PACIFIC SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION O F CHEMISTRY TEACHERS OBSERVATIONS OF THE NEW PSACT EDITOR JOHN LEO ABERNETHY California State Polytechnic College, San Luis Obispo, California
the Pacific Southwest Association of Chemistry Teachers (PSACT) is spread from Humboldt State College in Arcata, a small town in the majestic redwood empire of northern California, to San Diego State College in the bustling city of San Diego near the Mexican border. The diversity of membership includes teachers in public and private colleges, universities, and junior colleges throughout the state. Since the locations of these institutions cover a territory some 800 miles long, this association is conveniently divided into two sections. The northern section extends its membership to the schools of northern California with a population center around San Francisco. Officersfor the northern section are:
Secretary:
M E M B ~ s H I P in
Chairman: Chairman-elel Secretary: Treasurer:
Harold Reiher University of California Davis, California. Courtney Benedict Chico State College Chica, Cdifornia Norman L. Lofgren Chico State College Chico, California Peter Coad College of San Mateo San Mateo, California.
The southern section has a population center about Los Angeles with members throughout southern California. Current southern section officers are: Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer:
Norman Kharasch University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Phillip L. Bruce Long Beach City College Long Beach, California Dorothy Craig Marlborough School for Girls Los Angeles, California
Responsibility for unity of these two sections is rested in the state officers. These are: President: Vice President:
Norris W. Rskestraw Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ls. Jolla, California Manfred Mueller City College of San Francisco San Francisco, California
Treasurer:
Ralph A. Barmore Pasadena City College Pasadena, California J. Gordon Sewell Placer College Placerville, California
An additional state officer is the chairman of the public relations committee, appointed for an indefinite period of t i e . One of the most important of his duties is membership on the editorial board of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICALEDUCATION. He serves as editor for the PSACT in writing its regular reports for THIS JOURNAL. With the retirement this year of Professor G. Ross Robertson, the chairmanship of this committee has been transferred to John Leo Ahernethy of the California State Polytechnic College. As the newly-appointed chairman of this committee, I feel the responsibility of bringing about a stronger union between members. For years, chemists of the state of California have had, international attention focused on their productivity. This cannot help but be accelerated and extended to small and large colleges alike as enrollments in our schools progressively increase. We must look forward to acute problems of population as well as those of food and energy supply. As educators, we may not always be able to provide the appropriate answers t o certain problems, but we might point out distinctions between important and unimportant questions. By a concerted effort, the important questions can lead through appropriate channels to significant answers. Population problems in relation to our schools are already glaringly obvious and must be solved effectively. Tangible objectives in reporting t o THIS JOURNAL for the PSACT need to be set down. I would like to outline these important ones: (1) To present material that primarily has local interest to the PSACT but always has significance for all chemists in the nation. (2) To increase our membership. (3) To increase attendance a t sectional and joint meetings by publicizing meetings in THIS JOURNAL before they are held. (4) To make members feel that they belong to an
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organization that is facing problems that have a real in relieving these pressures and can also provide friendly contacts. bearing on their teaching. The PSACT is already promoting several worth(5) To cause chemistry t o be a more important part of the culture of all of our colleges and universities. while activities. For instance, there is an annual Where chemistry is only a utility course it should be program of submitted papers. This gives teachers a nurtured t o the point where its strength is indicative chance to present their work and later publish it. Also for members there is a planned program of summer of the power of the school as a whole. employment which will be educational in a practical To encourage enlightenment, in terms of things (6) chemical, of the local communities where institutions way and will be helpful financially. This coming summer there will be a modest summer conference a t with PSACT members are located. Big Sur. Three days of chemical inspiration will take To increase utilization of space allotted to the (7) PSACT in the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATIONplace in the relaxing atmosphere of the stately redwoods. through significant news items, reports of meetings, Members and families will get acquainted through nupublication of papers and speeches given a t meetings, merous activities. The PSACT aims t o recognize acand the fostering of the writing of other articles for complishments of teachers a t all levels. I n the future there will be increasingly better liaison between highTHISJOURNAL. (8) To recognize achievements of our membership school and college faculties and between the PSACT and the American Chemical Society. in teaching, research, and related activities. Recently members of top eschelons of chemical (9) To present and clarify problems which confront the teachers on the one hand and administrative officers science have been included as speakers for various on the other. This should be done in a way that will meetings. Among these have been Linus Pauling, create mutual understanding and rectify difficulties Glenn Seaborg, Saul Winstein, Harrison Brown, wherever possible. Interesting learning situations K. J. Mysels, and Joel Hildebrand. Many others will often arise from these ventures in human relatiou- be drawn upon from time to time in the future. It has taken hardwork to bring ahout an organization with such ships. (10) To arouse the interest of students in teaching promise of contribution to its members. The PSACT is particularly indebted to men like Norris Rakestraw chemistry as a life-time occupation. The importance of a n organization like our own can of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Reed be gleaned by observing the reports of our more mature Brautley of Occidental College, Arthur Furst of Staneast-coast analogue, the New England Association of ford University, Ray Newsom of Whittier College, Chemistry Teachers, which has shown continuous G. Ross Robertson of the University of California a t growth in membership, usefulness, and stature through Los Angeles, Norman Kharasch of the University of the years. California is still pioneer country, where Southern California, and many others who have new schools and faculties are growing up in remarkably contributed to the association in innumerable ways. short time. With them have come pressures on college We must conserve our gains and look forward to the and high-school teachers alike. An established organ- future with great expectations for the progress of ization of chemistry teachers can offer major assistance chemistry in our Pacific Southwest.
THE NEW SOUTH
WHILEindustry in general is expanding at the rate of some 3 per cent per year, the expansion in the field of industrial chemical8 over the past decade has been twice as rapid. Of equal importance is the fact that the chemical industry accounts for at least 20 per cent of all industrial production in the United States a t the present time. Among all industries it is the most firmly wedded to research. In view of these considerations, it is particularly noteworthy that more than half of the nation's new chemical plants have located south of the Mason-Dixon line in the last few years. Nearly 15,000 professional chemist. and chemical engineers are now employed in the southern chemical industry. The South has one-third of the nation's chemical industry. The fundamental reason why petroleum, natural gas, brine, and the other natural resources of the South, which have been available since the earliest times, have suddenly become the basis for a great industrial empire, expanding employment, and a rising economy is due, in large meaaure, to the vision and skill of the scientist and the engineer. Until the vision of the scientist can see in them an answer to a human need, and the engineer supplies the technological skill which enables them to he used.. thev . r e d v do not exist at all as far as economic value is concerned. Man's knowledge and tunclerrtunding of scirntific and enginrerinu principles, coupled n.irh virion, lendership. and thr avnilnldits ol invrstmrnr wpitul, 11x4 rrsultrd in the induatri?l devrlopment wl~icllis so rapiJly rharr~4nl:ll~eiaceoltheSonrh. -From
an address by FRANK J. SODAY, President, The Southern Association of Seienee and industry
