News Archive for 2022
Workshop for Students Pursuing Graduate Studies in the Chemical Sciences
October 9, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
In collaboration with the Genentech Foundation, the ACS Bridge Project is pleased to offer the Graduate School Readiness and Professional Development (GSRPD) Boot Camp, a free, in-person workshop for undergraduate students seeking to pursue graduate studies in the chemical sciences.
This workshop, which will be held in Atlanta, GA, Jan. 20-22, will use the core components from the Individual Development Plan (IDP) process to assist students in articulating and framing their unique strengths, experiences, motivations, and goals toward their personal and professional development. The GSRPD Boot Camp will also outline a strategy for crafting competitive graduate school applications. Travel and accommodations will be covered by ACS. The deadline to apply is Oct. 14. Learn more and apply now >>>
Visit the ACS Bridge Project homepage for more information on its mission, programs, and affiliated departments across the U.S.
Symposium: Urban pollution and the people who live there
October 9, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
Air pollution is a well-recognized issue in urban environments with contributions from industrial zones, power generation, and traffic, as well as residential buildings. The impacts on health, individuals, and communities are wide spread and noticeable with large disparities between neighborhoods, and between socioeconomic and racial lines.
The symposium “Urban pollution and the people who live there” will feature a number of speakers from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Hamilton County Environmental Services, Groundwork Ohio River Valley.
For more information and to register click here.
Workshop: Preparing for Life After Graduate School
October 9, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
Please join us at 8:30 AM on Friday, October 28th on Miami University campus for this workshop. This event features speakers from academia and industry in order to present an all round perspective about careers for Chemistry PhDs. The event page includes a full schedule.
Registration is required by Friday, October 21. To register for the workshop, pre-payment using a credit or debit card via Paypal is required. Students who attend will receive a full refund of the registration fee. Coffee, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner will be provided all through the day. Please indicate when registering for the workshop whether you have dietary restrictions.
The workshop will be held at Miami University's Harrison Hall (349 E High St, Oxford, OH 45056) Room 304. Parking is available at Cook Field (140 Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH 45056).
Speakers will include:
- Ken Wehmeyer - Research Fellow at Procter & Gamble and Visiting Professor at University of Cincinnati
- Shane Meeker - Corporate Storyteller and Company Historian at Procter & Gamble
- Kenny Morand - Executive in Residence at CincyTech LLC
- Robb Gardner - Senior Director at Procter & Gamble
- Tim Baker - Fresearch Fellow at Procter & Gamble
National Chemistry Week 2022: Fabulous Fibers
October 9, 2022 (Hong Zhang)
National Chemistry Week is coming up: October 16-22, 2022. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to share their love and enthusiasm for Chemistry. Volunteers will join our demonstration teams and will be able to conduct demonstrations for the general public in several locations (see attached flyer). Contact our National Chemistry Week Coordinator Hong Zhang for more information.
Also, please share the NCW flyer with young and old chemistry enthusiasts in your life.
Call for Nominations for Upcoming Election
September 23, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
The Nomination and Election Committee is currently seeking nominations for elected positions on the Cincinnati section's executive board. Want to know what the Section does? Get involved! The Executive Committee meets about 4 times per year; plus each office has its own requirements and actions.
Being an Auditor is a nice way to ease into leadership; a team of 3 auditors check the Treasurer’s books once per year. Do you attend the National ACS Meetings regularly? If so, why not run to be a Councilor and represent Cincinnati at the Council Meetings. Ready to step up to serious leadership? Volunteer to be Chair-elect for a year of training prior to leading the Local Section in 2024.
If you have an interest in a leadership role in the Section, please contact Susan Marine or Peter Koenig. The deadline for nominations is October 1. Voting starts November 1.
CHIPS and Science Act
September 23, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
On Monday, June 13th, we hosted a webinar with the American Chemical Society Director of District II, Dr. Chris Bodurow, and ACS Government Affairs staff to hear about the opportunity to advocate for ACS priorities in the large piece of research-focused legislation being considered by Congress.
Subsequently, we reached out to you to raise these priorities with Senators Portman and Brown through signing up on the Act4Chemistry and sending a letter to the Senators and their staff about the importance of supporting innovation legislation and provisions that will help chemists.
President Biden signed the “CHIPS and Science” act on August 9th. Luckily several of the ACS’s priorities we heard about in the webinar were included as well, and Senator Portman supported its passage in the Senate in July.
You can also sign up to receive newsletters about science policy in Washington and learn more about how to advocate on behalf of chemistry with policymakers. To sign up for Act4Chemistry click here.
2022 Oesper Symposium
September 23, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
The annual Oesper Symposium will honor Distinguished Professor Martin Moskovits (Chemistry, U. California, Santa Barbara). This event is organized by the University of Cincinnati and will take place on Friday, October 14, 2022 at the Tangeman University Center. Full details of the symposium can be found here.
The evening event will begin with a poster session and reception in the TUC Great Hall from 5:30-6:50PM. The banquet will begin at 7PM with an ACS business meeting at 8 PM followed by the after dinner speaker.
Registration is required for the banquet by Monday, October 10.
Section Meeting: Greater Cincinnati Water Works & Sonder Brewery
September 23, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
Our next section meeting will be at Sonder Brewery. Dr. Ying Hong from the Greater Cincinnati Water Works will present about the applied research at her institution.
Sonder Brewery is located at 8584 Duke Boulevard, Mason, OH 45040. The event will start at 4PM with a social hour and tour of the brewery. Dinner will begin at 6PM and follow with the evenings guest speaker, Dr Ying Hong, presenting "Applied Research at Greater Cincinnati Water Works".
Registration is required by Monday, September 26. Students will register for the event as usual (pre-payment using a debit or credit card is required). The first 30 students who register and attend the event will see receive reimbursement.
New Section Secretary
September 23, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
Brant Canter accepted a new position at a company outside of our section and had to resign from the position as section secretary. In the executive committee meeting on June 30th, the section officers unanimously confirmed Dr. Marissa Saladin to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, ending December 2022.
Here is an introduction: Hello! My name is Marissa Saladin, and I am the new secretary for the Cincinnati ACS section. I'm originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I received my PhD at Penn State in 2020. I moved to Cincinnati about two years ago to start work as a teaching professor at Xavier University, mainly focusing general chemistry and physical chemistry courses. I've been loving getting to know the Cincinnati area and getting more involved in the community. Outside of chemistry, I enjoy volunteering at the SPCA and playing board games. I look forward to meeting more of you at the meetings!
Section to Continue to Sponsor Students’ Attendance at Section Events
September 23, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
We had great student attendance at our meeting on June 29th. At this meeting, Dr. Chris Pulliam presented on his transition from academia to industry. We had decided to waive the registration fee for the first 30 students to register. The executive committee decided in its meeting on June 30th to extend this practice for the remainder of the year for all meetings with the exception being the Oesper awards banquet.
We will continue to implement this as follows: Students will register for the event as usual – payment using a debit or credit card is required at this point. The first 30 students who register and attend the event will see a reimbursement of the fee.
Calling all CINTACS members
September 23, 2022 (Hong Zhang and Sue Buescher)
Celebrate National Chemistry Week 2022 the week of October 16–22, 2022 with the theme, "Fabulous Fibers: The Chemistry of Fabrics." The Cincinnati section is looking for volunteers to lead demo sessions.
This years' Demo Practice will be held in the chemistry lab at The Summit Country Day School (22161 Grandin Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45208) on September 27, from 7 - 9 pm. Please park following the sign at the entrance door. Demo material pickup will run from 7-7:15PM with demo practice scheduled for 7:15-9PM.
Ed Escudero, Susan Hershberger, Sue Buescher and Hong Zhang will lead the practice this year and give recommendations on demos tied to the theme of "The Chemistry of Fabrics". If you have any ideas you would like to share with them, please let them know or bring them to the practice. If you are looking for additional inspiration, check out the National Chemistry Week website. We will also be handing out NCW Celebrating Chemistry Magazines for the libraries.
For more information, contact: Hong Zhang, Sue Buescher, or ACS Cincinnati National Chemistry Week.
BMGT Recognizes Gerard Baillely of P&G for Leadership in the Chemical Enterprise
July 14, 2022, updated (Peter Koenig)
The Business Development & Management (BMGT) of the American Chemical Society (ACS) recognizes Gerard Baillely for his contributions to the leadership and management of the chemical enterprise with his selection as 2022 Henry F. Whalen, Jr. Award for Excellence in business development and management in the chemical enterprise management.
The prestigious Whalen Award was established in 2002 to recognize outstanding contributions to the development and management of business within the chemical enterprise! Congratulations to our colleague Gerard Baillely!
Gerard Baillely is Senior Vice President – Research and Development, Global Corporate Functions for Procter and Gamble Company. Gerard joined P&G in 1985 and has spent his entire career in R&D. During his 37-year career, he has created a portfolio of upstream products that address consumer needs across different categories such as Fabric Care, Oral Care, Home Care and P&G Professionals. In his current role, Gerard is leading the company-wide R&D capabilities (Analytical, Data & Modeling, and Bio and Life Sciences). Externally, he is or has been a member of the board of several non-profit and professional associations including his current tenure on the Chemical Sciences and Technology Board within the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. Gerard was born in France and received his Chemistry degree from the Ecole Superieure de Chimie Industrielle de Lyon. Gerard was awarded the Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Mérite distinction by the President of France in 2018.
Please join us to congratulate and celebrate as part of a special BMGT Awards Reception during the Fall ACS National Meeting to be held in Chicago, IL from August 21-25, 2022. Specific event location and date will be communicated at a later date.
Grants for Undergraduate Conference Attendance
June 6, 2022, updated (Gloria Story)
The ACS Cincinnati section supports undergraduate students presenting papers and posters at ACS National or Regional meetings as well as meetings sponsored by the ACS (e.g. PittCon or SciX). This does include covering registration for the SciX conference in Cincinnati in October.
The student for which the $500 grant applies must be the first author and presenter for a poster or oral presentation. This year, we have a total of ten grants for students attending Greater Cincinnati College or University Chemistry Departments.
To apply, please send a copy of the accepted abstract to Gloria Story.
June Meeting
Updated June 15, 2022, updated (Leslie Waits)
Please join us at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, June 29th at MadTree Taproom in Oakley for “A Tale of Two Entities: From Academia to Industry" presented by Christopher Pulliam. Dinner is included. Registration by June 21 is required (deadline extended).
For more information and to register, both in person and remote, click here.
SciX is coming to Cincinnati in 2022
Updated July 14, 2022 (Gloria Story)
Cincinnati is hosting the SciX conference focused on Analytical Chemistry at the Northern Kentucky convention Center from October 2-7. Poster submission is open until August 1st.
The conference features a number of local speakers from industry and academia as well as a session on molecular microspectrocopy (Miami University). Our local Section is sponsoring a session featuring local academic research.
See this flyer for more information.
Elementary Science Teacher of the Year 2022
April 28, 2022 (Lynn Hogue)
Megan Cook, fourth grade science and writing teacher from Clinton-Massie Elementary School has been chosen as the outstanding Elementary Science Teacher for 2022. She strongly believes that all children bring their own unique qualities to the classroom and must be given a safe learning environment where they are appropriately challenged and are given the opportunity to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Megan encourages her students’ curiosity by using hands-on, inquiry-based investigations that explore the world around them.
The Principal of Clinton-Massie Elementary School, Jennifer Updike, says in the past science was an afterthought and the curriculum focused on preparation for Ohio’s state math and reading test. Ms. Updike said, “We now know what a big mistake this was for our students and how important it is to bridge the knowledge gap! Mrs. Cook has been a huge part of this transformation and integration of science at CMES. She serves as our 3-5 Science Curriculum Team Leader. Through her leadership we have developed a common scope and sequence across K-5th grade and determined resources to support the curriculum based on Ohio Science Standards.”
Through her use of hands-on activities, practice in problem-solving and critical thinking skills, innovative methods, and utilization of technology in her classroom, Megan Cook inspires all her students to love learning and to be curious about the world around them.
Middle School Science Teacher for 2022
April 28, 2022 (Lynn Hogue)
Ben McPheron, St. Columban School, is the 2022 Middle School Science Teacher of the Year. Growing up, Ben was inspired by the tv show, MacGyver, and wants to instill the same love of science and problem-solving skills in his students. How? Ben utilizes modern technologies in his classroom and has converted old-style cookbook verification labs to hands-on inquiry investigations that relate to modern day examples and real-world problems. Ben says using these methods enhances his students’ learning as they are more engaged in the subject matter as they try to solve real life problems. The use of digital notebooks and OneNote, also reinforces the science concepts. St Columban School’s past principal, Jo Rhoten, says “Ben’s passion for science, creative teaching styles, and his dedication to his students, is seen every day in his classroom. His enthusiasm and dedication help cultivate a love for science and learning.”
Extending his reach beyond his classroom, Ben leads the advanced students at St. Columban School in the Ohio State Science Fair competitions. Over eleven years, 53 students have received Broad Masters recognition, 28 have been awarded partial scholarships to UC, and over $64,000 in reward prizes have been awarded to St Columban students.
Besides the American Chemical Society award, Ben’s excellence in teaching has been recognized by receiving the Kostick Education Excellence award in 2002 and the Thomas Edison STEM Education Award in 2010 and 2016.
Alumni remark how well prepared they are when graduating and that the science and technology skills learned in Ben McPheron’s class are retained well into college. Parents have called him “a game changer” and an “all-time great.” High praise for this outstanding teacher.
High School Science Teacher of the Year 2022
April 28, 2022 (Lynn Hogue)
Kelly Brock from Franklin High School is the ACS Cincinnati Local Section’s outstanding Chemistry Teacher of the Year. Her principal, Kelli Fromm, describes her this way. “Ms. Brock sets herself apart with her strong content knowledge, excellent classroom management skills, and professionalism. Her enthusiasm and dedication are contagious and evident to her colleagues and students. She works very hard every day to provide high quality, engaging, and meaningful instruction to all her students.”
After 28 years, Kelly still loves teaching chemistry even though it is one of the most challenging courses offered in high school. She wants to change her students’ minds about chemistry and science in general. Kelly does this through her use of exciting demonstrations, discussions, and laboratories. She also cares deeply about her students and their progress and is willing to meet with them outside of class to give them the tools and help they need to be successful. Kelly truly enjoys teaching and getting students from basic knowledge to the application of that knowledge.
Kelly has been the Science Department Chair for over ten years. She has been chosen for the District Leadership Committee, the Building Leadership Team, the Continuous Improvement Plan Committee, the Science Standards Committee, and the Grading and Assessment Committee. Kelly also has won numerous awards for her teaching including the FHS National Honor Society Teacher of the year 2009 and 2015, the Dave Gregory Excellence in Teaching Award 2012, and the Warren County ESC Franklin B. Walter Scholarship recognized mentor.
In her own words, Kelly said “I became a teacher because I had great teachers. I hope that I can continue to be a role model for my students and instill in them my love for science and the confidence to pursue whatever areas they are excited about.”
Chemist and Technologist of the Year Awards
March 9, 2022 (Jay Eylem)
We are proud to announce the winners of the CINTACS 2022 Chemist of the Year and Technologist of the Year Award. Please see below for the introduction of the winners and for detail of the award dinner on March 31st at Miami University. The section would like to thank the awards committee under leadership of Jay Eylem for selecting the winners from the nominations received.
2022 CINTACS Chemist of the Year -- William E. Schoster from The Shepherd Chemical Company is the winner of the CINTACS 2022 “Cincinnati Chemist of the Year Award." He is recognized for his significant contributions to the Shepherd Chemical Company business and mankind with commercialization of technologies that are used in variety of products including Automobile Airbag Inflators, Spandex elastic fibers, Namex flame-resistant fibers that improved and saved the lives of millions of people. He is also recognized for his dedication in training and mentoring others as well as for his overall positive impact on his coworkers.
2022 CINTACS Chemical Technologist of The Year -- Dr. Robert M. McCarrick from Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University is the winner of the CINTACS 2022 “Cincinnati Research Assistant/Chemical Technologist of the Year Award." He is recognized for his mastery in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and frequently sought out for his expertise. His work on instrumentation made the Ohio Advanced EPR lab a world class facility where he regularly hosts scientists from across the state and region. His dedication to teaching and training others on EPR spectroscopy is recognized by the others. He has a strong publication record due to his ability adopting EPR instrumentation to the specific experimental research needs and enabling project teams. His creative solution and work on the helium capture/recycle system reduced the university’s liquid helium costs by a factor of 3.
For more information and to register visit here.
February Meeting
January 17, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
Join us at 5:15 PM on Thursday, February 24, at the Mount St Joseph Theater Lobby for "Dissolution Recycling of Polyolefins Using Alkane Solvents" presented by John M. Layman. John is currently a Senior Director in Corporate R&D at The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G). His current efforts are focused on helping P&G develop more environmentally responsible product choices that help consumers and industry reduce overall environmental impact. He earned his Ph.D. in Macromolecular Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Both in-person and remote access will be available. Click here for more information and to register.
Oesper Collection to Become National Historic Chemical Landmark
January 17, 2022 (Peter Koenig)
The National American Chemical Society has designated the University of Cincinnati’s Oesper Collection in the History of Chemistry to be a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The Cincinnati ACS Local Section is planning a celebration for Tuesday March 15, 2022. The landmark ceremony will be held in 502 Rieveschl Hall on the UC campus at 7:00 PM, followed by refreshments and tours of both the Oesper Apparatus Museum and the Oesper Rare Book and Journal Collections. More information about these collections can be found here.
Parking is available in the Clifton Court Garage immediately below Rieveschl. Attendees will be given exit passes that will waive the parking charges. Please mark your calendars now, save the date, and join us for this national recognition in March. Both in-person and remote access will be available. Click here for more information and to register.
Chemist and Technologist of the Year Nominations
January 17, 2022 (Jay Eylem)
The Cincinnati Section of the ACS recognizes outstanding chemists, technologists, and educators through several awards that are given annually. After the past two challenging years, it is more important than ever to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to advance chemistry and inspire future generations. We encourage you to nominate deserving individuals.
The Cincinnati Local Section of the American Chemical Society is requesting nominations for the Chemist and Research Assistant of the Year Awards. These awards recognize outstanding individuals who work in chemistry-related fields and have made significant contributions to chemistry related-fields, society, and the community.
The Chemist of the Year is required to be a local ACS member in good standing. Nomination requires two letters of recommendation and a curriculum vitae.
The Technician/Chemical Technologist of the Year is not required to be an ACS member but must be employed within the section boundaries. One letter of recommendation and a resume should be submitted for consideration.
Nominations and letters of recommendation for these are due by February 21, 2022. Awards will be given at our March Cincinnati ACS meeting. Please contact Jay Eylem for more information or to forward nominations.
Excellence in Teaching Award Nominations
January 17, 2022 (Lynn Hogue)
Each year the Cincinnati section recognizes outstanding local teachers with our Excellence in Teaching Awards. We are seeking teachers who make a difference in students’ lives through excellent, innovative teaching methods, who encourage students to pursue science, and who have shown a dedication to their profession. High School Chemistry teachers and Middle School and Primary Science teachers are eligible; each level will be awarded separately.
If you know of a teacher who deserves recognition, send the teacher’s name, school, school district, and email address to Lynn Hogue. We will pursue letter of recommendation. Nominations are due by March 16, 2022. These awards will be given at the April Cincinnati ACS meeting.
NCW Illustrated Poem Contest Results
January 17, 2022 (Jamie Heimkreiter)
In this year’s NCW Illustrated Poem Contest, our winner in the 6-8 grade category was Shriya Arunkumar in the 7th grade at Mason Intermediate School. She illustrated the earth with acid rain, global warming, erosion, and a volcanic eruption. She named chemical reaction in these events and concluded chemistry is the cause. Congratulations, Shriya!
Our winner in the 9-12 grade category is Emma Korman, a 12th grader from Minorities in Mathematics Science and Engineering. She illustrated a diamond and wrote a poem about pressure (a force per unit area) making diamond; she says pressure (challenges) also makes us grow. Congratulations, Emma!
