Upcoming Events at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

STEM Day and the GEMS (Girls Exploring Math & Science) Event are annual events for Scouts at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 20-30 Community Booths engage the scouts and families from around the Greater Houston area to learn about all principles of science, from engineering to ecology. The ACS-GHS will participate with hands-on science celebrating NCW’s theme, Chemistry Under Construction.

GEMS Event - Saturday, November 7, 2026

STEM Day - October 3, 2026

This event was a jammed packed day of hands-on experiments. The crowds were non-stop with eight stations which were filled the entire time. See photos from this event here!

Volunteer Opportunity!

The ACS Greater Houston Section is still looking for volunteers for the 2026 GEMS Event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at:

Melissa Ariza: m_arizag@outlook.com or

Kerry Spilker: kkspilker@gmail.com

Did you know? HMNS has chemistry demonstrations in the Matter and Motion Hall on Wednesdays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (schedule may vary).

ACS-GHS Celebrates NCW at the Children’s Museum Houston

The American Chemical Society (ACS) Greater Houston Section celebrated National Chemistry Week (NCW) 2026 at the Children’s Museum Houston on Sunday, October 18, bringing chemistry to life through fun, interactive, and educational activities for children and families.

The event was made possible by the enthusiasm and dedication of volunteers from the University of Houston (UH), the University of Houston–Downtown (UHD), Houston City College, and the broader ACS community. Together, volunteers helped young visitors explore the exciting world of chemistry through hands-on experiments and creative activities.

The event featured four interactive activity tables designed to spark curiosity and make chemistry fun and accessible for children. At the Theme Table, children and families learned about this year’s National Chemistry Week theme and explored educational resources. The Playdough Table encouraged creativity as children built their own structures, while the Magic Foam Building Table introduced young scientists to the excitement of foam through hands-on building activities. Finally, the Metal Makeover Table offered an engaging opportunity to explore the fascinating properties and transformations of metals. Together, these activities combined science, creativity, and hands-on discovery to inspire the next generation of scientists.

The ACS GHS extends its sincere gratitude to all the volunteers, participating institutions, and Children’s Museum Houston for helping make this year’s National Chemistry Week celebration a success. Their commitment to science outreach continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and STEM innovators.

Instructional Assistant Professor - Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Houston invites applications for a non-tenure-track Instructional Assistant Professor position for Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry.

The position emphasizes excellence in undergraduate teaching, development of instructional materials and assessments, and collaboration with faculty and university partners that support the teaching of chemistry.

For more information and to apply, see the UH Careers Page

Empowering Access: ACS-CWD Student Travel Award Nominations are Sought

Deadline: December 15, 2026

The American Chemical Society’s Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (ACS-CWD) announces our call for submissions to our Student Travel Award for the Spring 2027 meeting.  This award supports students who actively advance the mission of ACS-CWD to make chemistry accessible for all and are selected to present a talk or poster at the Spring 2027 National Meeting.

Recipients may receive up to $2,000 to offset the cost of attending the meeting, including lodging, transportation, and per diem meals. In addition to presenting their research, awardees are encouraged to engage with the broader ACS-CWD community by attending the committee’s open meeting luncheon during the conference.

Candidates must be current students in the United States, be active ACS members in good standing, and provide both a copy of their submitted abstract and official ACS acceptance notice. The award is intended for students who not only demonstrate scientific merit, but also contribute meaningfully to improving accessibility in chemistry.

Applications are reviewed holistically, with emphasis on professionalism, completeness, and clarity of materials. Reviewers also consider each applicant’s motivation for attending the ACS Meeting, as well as their goals for professional growth. A critical component of the evaluation is the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to advancing accessibility—whether through volunteer work aligned with the ACS-CWD mission or through personal experiences navigating and overcoming barriers within the field.

Students interested in applying should submit a full application and supporting letters by December 15, 2026.

This award represents more than financial support—it is a pathway to visibility, inclusion, and community within the chemical sciences. For students working to make chemistry more accessible to all, the ACS-CWD Student Travel Award offers both recognition and meaningful opportunity.

Additional details on submissions and the award can be found at https://www.acs.org/funding/awards/cwd-student-travel-award.html questions may be sent directly to the committee at cwd@acs.org.

Science Day - Volunteers Wanted!

Curious Chemist Hour With Scientists And Chemical Engineers

3rd to 5th Grade Students

Theme: Squish, Stretch & Explore: The Polymer Party!

Friday, November 20, 2026

1:00 – 3:00 pm

Holley Elementary School

16655 Bissonnet St.

Houston, TX  77083

Volunteer Signup Link

•  3^rd-5^th grade kids will participate. Total kids will be 350. We will have two sessions- one with 3^rd and 4^th grade and second session will be for 5^th graders

• The bench and sitting layout can accommodate 24 kids/table for first session. They have 10 tables in the cafeteria. If we can have 2 volunteers/table that will be very helpful to make sure event runs smoothly.
• For 5^th grade number of kids will be smaller and we can have more volunteers/table.
• 40 Kids in each grade are Spanish speaking (~120 kids). Most kids can communicate and understand English.

Download flyer in English and Spanish

ACS-GHS November 2026 Seminar

Judith C. Giordan

Thursday, November 12, 2026

6:30 - 7:30 pm

University of St. Thomas

Center for Science and Health Professions

Room 251/252

4102 Yoakum Blvd.

Houston, TX 77006

or Via Zoom

Register to attend in person

In-person attendees will be entered into a raffle for ACS giveaways!

Register to attend virtually

This seminar is co-sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of St. Thomas

ACS Brazosport Local Section

Call for College Student Scholarship Nominations

The ACS Brazosport Section is calling for nominations for two $500 scholarships to Community College students from Brazoria, Victoria, Wharton, Jackson, Calhoun, or Matagorda County.

​The scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated satisfactory academic achievement (minimum of 2.5 GPA) and are currently enrolled at least part-time (at least 3 credit hours or one course) at a community college in Brazoria, Victoria, Wharton, Jackson, Calhoun, or Matagorda County.

​For more information, download the eligibility criteria and complete the nomination package and email the completed document to pboopalachandran@dow.com before November 30th, 2026.

Find more information on the ACS Brazosport Local Section website.