Connecticut Valley Section of the American Chemical Society celebrates it's Centennial Anniversary

Guest post by George Ruger, Chair Mid-Hudson Section of the American Chemical Society

Photos courtesy of George Ruger

The official celebration for the Connecticut Valley Section's (CVS) 100th Anniversary was held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.  ACS President-Elect Bassam Shakhashiri started off the festivities by presenting a certificate to celebrate the milestone to Mark Peczuh, Chair of the Connecticut Valley Section.  Then he talked about his 4 Presidential Initiatives and his theme during his Presidential year, Advancing Chemistry / Communicating Chemistry. 


The morning speaker was Dan Nocera, Professor from MIT.  Based on Dan's data, we are currently using 14 terawatts of energy on the planet, but we will need an additional 16 terawatts of energy by 2050.  Why so much more?  It is largely expected that by the year 2050 the world population will grow from nearly 7 billion people today to 9 billion people.  In addition, over the next 40 years there will be another 3 billion people in poor countries who will be looking for access to energy.  Therefore there will be twice as many people looking for access to the energy supply by 2050, and that goes on the assumption that the energy needs of the legacy world will not increase.  For energy in the non-legacy world, cost is the first issue, not efficiency.  High efficiency comes with a high cost.  The key, in Dan's opinion, is in providing the non-legacy world a carbon-neutral, sustainable energy supply.  Dan's work is largely focusing on obtaining energy from solar power.  He is looking at photosynthesis in plants for inspiration and trying to find a cost efficient way to generate energy that can be done in small scale in parts of the world that don't have access to the power grid. 

Lunch was provided to the attendees.  They also had the opportunity to view posters from the CVS which paid tribute to the history of the section and highlighted some of the important figures of the section, including those who are ACS Fellows.  One poster was dedicated to letters from other sections who congratulated the CVS on their 100th Anniversary.  A few of the 18 local sections in the Northeast Region sent letters and also sent representatives to the event.  The crowd had over 100 people, many of them high school kids from nearby schools. 

The afternoon speaker was Bassam Shakhashiri.  He was wearing his red SCIENCE IS FUN t-shirt for this portion of the event.  Bassam commented that everything around us is made of chemicals.  He also said those of us in the science-rich sector should share what we know with the science poor sector.  There is a gap between the sectors, and that gap is widening to the detriment of both sectors.  Bassam also talked about some of the reasons for communication- to inform, to engage, to educate, to advocate, and to persuade.  He also mentioned the Science and Engineering Indicators 2010, a report given every two years to Congress, and said we should all be familiar with what is in it. 

For the Science Is Fun demonstration, Bassam started by raising up a match.  He let it go and it dropped to the table.  He said "That is Physics."  Then he struck it on the side of the match box and the match lit to a brilliant flame.  He replied "That is Chemistry!"  Bassam also lit what looked like a dollar bill and it burned to a big flash, leaving no ashes behind.  Then he confessed that it wasn't a real dollar bill, but flash paper that looked like a dollar bill.  Then he sought a volunteer from the audience to donate a real bill.  He soaked the bill in a liquid and then lit the bill.  The bill seemed to burn with a bright yellow flame but actually remained intact.  The liquid burned off but didn't damage the bill.  He asked the audience what the liquid might be.  Then he said it was a mixture of alcohol and water.  Bassam also made use of 6 1000ml graduated cylinders.  There were three colors, and two cylinders had each color.  He added dry ice to one of the two of each color and we observed the color changes.  He talked a little bit about the Chemistry behind the color changes and then added the dry ice to the others.  Bassam also demonstrated Bernoulli's Principle by blowing up a long cylindrical plastic tube using only the air in his lungs, plus a little help from the surrounding air. 


In conclusion, Bassam said that all forms of science need to work together, including Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.

At the end of the event three cakes dedicated to the 100 year old Connecticut Valley Section were cut and eaten.  

No party is complete without cake.     

Sustainability of Water Quality et al at the 43rd IUPAC World Chemistry Congress

Ahuja & Charpentier, Chair ACS Board of Dir

My first visit to ACS HQ

Earlier this Spring, I met my friend, Sut ie)  Satinder Ahuja at the American Chemical Society headquarters in Washington, DC during the Sparkle Local Section Public Relations Chair Training. I introduced Sut to my husband at the Saturday evening reception. They had barely finished shaking hands before Sut rushed off to the corner of the room to make a phone call from the hotel house phone. Maybe three minutes passed and then Sut's wife appears and a lively conversation about the adventures of the day ensues between our spouses who were left alone to explore the city whilst Sut and I were fully immersed in intensive PR training and too bad that they didn't know there were other spouses and that they could have gotten together and done some sight-seeing and were they both going to Denver? etc. The next morning at the breakfast meeting while chatting with our fellow trainees we discovered even more spouses had tagged along for the trip!

Chemistry Ambassadors at the CC Sci-Cafe 2: Tanner, NESACS Chair-Elect, Driscoll, Me, Nocera, Hoffman, NESACS IYC Chair

I had just flown into DC that morning still soaring from the success of my second Cape Cod Science Cafe in celebration of Q2 of the International Year of Chemistry where Dan Nocera of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was my keynote speaker.  I was all geared up to speak on the subject of Social Media at Sparkle and surely couldn't contain my enthusiasm. Sut then told me about his upcoming symposium on the Sustainability of Water Quality at IUPAC in Puerto Rico. We exchanged contact information and I told Sut that I would utilize my social media vehicles to publicize his participation at IUPAC. I followed up with Sut when I returned to Cape Cod and now with the IUPAC conference looming near it is time to tell everyone about it. My intention was to  include Sut's information although now reading through the program information and seeing what an incredible line-up of speakers  that IUPAC has organized I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Dan Nocera was speaking, ACS President Nancy Jackson whom I had the pleasure meeting at the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society's February 2011 monthly meeting, ACS President Elect, Bassam Shakhashiri as well as seven Nobel Laureates each of whom are delivering plenary lectures! I can see that it is a true privilege to be included in this comprehensive technical program.

I'm star-struck meeting ACS President Nancy Jackson

So I ask the question: Heading to Puerto Rico for the 43rd IUPAC World Chemistry Congress? Then here are some highlights (featuring Sut, Dan and Nancy of course) from the scientific program that are not to be missed if you are in attendance!

5. CEN500- “Sustainability of Water Quality”, Hemda Garelick (Middlesex Univ. UK), Satinder Ahuja (Ahuja Consulting, USA)

Sponsors: IUPAC Chemistry and the Environment Division (Division VI), ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry, and Global Innovation Imperative (Gii): A Program of the American Chemical Society and the Society of Chemical Industry  

 

Abstract: Failure of safety measures relating to production, utilization, and disposal of many inorganic/organic compounds can cause contamination of water supplies. A number of water contaminants can also arise from the materials we use frequently. The symposium will address the following topics:

Global water quality issues
Monitoring contaminants in water
Remediation of various contaminants

9. AES400- “The Chemistry of Solar Energy”, Daniel Nocera (MIT, USA), Jorge Colón (UPR-Río Piedras)

Speakers:
1. Dan Nocera (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)- "Personalized Solar Energy for the Non-Legacy World"
2. Tom Moore (Arizona State University)- "Combining physics, chemistry and biology to transcend evolutionary constraints on photosynthesis."
3. Fraser Armstrong (University of Oxford)- "The importance of understanding enzymes at the detailed electrochemical level, for realizing future biohydrogen production and developing catalysts for energy conversions"
4. Ted Betley (Harvard University)
5. Matt Kanan (Stanford University)
6. Nate Lewis (California Institute of Technology)

Sponsors: ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry

Abstract: The Chemistry of Solar Energy symposium will cover the most-current fundamental research and contributions being made to solve the energy and climate crisis taping solar energy as a sustainable energy source. Chemistry is providing innovation through creative, new ideas to improve our life and secure a clean and sustainable future through solar energy.  The symposium will include the last research on artificial photosynthesis, multielectron catalysis, biohydrogen production, oxygen-evolving catalysts, carbon-dioxide reduction, enzyme-based fuel cells, and photoelectrochemical cells.

22. CEH500- “Are Women Still Underrepresented in Science?”, Ingrid Montes (UPR-Río Piedras), Janet L. Bryant (Scientist/Engineer IV National Security Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Chair, ACS Women Chemist Committee)

Speakers:
1. Nancy Jackson -  2011 ACS President, USA
2. Carolyn Ribes - Netherlands
3. Nicole Moreau – 2010 IUPAC President, France
4. Vanderlan Bolzani – Past President, Brazilian Chemical Society, Brazil
5. Natalia P Tarasova –Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology, Russia                                   

Sponsors: ACS Challenge Grant

Abstract: Over the years the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has provoke worldwide discussion. Researches had offered possible explanations that include; education environments, lack of roles models, poor preparation and lack of encouragement in STEM subjects among others.  It had also been suggested that underrepresentation is mainly a cultural phenomenon and that policies can affect workforce diversity. With this in mind and providing an opportunity to recognize the contributions of women to chemistry a full day program at the 2011 IUPAC World Congress is proposed. The full day symposium will include discussion of statistics in different countries, possible causes of underrepresentation and the ongoing challenges that are faced worldwide. Each presenter will also discuss the attitudes, behaviors, opportunities and resources that lead to their success.

To support the objective of the IYC 2011 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Mme. Marie Sklodowska Cure – the Play A Living History of Marie Curie by Susan Marie Frontcsak, Storysmith® will be presented.

Support from ACS groups: Women Chemists Committee (WCC), Young Chemist Committee (YCC), International Activities Committee (IAC), Committee on Minority Affairs (CMA), Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (CWD)

I will not be in Puerto Rico for this amazing conference whose theme is "Chemistry Bridging Innovation among the Americas and the World" but I will be in Denver at the Fall ACS National Meeting. Click here for information on the Denver Tweet-up (if you've brought your spouse to the meeting make sure to bring them to the Tweetup), follow along on Twitter using the #acsdenver hashtag and for specific location information on my poster presentations at the meeting: Cape Cod Celebrates the International Year of Chemistry and What's in the Air Now? Photochemical Smog Components in Air using a portable analyzer.