Highlights
- Message from Nicole Burke, 2022 Chair-Elect
- Industry Career Panel held
- Have You Liked Our Facebook Page?
- A Full Year, Despite COVID! – Summary of 2021 KACS Activities
- ‘Industry Matters’ a Helpful Publication
- KACS Calendar
Message from Nicole Burke, 2022 Chair-Elect
I am excited and honored to serve as the 2022 Chair-Elect and 2023 Chair of the Kalamazoo Section of the American Chemical Society. Although the year was supposed to be kicked off by attending the ACS Leadership Institute in Atlanta, the challenges caused by Covid-19/Omicron led to the in-person component of the Leadership Institute being rescheduled to early Summer 2022. However, a virtual kick-off event on January 21 provided an excellent introduction to ACS and the leadership roles within the organization. While the last minute change in travel plans was disappointing, I hope to embrace a similar attitude of flexibility and resilience as the local section works together to increase membership participation and plan events.
I look forward to helping the Kalamazoo ACS section achieve the local section’s vision of enriching all people’s lives in our community through chemistry. Through organizing innovative local events and activities, we have the opportunity to build a strong and inclusive community.
Industry Career Panel held
As advertised, in January of this year the Kalamazoo College student chapter of the ACS organized a 1½-hour long Industry Career panel with three local newly-hired industrial chemists. Our panelists were Mr. Amani Kibasa from Kalsec, and Drs. Anupreet Kharbanda and Andrew Huntsman from Zoetis. The event was moderated by Dr. Blakely Tresca, assistant professor of chemistry at Kalamazoo College. Attendees were excited to hear about the diverse educational and professional backgrounds of the panelists, all three of whom also responded very ably and clearly to participants’ questions relating to the importance of skills, beyond lab expertise, which are needed to succeed in a collaborative work environment. The value of availing oneself of internship opportunities, and the need for evaluating one’s personal ambitions and job aspiration decisions were also presented. The event was held virtually on Teams and we are looking forward to organizing an in-person event next year.
KACS offers sincere thanks to our organizers and panel participants.
Have You Liked Our Facebook Page?
Keep up with Kalamazoo ACS events and newsletters on the Section’s Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/acskalamazoo!
Many thanks to Elke Schoffers for maintaining this page!
A Full Year, Despite COVID!
SUMMARY OF OUR 2021 KACS ACTIVITIES
By Ed Thomas, Past Chair 2022
The KACS goals for 2021 were to increase member participation, to continue providing interesting scientific activities for members and our community, and to continue serving as a platform for our chemists to reach out to teachers and students.
Addressing our first two goals:
Seminars:
February 8, Dr. P. Poddutoori, University of Minnesota-Duluth
March 15, Dr. Kayunta Johnson-Winters, University of Texas at Arlington
March 22, Dr. James Salvador, General Motors R&D Center in Warren, MI
Member Meetings:
February 22, H. N. Cheng, Ph.D., President of the American Chemical Society, “Sustainability and Green Chemistry”
June 10, viewed “Mission Possible: The Race for a Vaccine”
October 21, Dr. Gellert Mezei, Western Michigan University, “Removal of Anionic Contaminants from Water Using Nanojars”
To address our third goal:
January 26 – for college students, our Fourth Annual Speed Networking Event
September 28 – the Fifth Annual Speed Networking Evening Event.
“Germs, Disease Prevention, Immune Response and Treatment” prepared and presented by Edward W. Thomas, Ph.D., KACS Chair, to Kalamazoo fourth and seventh graders – March; Wayne State University NOBCChE – April 26 and Detroit school children – May 10.
Western Michigan chemistry students gave demonstrations to 2nd-5th graders in the spring and fall, then at the Portage Celery Flats to support “Green-a-thon” during CCEW – April 25. Approved grant of $500 for student lab coats.
May 10, students, teachers and long-term ACS members joined us via ZOOM for annual KACS Awards Gathering where we recognized outstanding high school chemistry students, one outstanding graduating senior each from WMU and K College, and 8 long-term ACS members!
Dr. Blakely Tresca, Kalamazoo College faculty, selected as nominee for the Committee on Community Activities Volunteer Of The Year.
Dr. Megan G. Kowalske, WMU, nominated for Stanley C. Israel Regional Award.
KACS Executive Committee paid for high school teachers’ membership in AACT (American Association of Chemistry Teachers).
At the 2021 Great Lakes Regional Meeting, John C. Getson, WMU undergraduate, was recognized for outstanding poster/flash presentation in medicinal chemistry!
Supported Project SEED – student D. Starkey-Williams participated. Doug Williams also nominated Dwight Williams for outstanding mentor.
October 16, the 35th Annual Chemistry Day in Kalamazoo, our section premiered an original Chemistry Day Video. View the video here.
Governance:
Separately, approved and implemented KACS Volunteer / Meeting Conduct Policy, modeled after the ACS national meeting policy.
In March, posted the ACS Chemical Professional Code of Conduct.
Our newsletter, compiled and edited by Lydia Hines, consisted of 11 monthly issues detailing KACS events, national ACS interests and our running calendar.
Our new website was implemented by Hershel Jude with the aid of an ACS grant.
With a grant from ACS, KACS developed our strategic plan, in November.
Vision: Enriching all people’s lives in our community through chemistry
Mission: Connecting and educating local members, scientists, and students through innovative chemistry programs and outreach for the benefit of our community – Allegan, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
Goals: 1) Work with educators to develop programs that benefit students; 2) Increase participation and involvement within our community; 3) Connect academia and industry through KACS to build a strong and inclusive community by organizing innovative local events.
‘Industry Matters’ a Helpful Publication
ACS’ Industry Matters, a weekly e-mail publication distributed to each ACS member, contains “industry insights, career advice, and more to help you succeed in a dynamic and challenging working world,” as well as information on professional development, funding and awards, and entrepreneurial resources. As a follow-up to our KACS’ recently-held Industry Panel (see article on page 1) you may want to read the following very informative article by H. N. Cheng, ACS past-president, which appeared in the January 27 issue of that publication. Distribution of the article to chemistry students and other interested acquaintances is encouraged as well.
(For internship availability students are advised to visit Handshake, and possibly other similar sites, offered at the various area post-HS educational institutions.)