Upcoming MeetingsNovember 18Professional Practices
It has become the
tradition of the Dayton Section at the Professional Practices
Meeting to honor those members, who, during the past year, have
attained 50 or 60 years of ACS membership.
This year, our 50-year members are Dr. Daniel Carfagno
and Dr. George Hess; and our 60-year members
are Dr. Harold Rosenberg and Dr. Jack
Kwiatek. All section members with
more than 50 years of ACS membership are invited as guests of
the Dayton Section. Of course, all other
members of the Dayton Section are welcome to attend, as well.
We will also announce
the results of the section elections, so please join us to
welcome our newly elected officers, say goodbye (and good
riddance) to outgoing officers, and see what’s new for 2009. In addition, this year
an added highlight will be a keynote address from Dr. R.
Paul Philp from the School of Geology and Geophysics,
University of Oklahoma, who will present a short but informative
and entertaining lecture entitled “The Environmental
Hot-Buttons Over the Last Fifty Years” which is quite
appropriate given the evening’s main objective.
Abstract The last few decades
have witnessed a number of chemicals, such as DDTs in the 60s,
Dioxin in the 70s and PCBs in the 80s, become notorious for
their long term effects on the environment and, in some cases,
the health of humans and animals. Added to
this list is MTBE (methyl-t-butylether) which is rapidly gaining
the “superstar” status attached to these chemicals. MTBE is
added to gasoline as required by government regulations to
increase oxygen content and ensure complete combustion. However,
very little was known about the properties of the compound and
its effect on the environment when this was mandated. Relatively
little is known about its toxicity even now. MTBE, besides
entering the atmosphere through car exhausts, is also known to
leak from underground storage tanks and enter ground water. MTBE
is water soluble and is quite resistant to biodegradation. Many
major ground water drinking supplies have become contaminated
with MTBE. There are many problems arising from MTBE
contamination, in addition to the fact that the ground water
cannot be used for drinking purposes. All these issues and
possible answers will be discussed, not the least of which will
answer the question as to why corn farmers of Iowa are so
excited that MTBE is becoming the bad guy on the block!
About the
Speaker Prof. Paul Philp
graduated with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University
of Sydney (Australia) in 1972 and more recently received a D.Sc
from the same university in 1998. He was a post-doctoral fellow
with Prof. G. Eglinton at the University of Bristol (England) in
organic geochemistry and followed it up, as a research
associate, with 4 years of directing the organic geochemistry
research group of Prof. Melvin Calvin at the University of
California, Berkeley. He returned to Sydney in 1977 to join the
Fuel Geoscience Unit of CSIRO where he served as a Principal
Research Scientist in the area of Petroleum Geochemistry.
He joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma in
1984 and, for several years, has been directing research in the
application of organic chemistry to fossil fuel research besides
evolving analytical techniques to the characterization of source
rocks, coals and oil shales. He has also been very active in the
area of environmental science investigating the use of stable
carbon isotopes as a means of monitoring and tracking pollutants
in the environment. His professional activities include
Associate Editor of Chem. Geol., and Chairman of the
Geochemistry Division of the American Chemical Society. Reservations:
Contact Venkat by November 5th at (937)
255-9116, (937) 255-9117 or at narayanan.venkat@wpafb.af.mil.
October 25th, November
1st and 2nd
National Chemistry Week Activities
EVENT #1: Date:
Saturday, October 25th Time:
10 AM – 2 PM Venue:
Centerville Library 111 W. Spring Valley Road,
Centerville (see map at right) Cost:
FREE!
EVENT #2: Date:
Saturday and Sunday, November 1st and 2nd Time:
Noon – 4 PM (both days) Venue: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton (Please see
http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org for
directions) Cost:
Admission to museum is required:
$7 per child (ages 2—12), $8.50 for adults, and $7.00 for
seniors (children under 2 are free)
Our NCW Coordinator,
Joy Haley, needs volunteers to assist with either event.
If you are interested in helping out, please call her
at: (937)
255-9718 or e-mail her at: to let Joy know
which day you are available and a time frame.
4th Annual Section Picnic of the New Era On September 13th,
a couple dozen or so chemists and family members convened at
John Bryan State Park to partake in the time-honored tradition
of cooking animal flesh over an open fire and consuming it in
mass quantities by tearing into it with their canines, eschewing
utensils. Kind of like Vulcans before they
embarked on a culture based purely on logic.
Of course, there were also plenty of simple carbohydrates to go
around. There was some Tai food, too.
What was that all about? We were also pleased to
welcome to the section two new faculty members at Wright State
University’s Chemistry Department — Professors Ioana Pavel and
Rachel Aga. Holy guacamole, Batman; these two
ladies can really chow down! The Section is grateful
for the efforts of Rajiv Berry for doing all the shopping, to
Steve T for doing all the grilling, and especially to our new
Chair of the Committee for Lab Safety and Mishap Re-enactment,
Holden McGroin.
2008 Dayton Section Elections: Candidate Biographies & Statements
Office:
Chair-Elect Candidate:
Dr. Hilmar Koerner Position Title & Place
of Employment: Research Scientist at Universal Technology Corporation since Jan 2006 Education Information
(Degrees, Institutions, Fields of Study and Corresponding
Dates): · Visiting
Scientist, Materials Science and Engineering Dept, Cornell
University, Chemistry and Physics of Advanced Photoresists for
157nm Lithography. 2000-2001 · University
Assistant, Institute of Polymeric Materials, University of
Leoben, Austria, Surface Chemistry and Molecular Modeling of
Filled Polymeric Materials. 1998-2000 · Postdoctoral
Associate, Materials Science and Engineering Dept, Cornell
University, Physics and Chemistry of Polymeric Materials (Liquid
Crystals, Thermosets, Block Copolymers). 1994-1998 · PhD in
Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Technical University
of Clausthal, Germany. Thesis Title: Structure investigation of
crystalline and liquid crystalline side-group polymers. 1992 -
1994 · Diplom
Chemist, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Technical University
of Clausthal, Germany. Thesis Title: Synthesis and
characterization of liquid crystalline polymers with azobenzene
side-groups and low molecular weight model compounds. 1990-1992 · Chemistry
at Technical University of Clauthal. 1984-1990 Professional Society
Affiliations (Offices held, Dates, Services to ACS): · American
Chemical Society · Dayton
Section Chair-Elect, Chair, Immediate Past Chair, 2005-2007 · Dayton
Section Webmaster, 2006-present · American
Physical Society · Materials
Research Society Statement: I will take steps to
improve section communications by expanding interactions between
the Dayton Section Board, younger members, and students with the
public, and by enhancing public outreach via events and
meetings. I will also endeavor to convince
the general public of the importance of chemists and chemistry
in our daily lives. My section experience
over the past four years as chair-elect, chair, immediate past
chair, and webmaster has made me very familiar with the workings
of this position.
Office:
Treasurer Candidate:
Aaron T. Sellinger Position Title and Place
of Employment: National Research
Council Postdoctoral Associate, Air Force Research Laboratory,
Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base Education: · Ph.D.,
Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, 2008 · M.S.,
Nanoscale Science, University at Albany , SUNY, 2004 · B.S.,
Mathematics, University at Albany, SUNY, 2002 Professional Society
Affiliations: · Materials
Research Society · American
Vacuum Society · Dayton
Section of the American Chemical Society Statement: None. Registration Report and 2009
National Meeting Registration Fee
As of August 20, 2008,
the ACS fall national meeting had attracted 13,800 registrants.
Totals in select categories are as follows:
Regular attendees 8,196; Students 3,087; Guests 481;
Exhibit Only 546; and Exhibitors 1,490. In
keeping with the objective of the National Meeting Long Range
Financial Plan, previously approved by the Board of Directors
and Council, the Meetings and Expositions Committee voted to
support an increase of $10 for the 2009 national meetings
advance registration fee. Membership Activity
In 2007, the number of
paid new members nominated by current ACS members was 1,559.
Currently, there are 988 paid new member applications.
The Society’s Member-Get-a-Member program is on track to
have its best year ever. Professional Employment
Guidelines
The Committee on
Economic and Professional Affairs submitted its latest version
of the Professional Employment Guidelines for consideration.
These guidelines offer a broad spectrum of recommended
practices in employment for professional scientists and their
employers. The Council will vote on the Professional Employment
Guidelines at the 2009 spring meeting in Salt Lake City. Revision of the Division Funding
Formula and Formation of a New Division
After a motion to
recommit failed, the Council VOTED, as recommended by the
Divisional Activities Committee (DAC), to accept a revised
division funding (allocation) formula. DAC
reported that the formula improves clarity, offers simplicity,
and rewards collaborative programming between divisions.
The change will take effect in 2009 for 2008 activities. The Council also VOTED
to approve the formation of the Probationary Division of
Catalysis Science and Technology. The primary
objective of this probationary division is to provide a “home”
for the chemical science of catalysis within the ACS in a way
that will also insure a continual connection between this
science and the essential chemical technology of catalysis. Special Discussion Item
A special discussion
item was put on the Council agenda by President Bruce Bursten.
The discussion focused on Achieving Sustainability (e.g.,
Energy, Water, Food): What can/should ACS do to address
this key global scientific challenge? To kick off the
discussion, ACS Board Chair Judy Benham invited Council to
participate in identifying the challenges and developing
solutions. She highlighted new and ongoing activities,
such as the Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions podcasts and
related information, available online at
www.acs.org/globalchallenges.
She also sought Council input on member involvement and ACS
programming in support of Goal #3 of the Strategic Plan:
"ACS will be a global leader in enlisting the world's scientific
professionals to address, through chemistry, the challenges
facing our world." Councilors engaged in a robust
exchange, offering several useful comments and suggestions to
address how the Society might develop initiatives to address
sustainability of the world's resources, including energy,
water, and food. Thirty-five councilors offered a wide variety
of suggestions, which will be studied.
Councilors and others who have ideas should send them to
strategicplan@acs.org. Your faithful Councilor,
Steve Trohalaki ACS Careers Industry ForumMonthly Teleconferences
featuring Luminaries in the Chemical Sciences. The ACS is working hard
to keep you up to date on cutting edge industrial issues
affecting your current and future employment needs. Make
informed decisions about your career and take control of your
career path. Please participate on
the 2nd Thursday of each month from 2 to 3 PM to
discuss economic and employment trends with top industry
executives in the chemical sciences.
Register by going to
www.acs.org/careers and look for
the “register” link after the description of the Industry Forum.
You can also register from
acscareers.wordpress.com/industry-forum/. This is a free service
via conference call. Check it out for future
new and innovative career services programs.
The ACS want to hear from you, please post comments on our blog
at:
www.acs.org/careers. Soft Skills Training: Do
you have what Employers want? ACS Careers has joined
forces with Harvard Business Publishing to deliver 42 online
business and professional advancement courses. The course
library includes topics such as Career Management, Negotiating,
Leading and Motivating, Presentation Skills, Strategic Thinking,
Team Leadership, Time Management, and many other high-quality
courses. Look for more
information at
www.acs.org/professionaldevelopment.
|
||||||||||||
