This year's Project SEED had 9 students over 8 weeks this summer working in different labs and on a variety of projects. Our students were Donovan Miller-Brown, Brooke Daniels, Jeremiah Frasier, Tyler Kirby, Mackey Maddox, Aerial Miller, Raquel Nwosu, J’Lon Owens and Bralon Wilson.

Our mentors this year were Dr. Jakoah Brgoch (UH), Dr. Pieremanuele Canepa (UH), Dr. Melissa Zastrow (UH), Dr. Naihao Chiang (UH), Dr. Jeffrey Rimer (UH), Dr. David Thompson (Sam Houston State Univ.) and Dr. Shawn Liu from Houston Electron Microscopy.

Other coaches working under our mentors were Nakyung Lee, Arslan Akbar, Dr. Wayne Fei, Lihan Fitz, Aashni Khurana, Aris Newton, Harshan Reddy Gopidi, Dr. Uyen Huynh, Oluwaferanmi (Loveth) Isinkaye, Amir Abutali, Sambita Choudhury and Edgar Turizo.

This year Mrs. Carolyn Burnley who has coordinated the program at the local section for over 10 years passed the baton of leadership to Dr. Eme Abu. The transition was smooth and we hope to continue the good work in the coming years! We cannot run a successful program without the help and support of our mentors and coaches, the parents/families of these students, the local section and Project SEED at the National level, and for that we are grateful. We definitely had a blast!

Congratulations to Team USA for winning 3 gold & 1 silver medals at the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Gold medalists

• Yufei Chen, University High School, CA.
• Alice Liu, Marquette High School, MO.
• Yunyi Ling, Montgomery Blair High School, MD.

Silver medalist

• Anant Asthana, John Foster Dulles High School, TX.

See here for the complete announcement.

Pictured left to right: Yufei Chen, CA (gold medal and third place overall), Alice Liu, MO (gold medal), Anant Asthana, TX (silver medal), Yunyi Ling MD, (gold medal). Credit: Steve Lantos

Despite the uncertain weather, everything went smoothly at the ACS-GHS Ice Cream Social at Creamistry on July 6, and those who attended enjoyed the event. Those who braved the rain had a great time and loved the ice cream. We also had prizes after the bingo game and other activities for the kids. It was a fantastic event!

Thank you to all the guests who attended. Without you, the event wouldn’t have been possible. If anyone who won a prize hasn’t received it yet, please contact the ACS-GHS.

Special thanks to Obiageli Nwosu, who volunteered, helped with the cashier duties, took pictures, and coordinated with guests inside the store.

We are incredibly saddened to share the news of Mamie Moy's passing. Mamie passed away early on June 27, 2024 with her son and daughter-in-law by her side. Her absence will be keenly felt in the Greater Houston chemistry community, and her memory will forever be cherished by us all.

“Mamie has done so much for so many people for so long that she is considered an institution in both Houston and in the ACS. For her, all the multitude of honors and recognitions she received over the years are no match for seeing twinkles of aha moments in the eyes of children and young women. Those twinkles are the true rewards of her life’s work.” - Sunny C. Tang

Learn more about Mamie's life and legacy, leave a memory on her Tribute Wall, or view her memorial service here.

The Senior Chemists Committee hosted a yoga and meditation event at the University of St. Thomas on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The session was conducted by Heartfulness.org. Ms. Roopa Naras who is a full time software professional and also a certified yoga & meditation trainer lead the chair yoga & meditation. Dr. Venkat Madabusi who is a fellow ACS Emeritus member and also a meditation trainer helped with questions the participants had. The program started with a few stretches followed by chair yoga & Heartfulness meditation. Participants discussed about how just a few minutes of meditation could help everyone perform better & help keep you grounded. The SCC hopes to offer more such sessions to ACS-GHS members in the future.

L to R: Reggie, Venkat, Roopa, Corrin, Catherine, Carolyn, Peter & Simha.

"Materials...is the story of our civilization."

- Dr. Ravindra Aglave, June 26, 2024

Dr. Ravindra Aglave of Siemens Digital Industries Software joined us to share how Siemens uses the concept of a digital twin in simulations to help develop new materials and address complex engineering challenges. If you missed the live webinar, you can still catch the recording on our YouTube channel!

We are excited to share that the Greater Houston Section has been named a finalist for this year's ChemLuminary Awards for the following categories:

• Most Creative NCW Celebration Using the Yearly Theme
• Outstanding Local Section Career Program Award
• Outstanding Performance by a Local Section - Large Size Category Award

The winners will be announced during the ACS Fall 2024 in Denver. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, August 20, at 9-10 pm.

Thanks to all our volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the ACS and our section!

We are pleased to share that Amiee Modic was recently voted in as President-Elect for the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT). She will begin her three-year presidential succession journey July 1, 2024.

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. In 2019, she was honored as an ACS Fellow for her work in chemical education.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced the team that will represent the U.S. at the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 21 to 30, 2024.

The members of 2024 Team USA are:

• Anant Asthana, John Foster Dulles High School, TX.
• Yufei Chen, University High School, CA.
• Yunyi Ling, Mongomery Blair High School, MD.
• Alice Liu, Marquette High School, MO.

The first and second alternates are:

• 1^st Aaron Wang, Conestoga High School, PA.

• 2^nd Yash Shah, Panther Creek High School, NC.
  

The ACS Greater Houston is proud of Mr. Anant Asthana of John Foster Dulles High School, who also participated in the 2022 and 2023 USNCO Study Camps before being selected for Team USA in 2024. Congratulations, Anant! We wish you best of luck in the international competition!

See the complete announcement here

Project SEED has commenced for 2024 with a start date of June 10 and an end date of August 5, 2024. We are excited to partner with Sam Houston State University, University of Houston and Houston Electron Microscopy, Stafford, TX. Below is the list of our current mentors and students. More news to come!