Greater Houston SectionEstablished in 1917, the Section serves about 2500 members, consisting of chemists, chemical engineers and professionals in allied fields. The American Chemical Society is recognized as a world leader in fostering science education and research, and promoting public understanding of science. The Greater Houston Section of the American Chemical Society is one of 189 local ACS sections across the nation. |
ACS-GHS x WISEcast - The Leadership Leap with Beth Lorsbach In this special collaboration between WISEcast and the American Chemical Society Greater Houston Section (ACS-GHS), Dr. Richa Chandra has a long-anticipated conversation with Dr. Beth Lorsbach, Global Head of Innovation and Development at Nufarm and National ACS Leader. Beth joins us ahead of her upcoming seminar, “The Chemistry of Bourbon,” taking place on National Bourbon Day, Saturday, June 14, as part of the ACS-GHS Summer Social at LIV Bar in Downtown Houston. Purchase Tickets Here (Early Bird Registration Deadline is May 16!) With more than 20 years at Dow AgroSciences and Corteva, Beth has helped shape the future of crop protection R&D and now leads global innovation strategy at Nufarm. She brings deep insights into both science and leadership, and in this episode, she opens up about:
Tune in for practical wisdom, candid stories, and a preview of one of the most anticipated event of the summer! Have questions for Beth before the seminar? Email us at acs-ghs@acs-ghs.org Greater Houston Participates in the 2025 National Chemistry Olympiad
This year, more than 340 students from 37 schools in Greater Houston participated in the Chemistry Olympiad local competition in March. Among the top section-wide performers, 14 students were nominated and joined the 3-part national competition held at the University of Houston on April 7th. The Greater Houston Section is proud to sponsor 46 gift card awards given to section-wide and school-wide top-performing students. We are pleased to see rising students' great interest in chemical education. We welcome more high school students to take part in this annual event. Earth Day 2025 at the Houston Health Museum Plastic Planet: Reduce, Reuse, Rethink!
On Saturday, April 26th, a plastics-themed Earth Day Celebration was hosted by the Houston Health Museum with exciting activities to accompany the “Recycled Creations Exhibit”. ACS-GHS facilitated the event and many volunteers provided hands-on activities and background information on plastics recycling to the visitors. The volunteers included people from Dow Chemical, University of Houston, University of St. Thomas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and several high schools. Thanks to all of our volunteers for your invaluable time and hard work to make the event fun and educational for visitors. April Seminar on Food Sustainability and Waste ReductionA heartfelt thank you to Dr. R. Yagmur Yegin, PhD. for delivering a powerful and inspiring seminar yesterday evening as part of the American Chemical Society Greater Houston Section (ACS-GHS) Seminar Series hosted at the University of St. Thomas (TX).
With around 40 attendees, Dr. Yegin’s talk on food sustainability, waste reduction, and science-driven solutions resonated deeply especially with our audience. She skillfully connected scientific innovation with real-world social issues like global hunger and environmental preservation, sparking meaningful conversations long after the session ended.
Dr. Yegin’s remarkable journey from earning her Ph.D. at Texas A&M to her postdoctoral research at MIT, makes her a true role model in STEM. Her accolades include numerous awards, patents, and publications in sustainable materials and food safety. We are incredibly grateful to have hosted her! Amiee Modic Receives James Bryant Conant Award at ACS Spring 2025 Meeting in San Diego
Congratulations to Amiee L. Modic for being named the recipient of the 2025 James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching by the American Chemical Society! The purpose of this award is to recognize, encourage, and stimulate outstanding teachers of high school chemistry in the United States, its possessions or territories, at the national level. The award was presented as part of the annual National Awards ceremony at the ACS Spring 2025 Meeting in San Diego, California.
L to R: Lisa Houston, Jane Gray, Amiee Modic, Roxie Allen at the ACS Spring 2025 National Awards Reception Amiee is a chemistry teacher at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart and an active member of the Greater Houston ACS section, serving on Education and Outreach committees (including NCW and CCEW), and promoting chemical education opportunities in the Greater Houston area and beyond. | The Chemistry of Bourbon - Seminar and Tasting
Join us for an engaging evening of science, spirits, and social connection as we celebrate National Bourbon Day at LIV Houston with a special seminar, "The Chemistry of Bourbon", featuring Dr. Beth Lorsbach, Global Head of Innovation and Development at Nufarm and national leader in the American Chemical Society. Dr. Lorsbach will take us on a flavorful journey into the fascinating chemistry behind bourbon, exploring the differences between bourbon, whiskey, and scotch and the process of distillation and fermentation. Additionally, guests will enjoy different flavor profiles through a guided bourbon tasting as part of the evening’s experience. Saturday, June 14, 2025 6:30 - 8:30 pm LIV Houston 108 Main St. Houston, TX 77009 Ticket Prices: Early Bird (ends May 16): $30 ACS members / $50 non-members Standard Tickets (starting May 17): $60 ACS members / $75 non-members This is a 21+ event. Space is limited, so be sure to register early and secure your spot for this spirited celebration of science! Upcoming events
A Beautiful Day for the ACS-GHS Chemistry Scholarship Examination
The 2025 American Chemical Society Greater Houston Section High School Scholarship Exam took place on May 3, 2025 at the University of Houston. A total of fifty eight students participated in the examination spread across the first year (twenty eight students) and second year (thirty students) categories.
Pictured (L to R): Obiageli Nwosu, Dr. Tai-Yen Chen, Truong Dang, Dipti Singh, and Linda Wong A very special thanks go to our ACS-GHS volunteers as shown in the picture above from right to left, Linda Wong, Dipti Singh, Truong Dang, Dr. Tai-Yen Chen and Obiageli Nwosu. A special shout out to our ACS-GHS Senior Chemists, Linda Wong and Truong Dang for their help with making this outreach event a huge success. Chemists Celebrate Earth Week at Discovery Green!
ACS Greater Houston Chapter had another successful year of Chemists Celebrate Earth Week at the Discovery Green Earth Day in Downtown Houston! With a steady flow of visitors throughout the entire event, we were able to share and demonstrate information on this year's theme of glaciers and their role in creating a more sustainable world. Huge thanks to our 2025 Outreach Volunteer of the Year Kiresha (Reese) Johnson for organizing the day, and to our event volunteers for helping make this a phenomenal event! ACS-GHS Awards: Call for Nominations Recognize your peers for their outstanding scholarship and service to the ACS-GHS and our chemical community by nominating them for an award!
Direct inquiries and submit nomination packets to acs-ghs@acs-ghs.org by the specified deadline. ACS Southwest Regional Award Nominations are Open! The 76th Southeastern and 81st Southwest Joint Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society to be held October 26 - 29, 2025 in Orlando, FL, invites nominees for the following ACS Regional Awards:Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences recognizes individuals and/or institutions that have advanced diversity in the chemical sciences and significantly stimulated or fostered activities that promote inclusiveness within the region. Deadline: August 1 The ACS Division of Chemical Education (CHED) for Excellence in High School Teaching recognizes, encourages, and stimulates outstanding teachers of high school chemistry in the region. Deadline: August 15 E. Ann Nalley Award for Volunteer Service to the American Chemical Society recognizes the volunteer efforts of individuals who have served the American Chemical Society, contributing significantly to the goals and objectives of the Society through their regional activities. Deadline: August 15 For more information, including nomination packet requirements and submission information, please see the SWRM Awards Page. |
