OPCW. He remembers Cairns as a bright student with a keen interest in organic chemistry.

“When he graduated from the University of Manitoba I helped to get this first job within the Department of National Defence,” said Hultin. “They have a big research lab in Suffield Alberta that works on the detection and neutralization of chemical weapons, and so they were looking for a chemist to work in their laboratory, and over the years we exchange emails.”

Hultin hopes the prize will inspire other students to consider a career in chemistry. “Most students have no idea what the reason for studying chemistry is, but I think this is a good example of where you can go with a degree and training in the basic science of chemistry. It’s only limited by your imagination.”