The Orlando Section held a summer social on Saturday, June 25 at Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant. The well-attended event included recognition of the 95th anniversary of the ACS Women’s Chemist Committee, an interesting talk by Dr. Christina Drake of Kismet Technologies, and recognition of long-serving members of the ACS.
Those members celebrating 50 years were:
Dr. Susan Allen
Dr. James Bellows
Dr. Nancy Leissing
Mr. John Windsor Jr.
60-Year members included:
Dr. Charles Beck
Mr. George Cheryan
Dr. Michael Farona
Ms. Margaret Oglesby
Dr. William Steele
And recognized as a 70-Year Member was:
Mr. Robert Dunmire
We congratulate all and thank each for their many years of service to ACS.
An award was also presented to Dr. Chris Chouinard for his service to the Section. Chris, a past Chair of the Orlando Section and the overall Chair for SERMACS 2025, will be leaving Florida to assume a new faculty position in South Carolina. While we will miss in-person interactions with Chris, he will continue to oversee the planning for 2025 meeting.
Winner of Grade K-2 category (Local Contest): Ranvitha Vivek, 1st grader from Heathrow Elementary School (Lake Mary)
Winner of grade 3-5 Category
Winner of Grade 3-5 category (Local Contest): Lakshitha Bhandari, a 4th grader, from Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School (Sanford)
Runner-up of grade 3-5 Category
Runner-up of Grade 3-5 category (Local Contest): Aadhav Kumar, a 3rd grader, from Wilson Elementary School (Sanford)
Runner-up of grade 3-5 Category
Runner-up of Grade 3-5 category (Local Contest): Mackenzie Gordon, a 4th grader, from English Estates Elementary (Fern Park)
Winner of grade 9-12 Category
Winner of Grade 9-12 category (Local Contest): Eric Segrest, a 10th grader, from Lake Highland Prep School (Orlando)
1st Place of grade K-2 Category
1st Place of Grade K-2 category (National Contest): Second Grader, Stonemill Elementary School, Chemical Society of Washington
2nd Place of grade K-2 Category
Second Place of Grade K-2 category (National Contest): Second Grader, Capital Montessori School, Puget Sound Local Section
1st Place of grade 3-5 Category
1st Place of Grade 3-5 category (National Contest): Fifth Grader, Jumoke Academy at the Hartford Conservatory, Connecticut Valley Local Section
2nd Place of grade 3-5 Category
2nd Place of Grade 3-5 category (National Contest): Fifth Grader, Howard Drive Elementary, South Florida Local Section
1st Place of grade 6-8 Category
1st Place of Grade 6-8 category (National Contest): Sixth Grader, Jefferson Middle School, Midland Local Section
2nd Place of grade 6-8 Category
2nd Place of Grade 6-8 category (National Contest): Seventh Grader, The Harker School, Silicon Valley Local Section
1st Place of grade 9-12 Category
1st Place of Grade 9-12 category (National Contest): Eleventh Grader, Calloway County High School, Kentucky Lake Local Section
2nd Place of grade 9-12 Category
2nd Place of Grade 9-12 category (National Contest): Eleventh Grader, PA Leadership Charter School, Pittsburgh Local Section
To promote the positive role that chemistry plays in the world, the American Chemical Society (ACS) established the Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) public awareness campaign. Among many other activities, the Orlando Section of the ACS hosted 2022 CCEW Illustrated Poem Contest for K-12 students in Central Florida. The theme of the contest is “The Buzz About Bugs: Insect Chemistry.”
The contest received many entries from multiple schools. Thanks to the teachers who brought the contest to students’ attention.
Results of local contest:
Grade K-2 Category Winner: Ranvitha Vivek from Heathrow Elementary School, guided by Amber Mash
Grade 3-5 Category* Winner: Lakshitha Bhandari from Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School, guided by Mary Lynn Hess Runner-up: Aadhav Kumar from Wilson Elementary School, guided by Nicole Chavez Runner-up: Mackenzie Gordon from English Estates Elementary, guided by Kelly Atterbury
Grade 6-8 Category No winner
Grade 9-12 Category Winner: Eric Segrest from Lake Highland Preparatory School, guided by Steve Math
The winner of each category will receive a certificate and a monetary award of $50. The runners-up of Grade 3-5 category will receive a certificate and a monetary award of $25. The teacher who guided the winner of each category and the runners-up of Grade 3-5 category will receive a school supply funding of $100 and $50, respectively.
The winner of each category also advances to the national 2022 CCEW Illustrated Poem Contest. The full results of national contest can be found at ACS Website.
If you have any comments or questions regarding the local contest, please contact the local section’s CCEW coordinator (Dr. Duy Le, duy.le@ucf.edu).
*Because Grade 3-5 category received a large number of high-quality entries, the executive committee of the local section voted to give two tied runner-up awards for this category.
Congratulations to Cayley McCloskey from the Lely High School (Naples, Florida) for winning the 2022 Avogadro award at the 67th State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida (67th SSEF)! Cayley’s project is entitled ‘Comparing the enthalpy changes of anhydrous salts using calorimetry.’ The young scientist performed experiments to determine which exothermic salt when dissolved in water would produce the greatest increase in temperature of the water and in turn the greatest calculated enthalpy change measured through calorimetry. Cayley found that magnesium sulfate is the salt that releases the most heat per mole, followed by calcium chloride and sodium acetate and suggests that magnesium sulfate would be the ideal salt for consumer products such as heat packs, handwarmer, and for use on icy roads.
The Avogadro Award that is given each year at the State Science and Engineering Fair with the support of the ACS local sections in the state of Florida.
To encourage participation of students in local, regional, and national conferences organized by the American Chemical Society and its affiliates and to create opportunities for students to enhance their scientific experiences and networking, the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society offers travel awards to students who are in need of financial supplement for their conference participations.
The awards will be given to selected students who participate in the Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition (FAME), the Southeastern Regional Meeting of The American Chemical Society (SERMACS), or the ACS National Meeting & Exposition. For each conference, up to two students will receive awards of up to $150, $250, or $500, respectively.
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 (acceptance of abstract)
Brief explanation of why travel award from the Orlando 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 for advisor indicating appropriate use of the travel award to registration, lodging, and/or travel expenses).
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis up to one month before the conference, so early submission is encouraged. Application package should be sent via email to Awards Committee Chair (Dr. Darlene Slattery, dslattery1@cfl.rr.com). The committee will select awardees mainly based on applicant’s financial needs and date of application. Novelty and impact of research project is a bonus criterion.
The 2021 Annual Awards Banquet of the ACS Orlando Local Section was held on December 4th, 2021 at the 310 Lakeside restaurant (Downtown Orlando) to recognize its award winners, and, in the meantime, to celebrate its 30 year anniversary.
Orlando Local Section of the ACS presents its 2021 Outstanding Entrepreneur Award to Sergie Albino and Ian Doromal, the co-founders of ecoSPEARS.
The Orlando Local Section of the ACS awarded for the first time it’s Outstanding Entrepreneur Award* to Sergie Albino and Ian Doromal, the co-founders of ecoSPEARS. During our visit to their facility, ecoSPEARS discussed its plans and introduced us to their chemist.
In 2017, Sergie and Ian founded ecoSPEARS after licensing the Sorbent Polymer Extraction And Remediation System (SPEARS) from NASA. The technology was first invented at the Kennedy Space Center by Dr. Jackie Quinn to remove toxins like PCBs from the environment.
ecoSPEARS has since focused on becoming a cleantech provider of green remediation technologies by improving on the original design and developing its own proprietary reagent for containing the toxins and leveraging other technologies to destroy them.
2021 has been a good year for ecoSPREARS:
Sergie was named Orlando Business Journal’s 2021 CEO of the Year
ecoSPEARS is one of the top 50 honorees for the 11th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch
the company was selected by Excelon for Climate Change Investment, And selected by the PortXL- Port & Maritime Accelerator, in The Netherlands
first runner up winner at the June 2021 Space Florida’s Aerospace and Innovation Forum
top three finalist in the “better Environment” category at the World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards in partnership with Extreme Tech Challenge
the company was featured in a World Economic Forum article on how NASA technology has been used to help life on earth
it was cited in the April 2021 International Pollutants Elimination Network report on non-combustible technology for persistent organic pollutants.
ecoSPEARS shows us how Central Florida chemical enterprises help make this world better. All this is made possible because individuals such as Sergie Albino and Ian Doromal decided to bring chemical discoveries to market.
* The Section determined during its 2020 Strategic Review there was room to increase its engagement with the private sector. The creation of an Outstanding Entrepreneur/Employer Award helps us 1) recognize the full spectrum of the chemical enterprise, and 2) celebrate the success of those who bring to market the discoveries that otherwise would remain in the laboratory AND OF THOSE who create jobs for chemists and chemical engineers.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society. The celebration of this milestone will happen at our annual award banquet on December 4th, 2021 at the 310 Lakeside restaurant (301 E Pine St, Orlando, FL 32801).*
We will have moments to look back at the history of our section and to highlight “what-they-are-doing-now” of the award winners at the early days. Each participant will also receive a special and long-lasting souvenir (while supply lasts).
Reservation can be made online at https://forms.gle/okhyqWaqGSGLtTtw8, or by sending email to contact@orlandoacs.org or calling Darlene Slattery at 321-632-2535. Reservations must be made by November 22, 2021 (New deadline). Please include names so that we can provide nametags.
The cost will be $25/person (after subsidy, tax and gratuity included). The Section will pay the bill with a single check. Please be prepared to pay at the door by check or cash—unfortunately we cannot accept credit cards.
Please join us to celebrate the history of our local section and recognize excellence in chemistry!
The Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society will recognize 2021 awards winners in a traditional annual awards banquet on December 4th, 2021. You are invited to attend the banquet:
Saturday, December 4th, 2021 11:30AM to 2:00PM At the 310 Lakeside restaurant 301 E Pine St, Orlando, FL 32801
MENU Appetizers Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Bruschetta Fried Green Tomato – pimento spread, bacon jam, chives Signature Salad Mixed Greens grape tomatoes, cucumbers, shaved onion, house made balsamic vinaigrette Entrée choice of Pasta Primavera seasonal vegetables, grana padano cheese Chicken Piccata white wine, butter, capers, lemon sauce garlic mash, seasonal vegetable Salmon tomato bruschetta, balsamic glaze garlic mash, seasonal vegetable Dessert Oreo Cream Trifle Beverages Iced tea, soft beverages, and Illy coffee Cash bar is available
The cost will be $25/person (after subsidy, tax and gratuity included). The Section will pay the bill with a single check. Please be prepared to pay at the door by check or cash—unfortunately we cannot accept credit cards.
Reservation can be made online at https://forms.gle/okhyqWaqGSGLtTtw8, or by sending email to contact@orlandoacs.org or calling Darlene Slattery at 321-632-2535. Reservations must be made by November 20, 2021. Please include names so that we can provide nametags.
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
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 4th, 2021. Student nominees need not be currently enrolled in chemistry but can be nominated for achievements for the spring 2021 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. Email PDF letters to Dr. Darlene Slattery, Chair of the Orlando Section Awards Committee at dslattery1@cfl.rr.com. To be considered, nominations must be received by Friday November 5th, 2021 Monday November 8th, 2021 .
Nominators of awardees are expected to participate in the local Section’s annual banquet to introduce the awardees.
* Point of contact for nominated company must be included in the letter.
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 to students who are in need of financial supplement for their conference participations. This year, the awards will be given to selected students who participate in the Florida Annual Meeting and Exposition (FAME), the Southeastern Regional Meeting of The American Chemical Society (SERMACS 2021), and the 262nd ACS National Meeting & Exposition. For each conference, up to two students will receive awards of up to $150, $250, and $500, respectively.
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 Chair (Dr. Darlene Slattery, dslattery1@cfl.rr.com) by 08/13/2021 for FAME applications, 10/15/2021 for SERMAC applications, and 08/01/2021 for ACS National Meeting. The committee will select awardees mainly based on applicant’s synergistic activities and financial needs (novelty of research project is a bonus criterion).