The explosive passion of a Chemistry student

It was during the presentation of a science video in one of her chemistry courses in high school that Elena Sebastiao, uOttawa Department of Chemistry student at the Faculty of Science, had a sudden revelation about what she wanted to do with her life. She vividly remembers the old lab coated scientist who, by touching a feather to a pink powder, triggered an explosion both on the screen and in her mind. Because that was when a true passion was born – for fireworks! She has never looked back.

“It is the perfect marriage of my two greatest interests, visual arts and inorganic chemistry”, explains Elena. However, this student in the Honours BSc with specialization in chemistry program does not have an easy path to her chosen career. In addition to her studies at the University, she must obtain various licences and classifications to be allowed to help with and eventually supervise the preparation of fireworks at a professional level. But despite this heavy workload, Elena remains motivated and has already helped to prepare a few well known pyrotechnic displays, such as the St Jean Baptiste Day show at the Aylmer marina and most recently at Canada Day celebrations, in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine. These presentations were created by Royal Pyrotechnie, the company for which Elena works. “Without them, I would have no practical experience”, says a very grateful Elena. Elena also lent her expertise in the fireworks show of the 24th Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival on Saturday, September 3, 2011.

Despite her penchant for explosives, this apprentice pyrotechnician never considered a path that would take her in a different direction in this vast branch of chemistry. She adds that the fireworks displays in which she is involved are not only meticulously organized ahead of time, but they are also very safe since they are set off electronically most of the time.

Elena still does not know what the future holds after she earns her bachelor’s degree, but she hopes one day to be able to put her artistic side to use choreographing pyrotechnic shows or concocting her own fireworks. In the meantime, she will enter her final year of her bachelor’s degree this fall while working as an assistant technician in the University’s undergraduate chemistry lab.

Text: Nadia Gervais
Photo: Andrew Benn
Published: September 2011