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:
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 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 FridayNovember 7, 2025.
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:
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 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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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 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).
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 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.
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!
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