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President Bill Carroll’s Extreme National Chemistry Week Tour included a stop at Florida International University (FIU) where he met with students and teachers from four area high schools including Wellington High School. Early in 2005 two Wellington students wrote to President Carroll asking whether ACS offered a national affiliates program for high school students. At the same time, the ACS Education Division was developing a new Chemistry Club pilot program for high schools. As a result, Carroll suggested an official kick off event with Wellington during his Extreme Tour. Becoming the first chartered ACS chemistry club was described as a great honor by the Wellington students and their faculty advisor, Barbara Cloran. Carroll concluded his presentation by saying, “They will make us very proud.” President Carroll’s presentation remarks are available on Chemistry.org as a Podcast. In the Fall of 2005, the ACS Education Division initiated a pilot program for Society-affiliated high school chemistry clubs across the U.S. ACS staff contacted interested teachers, produced a handbook, suggested interesting and appropriate club activities, and established contacts with other ACS membership units. Plans are in place for a Web page for posting resources and encouraging communication among clubs. The idea of organizing an ACS high school chemistry club program has been under discussion for several years. A recent survey sent out to high school teacher members—sevHIST Sponsors Concert for Chemists Jeff Seeman, HIST chair
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Journal of Chemical Education
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Bill Carroll (second from left), ACS President in 2005, presents the first High School Chemistry Club charter to a group representing Wellington High School in Florida.
eral of whom already sponsor clubs—confirmed support for such a program. In the spring of 2005, a self-selected group of 35 teachers signed on for the 2005–06 pilot program and received assistance from the Office of High School Education for launching their own chemistry clubs. Additionally, these teachers were encouraged to contact their local ACS sections and nearby ACS Student Affiliate Chapters to initiate joint activities and acquire member support. Anyone interested in obtaining more information about the ACS High School Chemistry Clubs program may contact Senior Staff Associate Terri Taylor at
[email protected] or 1-800227-5558 x6383. According to Jeff Seeman, chair of HIST and co-organizer of the concert, “The response to the concert was extraordinary. Even the Washington Post covered the event! To add culture, entertainment, and fun to the scientific program is a gift to all those attending! We are already planning the 2nd Annual Fall ACS National Meeting Concert to be held in September 2006 in San Francisco. See you there!”
Victoria Bragin at the piano at the close of the Tuesday afternoon sessions at the Fall 2005 ACS Meeting.
Vol. 83 No. 1 January 2006
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www.JCE.DivCHED.org
photo: Aalok Mehta, C&EN
Perhaps the most unusual offering during the 230th ACS National Meeting was a piano concert performed at the close of the Tuesday afternoon sessions by Victoria Bragin, retired chemical educator from Pasadena City College and co-winner of the 2002 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs. This special cultural and entertainment event was co-sponsored by the ACS Division of the History of Chemistry (HIST) and The Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF). About 400 attended the free concert. The highlight of the event was a performance of works by the Russian chemist-composer Alexander Borodin. Bragin prefaced her performance of the Borodin works with a brief talk on the fascinating world of Borodin. She discussed Borodin’s sometimes-forgotten but significant research in organic chemistry and particularly in the area of aldehyde chemistry. She also focused attention on Borodin’s staunch support and work for academic freedom especially of Russian women. In addition to the Borodin works, Bragin played Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 31, No. 3 in E-flat and Chopin’s Sonata No. 3 in B Minor.
photo: ACS Community Activities
ACS Education Division Pilots Chemistry Clubs Helen Herlocker
