scenes from the acs national meeting in boston
TRANSCRIPT
SCENES FROM THE ACS NATIONAL
MEETING IN BOSTON 'Welcome
PHOTOS BY LINDA WANG AND RUDY M. BAUM
American Chemical Society
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Members of the ACS Board of Directors and international guests (above photo) gather for the signing of the C6 agreement on sustainability (C&EN, Aug. 13, page 54). From left to right are Giovanni Natile of EuCheMS; Henning Hopf of the German Chemical Society; Executive Director and CEO Madeleine Jacobs; Richard Porte of the Royal Society of Chemistry; Russell J. Boyd of the Canadian Society for Chemistry; Eusebio Juaristi of the Mexican Chemical Society; President-Elect Bruce E. Bursten; President Catherine T. (Katie) Hunt; Board Chair Judith L. Benham; and Immediate Past-President E.Ann Nal-ley. Chemistry postdoc Albert K. Korir (photo at right), of the University of California, Riverside, explains his research during the Academic Employment Initiative at Sci-Mix.
At the Women Chemists Committee luncheon (above photo), Hunt (far right) is joined by WCC Chair Amber S. Hinkle (from left), Zafra M. Lerman, keynote speaker Ada E. Yo-nath, and Hessy Taft. Candidates for ACS president-elect 2008 (photo at right): Howard M. Peters (left) and Thomas H. Lane.
ACS had a strong showing all over Boston. *
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ACS scholars (top left photo) reunite during a reception held by the Committee on Minority Affairs. Children learn about diabetes (top right photo) by testing for glucose in a solution during the Chemistry in Action: Health & Wellness community outreach event at the Museum of Science. Board Chair Benham (photo at left, left) and past-president Helen M. Free attend the ACS Board reception. Sabine Brunger-Weilandt (bottom right photo, left), president and CEO of FIZ Karlsruhe, in Germany, visits with Jacobs during the board reception.
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A bird's-eye view (above photo) of the council meeting. Brian A. Lee (photo at left), an undergraduate majoring in chemical engineering at Brown University, checks out a process reactor at the exposition. Harvard chemist E. J. Corey (photo at right) signs copies of his newest book, "Molecules and Medicine," at the Publications Di-vision/C&EN booth.
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ACS AIMS PODCASTS AT GENERAL AUDIENCES
ACS HAS LAUNCHED a weekly podcast that aims to make cutting-edge scientific discoveries available to a broad public audience at no charge. The podcast, titled "Science Elements," is available on iTunes and atchemistry.org/science_elements.html.
Each podcast describes research reported in ACS journals, in C&EN, or at an ACS national meeting. For example, the Aug. 27 podcast features news from the recent ACS national meeting in Boston, offering listeners information on potential ill effects of some forms of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, an advance toward safer sources of collagen, increased diabetes risk from high-fructose corn syrup, odor tests on plastic water pipes, and a summary of a recent C&EN story about advances in solar cells (C&EN, Aug. 27, page 16).
The narrator for "Science Elements" is Steve Showalter, a chemist at the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories, in Albuquerque, N.M. Showalter's work focuses on the design and development of new batteries.
"As an active member of the ACS since 1987,1 view these podcasts as part of a broader commitment to improving public understanding of chemistry," he says. He also works toward that goal as a member of the ACS Committee on Public Relations & Communications and as a councilor for the Central New Mexico Section.
FELLOWSHIPS IN PUBLIC POLICY
AVAILABLE
ACS IS SEEKING experienced chemical professionals as applicants for its 2008 Congressional and Science Policy Fellowships. Each program allows the fellow to gain experience and insight into how the policy process works and the role that science plays in government decisions on a wide range of issues.
Congressional Fellowship. ACS annually sponsors two fellows on Capitol Hill who work in the personal office of a member of Congress, congressional committee, or congressional support agency. The one-year fellowship generally begins in September 2008 with a two-week orientation run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, but the start date can be delayed to January 2009.
Science Policy Fellowship. ACS will sponsor one fellow who will spend one or two years as a staff member in the ACS Office of Legislative & Government Affairs in Washington, D.C. The experience provides a window on the federal research budget process, regulatory issues, and interplay between science and decision-making. Applicants interested in a sabbatical experience, learning more to enhance their current careers, or wishing to establish careers in science-related policy are all encouraged to apply. The fellowship begins in September 2008.
Fellows receive an annual stipend in the range of $6o,ooo-$65,ooo, which varies depending upon the fellowship program and the experience of the fellows. Specific funds are also available for relocation, health, and other professional travel. Arrangements for financial support from other sources, such as a sabbatical or the fellow's present employer, are allowed with prior approval from ACS.
The application deadline for both the Congressional and Science Policy Fellowships is Dec. 31. Information about application procedures and additional policy fellowships can be found online at fellowships. aaas.org by following the "Society Partners" link. Those interested also may call ACS at (202) 872-4386 or e-mail congfellow@acs. org for further information about the programs or to contact former fellows.
$25 MILLION IN PRF GRANTS APPROVED
THIS YEAR, the ACS Board of Directors has approved 438 Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) research grants totaling more than $24.6 million for advanced scientific education and fundamental research related to petroleum or alternative energy. These include type AC grants for research at Ph.D.-granting institutions, type B grants for research at primarily undergraduate institutions, type G "starter" grants for new faculty in Ph.D.-granting departments, and type SE grants for support of scientific education.
In addition, four undergraduate faculty sabbaticals, 22 summer research fellowships, and 56 supplements for underrep-resented minority research were awarded, bringing the total grants funded to more than $25.2 million.
A list of grantees is posted on the PRF website, www.acsprf.org, under "List of Recent Grantees."
MINI-GRANTS FOR CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY
THE EQUIPPING the 2015 Chemical Technology Workforce program is accepting proposals for its mini-grants through Sept. 26. Up to $500 will be awarded to further activities that support technician education and career development.
To qualify for a mini-grant, activities must involve one or more sectors of the chemical enterprise (for example, industry, academia, and government) and be completed by the summer of 2008. Activities should focus on some aspect of technician education, professional development, and/or ACS membership. Winners will be announced in October.
To learn more about the mini-grants, see the previous winners, or get ideas for activities, visit www.chemtechlinks.org and click on "Equipping the 2015 Chemical Technology Workforce," or e-mail chem [email protected].
CHEMRAWN XII CONFERENCE PLANNED
IN SOUTH AFRICA
THE CHEMRAWN XII Conference, dubbed "The Role of Chemistry in Sustainable Agriculture 8c Human Wellbeing in Africa," will take place on Dec. 2-5 at Stellenbosch University in Western Cape Province, South Africa. CHEMRAWN (Chemical Research Applied to World Needs) is a standing committee of the International Union of Pure 8c Applied Chemistry.
The CHEMRAWN XII scientific program will focus on improving the quality of life of people in Africa through the provision of adequate food, with specific attention on the role of chemistry. The goals of the conference include securing a better understanding of sustainable agriculture in Africa in a global market; developing a systems approach to optimizing food provision; using high technology, including global observation systems, biotechnology, and green chemistry in ensuring food security; highlighting chemistry as a core science in food security; using agricultural produce from Africa as a source of biofuels, as well as high-value and niche products; and promoting science-based capacity development at African universities as a prerequisite for food security.
More information, including registration materials, are available online at www. chemrawn.co.za/.
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ACS NEWS