May 2024, Vol. 14(5)

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Awards Recognition Evening Returns
RSVP Deadline May 6

After a four-year hiatus, our in-person Awards Recognition evening is returning on May 13, Monday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the WMed Innovation Center at 4717 Campus Drive, in Kalamazoo. To help in the planning we ask that you let us know of your intent to attend by no later than Monday, May 6; you may e-mail Salonika Aggarwal at aggarwal.salonika@gmail.com or call Lydia Hines at 269-375-7349.

KACS Meeting Travel Grants Encourage Their Participants

In the April issue of The KalChemist News (https://kalamazooacs.org/april-2024-vol-144/) we were treated to an article (with pictures) by one of the four students from Kalamazoo College who were awarded grants to attend the Spring ACS meeting in New Orleans.

Below are excerpts from individual reports submitted by each of the other three students:

· “Presenting my research at this conference allowed me to receive feedback from other scientists in the inorganic chemistry field. This has allowed me to identify areas for further development and how to refine my presentations. Additionally, at the conference, I was exposed to many career opportunities that help provide direction as I start to navigate graduate school.”

· “This was my first time going to an ACS conference, and it was a wonderful experience. … My biggest take-away though is what I learned from my own presentation. … While I know that my presentation was not perfect it gave me great hope that I am learning how to be a better presenter. This conference was amazing as it built my interest in subdisciplines I did not know existed, expanded my knowledge in research areas I wanted to learn more about, and gave me greater confidence as a presenter.”

· “Being able to travel to an ACS conference was surreal – I had never imagined myself as being able to present to the country’s best and brightest chemists! Another amazing opportunity that stemmed from the experience was attending a graduate school fair, which helped me identify some key graduate schools that I will be applying to this coming fall. Along with attending a graduate school fair, I also attended a career fair which helped me narrow down the jobs I’ll apply to for my gap year.”

Chemicals-in-Soil Presentation Summary

For those who missed it, below is a summary of Dr. Inna Popova’s presentation to our Section.

Do you know what is in the soil beneath your feet? Dr. Inna Popova has made this her life’s work. Her path to this point took several twists and turns. After graduating from Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia, with a degree in chemistry, she pursued her Ph.D. in analytical & experimental physical chemistry at the University of North Dakota – Grand Forks. As she explained to an audience of KACS members and Kalamazoo College students at K, on April 9, 2024, she then received her masters degree in soil & land resources. This helped her to better study the effects of natural and synthetic organic compounds in soil ecosystems.

In her current position as Assistant Professor of Soil and Environmental Organic Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Dr. Popova has been called upon to test all types of soils for possible contaminants. Dairy cows and other farm animals are given antibiotics to fight infections. On large industrial farms, cows may overload the capacity of the soil with their waste and this could lead to levels of tetracyclines that could confer antibiotic resistance. Inna’s team used pressurized solvent extraction to remove and measure the tetracyclines from the soil. There are several types of tetracycline antibiotics that cling to soil with varying degrees of affinity. Part of the measurement process employing HPLC/UV-vis involved devising procedures to ensure complete removal of the tetracyclines from the soils.

In Spain, sewage sludge was applied to agricultural fields for 26 years between 1992 – 2018. Inna’s lab was called upon to analyze the effect of this farming process. Common human drugs such as estriol, tetracycline, and progesterone, among others, could not be detected. However, antibiotics, such as sulfamethoxazole, were detected. Levels of these compounds could be controlled by binding them to added minerals.

In a study of corn fields in Oklahoma, they monitored levels of chlortetracycline, another antibiotic. Tetracyclines represent nearly 50% of all antibiotics used in the swine industry. Fortunately, the levels found were less than 16 mg/ml, which is deemed lower than levels that could cause antibiotic resistance.

After Dr. Popova’s stimulating talk there were several questions related to methods and procedures.

Our section was not the only one which enjoyed Inna’s visit; we were able share her expertise with the St. Joe Valley Section in northern Indiana to our east, where she spoke at Notre Dame on April 10. From our colleagues’ reports, her talk was equally well received there.

Celebrating Chemistry Publication Available for STEM Education Days

KRESA and the MiSTEM Network invite local businesses to be part of the Kalamazoo Growlers and SW MiSTEM Network STEM Education Days, scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 (9-11 a.m.), Wednesday, May 29 (9-11 a.m.), and Monday, June 3 (9-10:30 a.m.) at Homer Stryker Field in Mayors Riverfront Park. The event is designed to offer 3rd to 6th grade students in the MiSTEM Network’s Southwest Region hands-on STEM experiences that will not only capture their interest but also inspire them to consider future careers in STEM fields.

To confirm your participation, kindly fill out the registration form at: https://forms.gle/wBNZXpfyACfuv1cQ6. Through this form you can select the day(s) that best fit your schedule and provide details about the hands-on activity you plan to offer.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Kelsey McKague, KRESA Community Engagement Liaison, kelsey.mckague@kresa.org.

If you decide to participate and offer an interactive opportunity for the young people who attend, please contact Lydia E. M. Hines (lemhwgh@gmail.com or 269-375-7349) for copies of our most recent Celebrating Chemistry publication to distribute to the attendees; the theme of the publication is “Getting a charge out of chemistry” and it features activities which may be done at home, as well as extensive information regarding batteries – suitable primarily for students in grades 4-7.

Plan Now for Picture-Perfect Chemistry Day!

October will be here before we know it and that month brings National Chemistry Week (the 2024 theme is “Picture-Perfect Chemistry”) and our Chemistry Day at the Museum – please consider how you may participate in that popular outreach event on October 19, Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. The person to contact with your intent to help is Hershel Jude (hjude@kalsec.com) – he will be very glad to hear from you!