Highlights
- Wayne State Prof to Deliver Seminar at K College
- Chemistry Day at the Museum
- Recent Speed Networking NightâAnother Successful Event
- MiSTEM Chemistry Network Update
- A âPasswordâ Idea
- KACS Calendar
Wayne State Prof to Deliver Seminar at K College
Dr. James Bour, chemistry professor at Wayne State University, will deliver a seminar in person at Kalamazoo College on Thursday, October 13, at 6 p.m. in Dewing Hall, room 103. This seminar is jointly sponsored by KACS and the Kalamazoo College Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Questions may be directed to edwardwthomas@gmail.com or Blakely.Tresca@kzoo.edu.
Title: Understanding Relationships Between Defectivity and Microporosity in Organic Polymers
Abstract: This presentation describes efforts to understand structural features critical for high surface areas in porous organic polymers. Using a network disassembly approach, we show that porosity is highly sensitive to dangling end defects. The implications of these insights on the design of improved synthetic approaches for high surface areal materials will be discussed.
Dr. Bourâs Biographical Information: After graduating from Hackett High School in Kalamazoo, Dr. Bour earned a B.S. from Hope College in 2013 and Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Michigan in 2018. As a graduate student he worked on the organometallic chemistry of high-valent nickel under Professor Melanie Sanford. He then moved to MIT as an Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellow to study catalytic applications of metal-organic frameworks in the lab of Professor Mircea Dinca. He began his independent career in 2020 at Wayne State University where his team studies the synthesis and applications of porous organic materials.
All are welcome! Starting at 5:10 p.m. there will be a reception in the Dewing Lobby featuring light sandwiches and soft drinks; to ensure there is enough food, if you plan to attend the reception please contact edwardwthomas@gmail.com.
Chemistry Day at the Museum
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the Kalamazoo Section of the American Chemical Society invite you to attend the event âFabulous Fibers: The Chemistry of Fabrics!â, which is the 2022 theme of our National Chemistry Week outreach. Visitors of all ages will enjoy chemistry experiments related to fibers, as well as other favorites. After a two-year hiatus, the 36th annual event will take place in person on Saturday, October 15, from noon to 4 p.m. at the museum; it is FREE to attendees.
Discover how chemistry can tell us more about fibers using fire in Great Balls of Fire! Use the sun to create a chemical print on fabric. Learn about ice dyeing and use synthetic dyes to tie dye a bandana. Absorbent polymers are used in diapers to help absorb moisture and also make for some fun artificial snow. See how chemicals combine to create a string of nylon. Observe how milk, soured by vinegar, can be used to create buttons and how that same milk can show us how stains can be removed.
Many of past favorites are back! Make your own slime, explore acids and bases, clean pennies with ketchup, learn about PVT effects using colored water, try paper chromatography and âmagicâ sand. Chemiluminescence and elephant toothpaste demonstrations can be seen at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. in the theater. Get your free tickets at the front desk. This spectacular science show is filled with glow-in-the-dark lights and âdancingâ milk!
We look forward to seeing you at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum (230 N. Rose Street) on Saturday, October 15, from 12-4 p.m.!
Recent Speed Networking NightâAnother Successful Event
On September 27, 2022, Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo ACS jointly hosted the 6th Speed Networking event, our third virtual one over ZOOM. We had an exceptional turn-out with over thirty-five mentors and students.
Mentors from Chicago and Holland joined us, along with students from Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College. Virtual networking in ZOOM has helped to expand this opportunity beyond the Kalamazoo area for both mentors and students.
The evening kicked off with a presentation by Dan Walker from Zoetis, who shared impactful tips for the job search and landing your dream job in the interview. Students and mentors were paired up in five breakout rooms for 10-minute discussions.
Our speakers also included current K College juniors and seniors, Roman Ramos, Abby Barnum, and Margaret Lekan, who shared their experience at the recent ACS National Meeting in Chicago and the benefits of becoming ACS members. Jackie Srodes, from the Center for Career and Professional development at Kalamazoo College, discussed the services available to job seekers and companies recruiting for new hires.
After the event, a list of contacts was circulated for mentors and students to continue their conversations. We are hopeful that the connections made will benefit students and mentors alike for many years to come. Overall, the event was a resounding success, and we look forward to continuing to expand this format more in the future.
Anyone interested in becoming involved with Speed Networking in the future, please contact blakely.tresca@kzoo.edu. [Just FYI, those interested in further mentoring opportunities, planning has begun for a career panel sometime in the spring of 2023!]
MiSTEM Chemistry Network Update
The first Southwest MiSTEM teacher-scientist meeting of the 2022-23 school year was on September 20 with six high school chemistry teachers and eight scientists from KACS, Pfizer and Michigan State. The discussions included updates from recently formed teacher-scientist partnerships, current teacher challenges, classroom equipment needs and enthusiasm for some new developments. Additional meetings are scheduled for 3-4 p.m. on November 1, January 17, March 7, and May 2. Please let any of us know if you would like to get involved in some way (visit classrooms, develop or review lessons/labs, provide supplies). KACS is providing some financial support for the teacher-scientist partnerships.
Doug Williams (treasurer@kalamazooacs.org)
Carl Stachew (carl.f.stachew@pfizer.com)
Blakely Tresca (blakely.tresca@kzoo.edu)
A âPasswordâ Idea
A âPasswordâ idea: think of a favorite word which may be written using element symbols from the Periodic Table and use those elementsâ atomic numbers to make up your unique password (e.g., RESCUER, 75162968); add other symbols as required.