Chemical Education Today
ACS National Meeting
Undergraduate Program by Emily T. Thompson
Sunday, March 28
8:30–11 a.m. *Graduate School Recruiting Breakfast/ Undergraduate Hospitality Center. Undergrads will meet representatives from more than 60 graduate schools and have the opportunity to join graduate school recruiters for breakfast to learn more about their schools and graduate programs. The recruiters will be available from 8–11 a.m. and the center will remain open until 5 p.m. ACS staff will also be present to help students navigate the meeting’s programs and events and to answer other questions. 9–10:30 a.m. *How to be an Effective SAACS Mentor. Experienced SAACS advisors of award-winning chapters will reveal secrets of motivating students, effectively mentoring a chapter, and developing new chapter activities. 9–10:30 a.m. *Student-Led Professional Development Workshop: Increasing Majors through a Chemistry Recruitment Camp. The University of Toledo SAACS will discuss how they plan and carry out their chemistry recruitment camp for high school students—and how your chapter could do the same. Learn how to acquire funding, advertise, select participants, and engage students in fun and educational activities that encourage them to become chemistry majors. Funded by a Student-Led Professional Development grant.
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Photo courtesy of AOCVCB.
Continuing a 12-year tradition, the ACS Committee on Education, Task Force on Undergraduate Programming, will offer undergraduate chemical science students a variety of exciting and educational programming—two days of chemistry and camaraderie! One of the primary goals of the Task Force and its programming is to raise the professionalism among undergraduates in chemistry and chemical engineering, especially with regard to presenting research posters (see pp 307–308). Hence the number of students presenting posters at ACS national meetings has grown dramatically. At the Task Force’s first undergraduate program in 1992, students presented approximately 100 research posters and Student Affiliates Chapter activity posters; at the meeting in Anaheim, undergraduates will present more than 800 research posters and 70 chapter activity posters. To address the interests of undergraduates in chemistry and reinforce their identification as chemists, the Task Force also plans symposia and workshops to enhance professional and chapter development and help students prepare for careers in chemistry. Highlights will include the Graduate School Recruiting Breakfast, a symposium on forensic chemistry, and the SAACS chapter awards ceremony, followed by an undergraduate social. The Task Force invites all undergraduates in the chemical sciences—including non-traditional students—to attend the undergraduate programming at the Anaheim Meeting. This could be the biggest and best program ever!
Queen Mary.
10:30–11:30 a.m. *Forensic Chemistry: Inside America’s First Crime Lab. Interested in the collection, comparison, and interpretation of physical evidence related to crimes? Representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department, Scientific Investigation Division (SID) will discuss their work in the criminalistics laboratory that includes forensic analysis and scientific analysis of evidence found at crime scenes or collected from suspects and victims. Noon–1:45 p.m. *Chem Demo Exchange Using Household Chemicals. SAACS chapters will share exciting and educational hands-on demonstrations that incorporate common household chemicals. Gather fresh ideas to take home and try in your own outreach activities! Noon–1:45 p.m. *Graduate School 101: Funding Your Graduate School Education. Panelists from several excellent graduate programs will encourage participants to pursue graduate degrees and provide tools for seeking the financial support to do so. A buffet lunch will be served. Sponsored by the Committee on Minority Affairs. 2–3:30 p.m. *Graduate School Reality Check: Application, Acceptance, and Success. A panel made up of graduate students, administrators, faculty, and recruiters will discuss graduate school in the chemical sciences: how to get in, how to stay in, and how to get out! 2–3:30 p.m. *Internships and Other Experiential Education Opportunities. Having practical experience is important when applying to graduate school or a first job. Learn about how to find and apply for internships and other experiential programs such as cooperative education and study and work abroad. 3:45–5:15 p.m *Soft Skills: Introduction to Etiquette and How to Dress for Success. There is only one chance to make a first impression. See great examples of appropriate professional clothes for men and women and learn about the types of behavior during interviews that will help you put your best foot forward. 3:45–5:15 p.m. Communicating Chemistry to the Non-Scientist. Find out how to effectively communicate chemistry
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Chemical Education Today
with others—regardless of their level of scientific understanding. You will learn useful techniques and strategies for presenting research, participating in outreach activities, or preparing press releases about chapter activities. Sponsored by the ACS Committee on Public Relations and Communications. 7–8:30 p.m. *ACS Student Affiliates Chapter Awards Ceremony. Cheer for the award-winning SAACS chapters of the 2002–2003 academic year when they are recognized by the Society. Cosponsored by the Committee on Corporation Associates. 8:30–11:30 p.m. *Undergraduate Social. Enjoy an evening of dancing and great food, hosted by the California State University, Dominguez Hills SAACS. Monday, March 29
8:30–11 a.m. *Graduate School Recruiting Breakfast/Undergraduate Hospitality Center. 9–10:30 a.m *The U.S. Biotechnology Industry Workforce, Resources, and Industry Demands and Opportunities. Learn about important trends in U.S. biotechnology, including essential skill sets, the demand for employees at various education levels, and the future needs of the industry as it transitions to commercialization. 9 a.m.–Noon Kids and Chemistry/National Chemistry Week Workshop. ACS staff from the Education and the Community Activities Offices join forces to increase your resources for educational outreach! Participants will be introduced to the Kids & Chemistry program (in which scientists share hands-on science with elementary school children). There will be tips for planning and presenting activities, information on safety and liability issues, and a sampling of Kids & Chemistry hands-on activities. Participants will preview materials developed for Earth Day 2004 and National Chemistry Week 2004 and learn the national winners of the K–12 poster contest held during NCW 2003. Additionally, attendees will gain insight into recruiting and retaining volunteers and communicating with the media.
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11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–4 p.m. *Undergraduate Research Poster Sessions I and II. More than 800 undergrads will present their research results (see pp 307–308). Sponsored by the Division of Chemical Education, Inc. 5–6 p.m. *Eminent Scientist Lecture Featuring Terrence Collins of Carnegie Mellon University. Terrence J. Collins, Director of the Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, will discuss TAML activators, nontoxic iron catalysts that were designed at the Institute. This widely respected educator will discuss the unprecedented performance of these chemicals in large-scale oxidation applications and explore how they are being developed for commercial uses such as effluent treatment in pulp and paper and textile industries, disinfection, homeland defense, desulfurization of gasoline and diesel fuel, and more. 6–7:30 p.m. *ACS Corporation Associates: Up Close and Personal. The ACS Committee on Corporation Associates (CA) will host this reception for undergraduates. CA representatives will be present, making this a great networking opportunity for discussing topics such as working for a multinational company, being “industry-ready,” and finding alternate careers in chemistry. 8–10 p.m. *Sci-Mix/Successful Student Affiliates Chapter Poster Session. Student Affiliates Chapters will share their activities at this grand event. Posters and exhibits from ACS Divisions will also be on display. *These events are sponsored or cosponsored by the ACS Committee on Education, Task Force on Undergraduate Programming (Pamela Kerrigan, College of Mount Saint Vincent/Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, program chair; Carmen Collazo, Pontifical Catholic University, Ponce, PR, general chair). For more information, contact the ACS Student Affiliates Program at 800/227-5558 or
[email protected]. Emily T. Thompson is a member of the ACS Undergraduate Programs Office in the Education and International Activities Division.
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