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, The Hidden Life of Spices, with exciting hands-on activities.
When: Saturday, October 25th, 2025 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Where: Orlando Science Center
The Orlando Section of the ACS is seeking individuals interested in joining our 2026 Executive Board. We have four positions up for election: Chair Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Councilor. A description of each position is included below. Please contact the nomination committee chair, Toufiq Reza (treza@fit.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 Toufiq Reza (treza@fit.edu). All nominations must be submitted by November 1st, 2025. Voting will open on November 8th, 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:
Treasurer (one-year term). The main responsibilities are:
Secretary (one-year term). The main responsibilities are:
Councilor (three-year term). The main responsibilities are:
Hello Orlando Section! We would like to bring to your attention to the following two urgent announcements:
We are seeking volunteers:
Join us in celebrating the wonders of chemistry during National Chemistry Week at the Orlando Science Center on Saturday, October 25! This year’s theme, “The Hidden Life of Spices,” explores the science behind the flavors, aromas, and chemistry of everyday spices. We’re looking for passionate volunteers to help bring hands-on science to life for visitors of all ages. Whether you’re a student, educator, scientist, or simply a fan of chemistry, your energy and enthusiasm can make this event unforgettable!
If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to Dr. Denisia Popolan-Vaida (denisia.popolan-vaida@ucf.edu) by September 30, 2025.
Student Travel Awards: Joint Meeting of SERMACS/SWRM 2025 (Deadline extended) Because of late abstract acceptance, the Award committee of the Orlando Section has approved an extension of the submission deadline to September 19, 2025, at 11:59 PM. For more details, please check our website.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to our LinkedIn, follow our facebook page, and check out our website for updated news, and activities of our local section.
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:
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 6th, 2025. Student nominees need not be currently enrolled in chemistry but can be nominated for achievements for the spring 2025 term. Nominees for awards need not be members.
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 google doc form (link below) and uploading PDF letters in the appropriate places on the form. Questions can be directed to Dr. Laura Sessions, Chair of the Orlando Section Awards Committee at lsessions@valenciacollege.edu. To be considered, nominations must be received by 5pm Friday November 7, 2025.
Complete this form and upload ONLY PDF formatted letters here:
https://valenciacc.ut1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_54J6vTbEq03bkAC
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.
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. Since the Orlando Section is hosting the 76th Southeastern and 81st Southwest Joint Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Orlando from Oct 26-29, 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, student applicant should prepare an application package (a single PDF file) that includes the following:
The application package should be sent via email to the Awards Committee (Dr. Laura Sessions, lsessions@valenciacollege.edu) by August 29 September 12 September 19, 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 in the Orlando Section or its student chapters, 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.
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 19, 2025 at 11:54 PM Eastern |
| Local Prizes: | One winner* will be awarded $50 and one runner up* will be awarded $25 for each of the flowing categories: Grades K-2 Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 *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/6hszevd9nid4ng9bA 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 NCW theme, “The Hidden Life of Spices.”
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:
Entries will be judged based upon:
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.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced the launch of the ACS Graduate Student Success Grant, a new initiative aimed at supporting graduate students affected by the termination or cancellation of their adviser’s research funding.
The ACS Board of Directors has approved a total of $2.5 million for this program. The grant is designed to assist MS and PhD students who are within one year of completing their degree and whose progress has been disrupted due to the loss of their adviser’s research grant(s).
Eligible students may receive up to $25,000 for one year, with funding awarded per research institution.
Applications will open on September 15 and close on October 1. Additional information about the grant can be found at www.acs.org/gradsuccessgrant.
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.
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.
Application Instructions:
To apply, student applicant should prepare an application package (a single PDF file) that includes the following:
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.
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.
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).