ACS NEWS
ACS studies journal structure proposals The Society now publishes 20 journals to distribute information from those who generate it to those who use it, and three committees are now examining proposals for change involving JACS and eight of the journals that publish research results
MEETING. JACS proposals drew full attendance at Council committee meeting in Chicago last fall, as Dr. Marshall Gates ( far right ) explains his views
This year the American Chemical Society will publish 20 primary journals. These journals will contain some 41,200 pages. People and organizations will enter about 347,400 subscriptions to them. Thirteen of the journals will be devoted largely or exclusively to describing original research. They will publish about 6800 papers by chemists and chemical engineers and those in closely allied fields. Most of these people will be Americans, but a significant number will live and work abroad in dozens of other countries. In all, this outpouring will represent a bewildering array of information of staggering diversity. The Society will spend nearly $9 million to gather and then distribute the material in its primary publications. And thereby hangs a question: Is this complex of publications the most effective and efficient way for ACS to move information from those who generate it to those who use it? The question is hardly novel, and it is probably one some group or another within the Society has studied nearly every year since the ACS started its first journal, the Journal of the American Chemical Society, 89 years ago. The question takes on new urgency today, however, brought on in part by the surge in information to be published and in part by the revolution in ways to handle information: • Ten years ago the Society's then existing eight publications printed about 19,000 pages. This year, as 50 C&EN MARCH 11, 1968
mentioned, the 20 publications are budgeted for more than 41,000 pages, an increase of nearly 120%. • The computer is opening up new ways of taking words from many sources and then storing, sorting, indexing, and selectively repackaging them into nearly infinite combinations. Moreover, new techniques in graphic arts promise to get words into print faster and, if not at less cost than traditional lead type, at least not at a cost that rises as rapidly as it has in recent years. We can already feel the impact of the information surge, and the computer processing and new graphic arts techniques will make themselves felt in a really major way before too long. Both the Society's primary publications and its secondary publications and services provided by Chemical Abstracts Service are deep into computer development programs. For a full explanation of CAS activities, readers may consult Dr. Fred A. Tate's article in C&EN last year (Jan. 23, 1967, page 78). As for the Society's primary publications, with which this account is basically concerned, a research and development group under Joseph Kuney in Washington is well into the development of methods for complete computer-based processing of information from manuscript to ultimate user. This group has established a leading position in the field of computerized composition for scientific journals. Computer-aided typesetting of all of the Journal of Chemical Documenta-
tion began with the first issue in 1966. In addition, the Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data and JirEC Product Research and Development are now being set by computer. Later this year computer-aided production will begin on IÙEC Process Design and Development and! on lirEC Fundamentals. Plans have been made to process all ACS primary publications, some 45,000 pages per year, via computer by 1971. JACS "questions." Pending major revisions in how the Society collects and then distributes primary information that may come with complete automation, meantime, three groups within the Society have for the past eight months or so turned once again to considering certain interim, specific questions concerning the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and especially as JACS relates to eight of the Society's other publications: The Journal of Physical Chemistry (JPC), The Journal of Organic Chemistry (JOC), Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry (IC), Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (JMC), Analytical Chemistry (AC), Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data (JCirED), and Macromolecules. The groups involved are the Board of Directors Committee on Publications, the Council Committee on Publications, and the ACS Committee of Editors. By most standards for publications of its type, JACS is a success. It is highly respected by research chemists here and abroad; many American and foreign chemists of the first rank
C&EN—Bay Rakow
compete keenly for space in its some 7500 pages per year. Circulation has grown steadily if not spectacularly, and JACS continues to rank a solid first among ACS journals of its type (i.e., those devoted exclusively or nearly so to original research results) and fifth among all ACS primary publications (at 19,100 behind C&EN at 130,000, Analytical Chemistry at 33,000, Chemistry at 32,000, and Industrial &• Engineering Chemistry at 20,000). Financially, the journal runs at a deficit but generally a slight one and one that is manageable in the context of an ACS primary publications budget with revenues of some $9 million (although there is an overall publications deficit of about $371,000 budgeted for 1968). Despite these factors, however, certain problems have arisen in the minds of some concerning JACS, partly within the JACS operation itself and partly within the family of journals that includes JPC, JOC, Biochemistry, IC, JMC, AC, JCÙED, and Macromolecules. One question raised by those who have p r o p p e d or studied changing JACS concerns the actual—and in some cases the potential—competition for the significant research papers between JACS on the one hand and JOC, JVC, IC, and Biochemistry particularly on the other (with somewhat slighter competition with JMC and the just-started journal, Macromolecules). Spanning as it does a range of fields as a matter of editorial policy, JACS naturally competes with
its more vertical counterparts in the areas of organic, physical, inorganic, and biological chemistry. In the view of some, such competition is inevitable and actually for one reason or another desirable. Others view the competition with less comfort. Another question raised by those who have proposed a change is the irritation caused when an author submits a paper to JACS only to learn after the paper has spent the necessary time in review that it isn't broad enough for JACS. The author, having by then lost upwards of several months, faces a further delay in publication when he submits the paper to a vertical journal. There it again must go through the review system (unless the editor of the vertical journal has access to the JACS review comments and agrees to use them, as occasionally happens ). A third point of discussion causing various committees to consider change is that papers in organic, inorganic, physical, and biological chemistry appear in at least two places—JACS and a more specialized vertical journal. A person must therefore scan two Society publications, this argument says, if he is to keep himself informed in, say, organic chemistry. Placing work in broad categories in only one publication, they say, would reduce the problem. On the other hand, there are many non-Society journals publishing material in organic chemistry; and the proponents of the current system note an organic chemist must read many journals now.
Problems magnified. These problems, if they are indeed problems, will probably be magnified as time passes. Money available, to say nothing of reader acceptance, will limit JACS's size; and it will not be able to publish enough pages to keep pace with growing demands on its space. JACS published 7416 pages in 1967, up from 6174 in 1966 and 6037 in 1965. The editor considered some 3100 articles and communications in 1967. He accepted 70% of the articles and 5 5 % of the communications. If the page lid stays on, as it seems it must, then the rejection rate (30% for articles, 45% for communications) will doubtless climb as the information surge continues. ("Rejection," however, is not the most precise term to apply. The editor suggests that many papers not used by JACS be submitted to a journal specializing in a specific field. JACS considers the papers "rejected," but notes a better designation would be "rejected or referred.") A change within the pages of JACS itself may compound the problem. This change stems from the increasing output of communications. In the past decade, communications have increased from 20% of receipts to 50%. As authors turn more and more to this mechanism for announcing important results quickly, the space available in JACS for full-length articles will decline. The rejection rate may then continue to increase. It is against this background and with these kinds of questions in mind that the Society's Committee of Editors and the Board and Council Committees on Publications have been considering proposals for change. A plan developed in the most detail so far and discussed the most in public is one first proposed by Dr. Marshall MARCH 11, 1968 C&EN
51
would contain articles from a specific vertical field. Sectioning might follow any of several different patterns, but one of the most logical would be to follow the historical pattern of the present journals: physical, organic, biological, inorganic, medicinal, analytical, and macromolecular. If it followed this scheme, the Society would then have a series of publications grouped under the general title of Journal of the American Chemical Society, and the individual sections might be titled this way:
Communications are increasing rapidly in JACS Year
Communications
Articles
1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967
261 326 343 376 450 495 608 575 652 752
1583 1513 1389 986 869 755 987 857 920 1073
Gates, JACS editor, at a meeting of the ACS Committee of Editors last July. It in some respects refines a plan proposed some six or seven years earlier by the then editor of JACS, Dr. W. Albert Noyes. The plan has since been discussed in both closed and open meetings of the Council Committee on Publications at the Chicago ACS meeting last September and by the Board Committee on Publications at its meetings in Chicago in September and in Washington in December. It became apparent at the Chicago ACS meeting, however, that the plan was opposed by a segment of the membership. Dr. Gates himself now does not consider that any action should be taken at the present time. Because of the rather large outpouring of member reaction, much of it spontaneous, no further formal action is to take place for at least a year as the three committees continue their discussions, weighing member reac-
Journal of the American Chemical Society Physical Chemistry Section
tion generated to date and seeking additional data on which to base a decision. Here, meantime, is a discussion of the plan and some of the alternatives proposed, with arguments being advanced for and against some of them. Grouping journals. The original plan proposed by Dr. Gates envisioned grouping perhaps eight of the Society's journals under the general title of Journal of the American Chemical Society. They are JACS, JVC, JOC, Biochemistry, IC, JMC, AC, and Macromolecules. JACS would cease to exist in its present form but would issue in several sections represented by the foregoing journals plus possibly a Communications section. Each section would be available on separate subscription or in possibly various combinations of subscriptions. If the Communications section came into being, it could contain communications from all chemical fields. Each of the other seven sections
Journal of the American Chemical Society Organic Chemistry Section Journal of the American Chemical Society Medicinal Chemistry Section Journal of the American Chemical Society Communications and the like. Of course, other types of sectioning might be possible as new ways of structuring chemistry generally come to be accepted. One possibility, for example, might lie in the ideas Dr. George Hammond is developing for a chemistry curriculum centered around chemical dynamics and structural chemistry. Journals will always compete for papers and authors for journal space. Each of the Society's journals involved in the proposal is outstanding,
Pages in eight journals more than double in a decade
1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968*
JACS
J PC
JOC
Biochemistry
6889 6717 6609 5220 5153 4236 5947 6037 6174 7416 7500
1654 2138 2006 2327 2782 2769 3997 4544 4217 4800 5500
2146 2172 2368 5400 4869 3728 3880 4573 4486 4323 4600
— — — — 1226 1516 2122 2997 4366 4178 5000
* Budget 52 C&EN MARCH 11. 1968
IC — — — — 1018 1374 1911 1952 2360 2391 2800
JMC
AC
— — — — 1444 874 890 952 1047 1276 1300
2497 2612 2763 2706 2781 2989 3566 2592 3067 2556 3000
Macromolecules
Total
— — — — — — — — — 1000
13,186 13,639 13,746 15,653 19,273 17,486 22,313 23,647 25,717 26,940 30,700
COMPOSITION. Three of the Society's journah are now set by computer. Here, pages are stripped up from photocomposed "type" preparatory to offset printing of one of the journals
of course. The present JACS, how ever, partly because of its broad con tent, partly because of its history, and partly because of the standards it must set to maintain reasonable size, probably has become the most pres tigious place for chemical publication within ACS. An advantage of the Gates plan some of those favoring it see is that it should reduce one of the main fric tions between editors and authors mentioned earlier: A paper now sub mitted to the present JACS but re jected because it doesn't fit within JACS's editorial scope and returned with the suggestion the paper be submitted "to a journal specializing in [a specific field of] chemistry" irks the author. More importantly, if the paper has been through the review mill at JACS, it frequently must go through the review mill at Journal B. The result can be inordinate delays in publication. (It should be men tioned, however, that at the moment plans are being made for better in teraction among ACS editors.) Instead of leaving the submission decision entirely to the author, who may not be as fully aware as possible of different journal scopes, each author would submit his paper to a central editorial office, specifying sec tion preference if he wished. There, papers would be routed in a con sistent way to the most applicable new JACS section for consideration. Each section would have its own editor and would be editorially autonomous, as is each journal now. Papers would be critically reviewed as at present, and they would be accepted or rejected on merit as at present. Eliminated would be the need for someone to decide whether a paper had broad or narrow appeal, however, since papers would be considered only by field and only on intrinsic merit. Only a relatively few papers prob ably could not be routed based on subject area. A mechanism for a borderline case would exist in the cen tral office for such a paper to be sent simultaneously to the editors of two—
or very rarely—three sections that might be potential outlets. These editors of each new JACS section could then decide quickly which sec tion is the most likely outlet for the paper. Worth noting, of course, is the fact that manuscript handling among the journals involved in the proposed re structuring is not inextricably tied to retitling the journals and putting them all under a JACS main head. It would be possible now, for example, to or ganize a central office for an author to submit his paper to. Most articles would go to the journal specified by the author. However, if people staff ing this office believed the article to be more appropriate for another jour nal, they could send it to the other journal in addition to the journal chosen by the author. This central office would thus serve as an internal referral clearinghouse among journals, and it would function when a paper did not fit the editorial scope of the journal originally submitted to. I&EC experience. Such a system, in fact, now exists formally for the I&EC family of publications and in formally for several other ACS pub lications having editorial staffs in Washington. The IirEC family con sists of the general monthly, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, and the three quarterlies, Ια-EC Process De sign and Development, lirEC Funda mentals, and lirEC Product Re search and Development. Each has its own editor, and the editors share the work of a full-time manuscript reviewing and editing staff in Wash ington. The system works this way: An author submits his paper to any one of the four publications by sending it to the Manager of Manuscript Re viewing for the system at ACS head quarters in Washington. The author specifies the journal he is submitting the work to. All four editors then receive copies of the titles, abstracts, and authors preferences, if any, and resolve most scope questions before the review process begins. The central
reviewing staff handles the mechanics of review based on selections made by the appropriate editor or in consulta tion with the editor. Paper and re view comments are then sent to the editor concerned for decision. If the editor after review decides that the paper is not for his publica tion, a mechanism exists to let each of the other three editors examine the paper and review comments to see if the paper might be appropriate for his journal. If it is, then the author is told of the first and second editors' decisions and given the option of proceeding with publication in the second journal or of withdrawing his paper. The significant feature of this sys tem is that it lets a group of editors examine a paper in an internal re ferral system, and the author is con tacted only when the final decision for the group has been made. No time is lost in a three-way sequential ex change between an author and two different editors, the second of whom does not automatically have access to what the first has done. Meantime, while the "JACS ques tion" is being considered, an improved referral system is being discussed among editors for other ACS publica tions under the guidance of David Gushee, who doubles as editor of lù-EC monthly and also as publications manager of the Society's journals. The discussions are farthest along involving JPC and JOC on the one hand and the referral of papers by either to JCirED on the other. Other journals will be brought into some such system eventually, most likely. A major disadvantage of restructuring along lines described, and one the proponents are quick to recognize, would be the size of the proposed new JACS organic section, if the sections were set up along today's journal lines. The present JACS is roughly 59% organic, 18% physical, 17% inorganic, and 6% biological. The organic group represents some 4400 pages a year (1967 publication level). Adding the some 4400 pages JOC now publishes would result in a journal of 8800 pages. Such a large journal would not bring much happiness to the average recipient, either because of what he would have to heft to read or what he would have to pay. While the prices of journals are almost certain to be forced upward by rising costs, the proposed restructuring plan is not intended to increase journal prices sharply. However, a doubling in size of the organic section would have to be accompanied by a considerable increase in price. Moreover, the size problem is likely to get worse, since the organic section of the present JACS has been the one MARCH 11, 1968 C&EN 53
that has grown most rapidly recently. The size problem might be partly reduced by a structure differing from today's journal lines, of course, al though no concrete suggestions have been made for such structuring as yet. Nor has anyone compiled the data that would suggest a more manage able structure. Other drawbacks. There are two other main disadvantages to the pro posal cited by chemists against the plan. JACS has existed for 89 years. It is T H E JOURNAL on which all present generations of American chemists have been teethed and it is THE JOURNAL that nourishes them. Thus, the present JACS is to many American chemists a comfortable friend. It is the most prestigious U.S. chemical journal and should not be allowed to die, they argue. A second disadvantage cited is that JACS is the only general research journal the Society publishes. To day, chemistry suffers badly from fragmentation. JACS is the only American chemical journal that gives a broad view and that helps people keep current in many areas. The need to keep broadly informed is doubtless a real problem for today's chemist, and many claim the present JACS solves that problem to an ex tent. Proponents of change argue, however, that other mechanisms exist to solve the problem. Two are Chemical Titles, a CAS alerting tool, and the Society's Accounts of Chemi cal Research, a new review journal. C&EN's research reporting and its research features also contribute. In restructuring the eight journals it might also be possible to devise other ways to keep readers broadly informed. One way, for example, lies in a suggestion that the proposed new JACS Communications contain abstracts of papers from all the other sections of the new JACS. In ad dition or alternatively, each of the new JACS sections might contain the tables of contents of each of the other sections. In one or both of these ways a subscriber to one section would be able to learn about the sub jects of all papers published in the new JACS sections. Ways would thus exist for him to keep broadly in formed on progress in fields other than in his own specialty. British experience. When faced with fundamental changes of the type being considered for the ACS publi cations, people naturally seek informa tion based on the experiences of others, if such information exists. As it happens, The Chemical Society (London) has within the past few years redesigned its publication pro gram, and those favoring and those opposing an ACS change have sought 54 C&EN MARCH 11, 1968
evidence in the British experience for support in the discussions. The facts briefly are these: In 1965, before any decisions had been made about the Journal of The Chemi cal Society, the British society started a new journal, Chemical Communica tions. Then in 1966 The Chemical Society divided the Journal of The Chemical Society along lines of the divisions of the table of contents of the pre-1966 journal: Section A— inorganic, physical, and theoretical; Section B—physical organic; Section C—organic. Sections A and Β appear monthly, Section C semimonthly. The journal situation in Britain, however, did not parallel the one ACS finds itself in today. First, The Chemical Society had one research journal, not an umbrella research journal like JACS supplemented by several vertical journals. Secondly, it faced not inconsiderable financial problems. The British approached their prob lem by splitting their one existing re search journal. The ACS, by con trast, in the plan advanced so far in the most detail, would put several existing journals under one general title. Secondly, the ACS publications involved are financially viable, at least up to this point in time. A very real consideration is how long the present system can remain so, what with increasing flow of information and steadily rising costs, however. Those responsible in The Chemical Society felt the Journal cost too much and was too large for most members. By dividing it into sections, the British hoped more members would take at least one section. This hope was realized in 1966 when the number of member subscriptions to some part of the Journal increased 4 3 % . Be the differences in background as they may, those who favor a JACS change and those who oppose it cite the British experience to bolster their positions. The British first considered 15 years ago taking the step they finally did, but decided then against dividing the Journal into several parts. As they were to observe in a recent annual report, however, "Between 1953 and 1963 the size of the Journal increased by some 50%, causing prob lems to the Society, the subscriber, and the reader alike. The inevitable reconsideration of division was there fore undertaken in the winter of 1964 and Council's decisions were an nounced in the summer of 1965. Careful consideration by the Society's Committees and of a questionnaire circulated to senior British chemists led to division along classical lines . . . "This division of the Journal has been well received. Submissions of papers by authors have increased by
20% and sales of the individual sec tions have been satisfactory. (Total circulation of the undivided Journal in 1965 was 5366; 1966 circulations of the individual sections were—In organic, Physical, and Theoretical 4475; Physical Organic 4692; Or ganic 4932 (a total of 14,099). Fur thermore, there was a 4 3 % increase in the number of Fellows taking some part of the Journal.)" Chemical Communications, mean while, has apparently done very well. Circulation in 1966 was nearly 6300. Most of the sales have been to mem bers, and public sales have risen slowly. J. R. Ruck Keene, general secretary of The Chemical Society, says, "Chemical Communications had to build its own market, a market that had not been prepared particularly well for the introduction of new lines and concepts. Separate publication of urgent communications, letters to the editor, and the like is a fairly novel concept, and one would, therefore, expect librarians and the like to be rather slow to accept it. Also, to some people communications repre sent ephemeral publication and if priorities in budgeting have to be assessed one would then expect this to take second place to definitive pub lication. "Furthermore, the other existing publication devoted to preliminary communications in chemistry, Tetra hedron Letters, proved to be very ex pensive, and undoubtedly there would be pressure generally to discourage this sort of publication." Circulation is one measure of suc cess. Another is publication speed. Again the British experience may be cited, although again it should be noted that the British move does not parallel the proposed ACS move. In any event, splitting their journal into several sections had not as of late last year shortened the time between receipt of manuscript and publica tion. They expect it eventually will, but the 2 0 % increase in papers re ceived and changes in a small staff that resulted in too few people to handle the load reduced the speed with which they could handle papers. Chemical Communications, mean while, has proved very acceptable to authors, according to Mr. Ruck Keene. In the first year, 1965, the society re ceived twice the number of manu scripts as it had in 1964 when com munications appeared in the Society's Proceedings "along with a great deal of ephemeral matter." The number increased between 35 and 4 0 % in each of the next two years. Normally, unless a communication runs into re viewing trouble, about seven weeks elapse between receipt and publica tion.
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While the view is thus generally favorable, it should be mentioned that there is a body of opinion in Britain expressing unhappiness with the communications journal. What next? The American Chemical Society's Constitution specifies that primary responsibility for the Society's publications rests with the 13-man Board of Directors. Under Board procedure, recommendation for action, if any, will come from the Board Committee on Publications, this year under the chairmanship of Dr. Charles Overberger. This committee in turn will receive suggestions and advice from the Council Committee on Publications, under the chairmanship of Dr. Blaine McKusick. At its meeting in December in Washington the Board committee decided not to act directly on any JACS change for at least a year. During this time it and others will continue to study the problem, to examine comments received so far, and to consider future action, if any. The Council Committee on Publications has the topic on its agenda for the San Francisco meeting, both in the closed and open sessions, and the results of those discussions will be forwarded to Dr. Overberger's committee. The Board committee will discuss the matter in San Francisco, during the summer publications conference it holds annually, and at the Atlantic City meeting next fall. Not all of the alternatives have been discussed in this short article, of course. Perhaps this is the time for the Society to move on the Gates Plan or parts of it. Perhaps it is the time to experiment with a new type of article for JACS, the long communication that is not republished and for which experimental details are available only on request or in a separate depository. Perhaps this is the time to eliminate the four classifications in JACS and require that papers cut across two or more fields for acceptance. Some people have suggested perhaps the present organic content of JACS and all of JOC should be considered for a new journal that would issue weekly, carrying physical organic papers one week and organic papers the next (and bearing in mind that even so would a journal of upwards of 200 pages a week be a manageable package). From all the discussion and feedback, the Board committee hopes to evolve a positive program. Members unable to attend the Council committee meeting in San Francisco next month (C&EN, Feb. 12, page 48) may send their views to Dr. McKusick or to Dr. Overberger c/o American Chemical Society, 1155-16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
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M A R C H 11, 1968 C & E N
55
Midland Section holds high school science seminars Science-oriented high school students in the Midland area are getting a stimulating view of current scientific research by participating in science seminars sponsored by the Midland Section. Just completing its second year of operation, the diversified seminar program comprises technical lectures for high school students by scientists from many disciplines. The Midland Section had previously sponsored a science fair for area senior high school students, but this project apparently had little appeal to the gifted students and the fairs were discontinued. The section then began looking for a program that would fill the void and attract students interested in science. Dr. Howard Potter, chairman of the section's education committee, got the idea of the science seminars from the Kalamazoo Section, which was already sponsoring such a program. Dr. Edwin F. Whiting of the Kalamazoo Section explained its activities to Midland and the Midland Section launched its own seminar series. The 1966-67 program covered only four topics but the series was expanded this season to 13 topics, including infrared spectroscopy, artificial internal organs, chemical evolution, lasers, and radiation chemistry. Sam A. Brady and Dr. John Valicenti planned the 1967-68 series, for which most of the speakers were local ACS members. Each program lasted approximately
two hours, with a one-hour lecture delivered by the speaker for the evening and a discussion following. The informality of the seminars created maximum rapport between the speakers and student participants. Some 60 Midland area students, recommended by their science teachers for their knowledge of and interest in science, participated in this year's seminars. The series enabled the high school students to become aware of scientific research in progress today, offered a challenge to the talented student by allowing him to participate in scientific discussion, and made the interested student aware of the opportunities open to him in a scientific world. Other sections can obtain more information on the Midland endeavor by writing to Sam Brady, Dow Corning Corp., Midland, Mich. 48640.
New local section officers AMES. Dr. William C. Wildman, who holds professorships in the chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics departments at Iowa State University, heads the Ames Section this year. Serving with Dr. Wildman are Dr. Roy W. King, chairman-elect, and Dr. Robert A. Jacobson, Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010, secretary-treasurer.
SAN ANTONIO. John D. Millar, senior analytical chemist, department of physical and biological sciences, Southwest Research Institute, heads the San Antonio Section in 1968. The other officers are William J. Wilson, Jr., chairman-elect; Dr. John A. Burke,, Jr., 210 Green Meadow Blvd., San Antonio, Tex. 78213, secretary; and Leopoldo L. Rodriguez, treasurer. IOWA. Dr. Charles A. Swenson, associate professor in the biochemistry department at the University of Iowa, heads the Iowa Section in 1968. Donald J. Pietrzyk is chairman-elect and Dr. Clyde W. Frank, State University of Iowa, Department of Chemistry, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, is secretary-treasurer. BRAZOSPORT. Dr. Simon Miron, 1968 chairman of the Brazosport Section, is production specialist in Dow Chemical's styrene development lab. Serving with Dr. Miron are John P. Buettner, chairman-elect; Prella Phillips, P.O. Box 743, Angleton, Tex. 77515, secretary; and Dr. John S. Wilson, treasurer. PANHANDLE PLAINS.
Dr. Gene A.
Crowder, 1968 chairman of the Panhandle Plains Section, is associate professor of chemistry at West Texas State University. Serving with Dr. Crowder are Elmer T. Suttle, chairman-elect, and Peter Aboytes, P.O. Box 831, Borger, Tex. 79006, secretary-treasurer.
SYMMETRY. Dr. Donald R. Petersen and Dr. Virginia Rychnovsky of Dow Chemical Co. discuss symmetry in solids with seminar students. The Midland Section's program, now in its second year of operation, offers area high school students lectures by scientists from many disciplines. Lecture sessions followed by a discussion hour provide the maximum rapport between speakers and students 56 C&EN MARCH 11, 1968
CENTRAL ARIZONA. Dr. Bernard van Pul, manager of the microscopy and chemical analysis laboratory at Motorola, Inc., is the 1968 chairman of the Central Arizona Section. Serving with Dr. van Pul are Dr. Theodore M. Brown, chairmanelect; Dr. Robert D. Waldron, 5620 N. 69th PL, Scottsdale, Ariz. 85251, secretary; and Arnold E. Bereit, treasurer.
