---

“My love for chemistry started when I was just three years old. My mother was a research chemist at a university. My earliest memories involve being picked up from daycare, walking through the university campus and arriving at her research lab. I’d play with acids and bases and indicators. The safety rules in labs were less strict back in those days. I thought my mom was a magician, the way she should could mix two clear and colourless solutions together and – poof! – it would change colour to pink or yellow or blue.

“Throughout my undergraduate and graduate degrees, I learned that teaching was a great passion for me and a natural calling. I now bring my own kids to McMaster, walk through our beautiful campus and show them chemistry demonstrations with lots of pretty colours while adhering to all the safety rules, including gloves and goggles for everyone.”

Sharonna completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto, with a double major in chemistry and mathematics. Sharonna earned her PhD in chemistry at U of T and taught in Ryerson’s Department of Chemistry and Biology, and in University of Toronto’s Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, School of Graduate Studies and the Centre for Environment. Sharonna’s research interests revolve around education and pedagogy, with projects that include creating a test archive and analysis tool to track the quality of assessments and make effective use of class time and additional resources as well as revamping laboratory classes to target critical thinking, creative thinking and problem solving skills. Outside of McMaster, Sharonna enjoys board games, knitting, playing the guitar, and spending time with her family.