Soon after taking up graduate study, Nick Vukotic was drawn into sessions brainstorming a problem that had eluded his advisor Stephen Loeb—and others around the world—for years. Dr. Vukotic’s design solution led to a cover article in Nature Chemistry that is now ranked as the most-accessed article of May 2012 in any chemistry journal.

His creativity and problem-solving ability saw Vukotic complete his doctorate in chemistry with a grade average of 96 percent, earning him the Governor General’s Gold Medal for the highest academic standing at the graduate level among his cohort. He will receive the award during the first session of Convocation at the St. Denis Centre on Saturday, October 17.

Vukotic received his BSc in 2009, then began Master’s studies before early transfer to a PhD program. He received graduate scholarships from 2009 to 2014 and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship in 2009 and 2010; the NSERC Canada Graduate Master’s Scholarship in 2010 and 2011; and the NSERC Graduate Doctoral Scholarship from 2011 to 2014. He is the author of 16 publications in refereed journals and a book chapter. Four more manuscripts based on his work are currently in progress.

Serving a post-doctoral fellowship under the Ontario Centres of Excellence TalentEdge program, Vukotic works on the development of x-ray diffraction instrumentation for Proto Manufacturing.

Just in time for the Halloween season, University Players presents the ghostly comedy Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward. The show runs from October 23 to November 8 in the Hatch Studio Theatre.

While researching for his next novel, Charles Condomine engages the eccentric psychic, Madame Arcati, to conduct a séance that unwittingly conjures the ghost of Charles’ temperamental first wife, Elvira. Mayhem ensues as Elvira attempts to reclaim her former husband over the objections of his current wife. Who will win in this delightfully amusing and spirited contest?

The play’s director, drama professor Brian Taylor, calls the show “a romp,” written just to amuse.

“It speaks to that part of us that craves an oasis of sublime silliness, and an opportunity to see others behaving badly brilliantly,” he says. “It’s a finger in the eye to the fear of death and the perfect opportunity to laugh, to be delighted by the clever, witty, monstrously self-centered characters, by the outrageous situation, and by the realization that most of our problems are not that bad.”

Wednesday through Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. The Saturday, October 31, matinee and all Sunday performances are at 2 p.m. On Sunday, October 25, a “Talk Back” discussion with the director and actors will follow the performance.

The Hatch Studio Theatre is located in the Jackman Dramatic Art Centre. Order tickets online at www.UniversityPlayers.com or by calling 519-253-3000, ext. 2808.

Cross country will conclude its regular season Saturday at Malden Park—the only Lancer varsity team competing at home this weekend. The Windsor Open will see the women start at noon and the men at 12:45 p.m.

Lancer football will meet the Gryphons in Guelph on Saturday in a 1 p.m. game that will be webcast live on OUA.tv.

Soccer will play against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Saturday and against the Waterloo Warriors on Sunday. The men, ranked third in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, play at 8:15 and 3:15 p.m.; the women play at 6 and 1 p.m.

Women’s hockey will play the same teams but a day earlier. The puck drops Friday against Laurier at 7:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday against Waterloo. Both games will be webcasted live on OUA.tv.

The 2-0 men’s hockey team, currently ranked sixth in the CIS, will travel to Montreal for a doubleheader Friday and Saturday against the Concordia Stingers. Both games will be carried by OUA.tv.

The golf team will compete in the provincial championship tournament Sunday and Monday in Oshawa. Find info on all these events and more at goLancers.ca.

Daniel Picard, a third-year biology student, won the grand prize in a draw for customers braving the crowds in the Campus Bookstore during its September rush.

Picard took home a Toshiba Satellite S50-B laptop computer, valued at $1049.

The draw is a way for the store to show appreciation to its clients, says marketing coordinator Martin Deck.

“We know that sometimes the lines during the first week of classes can inconvenience students, so we hold the prize draw just to thank them,” he says.