Chemistry & Community: A Membership Meet-Up with guest speaker Bill Easter

Posted on October 3, 2024October 4, 2024

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On Saturday, September 21^st 2024, the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society hosted a Membership Meet-Up with guest speaker Bill Easter, a subject matter expert in the area of Semiconductor Chemical Mechanical Polishing and Material Development and local serial entrepreneur who founded Semplastics, X-MAT, X-BATT and DioQuest. Bill, who was recognized as the Section’s Outstanding Entrepreneur in 2023, presented an informative talk entitled The Accidental Entrepreneur – A Perspective on Material Systems, Chemistry and Innovation. After the talk, attendees enjoyed a light lunch and networking opportunities. The event concluded with a brief Executive Meeting, during which six undergraduate attendees were awarded complimentary one-year memberships to ACS.

Annual Election: Call for 2025 Executive Board Candidates & Voting

Posted on October 2, 2024October 2, 2024

The Orlando Section of the ACS is seeking individuals interested in joining our 2025 Executive Board. We have five positions up for election: Chair Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Alternate Councilor. A description of each position is included below. Please contact the nomination committee chair, Brian Mosby (bmosby@rollins.edu), with any additional questions.

To make a nomination, complete the nomination form or email nomination information (name of nominee, contact information, and nominated position) to Brian Mosby (bmosby@rollins.edu). All nominations must be submitted by November 1st, 2024. Voting will open on November 8^th, instructions for voting by electronic ballot will be sent before the voting period opens.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Chair Elect (one-year term; three-year term total). The main responsibilities are:

To vote/participate in executive board decisions
Serve as chair for meetings which the Chair cannot attend
Succeed to office of Chair for the next year

Treasurer (one-year term). The main responsibilities are:

Prepare the annual budget/expenditures report for Nationals
Maintain the Section bank account
Maintain a budget, disbursements, expenditures, and accounting for the Section activities
To vote/participate in executive board decisions

Secretary (one-year term). The main responsibilities are:

To take notes at exec meetings
To set-up and distribute ballots for elections (mostly electronic now)
Oversee website and social media communications
To vote/participate in executive board decisions

Alternate Councilor (three-year term). The main responsibilities are:

In the absence of the Councilor’s ability to attend, attend national meetings, represent the Section, and report back activities
Assist in preparing and submitting the annual report to the national office
Vote/participate in executive board decisions

2024 NCW Illustrated Poem Contest: Picture Perfect Chemistry

Posted on September 27, 2024September 28, 2024

The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is hosting an illustrated poem contest for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Entries must be sponsored by a local school or community group for verification purposes.

Contest_Deadline:	Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern
Local Prizes:	One winner will be awarded ($50) for each of the flowing categories: Grades K-2 Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 The teacher who guided the winner will receive a small funding ($100) for classroom supplies.
Local Contact:	Duy Le (submission@orlandoacs.org)
Submission:	Illustrated poem and submission form must be submitted to https://forms.gle/yXx7EEJbPzSmu2128 or emailed to submission@orlandoacs.org

Winners of the Orlando Section’s Illustrated Poem Contest will advance to the National Illustrated Poem Contest for a chance to be featured on the ACS website and to win prizes!

How to participate:

Write and illustrate a poem using the NCE theme, “Picture Perfect Chemistry.” Your poem must be no more than 40 words and in the following styles to be considered:

HAIKU – LIMERICK – ODE – ABC POEM – FREE VERSE – END RHYME – BLANK VERSE

Possible topics related to the theme include:

Chemical reaction
Molecules
Transparent
Ultrasound
Colloid
Film
Filters
Lens
Imaging
Pixel

Entries will be judged based upon:

Artistic Merit – use of color, quality of drawing, design & layout

Poem Message – fun, motivational, inspiring about yearly theme

Originality Creativity – unique, clever and/or creative design

Neatness – free of spelling and grammatical errors

Contest rules:

·   All poems must be no more than 40 words, and in one of the following styles to be considered: Haiku, Limerick, Ode, ABC poem, Free verse, End rhyme, and Blank verse.
·   Entries are judged based upon relevance to and incorporation of the NCW theme, word choice and imagery, colorful artwork, adherence to poem style, originality and creativity, and overall presentation.
·   All entries must be original works without aid from others. Poems may be submitted by hand on an unlined sheet of paper not larger than 11” by 14” or scanned and sent via email. Illustrations may be created using crayons, watercolors, other types of paint, colored pencils, or markers. The illustration may also be electronically created by using a digital painting and drawing app on a computer, tablet, or mobile device.
·   The text of the poem should be easy to read and may be typed before the hand-drawn or digital illustration is added, or the poem may be written on lined paper, which is cut out and pasted onto the unlined paper with the illustration.
·   No clipart or unoriginal images can be used.
·   Only one entry per student will be accepted; all entries must include an entry form. If the illustration is created using a digital painting or drawing app, the name of the program must be included on the entry form.
·   Acceptance of prizes constitutes consent to use winners’ first name, and entry for editorial, advertising, and publicity purposes.
·   Do not place participant names on the front of your poem.

Download submission form and this flyer.

Examples (2023 National winners)

Call for Annual Awards Nominations

Posted on September 26, 2024September 26, 2024

Since 1991, the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society has recognized individuals who live, work, or study in the seven-county region of the Orlando Section and excel in chemistry. Continuing this tradition, this year, the Orlando Section will give the following awards:

Eileen Tulley Award for Outstanding High School Student
Outstanding High School Teacher
Outstanding Undergraduate at a Primarily Teaching Institution
Outstanding Undergraduate at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Graduate at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Teaching Institution
Outstanding Educator at a Primarily Research Institution
Outstanding Chemist
Outstanding Chemistry Professional
Outstanding Entrepreneur/Employer Award
Outstanding Volunteer

Descriptions and criteria for each award can be found in our website at https://orlandoacs.org/annual-awards

If you know someone or companies who should be recognized publicly, please nominate them for an ACS Orlando Section award. Each Award consists of a plaque and a monetary award. Awardees will be honored at the local Section’s annual banquet held on December 7^th, 2024. Student nominees need not be currently enrolled in chemistry but can be nominated for achievements for the spring 2024 term..

Nomination package includes:
(1) A letter of nomination stating why this person/company* deserves the award.
(2) A letter of support from someone else who knows the nominee.**

Each letter should include the name of the award, and the writer’s email address, and daytime phone number. Electronic submissions are required by completing the digital form (link below) and uploading PDF letters in the appropriate places on the form. Questions can be directed to Dr. Nasri Nesnas, Chair of the Orlando Section Awards Committee at nesnas@fit.edu. To be considered, nominations must be received by 5pm Wednesday November 13, 2024.

Complete this form and upload ONLY PDF formatted letters here: https://valenciacc.ut1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2b4n5Kri7jWWjki

Nominators of awardees are expected to participate in the Orlando Section’s annual banquet to introduce the awardees.

* Point of contact for nominated company must be included in the letter.
** Nominees for awards need not be members of the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society.

National Chemistry Week’s event: Picture Perfect Chemistry

Posted on September 10, 2024September 10, 2024

Join the ACS Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society and Orlando Science Center for a community event for National Chemistry Week and celebrate the importance of chemistry in everyday life! Learn about this year’s theme, Picture Perfect Chemistry, with exciting hands-on activities.

When: Saturday, October 12^nd, 2024 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Where: Orlando Science Center

If you are interested in helping out with the event, please fill out this form by September 20, 2024. Any question, please contact Dr. Denisia Popolan-Vaida (Denisia.Popolan-Vaida@ucf.edu). https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8ujiyI7Mz1VC2uq

Dr. Luke Roberson named 2024 ACS Fellow

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024

The American Chemical Society has announced the 2024 class of Fellows. Included is a member of the Orlando Section, Dr. Luke Roberson. Luke is being recognized for the advancement of chemistry in space through scientific discovery, invention, and mission infusion to support human spaceflight beyond Earth. Additionally, he has shown exemplary leadership and service on Younger Chemists, International Activities, and Local Section Activities Committees; chairing Orlando Local Section (2017-2019 succession). He is a long standing Career Consultant and was the co-MPPG thematic Chair 2019 Spring Meeting.

The Orlando Section congratulates Luke.

To read more about the Fellows Program, see https://www.acs.org/funding/awards/acs-fellows/program-purpose.html

Student Travel Awards: ACS Fall 2024 National Meeting and Expo

Posted on June 11, 2024June 11, 2024

To encourage participations of students in local, regional, and national conferences organized by of the American Chemical Society and its affiliates and to create opportunities for students to enhance their scientific experiences and networking, the Orlando Local Section of the American Chemical Society offers travel awards. Time is running out to apply for a Student Travel Award to participate in the ACS Fall 2024 National Meeting and Expo in Denver, CO in August. It is anticipated that the selected awardees will receive up to $500.

To apply, student applicant should prepare an application package (a single PDF file) that includes the following:

Brief introduction of applicant
Proof of acceptance of abstract
Abstract of presentation
Brief explanation of why travel award from the Orlando Local Section of the American Chemical Society is necessary (especially those whose research projects are federal/industrially/privately funded)
Contact information of advisor (The award committee will request a statement from advisor indicating of the travel award for registration, lodging, and/or travel expenses).

Application package should be sent via email to the Awards Committee (Dr. Darlene Slattery, dslattery1@cfl.rr.com) by 07/10/2024. The committee will select awardees based on an applicant’s financial needs with preference given to those who possess a currently active ACS-student membership and those who have not received a previous award this year. Novelty and impact of the research project is a bonus criterion.

SERMACS 2024: Communication Symposium

Posted on April 18, 2024April 18, 2024

The ACS Committee on Public Relations and Communications (CPRC) will sponsor a symposium at SERMACS 2024 in Atlanta October 23-26, 2024, titled “Innovative methods of communicating the value of chemistry to the public.” Please forward this email to your constituency and/or place on your local section or division web site.

We are particularly interested in hearing from students (undergraduate or graduate) who are involved in outreach or other communication avenues; the best student presentations will receive cash awards.

The abstract submission begins April 29, 2024; in the past the hard deadline was in the summer, about 6 weeks later. Students are not easy to contact during the summer, so if you know of any student groups that communicate the value of chemistry to the public, please ask them to write an abstract and submit through the ACS MAPS portal.

The SERMACS home is https://sermacs2024.org and most of the seven tabs contain information.

Student Travel Awards for FAME Participation

Posted on April 13, 2024April 15, 2024

Time is running out to apply for a Student Travel AWARD to participate in FAME 2024 (Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition). The Orlando Local Section of the American Chemical Society offers travel awards to students who are in need of financial supplement for their participations in local, regional, and national conferences organized by of the American Chemical Society and its affiliates

Selected students will receive awards of up to $150. To apply, student applicant needs to prepare an application package (a single PDF file) that includes the following:

Brief introduction of applicant
Proof of acceptance to conference and acceptance of abstract
Brief explanation of why travel award from the Orlando Local Section of the American Chemical Society is necessary (especially those whose research projects are federal/industrially/privately funded)
Contact information of advisor (The award committee will request a statement from advisor indicating appropriate use of the travel award to registration, lodging, and/or travel expenses).

Application package should be sent via email to Awards Committee (Dr. Darlene Slattery, dslattery1@cfl.rr.com) by 05/15/2024 for FAME applications.