Join us on Saturday, June 20 (11:30 AM–2:00 PM at Brewlando) for our Summer Social—a special afternoon honoring our 50-, 60-, and 70-year members and connecting with fellow chemists.
Enjoy a taco bar, appetizers, and a 150th anniversary ACS dessert, plus a fascinating talk from Dr. Tyler Maxwell on the chemistry behind homemade explosives and detection technologies. More details here: https://orlandoacs.org/summer-social/
Cost: $25 (pay at the door—cash, check, or PayPal)
Come enjoy great food, stimulating conversation, and a chance to connect with fellow chemists in your community. It’s shaping up to be a memorable afternoon—we hope to see you there! We’d love to see you there!
The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society warmly invites you to a special celebration honoring our esteemed 50-, 60-, and 70-year ACS members—trailblazers whose decades of dedication have shaped the field of chemistry. The lunch event will also feature an engaging presentation by Dr. Tyler Maxwell, who will share insights from his work on homemade explosives—a fascinating look at the chemistry behind the TSA.
Join us for an afternoon of recognition, discovery, and connection with fellow chemists in your community!
Saturday June 20th, 2026 11:30AM to 2:00PM Brewlando (6820 Hoffner Ave, Orlando, FL 32822)
MENU appetizers, taco bar, and 150-anniversary ACS dessert Cash bar is available.
The cost will be $25/person. Since the Orlando Section covers part of the meal, tax, and gratuity, the Section will pay the bill with a single check. Please be prepared to pay at the door by check or cash or PayPal—unfortunately we cannot accept credit cards.
The Synthesis and Characterization of Homemade Explosives to Support Test and Evaluation Tyler Maxwell, Ph.D. Lead Chemist Tyndall Reactive Materials Group Applied Research Associates Inc. 430 West 5th Street, Suite 700 Panama City, FL 32401 The protection of transportation systems and freedom of movement for people and commerce is essential for a nation to function. The United States government is committed to preventing future terrorist attacks such as those that occurred on September 11th 2001. To support this mission, basic and applied research on homemade explosives (HME) is critical for the safety of the traveling public as HMEs have been used in attacks against the US and abroad. The Tyndall Reactive Materials Group (TRMG) has been working on behalf of the US government to synthesize, analyze, and produce large quantities of HME for testing and evaluation since 2005. The process for safely manufacturing and characterizing HMEs at TRMG is described as well as some of the working principles behind contraband detection technologies currently deployed and in development. Blast characterization methods are also described for evaluating the detonability and terminal performance of HMEs.
Come learn some interesting chemistry and socialize with your fellow chemists. We look forward to seeing you all there!
To encourage student participation in local, regional, and national conferences organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and its affiliates – and to expand opportunities for students to deepen their scientific engagement and professional networks – the Orlando Section of the ACS offers Student Travel Awards. This initiative helps reduce financial barriers to conference participation and supports the development of future scientists in our region.
Victor Johnson, a graduate student at Florida Institute of Technology, presented his research on Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Acalypha wilkesiana at the Fall 2025 ACS Meeting in Washington, DC.Victor Johnson, a graduate student at Florida Institute of Technology, presented his research on Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Acalypha wilkesiana at the Fall 2025 ACS Meeting in Washington, DC.
Students who have an accepted abstract to present at the ACS Fall 2026 National Meeting and Expo in Chicago, IL, are invited to apply for travel support. The meeting will take place in August 2026 and provides an invaluable platform for students to share their research, attend technical sessions, and connect with chemists from across the nation.
These awards are designated as follows:
One $500 award for a graduate student
One $500 award for an undergraduate student
Thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Darlene Slattery, retired long‑time Orlando Section Councilor and the 2025 Gordon L. Nelson Award recipient, the Section will also offer one additional $500award for a student attending a non‑research college or university.
Application Instructions: To apply, students must submit an application package as a single PDF file that includes the following components:
A brief introduction of the applicant (e.g., academic status, institution, research area)
Proof of acceptance of the abstract (such as the official ACS acceptance email or screenshot)
A copy of the presentation abstract
A brief explanation of financial need, describing why support from the Orlando Section of the ACS is necessary. This is especially important for applicants whose research groups receive federal, industrial, or private funding.
Advisor contact information, including email and phone number (The Awards Committee will directly request a brief statement from the advisor confirming the student’s financial need for registration, lodging, and/or travel assistance.)
The completed application package should be emailed to the Awards Committee: Dr. Laura Sessions (lsessions@valenciacollege.edu) June 19, 2026, at 11:59 PM (EST)
Selection Criteria The Awards Committee will select recipients primarily on the basis of financial need, with additional preference given to applicants who: possess an active ACS student membership, have not previously received a travel award from the Orlando Section, and contribute to broad representation across the colleges and universities within the Section. Bonus consideration will be given for the novelty and impact of the research project. To be eligible, students must be enrolled at institutions within the geographic boundariesof the Orlando Section.
In 2001, the ACS Orlando Section established the Avogadro Award to be presented to an outstanding senior project at the State Science and Engineering Fair. Other Sections in Florida were encouraged to support the award, and it is presented yearly as a joint effort.
The 2026 award winner is Nicholas R. Stan (pictured right), a student at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. Nicholas’ project was entitled “Enhancing the Oncotoxic Effects of Mitochondrial-targeting D-(KLAKLAK)2 Peptide by Improving Cell Membrane Permeability via Chemical Conjugation with Imidazopyidinium.” The judges in the senior chemistry section unanimously chose this project because of its strong chemistry content and the obvious knowledge of the student.
The Orlando Section extends its gratitude to Darlene Slattery and DK Weerasinghe for judging the fair and awarding the Avogadro Award along with thanks to the Pensacola Section and the South Florida Section of ACS for contributing to the monetary award for the prize.
Abstract
Prior research has indicated that the synthetic peptide D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues (D-KLAKLAK and D-KLAK) exhibit potent cancer toxicity (oncotoxicity) and pro-apoptotic activity when internalized in mammalian cancer cells. The limitations of these peptides as therapeutic agents, however, are cancer specificity and membrane permeability. Research on tumor-homing peptides to attach to these kinds of peptides has had relative success in conferring specificity, but remain inefficient in promoting membrane permeability. Therefore, the only remaining problem is membrane permeability. The study conducted investigates chemical grafting of IP+ (imidazopyridinium) on to D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues, and its effect on cellular permeability. IP+ is a heterocycle designed to facilitate the diffusion of large peptides across the cell membrane, and this study tested if grafting IP+ onto D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues would improve its ability to diffuse across the cell membrane, which could aid in the development of a cancer therapeutic based on this peptide or others. Experimental methods included preparing D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues, and grafting IP+ and a chloroalkane tag onto them. The effects of IP+ grafting were evaluated by running Chloroalkane Penetration Assays (CAQPA) on HEK293 cells in order to assess to what degree the peptides with or without IP+ could access the cytosol of the cells. Results indicated that IP+ significantly enhanced the intracellular localization of D-(KLAKLAK)2 and D-KLAK compared to controls lacking IP+. These results support the hypothesis and suggest that combining D-(KLAKLAK)2, a tumor-targeting peptide, and IP+ may provide a promising approach for developing broad-spectrum cancer therapeutics in the future.
April Event:Central Florida Earth Day at Lake Eola Park, Orlando, FL
The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will be participating in the 21st annual Central Florida Earth Day event at Lake Eola Park (east side), 512 E. Washington Street Orlando, FL on Saturday April 25th, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The ACS-Orlando booth has been assigned Site #4 in the vendor area located on the international bridge. Please refer to the map below for guidance:
Greetings ACS Orlando Section, I wanted to send a brief newsletter with several updates and activities around our local section. The newsletter informs councilor report with updates on upcoming ACS National Election. You will also find details about the student travel awards and the Avogadro Award provided by our local section. This year we had generous donation from Dr. Darlene Slattery, the 2025 Gordon L. Nelson Award recipient, to boost the student travel awards. We will celebrate the 21st annual Central Florida Earth Day event at Lake Eola Park on April 25, 2026. Please attend the event, if you can. We are also planning a Summer Social event in June 2026. Please stay tuned for more details on the Summer Social. Please share with us your ideas for programming that you would like to see in the Central Florida area – our contact information is below! I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely Toufiq Reza
Councilor Talking Points: Summary of Governance Issues and Actions
This report captures key actions and decisions from the ACS Council meeting on March 25 and the Board of Directors meetings held March 20–22, 2026, offering an overview of developments impacting the Orlando Section. Prepared by Laura Sessions and Nicole Lapeyrouse, Orlando Section Councilors.
Election Results Council selected Laura Sremaniak and Lisa McElwee‑White as candidates for 2027 President‑Elect. They will appear on the ballot in the fall 2026 national election, along with any petition candidates. Four candidates were announced for Director‑at‑Large (2027–2029): Mick Hurrey, Beth Lorsbach, William Provine, and Carolyn Ribes. Two will be elected this fall.
Committee and governance updates Council approved renaming and updating duties for the Committee on Budget and Finance to the Committee on Fiscal Affairs, reflecting the growing complexity of ACS finances. The committee preference form is open to all members interested in serving on an ACS committee in 2026 through July 6: https://www.acs.org/about/governance/committees/committees/information/preferences.html
Membership and global growth Council approved creation of a new International Chemical Sciences Chapter in Sri Lanka. The 2027 dues and benefits were approved with no changes from 2026.
Financial health ACS reported strong financial performance in 2025, with $50.7 million in net revenue and continued long‑term growth. Over the past 25 years, revenue has more than doubled, with a fourfold increase in unrestricted net assets. ACS receives 58% of revenue from outside of North America and is active 56 different jurisdictions.
Meetings and programs Spring 2026 programming emphasized collaboration, with strong focus areas (more than 300 sessions) in the four community programming tracks of Pharma, Data Science/AI, Sustainability, and Startup. As of March 24, there were 13,521 registrations (12,475 in-person and 1,046 online). The ACS Fall 2026 meeting will be held in Chicago, IL, from August 23-27, 2026.
Actions of the Board of Directors Meeting Board highlights The ACS Board approved a new Advocacy Strategy to support science and scientists in a non‑partisan way. Key areas of focus for 2026 are available at https://www.acs.org/policy/memberadvocacy/issues.html. Student and trainee support This spring, ACS launched Catalyst Scholarships, that will provide $10,000 per year to 200 undergraduates. A $1.4M graduate student success grant supported 74 graduate students who lost funding near degree completion last year.
Your Orlando Section Councilors are here to support ACS members across our seven‑county region. Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions, concerns, or ideas – we’d love to hear from you. With kind regards, Laura and Nicole
Chemists Celebrate Earth Week 2026
Stop by to visit Orlando Section members at the 21st annual Central Florida Earth Day event at Lake Eola Park (east side), 512 E. Washington Street Orlando, FL on Saturday April 25th, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. If you are interested in volunteering, remember that you must register and complete a background check. Please contact the CCEW event coordinator with any questions (stephensmith@fit.edu).
Orlando Section students traveled to the Spring Meeting in Orlando
The Orlando Section of the ACS sponsored four students with Student Travel Awards, thanks in part to a generous donation from Dr. Darlene Slattery, retired long‑time Orlando Section Councilor and the 2025 Gordon L. Nelson Award recipient.
Moses Mayonu (pictured right), PhD Candidate in Chemistry at the Florida Institute of Technology, stated that, ‘This experience provided me with extensive networking opportunities with researchers across the United States and the broader international scientific community. Engaging with distinguished professors offered valuable academic perspectives, while connections with students from both academic and industrial backgrounds have since contributed meaningfully to my ongoing research. A key highlight was the metabolomics data analysis bootcamp on March 25, 2026, which equipped me with critical analytical skills that will enhance my research approach and support my career development.’
Macayla Marr Barnett, undergraduate researcher at UCF (pictured left with advisor Dr. Nicole Lapeyrouse), shared that ‘the award allowed me to present at the 2026 Spring ACS Conference and share me and my research team’s most recent updates on STEM Identity. I love sharing and learning more about chemistry research and am so privileged to be able to connect with others in the community.’
Allison Lloyd (pictured right), PhD candidate at UCF shared that, ‘This year was the 150th anniversary of the conference, which resulted in keynote speakers I’d never thought I’d get the opportunity to hear from. I attended the keynote given by Dr. Jennifer Doudna, Nobel Prize-winner and co-inventor of CRISPR technology, which was the kickoff keynote for the conference. From that point forward, I presented a poster during the evening general poster session and the Sci-Mix poster session, in which I was approached by other researchers working on quantum dots. It was great to explain to them my own work on quantum dots, to have my work challenged and questioned by them, and to receive advice regarding experts in the field I could consult to continue with my work. Later in the week, I attended another keynote given by the Nobel Prize winner Dr. Moungi Bawendi for his contributions to quantum dots – the same field I had been presenting research in!’
Preeti Maiti (pictured left), a doctoral student at UCF, shared that, ‘I was selected to present a poster in the Biomaterials and Biointerfaces session under the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry. Presenting my poster provided an excellent opportunity for scientific exchange, allowing me to engage with researchers and gain valuable new ideas and perspectives.
In addition, I was selected to deliver an oral presentation in the Division of Biochemical Technology under the Product Formulation session. This experience offered significant insights and served as a valuable platform to effectively communicate my research to a broader scientific audience.’
Avogadro Award
In 2001, the Orlando Section established the Avogadro Award to be presented to an outstanding senior project at the State Science and Engineering Fair. Other Sections in Florida were encouraged to support the award and it is presented yearly as a joint effort.
The 2006 award winner is Nicholas R. Stan (pictured right), a student at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. Nicholas’ project was entitled “Enhancing the Oncotoxic Effects of Mitochondrial-targeting D-(KLAKLAK)2 Peptide by Improving Cell Membrane Permeability via Chemical Conjugation with Imidazopyidinium.” The judges in the senior chemistry section unanimously chose this project because of its strong chemistry content and the obvious knowledge of the student.
The Orlando Section extends its gratitude to Darlene Slattery and DK Weerasinghe for judging the fair and awarding the Avogadro Award along with thanks to the Pensacola Section and the South Florida Section of ACS for contributing to the monetary award for the prize.
Abstract
Prior research has indicated that the synthetic peptide D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues (D-KLAKLAK and D-KLAK) exhibit potent cancer toxicity (oncotoxicity) and pro-apoptotic activity when internalized in mammalian cancer cells. The limitations of these peptides as therapeutic agents, however, are cancer specificity and membrane permeability. Research on tumor-homing peptides to attach to these kinds of peptides has had relative success in conferring specificity, but remain inefficient in promoting membrane permeability. Therefore, the only remaining problem is membrane permeability. The study conducted investigates chemical grafting of IP+ (imidazopyridinium) on to D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues, and its effect on cellular permeability. IP+ is a heterocycle designed to facilitate the diffusion of large peptides across the cell membrane, and this study tested if grafting IP+ onto D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues would improve its ability to diffuse across the cell membrane, which could aid in the development of a cancer therapeutic based on this peptide or others. Experimental methods included preparing D-(KLAKLAK)2 and its analogues, and grafting IP+ and a chloroalkane tag onto them. The effects of IP+ grafting were evaluated by running Chloroalkane Penetration Assays (CAQPA) on HEK293 cells in order to assess to what degree the peptides with or without IP+ could access the cytosol of the cells. Results indicated that IP+ significantly enhanced the intracellular localization of D-(KLAKLAK)2 and D-KLAK compared to controls lacking IP+. These results support the hypothesis and suggest that combining D-(KLAKLAK)2, a tumor-targeting peptide, and IP+ may provide a promising approach for developing broad-spectrum cancer therapeutics in the future.
SERMACS 2025: A Success
The 76th Southeastern and 81st Southwest Joint Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS/SWRM 2025) themed “Chemistry in the Sunshine” was held from October 26-29th, 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, FL. 1710 attendees represented a diverse range of institutions and sectors, including academic institutions, industrial organizations, state/government agencies, undergraduate/graduate students and post-doctoral scholars, as well as high school teachers and students. SERMACS/SWRM 2025 featured 49 distinct technical symposia.
Many thanks to the many, many Orlando Section members who volunteered their time and talents to make the meeting a success!
The Executive Committee would like to extend special gratitude to Chris Chouinard for his dedication in serving as General Chair. Chris is pictured above issuing a welcome to the meeting.
Invite to Attend Executive Committee Meetings
All members are welcome to attend the Orlando Section Executive Committee Meetings that take place on the third Saturday of each month on Zoom. Please contact the Chair (Toufiq Reza) to obtain access to the meeting.
April Event:Central Florida Earth Day at Lake Eola Park, Orlando, FL
The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will be participating in the 21st annual Central Florida Earth Day event at Lake Eola Park (east side), 512 E. Washington Street Orlando, FL on Saturday April 25th, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. All members and affiliates are welcome to stop by and say hello to our wonderful volunteers and meet some local section members. The vendor location for the ACS-Orlando booth will be communicated by event organizers on April 22nd. A subsequent announcement will be made once this information is available. A general map is provided below for now as a reference.
ACS-Orlando is excited to announce that volunteer registration for the 2026 Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) initiative is now live! The local section will be participating in the 21st annual Central Florida Earth Day event at Lake Eola Park (east side), 512 E. Washington Street Orlando, FL on Saturday April 25th, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. All members and affiliates are welcome to volunteer and there is no requirement to serve the entire duration of the event, any time contribution will be valuable. Please note that all volunteers must consent to a background check per the ACS Volunteer & Participant Code of Conduct Policy.
The ACS Orlando Section is partially sponsoring the 2025-2026 A.H. Blatt Distinguished Lecture by Professor John L. Wood, Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor and Department Chair, Baylor University. The title of this lecture is “Recent Efforts in the Synthesis of Complex Natural Products”. This hybrid event is scheduled for March 12, 2026, from 5 p.m. in Bioengineering and Sciences Building (BES), Room 141 at Florida Institute of Technology. Please follow the link below to attend the lecture on zoom: https://fit.zoom.us/j/91608351838. The members of ACS Orlando Section are cordially invited to attend the lecture. A reception to follow in the lobby of BES immediately after lecture.
To encourage student participation in local, regional, and national conferences organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and its affiliates – and to expand opportunities for students to deepen their scientific engagement and professional networks – the Orlando Section of the ACS offers Student Travel Awards.
Victor Johnson, a graduate student at Florida Institute of Technology, presented his research on Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Acalypha wilkesiana at the Fall 2025 ACS Meeting in Washington, DC.Victor Johnson, a graduate student at Florida Institute of Technology, presented his research on Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Acalypha wilkesiana at the Fall 2025 ACS Meeting in Washington, DC.
Students who have an accepted abstract to present at the ACS Spring 2026 National Meeting and Expo in Atlanta, GA, are invited to apply for travel support. The meeting will take place in March 2026 and provides an invaluable platform for students to share their research, attend technical sessions, and connect with chemists from across the nation.
Thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Darlene Slattery, retired long‑time Orlando Section Councilor and the 2025 Gordon L. Nelson Award recipient, the Section will offer five travel awards of $500 each. These awards are designated as follows:
Two awards for graduate students
Two awards for undergraduate students
One award for a student attending a non‑research college or university
This initiative helps reduce financial barriers to conference participation and supports the development of future scientists in our region.
Application Instructions: To apply, students must submit an application package as a single PDF file that includes the following components:
A brief introduction of the applicant (e.g., academic status, institution, research area)
Proof of acceptance of the abstract (such as the official ACS acceptance email or screenshot)
A copy of the presentation abstract
A brief explanation of financial need, describing why support from the Orlando Section of the ACS is necessary. This is especially important for applicants whose research groups receive federal, industrial, or private funding.
Advisor contact information, including email and phone number (The Awards Committee will directly request a brief statement from the advisor confirming the student’s financial need for registration, lodging, and/or travel assistance.)
The completed application package should be emailed to the Awards Committee: Dr. Laura Sessions (lsessions@valenciacollege.edu) February 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM (EST)
Selection Criteria The Awards Committee will select recipients primarily on the basis of financial need, with additional preference given to applicants who: possess an active ACS student membership, have not previously received a travel award from the Orlando Section, and contribute to broad representation across the colleges and universities within the Section. Bonus consideration will be given for the novelty and impact of the research project. To be eligible, students must be enrolled at institutions within the geographic boundaries of the Orlando Section.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy
