Here are a few highlights from the 1994 NCW: Larry reports that the Section had a record number of requests for science demonstrators at libraries and other public places. We will need to recruit more volunteer "demonstrators" for next year if we are to meet the increased demand. Demonstrations at the Museum Center were a big hit with the crowds, and the Center Staff has made it clear that they value a continued relationship with the Section. To see how much they value the partnership, plan on coming to the February 15 meeting at the Center. We have been granted special access to the collection and exhibits during the meeting! Other positive notes from National Chemistry Week include improved publicity for the Section and our profession in broadcast and print media. We can never have enough positive publicity -- but finally we begin to sense that non-scientists are beginning to learn about us and to appreciate some of the positive contributions we make to society. Just a few of the many contributors to our publicity efforts are Kathy Gibboney and Jeanne Buccigross (co-chairs of the Publicity Committee), Bruce Ault (who labored long hours with short notice in order to provide demonstrations for TV cameras), and Richard Sunberg (who ran a highly successful elementary school science contest involving the behavior of salt). These efforts are good citizenship on our part, and the profession stands to reap benefits over the long term. To paraphrase Rich Sunberg, we live in a society that no longer accepts the value of science and technology as given; we must promote our profession much like we would promote a consumer product or society will not buy!
Upcoming meeting highlights: the February 15 meeting at the Museum Center will feature Dr. Donald Tomalia, Director of Nanoscopic Chemistry and Architecture at the Michigan Molecular Institute and Director of Dendritech, Inc. His topic will be the new technology for the construction of nanoscopic supermolecules. Our March 15 meeting will be at Miami University and will feature the Cincinnati Chemist of the Year and the Cincinnati Technician of the Year. The April meeting will be at Northern Kentucky University. The featured speaker will be Kristen Garvin from Perkin Elmer corp. She will speak on the current status of DNA profiling as a tool in forensic science, both from the standpoint of the complicated legal status of the method in various regions of the country and from the standpoint of her company's efforts to develop standard instrumentation for DNA ''fingerprinting." Please plan on joining us for this exciting series of meetings.
The 60th Annual Meeting of the Engineers and Scientists of Cincinnati will be held February 23, 1995 at the Metropolitan Club (50 E. River Center Blvd., Covington, KY) from 6:00-9:00 PM. The featured speaker will be a representative from NASA. All ACS members are invited to attend. The cost of the dinner is $30 if paid in advance (Engineers & Scientists of Cincinnati, c/o Dee Scott, P.O. Box 53308 Cincinnati, OH 45253 and payment is due by February 10, 1995). For more information and reservations, call Dee .Scott at 385-9446.
I hope we all enjoyed a restful and refreshing holiday season and I look forward to working with you in 1995!
James Hershberger