• Sharing Chemistry with Middle Schoolers
• ACS Guidelines Regarding Political Activities
• Planetary Science Prof to Present Lectureship
• GLRM Registration Reminder
• KACS Calendar
Sharing Chemistry with Middle Schoolers
In February, the WMU Chemistry Club visited 6th and 7th graders at The Gagie School twice to engage them in exciting chemistry activities and to learn more about chemistry and the broader implications of science.
On the first day, the students participated in a goldenrod paper experiment. Each student made Valentine’s Day cards for friends and family using a baking soda solution and color-changing goldenrod paper. Next, the students made their own slime! All of the students were thrilled with this activity, and they all learned basic chemistry concepts like chemical reactions and polymers.
Two weeks later, the WMU Chemistry Club returned to The Gagie School to have a presentation about science and ethics.Through videos and interactive discussions, students explored the pros and cons of scientific discovery and learned about the ethical considerations of scientific research and technological advancements. The students had many thoughtful questions, but they had even more insights that demonstrated exceptional critical thinking and awareness at such a young age.
Overall, the students had a fantastic time. In a thank you letter, one student wrote, “I greatly enjoyed your visit to the Gagie School! Watching you explain the chemical reaction and the reason behind it sparked interest in me. My mom and dad were both ecstatic that I made them a science Valentine’s card. Thank you for visiting us here at The Gagie School. I greatly enjoyed it.” The visits had a fantastic impact on the students, and we were honored to visit The Gagie School. Opportunities like these reinforce the importance of engaging young students in science, especially chemistry.
ACS Guidelines Regarding Political Activities
The following important reminder of our guidelines regarding political activities was sent to ACS Local Section Officers with the request that we distribute it to our membership [Kim Knight and Tokë Vandervoort are, respectively, the ACS Secretary and the ACS General Counsel].
With any change in administration, political discussions often take center stage across the U.S. and beyond. Like anyone else, ACS volunteers are likely to have personal interests and opinions in this regard.
ACS respects each individual’s right to hold and express political views and to engage in politics that affect them. However, as a congressionally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ACS must navigate these interests carefully to ensure compliance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax code and, in many cases, local laws governing our operations.
While you are free to express your political views as a private citizen, it is important that your statements or actions do not suggest ACS endorsement, involvement or complicity in any political matter.
To ensure compliance with IRS regulation, please be sure to follow these guidelines:
1. Use your personal email address (non-employer) when expressing your personal positions or views. Use your ACS email account, if applicable, only to conduct ACS business.
2. Do not use your ACS affiliation when engaging in political activities or commentary. Avoid wearing or displaying ACS-branded items in such context.
3. Refrain from using ACS resources for political purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, ACS email addresses, office addresses, the ACS name, any ACS online and social media platforms, and any member, donor or other ACS-related lists.
4. Use your personal email and social media accounts for political discussions. If your account discloses your ACS affiliation (e.g., LinkedIn), a disclaimer should be added (e.g., in the “About/Bio” section) and where possible, at the end of such communications. A suggested disclaimer is: “All views and opinions expressed are my own.”
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please reach out to the Secretary’s Office at secretary@acs.org.
Thank you for your attention to these important guidelines.
Regards,
Kim and Tokë
(Note from LaTrease Garrison, Chief Operating Officer of the ACS: The “Stand Up for Science” events occurring across the country are examples of activities that we cannot participate in as an organization. Doing so could compromise ACS’s nonprofit status. Therefore, individuals who wish to participate should do so in their personal capacity and not under the umbrella of ACS or the local section. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.)
Planetary Science Prof to Present Lectureship
The ACS Western Michigan Section invites us to the Arnold C. Ott Lectureship in Chemistry, April 10 and 11, 2025 at Grand Valley State University.
Lectures will be presented by Dante Lauretta, Regents Professor of Planetary Science and Cosmochemistry at the University of Arizona.
Public Lecture
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Life in the Cosmos—The Search for Consciousness and Biology in the Universe
Reception—5 p.m., Lecture—6 p.m.
Grand River Room, Russel H. Kirkhof Center, GVSU Allendale Campus
Chemistry Seminar
Friday, April 11, 2025
Journeys on the Asteroid Frontier—The Engineering Behind NASA’s OSIRIS—REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission
1 p.m.
Pere Marquette Room, Russel H. Kirkhof Center, GVSU Allendale Campus
GLRM Registration Reminder
Remember to register for the Great Lakes Regional Meeting June 4-6 in Appleton, Wisconsin!
https://greatlakesregion-acs.org/event-welcome/glrm-2025