About and Contact

April 27, 2022: This is in progress:

About this blog

Please think of FrogHeart.ca as an adventure or a series of field trips to science’s cutting edge. The focus for these trips is nanotechnology along with other emerging technologies (robotics, human enhancement, etc.) and, to a lesser degree, Canadian science.

This is a curated blog, which started in 2008 making it one of the longest running in Canada.. (If you’re unfamiliar with the term curated, it means I pick and choose which pieces are published here.) Every day, I comb through 350 – 400 headlines looking for materials to be featured.. These days, I usually publish three pieces per day, 5 days per week.

By design, there are times when it’s an easy reading experience and, others, when it’s a challenge. Different audiences want different experiences.

Over the years I’ve developed a few areas of special interest:

  • human enhancement or what I also sometimes call machine/flesh
  • memristors (nanoscale devices that mimic neural plasticity)
  • artificial intelligence and neuromorphic engineering
  • nanocellulose
  • biomimcry (also known as biomimetics or bioinspiration)
  • lab-on-a-chip/human-on-a-chip/organ-on-a-chip
  • data sonification
Policy

I do my best to get the information right, so you can feel free to contact me, when it needs to be corrected.

There is one exception, if the incorrect information is contained in a news release; I need to hear from the issuing agency.

Reading this blog

FrogHeart has evolved over the years, I started it as a purely exploratory effort and now, it’s also a kind of archive containing materials on Canadian nanotechnology and some of the specialty areas mentioned previously. Because nanotechnology or nanoscience research is a global effort, I try to reflect that by including as many countries’ efforts as possible in my posts.

I advise reading the interstitial text and checking the end of the post if you’re looking for my comments. (I don’t always make them.)

Corrections are noted with as asterisk (*). If it’s a chunk of text being corrected, you’ll find an asterisk at the beginning and end of the corrected materials.

If material is being added, that’s noted with ETA (edited to add) and is usually found at the end but if it’s in the midst of the text, asterisks are used to signify the beginning and end of the new material.

Square brackets [] in material that has been excerpted from elsewhere are used to signify an addition I’ve made for the purposes of clarification. This blog is read by people from all over the world and with varied life experiences. For example, U of T is not universally known as the University of Toronto or, for another example, the EPA is not universally recognized as the US Environmental Protection Agency.

About me

I am a writer and poet; my name is Maryse de la Giroday. I love writing and am fascinated by science, especially the science associated with emerging technologies.

Education:

  • MA (2008) from the Creative Writing (fiction and nonfiction) and New Media programme at De Montfort University, Leicester UK.
  • BA (1992) from Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.
  • Public Relations Certificate (1988) from Kwantlen College, Richmond, Canada.

You can contact me regarding nanotechnology, science policy, or something else at: nano@frogheart.ca

You can also follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/frogheart

47 thoughts on “About and Contact

  1. David Cramb

    Hi Darren,

    I’m trying to track down someone from the Cascadia Nanotech Symposium. Do you have the program still available somewhere? If so could you send me a copy?

    Other than that, how are things?

    Dave

  2. admin

    Hi David!
    Glad to see you on my blog but I’m not Darren. As it turns out I’m meeting with the former chair of Nanotech BC (Victor Jones) today and I’ll ask him about how to get in touch with Darren or someone else who can help you with regard to acquiring a copy of the 2007 Nanotech Cascadia program.

  3. admin

    Hi Dexter, Thank you and you got there first…I’ve been planning to add your blog for a while…now I’ll have to do something :)….

  4. Megan Gundrum

    DAAP – Stands for University of Cincinnati’s Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning Program

  5. Doug Setter

    Maryse,

    Tres Bon Blog and congrats on your MA from De Montfort University.

    Any ideas where my friend’s daughter can get some work experience. She wants to work in the animation industry.

    We will have to catch up. Maybe Rhizomes.

    Sincerely,

    Doug

  6. admin

    Hi Doug! Thank you for dropping by and the kind words about the blog. I will give some thought as to where your friend’s daughter might find an opportunity for some work experience that’s related or even partially related to the field animation. I’ll be in touch via email soon. Cheers, Maryse

  7. admin

    Hi Catherine! Thanks so much for dropping by and giving me a heads up re: the ArboraNano projects. I will follow up for more details in the near future. Cheers, Maryse

  8. admin

    Hi Carolina! Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. It was a pleasure discovering UNAWE. Cheers, Maryse

  9. admin

    Hi Marc! Thanks for dropping by and leaving the url for your blog. I see you’ve been posting for a few months now; it’s a little late to say welcome but I will anyway. I’m very glad to see another Canadian science blogger to add to my informal list. I will add you to my blogroll soon (I have a couple more deadlines to meet before I start tidying here). Cheers, Maryse

  10. Bertrand Marotte

    Hello Maryse
    I am a reporter with The Globe and Mail (Montreal bureau).
    Could you contact me please?
    It’s for some research I am doing in the area of nanocrystalline cellulose.
    My direct line: (514) 982-3066.
    Many thanks.

  11. Graham Cliff

    You gave reported concerns WRT nanoparticles and nanotechnology. Have you read Nanoparticles and Public Health?
    Microscopy Today, Cambridge University Press, May 2011, page 72
    http://content.yudu.com/A1rup1/MTO19Issue3/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microscopy-today.com%2Fjsp%2Fprint_archive%2Fprint_archive.jsf
    Clearly with Nanotechnology we are FAILING to learn early lessons from early warnings that we have experienced with smoking and with asbestos? Graham Cliff, University of Manchester, England.

  12. David

    Nanotechnology Workshop

    ” Nanotechnology: Exploring Practical Solutions in Agriculture, Food and Biological Systems ”

    Date: July 15th, 2012

    Time: 1:00 Pm to 4:00 pm

    Venue: Lakehead University – Orillia Campus
    500 University Avenue, Orillia
    Ontario, Canada

    Event: Canadian Society for Bioengineering

    Presenter: Dr. Suresh Neethirajan, University of Guelph

    Web Link: http://www.tinyurl.com/cth5eo9

    Who Should Attend: Professionals from the industry, academia and government who are interested in nanotechnology and its applications in the agriculture, food and biological systems.

    Workshop Description: The aims of this workshop are to:
    • Create awareness about the development and advancement of nanotechnology in the agricultural and food industry;
    • Focus on key areas where nanoscience and nanotechnology can impact agricultural production systems, food and biological industries;
    • Identify and address potential barriers for adoption of nanotechnology solutions in the agri-food industries.

    Suresh Neethirajan is an Assistant Professor of Bionanotechnology at the School of Engineering, University of Guelph. He is also a board member of the Grand River Chapter of the Professional Engineers Ontario. Information on bionanotechnology research at the University of Guelph can be found at http://www.bionanolab.ca.

  13. admin

    Hi David! Thanks for the heads up re: Suresh Neethirajan and the conference. Will post it later today. Cheers, Maryse

  14. admin

    Hi Graham! Thank you for the link and I’m sorry it’s taken so long to reply. I’ve just now (June 15, 2012 9:41 am PDT) tried the link and found an interface that I will have to spend some time learning as it’s dissimilar to the ‘flipbook’ interfaces with which I’m more familiar. In any event, I will read the article, if not today, soon and hopefully continue this convo. Best regards, Maryse

  15. Ms.Rayna Sultana

    Dear Sir or Madam,
    “Greetings from SHELTER”

    SHELTER is a grassroots level government registered NGO working from 2000 in Bangladesh and works in different fields like as: Research, Consultant, Human Right, Gender, Woman impairments, Agricultures, Water & Sanitation, Health, Non formal & adult Education, VGD, IGA, Baseline Survey, Social works from different development sectors, under-funded and partnership with UNICEF, IOM, GIZ, JICA, WFP , Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Dhaka , Government of Bangladesh, ITF UK, EVERGREEN UK, HOPE’87, ATSEC Bangladesh and Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) 2 programs under Department of Women Affairs (DWA)GOB, World Food Program (wfp) and Trust Fund GOB.

    SHELTER’s major focus is Environmental and Climate Change programs. Start working with ITF UK and SHELTER Nursery. SHELTER provides Tree and Plantation to the School, Mosque and Madrasa, Garboards, Shosanghat and poor people for donation and Road and Riverbank under partnership from GOB. SHELTER also provided NEEM (Medicine) TREES all 77 Union perished, 6 Pouroshova and 8 Upozilla complexes with DC Hobigonj District under GOB. Also provide environment health & education. SHELTER started an ORGANIC AGRO project as organic poultry, fishery, duckers, vegetable, agro forestry and cow firm project under SHELTER HOBIONJ PROJECT.SHELTERS now start a project of Green Initiative for Climate Restoration in Habigonj District under Theme -T5: Mitigation and low carbon development. Program: P7- A forestation and reforestation program funded by Trust Fund GOB.

    We’ve also work for HIV/AIDS & Women and Child trafficking programs under IOM & technical support from ATSEC Bangladesh. SHELTERS have good experiences of Trafficking programs under PPVHT-B Project with IOM partnership. SHELTER have own Nursery and product wood, medicine, fruits, flower and other species plants. 3 luck 20 thousand product capacities Nursery Project from 2007 and continue under Hobigonj projects. SHELTER also have own Training Center established in 2008. It’s providing skills development training IGA, ICT, sewing, poultries, fishery and other livelihood, small business and income generating training.

    SHELTER Networking Member of “CDM Watch Network” !NGO Forum Environment & Development, “SANDEE” The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics, “GEF-NGO” Global Environment Facility, “BiD Network” statement at Netherlands Parliamentary Hearing Committee on development policy, “Susana Forum”, “PADOR” Potential Applicants Data Online Registration, SKF (U.K.), “GWA” Gender and Water Alliance, “Teach A Man To Fish” ,“ATSEC” Action against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children , “FNB” Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh, “BAPA” Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon.

    We need projects support for develop our organization performances work under your cooperation and supervision in grassroots level in our country .SHELTER welcome your behalf organization partnership work any slum of the human area in Bangladesh.

    I welcome you visit our organization and working area from your convenient time. SHELTER will arrange everything during your visit. Please see SHELTER documents in attest file. If you need any more information about us please write us any time. Your cooperation will be highly appraised this regard.

    Best Regard,

    Ms.Rayna Sultana
    Executive Director
    SHELTER
    Cell. + 8801945822843
    info@shelterngo.org
    shelterngo@yahoo.com
    http://www.shelterngo.org
    Offices: House No.D-3, 5th Floor, Road No.5,
    Nektion, Gulshan 1, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
     Save a tree. Don’t print this e-mail unless it’s really necessary!
    Reg. Partner Support for NGO works.

  16. Prashant Chauhan

    I have finished my PhD and looking for Post Doctoral position in nanocellulose related field.

  17. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Dear Prashant Chauhan, It took a little effort on my part to find two of your published (or about to be published) papers on nanocellulose

    A Nanocellulose-Dye Conjugate for Multi-Format Optical pH-Sensing
    Tommaso Carofiglio, Prashant Chauhan, Caroline Nedima Hadad, Ana Herreros López, Simone Silvestrini, Valeria La Parola, Enrico Frison, Michele Maggini and Maurizio Prato
    Journal Article
    Chem. Commun., 2014, Accepted Manuscript
    DOI: 10.1039/C4CC02983F, Communication

    Nanocrystalline cellulose–porphyrin hybrids: synthesis, supramolecular properties, and singlet-oxygen production
    Prashant Chauhan, Caroline Hadad, Andrea Sartorelli, Marco Zarattini, Ana Herreros-López, Miriam Mba, Michele Maggini, Maurizio Prato and Tommaso Carofiglio
    Journal Article
    Chem. Commun., 2013,49, 8525-8527
    DOI: 10.1039/C3CC44852E, Communication

    As well, I found that you likely finished your PhD at
    Università di Padova, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, V. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy.

    I wish you all the best in your search.

    Cheers,
    Maryse

  18. Margit Hofer

    Via an EU Project (called SeeingNano https://www.zsi.at/de/object/project/3396) we are facing following 5 questions and searching for answers I came across your site. We are trying to find answers to:
    1) How relevant are NT visualisations for the general public (pictures, videos, animations, aso..)?

    2) What are success factors and barriers for good NT visualisations? What works, what does not work in terms of visualization material?

    3) Which NT content needs to be visualised? What is still needed?

    4) Do you think appropriate visualisation material would help in raising awareness and opinion building with specific target groups? If so, how shall this material be designed?

    5) What NT materials and/or media are still missing or need to be further addressed?

    I would be really grateful if you could send me some answers to these questions. Your answers will feed the first project report on the state of art Nanotechnology communication and will enhance the further development of the concept and its testability.

    Many thanks in advance for your help and best wishes,

    Margit Hofer

  19. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Dear Varan Mahajun, I’m not sure what an m.tech is (master of technology?). At any rate, I’ll do my best to answer your question given my ignorance. Coincidentally, I received a notice for researcher positions in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from a university in India. They are asking for PhD’s but it never hurts to ask and you might find the website which lists other universities and positions useful.
    https://jobs.timeshighereducation.co.uk/job/14361/researcher-nanoscience-and-nanotechnology/ I wish you luck with your search and if anything occurs to me, I will come back here and add it. Best regards, Maryse

  20. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Hi Gregor! Thanks for dropping by. Am run off my feet these days but will try to replace at least a few of the old links with these latest links. Cheers, Maryse PS: I’m always happy to feature your work here.

  21. Josee Duranleau

    Bonjour Maryse,

    I would like to send you some information regarding an announcement McGill University’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT) is going to make on June 2nd. CIRMMT received significant funding that will shape the future of music. The investment to Canadian music research will transform the way musicians compose, hear and perform.

    Would it be possible to send me your email address?

    Merci d’avance, au plaisir!
    Josée

  22. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Chere Josée, Merci bien. Je suis ravis d’avoir votre connaissance et connaissance du CIRMMT. I’ve exhausted my fund of French pleasantries (hopefully I got the form and the spelling correct). I’ve sent you an email with my address and I look forward to hearing more about how the future of music will be shaped. Cheers, Maryse

  23. D.Richardson@ResearchGate

    Dear Maryse
    I am researcher at Monash University(Australia) and searching for recent articles on:
    1. Nanocellulose Market by Type, Application, and Geography – Regional Trends & Forecast to 2019.
    Global Market for Nanocellulose 2016
    2. Nanocellulose Technology – Global Strategic Business Report
    3. Nanocellulose Market: By Type (Cellulose Nanocrystals, Cellulose Nanofibrils, Bacterial Cellulose); by applications Forecast (2015-2020).
    4. Nanocellulose Market for Composites, Paper Processing, Food & Beverages, Paints & Coatings, Oil & Gas, Personal Care, and Other End-users – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015 – 2023
    5. Global Nanocellulose Market Analysis & Trends – Industry Forecast to 2020
    Not sure if you can help but every contribution supports global communication.
    Thankyou
    D.Richardson

    Global Market For Nanocellulose 2015-2025? – ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Global_Market_For_Nanocellulose_2015-2025 [accessed Jun 7, 2016].

  24. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Dear D. Richardson, Thank you for dropping by. Your request requires a little thought on my part and it may take a while before I can locate anything that could be helpful but I will try and get back to you either way. Cheers,
    Maryse

  25. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Hi D. Richardson,
    I’ve stumbled across very few of the types of report that you are looking for. I did feature a nanocellulose market report in my June 5, 2015 posting which should answer some of your questions. Or perhaps that company had produced a more recent report. There was also a US Dept. of Agriculture on commercializing nanocellulose materials that you might find helpful (the reference list if nothing else) in a Nov. 25, 2014 posting. Plus, there’s a paper from TAPPI (a pulp paper institute which has run at least one nanocellulose conference). The paper is titled Nanocellulose: State of the Industry and it’s dated December 2015. Neither this report nor the USDA report are exactly what you’ve asked for but they provide starting points. I haven’t seen anything on the topic from Cientifica but you might try contacting them to find out if anything is in the works. You might also want to search these websites: Azonano, Nanowerk and Nanotechnology Now. There will be repetition between Azonano, Nanowerk, and Nanotechnology Now but it is worth searching all three independently as I’ve found items carried on one site are not always carried on the others.

    I hope this helps.

    Cheers,
    Maryse

  26. Jason

    Hi Maryse,

    this is Jason from Science World. I received a phone message from you yesterday. I just wanted to let you know that I am trying to find more information on the exhibition for you. The curator of the exhibition is out of town this week training our On The Road team. I am attempting to get a hold of one of her staff to find out more for you. You may email me at the address below, so that I can forward all your contact info on and hope that someone will respond to you soon.
    Thank you.

    Jason

  27. Roger Hine

    Dear Frogheart,
    I am writing this post in hope to warn other people of Frank Anthony Shorts. Their products are what they say they are. However the buyers never seem to get the purchases. I ordered some swimwear in February 11th 2017 and as yet have not received my purchase. I have traded some 100 emails backwards and forwards but still not joy. PLEASE warn people of their inability to send people their purchases, this is nothing but a rip off

  28. Eva Jackson

    Hello,
    Nanoscience Meet 2018 is going to be held from November 26th-28th in Bali, Indonesia.
    It is an international platform to showcase your innovation, ideas and exhibit your productivity related to nanotechnology in front of eminent personalities like scientists, Professors, Doctors, Engineers, Researchers and Graduate and Postgraduate students of this field from all over the world. Kindly participate to add more value on your carrier and innovation and productivity.

    for more details go through the conference website here: https://nanoscience.nanotechconferences.org/

    Regards,
    Eva Jackson
    Program Manager.

  29. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Hello Ms. Jackson, Thank you for the information regarding the upcoming conference on nanoscience. You have a very active conference-organizing business. Best regards, Maryse

  30. Jude Isabella

    Hello Maryse,

    I just wanted to issue a correction, re:
    “Hakai’s founding and current editor-in-chief is Jude Isabella, a past board member of the SWCC (source: homepage of Isabella’s eponymous website)”

    I was never on the board of the SWCC, but of the Canadian Science Writers Association. I opposed the name change, like many journalists. I have not been a member of the SWCC, nor served on the board. Plus, that information is not on my website. I don’t think there is any suspicious connection to my being the editor-in-chief of Hakai Magazine, and formerly being a member of the CSWA. Currently, I am a member of the National Association of Science Writers in the US, and the Society of Environmental Journalists, also in the US. As well, I am a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada.

    Best wishes,
    Jude Isabella

  31. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Hello Jude Isabella! Thank you for dropping by and I stand corrected. You were a member of the board for SWCC’s predecessor organization. I’m not sure why you used the word ‘suspicious’; I didn’t. The term I used at the end of the subsection was “Interlaced relationships.” Cheers, Maryse PS If you don’t mind the suggestion: It might be a better idea to make your comments part of the December 10, 2020 posting page. No one looking at the about and contact page comments will have any idea what you are referring to and it’s highly unlikely anyone reading the post will ever see your comments here.

  32. Maryse de la Giroday Post author

    Hello! Thank you for dropping by. The September 12, 2014 posting (https://www.frogheart.ca/?p=14591) to which you refer is about a research paper authored by a team composed of US (North Carolina State University and Duke University) and Danish researchers (University of Copenhagen). I featured the research not Dr. Saaem who is one of five authors. I have placed a note about Dr. Saaem’s current situation and guilty plea on the posting. Best regards, Maryse

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