Category Archives: Announcements

SERMACS/SWRM 2025 is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator

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The SERMACS/SWRM 2025 Conference is seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to lead efforts managing volunteers from local academic institutions. This vital role includes:

•             Assigning roles and responsibilities

•             Creating and managing volunteer schedules

•             Providing on-site coordination during the conference

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a major scientific event while building leadership and organizational experience. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, proactive, and available to be on-site throughout the conference.

If you are interested in this role, please contact the SERMACS 2025 General Co-Chairs Christopher Chouinard at cchouin@clemson.edu.

Orlando Section Newsletter Summer 2025

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Greetings Orlando Local Section,

I hope you all have had a pleasant summer. As fall approaches the local section would like to make you aware of some exciting events and opportunities associated with our hosting the joint Southeastern and Southwest Regional Meeting of the ACS here in Orlando in October.

Your 2025 Officers
Chair: Brian Mosby bmosby@rollins.edu  
Chair-elect: Toufiq Reza  treza@fit.edu  
Immediate Past Chair: Stephen Smith stephensmith@fit.edu   
Treasurer: Van Quach quachv@seminolestate.edu
Secretary: Meghan McGreal mmcgreal@stetson.edu
Councilor: Darlene Slattery dslattery1@cfl.rr.com
Councilor: Laura Sessions  lsessions@valenciacollege.edu
Alternate Councilor: Nicole Lapeyrouse  nicole.lapeyrouse@ucf.edu

General Information

The 76th Southeastern and 81st Southwest Joint Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society will be in Orlando from October 26 to 29, 2025 at the Double Tree Orlando at SeaWorld. The Online Registration portal is now open and abstracts will be accepted until July 28th. Registrations submitted before September 19th are eligible for the Early Bird discount price. Please visit  https://www.sermacs2025.org/ to register and for additional details. A few important events are highlighted below.

Symposia and Workshops

In addition to traditional research symposia, the SERMACS/SWRM 2025 offers a number of workshops and symposia for chemists and chemical engineers exploring careers outside academia as well as for educators interested in preparing students for careers in the private sector.

– Career Pathways in Pharmacy Workshop. Through engaging presentations and interactive discussions, and hands-on experience led by industry and academic experts, attendees will explore a wide array of career paths, including clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical research, healthcare administration, and more.

– Chemical Patents Workshop: Intellectual Properties for Chemists. Discover the importance and connectivity of intellectual property, innovation and entrepreneurship.

– Working for Yourself: Your Idea, Your Business, and Your Marketing Strategy. Ready to be your own boss? This workshop will help you determine if self-employment is for you.

– How to Start a Start-Up? How does one transform scientific research into a scalable, impactful enterprise? This symposium is designed for chemists, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty seeking to understand the fundamentals of science-based entrepreneurship.

– Industry-Academia Summit on Preparing Chemists for the Private Sector. This summit brings together industry professionals, founders, academics, and recent hires to share their best practices and expectations for equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed for success in the private sector.

– Chemistry at Merck: Informational Breakfast A broad overview of careers within Merck that leverage a chemistry background.  (For students and postdocs only. No professors or professionals. No advanced registration is needed)

Florida Local Sections Breakfast

There will be a breakfast held on October 26th at 8 AM . The Orlando Local Section would like to use this as an opportunity to gather together and network with other sections. You can RSVP for the breakfast while registering for the conference. We hope to see you there.

Volunteer Information

There are a plethora of opportunities to volunteer for the conference.  Volunteers will receive a complimentary registration, SERMACS T-shirt, and lunch on the day of their volunteer assignment. Volunteer applications will be accepted until October 1st and can be sent to sermacs2025@gmail.com . The application can be found on the Awards page in the Student Volunteer Opportunities box.  Please note all volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and are expected to abide by the ACS Volunteer and Participant Code of Conduct Policy.

Travel Awards

We  are pleased to offer registration fees for six students to this meeting — three for graduate students and three for undergraduate students.

Application Instructions:
To apply, students should prepare an application package (a single PDF file) that includes the following:

  • A brief introduction of the applicant
  • Proof of acceptance of the abstract
  • The abstract of the presentation
  • A brief explanation of why a travel award from the Orlando Local Section of the ACS is necessary (especially for those whose research projects are federally, industrially, or privately funded)
  • Contact information of the advisor (the award committee will request a statement from the advisor indicating the need for the travel award for registration, lodging, and/or travel expenses)

The application package should be sent via email to the Awards Committee (Dr. Laura Sessions, lsessions@valenciacollege.edu) by August 29, 2025, at 11:59 PM. The committee will select awardees based on financial need, with preference given to those who possess an active ACS student membership, those who have not received a previous travel award from the Orlando Section, and distribution among the colleges and universities in our Section. Novelty and impact of the research project are bonus criteria.

Academic Institution Recruitment Opportunity

Academic institutions seeking to recruit undergraduate and graduate students are invited to reserve a booth at the SERMACS/SWRM 2025 Grad Fair, which will be held on October 26, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld. Based on past attendance records, our regional meetings consistently attract a significant number of undergraduate and graduate students. We particularly encourage Graduate programs in chemistry and related fields (e.g. chemical engineering, pharmacy, pharmacology, etc…) to participate if they are looking to recruit new students. To apply, please visit https://www.sermacs2025.org/exposition.html

Sponsorship Opportunities

By sponsoring SERMACS /SWRM 2025, you have the opportunity to have your company logo and link seen by the approximately 2,000 anticipated professionals and students from the 14 states and Puerto Rico representing the Southeastern and Southwest regions of the American Chemical Society. Visit the sponsorship tab at SERMACS2025.org to learn more about the benefits associated with the different levels of sponsorship.

For additional updates you can visitour website, our facebook page, or our LinkedIn page.

Student Travel Awards: ACS Fall 2025 National Meeting and Expo

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To encourage student participation in local, regional, and national conferences organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and its affiliates, and to create opportunities for students to enhance their scientific experiences and networking, the Orlando Local Section of the ACS offers travel awards. Students with an accepted abstract to present are encouraged to apply for a Student Travel Award for the ACS Fall 2025 National Meeting and Expo in Washington DC, in August. Two travel awards of $500 each are planned—one for a graduate student and one for an undergraduate student.

Arden Floyd gave a poster presentation on her research titled “Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity of Fresh and Aged Maleic Acid Aerosol Particles” at FAME 2023.

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

  • A brief introduction of the applicant
  • Proof of acceptance of the abstract
  • The abstract of the presentation
  • A brief explanation of why a travel award from the Orlando Local Section of the ACS is necessary (especially for those whose research projects are federally, industrially, or privately funded)
  • Contact information of the advisor (the award committee will request a statement from the advisor indicating the need for the travel award for registration, lodging, and/or travel expenses)

The application package should be sent via email to the Awards Committee (Dr. Laura Sessions, lsessions@valenciacollege.edu) by June 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM. The committee will select awardees based on financial need, with preference given to those who possess an active ACS student membership, those who have not received a previous travel award from the Orlando Section, and distribution among the colleges and universities in our Section. Novelty and impact of the research project are bonus criteria.

2025 CCEW Illustrated Poem Contest: The Results of Local Contest

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For the 2025 Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW), the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) organized an Illustrated Poem Contest for K-12 students in Central Florida, centered on the theme “Glaciers: Hot Topic, Cool Chemistry!.” Among the many CCEW activities, this contest encouraged young minds to explore chemistry creatively.

Thanks to the support of county school board members and dedicated teachers who promoted the event, numerous students from across Central Florida participated, submitting a wide array of entries for all categories, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

The winners of the local contest
K-2 Category: Liam Wever* (2nd grade), Carillon Elementary (Seminole County)
3-5 Category: Hrishika Soni* (4th grade), Heathrow Elementary School (Seminole County)
6-8 Category: T. T. (8th grade), Horizon West Middle School (Orange County)
9-12 Category: Erik Denico (12th grade), Lake Buena Vista High School (Orange County)
* Permission to use student’s full name was obtained.

Winner of K-2 Category (By Liam Wever, 2nd grade, Carillon Elementary, Seminole County)
Winner of Grade 3-5 Category (by Hrishika Soni, 4th grade, Heathrow Elementary School, Seminole County)
Winner of Grade 6-8 Category (By T. T., 8th grade, Horizon West Middle School, Orange County)
Winner of Grade 9-12 Category (By Erik Denico, 12th grade, Lake Buena Vista High School, Orange County)
Finalist of K-2 Category (By M. D., 2nd grade, Azalea Park Elementary School, Orange County)
Finalist of K-2 Category (By M. S., 2nd grade, Azalea Park Elementary School, Orange County)
Finalist of 3-5 Category (By C.A, 5th grade, Castle Creek Elementary School, Orange County)
Finalist of 3-5 Category (By J. D. , 5th grade, Crystal Lake Elementary School, Seminole County)
Finalist of 3-5 Category (By S.S., 4th grade, Eagle Creek Elementary School, Orange County)
Finalist of 3-5 Category (By T. E.,4th grade, Carillon Elementary School, Seminole County)
Finalist of 6-8 Category (By J. H., 8th grade, Tuskawilla Middle School, Seminole County)
Finalist of 6-8 Category (By V. B., 6th grade, Tuskawilla Middle School, Seminole County)
Finalist of 9-12 Category (By A.D., 12th grade, Lake Buena Vista High School, Orange County)
Finalist of 9-12 Category (By A.R., 9th grade, Boone High School, Orange County)

The winner of each category will receive a certificate and a monetary award of $50. The teacher who guided the winner of each category will receive a school supply funding of $100.  The winner of each category also advances to the national 2025 CCEW Illustrated Poem Contest. The results of the national contest will be published on ACS website soon.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the local contest, please contact the local section’s coordinator of the contest (Dr. Duy Le, submission@orlandoacs.org).

2025 Orlando Section ACS Awards

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Travel Awards

The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) recently awarded $500 travel grants to two outstanding students, enabling them to attend the Spring 2025 ACS National Meeting in San Diego, CA. This prestigious event brought together more than 15,000 chemists from around the world to share their latest research and innovations.

Cecilia presents her poster.

Cecilia Uchechukwu Ezeanya, a second-year master’s student at the University of Central Florida, was one of the recipients. Working in the lab of Prof. Swadeshmukul Santra, Cecilia presented her research on “Optimized Polyphenol-Polymeric Nanoparticles for Encapsulation and Delivery of Oxytetracycline-Divalent Cation Complexes against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.”

Reflecting on her experience, Cecilia expressed her gratitude: “I am truly grateful to the ACS Orlando Section for recognizing me as a deserving graduate student and awarding me a travel grant to share my research with thousands of attendees at the ACS Spring Meeting in San Diego. The experience was a perfect blend of diverse expertise, spanning Chemistry to Pharmaceutical Chemistry, with engaging discussions and extracurricular activities. I am glad I maximized the daily networking events, happy hour moments, and the Laboratory 271 escape room. Overall, I took home valuable suggestions – some of which I began exploring the very night I returned from San Diego. I am confident that my work on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, Cargo Loading, and Analytical Chemistry will contribute to advancing the scientific community and ultimately benefit the populace.”

Gene Koifman, an undergraduate majoring in Chemical Engineering at Florida Tech, was the other recipient. Gene has been conducting research in the lab of Prof. Pavithra Pathirathna since Spring 2023. He presented his poster titled “Surface-Modified Four-Bore Carbon Fiber Microelectrodes for Simultaneous Detection of Neurotransmitters and Toxic Metals,” which focuses on developing electrodes that detect multiple analytes using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.

Gene shared his excitement about the opportunity: “I am very grateful to the Orlando Section of the ACS for their generous funding, which helped cover my travel expenses to attend and present my research at the ACS Spring Meeting. The conference provided a fantastic opportunity to explore cutting-edge research across various chemistry disciplines, from Electrochemistry to Catalysis, giving me valuable insights for my planned PhD journey. Presenting my work was an invaluable experience, allowing me to receive constructive feedback, engage in meaningful discussions, and connect with potential collaborators. I was especially encouraged by the strong interest from researchers in analytical chemistry and neuroscience, which inspired new directions for my work. Overall, this experience has strengthened my understanding of the field and reinforced my excitement for graduate research. I sincerely appreciate the Orlando Section ACS for making this opportunity possible.”

Both students returned from the conference with new insights and inspiration, ready to apply what they learned to their ongoing research. The Orlando Section’s support has not only facilitated their professional growth but also contributed to the broader scientific community.

Be on the lookout for fall travel awards announced at the beginning of June.

April 2025 Elemental Encounters: 2025 Central Florida Earth Day April 19th, 2025

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April Event: Central Florida Earth Day at Lake Eola

The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will be participating in the 20th annual Central Florida Earth Day event at Lake Eola Park (east side), 512 E. Washington Street Orlando, FL on Saturday April 19th, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. All members and affiliates are welcome to stop by and say hi to our wonderful volunteers and meet some local section members. The ACS-Orlando booth will be located at the Tent Vendor 6 site on the International Bridge.

Other event information including but not limited to parking guides and directions may be accessed on the event webpage: Central Florida Earth Day – Home (cfearthday.org). Please reach out with any questions (stephensmith@fit.edu) and I look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Our May event will be a tour at the Lakeridge Winery planned for Saturday May 17th. More information: https://www.lakeridgewinery.com/.

Also coming soon: our annual Summer Social event coming in June – lunch and a speaker!

2025 CCEW Illustrated Poem Contest: Hot Topic, Cool Chemistry!

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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, April 27, 2025 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.

*Submissions must be of high quality, align with the contest’s theme, and achieve the highest score.
Local Contact:Duy Le (submission@orlandoacs.org)
Submission:Illustrated poem and submission form must be submitted to https://forms.gle/Fq9K4iP12LeRf8r48
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 CCEW theme, “Glaciers: Hot Topic, Cool 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:

  • Climate
  • Drill
  • Prism
  • Ice Core
  • Preservation
  • Reservoir
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Drought

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 CCEW 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 (No AI).
·   Acceptance of prizes constitutes consent to use winners’ first name and last initial, along with the name of the ACS Local Section, on the ACS web pages and, in the magazine, Chemical & Engineering News
·   Do not place participant names on the front of your poem.

Download submission form and this flyer.

Examples (Past National winners)

Elemental Encounters – Meet-up Events in Spring 2025: St. Johns Rivership Lunch Cruise (March 15)

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The Orlando Section announces a series of casual gatherings for members to connect at locations with a little scientific flair.  We plan to meet at a different venue each month now through the summer. Most will be free, drop-in, and family friendly.

St. Johns Rivership Lunch Cruise
Saturday March 15, 2025. (11:00 am – 2:00pm)
Cost: $71 for adults ($35.50 for children 4-13)
Location: 433 N. Palmetto Ave. Sanford, Florida 32771
More information: https://www.stjohnsrivershipco.com/cruises-fares/lunch-cruise/?date=02/16/2025&timeId=14274331&departure=0&destination=0

Book your tour online or call: RivershipTix.com or 321-204-0274. Send your RSVP number to lsessions@valenciacollege.edu to be seated at the tables with your chemistry friends.

Embark on an unforgettable luncheon with your fellow Orlando Section members aboard the rivership, the Barbara Lee, departing from Historic Sanford, FL. Choose from seven different entrees, showcasing culinary excellence with options to suit every taste. Tickets include food, entertainment, and cruise. Coffee, tea, and water are provided. Soda and alcoholic beverages as well as gratuities are not included.

As you savor your meal, live entertainment will serenade you with music, creating a festive atmosphere as you cruise along the scenic waters of the St. Johns River. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy watching the local wildlife, which includes birds, manatees and alligators at various times throughout the year. During the lunch tours, our cruise guide will point out wildlife, areas of interest and share the history of steamships that sailed the St. Johns River.

Student Travel Awards: ACS Spring 2025 National Meeting and Expo

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To encourage student participation in local, regional, and national conferences organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and its affiliates, and to create opportunities for students to enhance their scientific experiences and networking, the Orlando Local Section of the ACS offers travel awards. Students with an accepted abstract to present are encouraged to apply for a Student Travel Award for the ACS Spring 2025 National Meeting and Expo in San Diego, CA, in March. Two travel awards of $500 each are planned—one for a graduate student and one for an undergraduate student.

Arden Floyd gave a poster presentation on her research titled “Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity of Fresh and Aged Maleic Acid Aerosol Particles” at FAME 2023.

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

  • A brief introduction of the applicant
  • Proof of acceptance of the abstract
  • The abstract of the presentation
  • A brief explanation of why a travel award from the Orlando Local Section of the ACS is necessary (especially for those whose research projects are federally, industrially, or privately funded)
  • Contact information of the advisor (the award committee will request a statement from the advisor indicating the need for the travel award for registration, lodging, and/or travel expenses)

The application package should be sent via email to the Awards Committee (Dr. Laura Sessions, lsessions@valenciacollege.edu) by January 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM. The committee will select awardees based on financial need, with preference given to those who possess an active ACS student membership, those who have not received a previous travel award from the Orlando Section, and distribution among the colleges and universities in our Section. Novelty and impact of the research project are bonus criteria.

Elemental Encounters – Meet-up Events in Spring 2025

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The Orlando Section announces a series of casual gatherings for members to connect at locations with a little scientific flair.  We plan to meet at a different venue each month now through the summer. Most will be free, drop-in, and family friendly.

Pictures from the last ACS event at the Orlando Wetlands in 2018. From Jen Archer and Emily Heider.

Orlando Wetlands
Saturday February 15, 2025. (9:45 am – 12:30pm)
Cost: Free Admission 
Location: 25155 Wheeler Road, Christmas, FL 32709
More information: https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Departments-Offices/Public-Works/Water-Reclamation-Division/Orlando-Wetlands

Drop by and chat with some of your fellow Orlando Section members, take a self-guided walking tour, or drop in for the 10am or 11am tram tour. Stay as long as you wish. Look for us in the pavilion to the right of the welcome trailer. 

The Orlando Wetlands offers public tram tours to highlight the creation, operation, management, and wildlife of the facility. The volunteer program runs tram cart tours for groups of less than 10 people on Saturdays, lasting 45 – 60 minutes. Since reservations are not taken, we recommend getting there 15 minutes before the hour to reserve a seat. Bring your picnic lunch too. In Christmas, FL.

Tentative next event will be March 16 on St. Johns Rivership Co. for a Lunch Cruise.  More information and a full spring schedule coming soon!