News Release
UDM Chemistry Professor presents: What’s That Made Of?
University of Detroit Mercy Chemistry Associate Professor & Chair of Chemistry, Mark Benvenuto will be discussing a chemist’s approach to collecting coins and analyzing them on Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Traffic Jam & Snug, 511 West Canfield Street, on the corner of Second Avenue in Detroit. 
He performs a elemental analysis of coins by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, (a non-destructive technique widely used for environmental, industrial, pharmaceutical, forensic, and scientific research applications to measure the concentration of elemental constituents or contaminants). Benvenuto will focus his research on three main groups of coins, including the biblical Judean widow's mites, Siamese bullet coins and medieval Korean coins.
He is a six-time recipient of the UDM Science Teacher of the Year Award, and is one of two faculty named College Teacher of the Year for 2002-03 by the Michigan Science Teachers Association. He was awarded the American Chemical Society's Detroit Section Distinguished Service Award in 2004, and has been the section chairman for 2006 and 2007.
Benvenuto holds a B.S. from the Virginia Military Institute, where he attended on a four-year Army scholarship, and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where he was awarded a graduate student du Pont Fellowship. He performed post-doctoral research at the Pennsylvania State University, and joined the University of Detroit Mercy in late 1993.
The evening of libations, edible delights and science inquiry is free and open to the public. Food and beverages are available to purchase through the evening. Free parking is available across from the restaurant.
For more information, please visit: www.brewingchemistry.com or contact Meghann Mouyianis at 313-993-1259 or meghann@brewingchemistry.com
Release date: June 23, 2009
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