Chemical Education Today
ACS National Meeting
A Monumental Experience: The Undergraduate Program in Washington, DC by Lori Betsock
photo: Jule Ober
All undergraduate chemical science students are invited to attend the Undergraduate Program at the 238th ACS National Meeting in Washington, DC on August 16–17, 2009. This educational and career-oriented program is designed to increase our understanding of the world with chemistry. Symposia will focus on the chemistry of our oceans and atmosphere. Nobel Laureate Susan Solomon will be the featured Eminent Scientist speaker. If graduate school is an option for the future or if you’ve already been accepted into graduate school for the coming academic year, be sure to attend the Graduate School Reality Check and graduate school networking events to meet and talk with graduate school recruiters. All events will take place in the Capital Hilton (1001 16th Street NW), except for the Undergraduate Poster Session and Sci-Mix, which will be held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, located between 7th and 9th Streets and N Street and Mt. Vernon Place (approximately K Street).
Albert Einstein Memorial, a 21-foot bronze statue, is in front of the National Academy of Sciences, 2102 Constitution Avenue (near and north of the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial).
Sunday, August 16 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Undergraduate Hospitality Center. The hospitality center will serve as a meeting place for undergraduates. Come to relax, enjoy breakfast, pick up career materials, and mingle with other students, members, and ACS staff. 9:30–10:45 a.m. How To Be a Green Chemistry Chapter Workshop. Come and discover how to become a green chemistry chapter. Panel participants include faculty advisors from award winning chapters and a representative from the ACS Green Chemistry Institute. 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Planning Science Events for Kids Workshop. If you enjoy sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge of science with elementary students, attend this workshop to get ideas to spice up your demo shows. Chemistry undergrads and professors will present a short interactive play to demonstrate how elements of theater can captivate kids and teach them important science concepts. These students will reveal a proven formula for developing and presenting your own chemistry performances. Also, learn hands-on activities and demonstrations developed by ACS that you can adapt to your work with younger students. Co-sponsored by the ACS Committee on Community Activities. 1:30–2:45 p.m. Chemistry of Our Oceans Symposium. With much of the Earth’s surface covered with water, our oceans hold many chemical mysteries yet to be solved. Noted experts will discuss the natural production of complex organic compounds and their biological fate and how the interaction of light with ocean waters can aid the study of global ocean carbon fluxes. 3–4:30 p.m. Graduate School Reality Check. A panel of graduate students, faculty, industry representatives, and university recruiters will discuss graduate school in the chemical sciences: how to select a graduate school and maximize your opportunity for being accepted and how to have a successful graduate school experience, ultimately earning a Ph.D.
4:30–6 p.m. Networking Social with Graduate School Recruiters. Meet representatives from graduate schools. Recruiters from institutions throughout the country will share information about a variety of graduate programs in the chemical sciences. Snacks will be served.
Monday, August 17 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Undergraduate Hospitality Center. The hospitality center will serve as a meeting place for undergraduates. Come to relax, enjoy breakfast, pick-up career materials, and mingle with other students, members, and ACS staff. 8:30–10 a.m. Graduate School Recruiting Breakfast. Enjoy a free breakfast and a second opportunity to network with representatives from graduate schools. 10:15–11:30 a.m. Chemistry of Our Atmosphere Symposium. This session will investigate some of the coupled chemical processes that occur in our atmosphere and a broad range of atmospheric phenomena. Human-induced changes—such as the introduction of particulate greenhouse gas generation to the atmosphere—and their effects will be discussed. 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Eminent Scientist Lecture and Luncheon. Nobel Laureate, Susan Solomon, will speak on “Ozone Depletion: The Story of a Successful International Agreement and Its Relevance for Climate Change”. Co-sponsored by ACS Committee on Environmental Impact. Noon–3 p.m. Undergraduate Research Poster Session. Undergraduate students will present research posters in the following areas: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical education, environmental chemistry, geochemistry, inorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, nanotechnology, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and
© Division of Chemical Education • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • Vol. 86 No. 8 August 2009 • Journal of Chemical Education
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Chemical Education Today
ACS National Meeting polymer chemistry. Co-sponsored by the ACS Divisions of Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biochemical Technology, Chemical Education, Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Physical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering. 8–10 p.m. Sci-Mix/Successful Student Affiliates Chapter Posters. Successful Student Affiliates chapters will showcase their activities during the largest ACS poster session.
All events are sponsored or co-sponsored by the Society Committee on Education Task Force on Undergraduate Programming. Chair: Charles Baldwin, Union University, Jackson, TN. Program Chair: Michael Schuder, Carroll University, Waukesha, WI. For more information, contact the ACS Under-
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graduate Program Office at 1-800-227-5558, ext 4480 or go to http://www.acs.org/saprogram (accessed May 2009). Supporting JCE Online Material http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2009/Aug/abs903.html Abstract and keywords Full text (PDF) with links to cited URL
Lori Betsock is a Senior Education Associate in the Undergraduate Programs Office, American Chemical Society, 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036;
[email protected].
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 86 No. 8 August 2009 • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • © Division of Chemical Education
