August 2021, Vol. 11(7)

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Highlights

URGENT Call for NCW Presenters

This is an URGENT call for volunteers for National Chemistry Week presentations on video!

Though our “event” will be on Saturday, October 16, it will again be done virtually this year, as the Kalamazoo Valley Museum is not yet generally open to the public.

This year’s theme is “Fast or Slow, Chemistry Makes it Go” (Reaction Rates).

We want to express appreciation to, and warmly welcome, Hershel Jude who has agreed to succeed Lydia E. M. Hines as the NEW KACS NCW Coordinator starting with this Fall’s event.

If you are willing to be a volunteer presenter PLEASE contact Hershel Jude; appropriate presentations will be videotaped for this program of activities in early September.

Our indefatigable collaborator at the KVM, Annette Hoppenworth, is working on a schedule for videotaping presenters; when you volunteer she will contact you concerning time of videotaping.

Activities you may want to consider may be found in the Celebrating Chemistry publication for this year’s event.

Though our
“event” will be
on Saturday,
October 16, it
will again be
done virtually
this year, as the
Kalamazoo
Valley Museum
is not yet
generally open
to the public.

Updated Website Now Live

Have you checked out www.kalamazooacs.org recently? Thanks to the diligent effort of Mike Weslosky, Hershel Jude and Ed Thomas, and a grant from National ACS, the site has been updated! It features information about the KACS, its policies, programs, opportunities to volunteer, newsletter information and much more!

We also want to thank Dr. Mark Wolfman (pictured at right) who initiated the development of our previous website in ~2011 when he was a KACS member and continued his service as our webmaster even after he moved to the Chicago area (Chicago Section) until recently when this new website became operational.

Dr. Mark Wolfmann

Job Opportunity Publication Policy

At its June meeting, the following was agreed to by the Kalamazoo ACS Executive Committee as guidance to employers who want to request publication of job opportunities in our newsletter, The KalChemist News.

Purpose:

To provide information to our members regarding local employment opportunities

Policy:

  • A company’s employment opportunity must be in the KACS service area (Kalamazoo, Allegan, and Van Buren counties)
  • The advertisement may include general company information, broad requirements regarding desired applicant backgrounds, and the process for applying. No specific position(s) may be listed.
  • Total copy is limited to not more than 100 words

A company may advertise opportunities periodically, as space is available.

Strategic Planning Meeting Set

Dear Members,

On November 13 and 14, a group of local ACS members will conduct a strategic planning meeting to

help guide our local section of over 250 members on our mission and top priorities for the next 3 to 5 years. I hope when you receive our questionnaire in early September you will complete it to help us with our planning. We will keep you informed as we move through the process this fall. 

Sincerely,
Ed Thomas
Chair

Safety a Core Value of ACS

Safety is a core value of ACS; for resources and guidance please visit https://institute.acs.org/lab-safety.html

At a Safety session at the 2021 Great Lakes Regional Meeting there was definite interest expressed regarding the important need for Chemistry Departments to consider developing a Masters Degree curriculum leading to a credentialed degree titled “Chemical Safety Health Professional” which would give the recipient the chemistry background needed to deal with issues beyond just “emergency response” in both academic and industrial settings.

Free Online Course on Chemical Safety
(From ACS Matters dated June 15, 2021)

The ACS Office of Safety Programs is offering  “Foundations of Chemical Safety and Risk Management,” a free online course that’s open to all. The target audience is undergraduate chemistry students who have completed two semesters of general chemistry and one semester of organic chemistry, but anyone who wants to increase their knowledge about risk-based chemical safety can sign up.

The course incorporates learning objectives from the “Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety” published by the ACS Committee on Chemical Safety and the ACS Committee on Professional Training, and is based on the principles of RAMP: Recognize hazards, Assess the risks from the hazards, Minimize and manage the risks, and Prepare for the unexpected and emergencies.

The self-paced course includes 17 units and takes approximately 15 hours to complete. Participants will learn the components of a strong safety culture, how to recognize hazards in the laboratory, methods to minimize hazards and risks, processes needed to plan for emergencies, and how to apply the principles of RAMP to laboratory operations. Attendees will receive a certificate. For complete course details and online enrollment, visit the Safety Programs website, or send email to safety@acs.org.

ACS National Meeting Coming Soon

Registration is open for the National ACS Meeting, set for August 22-26! The meeting will be a hybrid: Virtual and In-Person, in Atlanta, GA.

There will be up to 1,400 hours of live interactive virtual technical presentations and 700 hours of in-person technical presentations including both oral and poster talks. ACS and Technical Divisions will be hosting in-person and virtual networking events to help you connect and share ideas with your peers from around the world. You are also invited to join in-person OR online for the remarkable talks planned for the Opening Session and Kavli Lecture Series. Don’t miss these highlight events – register today!

KACS Calendar

Any member is invited to attend our Executive Committee Meetings; please contact Ed Thomas for information regarding how you may participate.

August

  • August 16: KACS Executive Committee Meeting 6 p.m. (ZOOM)
  • August 22-26: National ACS Meeting (“Hybrid” – virtual + in-person) in Atlanta, GA. Register here!

September

  • Early September: Videotaping of NCW activities by volunteers—VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Please contact Hershel Jude to learn what activities need to be “adopted.”
  • September 20: KACS Executive Committee Meeting 6 p.m. (ZOOM)
  • September 28: Speed Networking being planned for college students
  • TBD—Outdoor gathering/recruit new members
  • TBD—Seminar speaker/possible ZOOM or social distancing

October

  • October 16: NCW (virtual) at Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Theme: “Fast or Slow, Chemistry Makes it Go” (Reaction Rates)
  • October 18: KACS Executive Committee Meeting 6 p.m. (ZOOM)
  • TBD –Possible industry panel

November

  • November 15: KACS Executive Committee Meeting 6 p.m. (ZOOM)
  • TBD—Bell’s Recycle-a-Poster Event

Chemistry Day 2020