The ACS just completed the Spring National meeting in Indianapolis. It was a very successful meeting that drew more than 12,000 participants. The vast majority (over 10,000) attended the meeting in person. The convention center location in Indianapolis is a very nice one. The hotels and the convention center are adjacent to each other which makes it easy to go from one session to the next and to connect with colleagues. A full report of the meeting will be included in next month’s newsletter.
The public outreach program for this month is “Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW)”. The theme for the 2023 CCEW is “The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae”. Our section will host several events for local students and will participate in the CCEW illustrated poetry contest. The Celebrating Chemistry magazine includes engaging articles for middle school students and trivia facts for all of us. Here’s a quick quiz:
Which of the following foods contain algae?
Ice Cream • Cherry Pie • Sushi Roll • Spirulina Drink • Icing • Candy
The answer is possibly all of these foods. Agar and carrageenan are two very common gelling/thickening agents that are found in many of the foods we eat. Many of the “green drinks” contain spirulina, a blue-green algae that provides a natural blue color for food products. It is an important source of vitamin B12, especially for people who avoid animal products.
One new program that ACS has established is a revamped Speaker Directory (see the flyer in this newsletter). This is a great resource for local sections and others who might be looking for a speaker for an upcoming event. The directory is searchable by name, topic and geography. This directory is intended to give chemists an opportunity to share their expertise and to build their engagement resume. If you would like to be considered as a speaker for an ACS or other event, you are encouraged to list your name, topic and contact information in the directory. You do need to be an ACS member and log into the ACS Network to access the directory, but this is easy to set up.
If you are interested in the Speaker Directory or want more information on the CCEW and algae, please contact us. We are always delighted to hear from you and to have new volunteers.
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie McClure
