Amiee Modic has been an active participant in district, local, state, and national Chemical Education for her entire teaching career. She was recognized as a Fellow for the American Chemical Society in San Diego this year. Amiee continues to demonstrate her creative,enthusiastic ardor for top-notch chemical education; and during her presentations, she has always been cognizant of potential student misconceptions and has provided experienced and new teachers alike, with the tools to approach a new topic or technique with confidence. She assisted with the pre-college program planning for the 2006 Southwest Regional Meeting, coordinated all the Illustrated Poem contests, both NCW and CCED, and has been dedicated to Science Olympiad. During our section’s centennial year, she served as a committee member for the gala. She is currently focused on serving as a member of the Awards committee. Her continued dedication to students and ACS makes her our spotlight volunteer this month!

The ACS Greater Houston and Brazosport local sections held their annual Summer Social on Saturday, August 3rd at The Printing Museum. Attendees were able to explore the museum and were treated to a brief tour of the museum's reproduction Gutenberg printing press, as well as a press from Benjamin Franklin's era and a Linotype machine that was used by the Houston Chronicle until the 1970s. In addition to friendly discussion and light refreshments, hands-on printing of Mendeleev's original periodic table was set up in the print shop to commemorate the International Year of the Periodic Table. Thanks to everyone who attended, and special thanks to Artist-in-Residence Charles Criner for conducting the printing press tour.

Check out our adventures on YouTube!

The GHS celebrated another successful summer of Project SEED with a research forum on August 2nd at the University of St. Thomas. Student fellows spent the summer conducting research in laboratories around Houston and gathered to share their results with peers, family, and ACS members as posters and oral presentations.  Marchelle Roberson, 2010 & 2011 ACS-GHS Project SEED fellow and 2019 graduate of the University of St. Thomas, spoke to this year's fellows and attendees on the topic of perseverance and  how the choices we make today influence our future. Congratulations to all our 2019 Project SEED fellows and special thanks to the students' families and mentors for their encouragement and support.

If you are interested in becoming a 2020 Project SEED mentor or applying for a Summer Fellowship, please see here for more information.

The Chemistry Department at the University of St Thomas is a proud sponsor of the UST ACS Student Chapter. Students are encouraged to experience and showcase chemistry beyond the classroom by making science accessible and fun, while promoting sustainability, community, and service. They were honored at the ACS 2019 spring national meeting in Orlando with the Outstanding Student Chapter award. Last year, UST ACS showcased slime demonstrations for youths at the Texas Childrens Hospital and the Belville Junior High School Science Night and hosted several ACS-GHS seminars and a Women in Chemistry and Industry event. On campus, they hosted a campus-wide lab coat tie-dye event and a Valentine’s day fundraiser, promoting both ACS and sustainability. UST ACS hopes to inspire students from all walks of life!

On Thursday June 26th, the Women Chemist Committee organized a speed networking event at the University of Saint Thomas. A total of 10 participants enjoyed an informal yet speedy way to meeting new people. People were able to converse another participant for 8 min and then move to a new table. Light refreshments were offered to complement the event.

We look forward to hosting a second successful round of speed networking in the fall.

To participate, print out a passport copy from our website or pick one up at an event and collect signatures from a GHS board member or event organizer at each fall 2019 event you attend. You can even collect bonus signatures for volunteering at GHS or other STEM events! Scan or take a photo of your completed passport and email it to us at acs-ghs@acs-ghs.org by November 17th, 2019. Participants who have confirmed attendance at a minimum of 7 events will be recognized with a certificate and a small gift at our December social event. If you attend all of our remaining 2019 events, you will be entered into a draw to win a periodic table-themed prize!

Zainab is a a recipient of the American Chemical Society: Project SEED college scholarship for 2019. In high school, she was the founder and president of the Science National Honor Society, vice president of UNICEF, vice president of WriterZ Block and member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, AVID and Science Olympiad. "With each club and organization, I gained a new strength that helped mold me into becoming a well-rounded individual. I would like to thank Mrs. Carolyn McDonald Burnley for providing me with the opportunity of a lifetime and helping turn my dreams into reality. Mrs. Latha Veranani, my chemistry teacher, who encouraged me to apply for Project SEED. Dr. Pavan Raja and Dr. Andrew Barron from Rice University for allowing me to work in their lab and guiding me in the right path. Thank you all so much for aiding and guiding me through this experience." In the fall, she will be majoring in Biochemistry at Texas A&M University, and be a part of the university Honors Program.

The emergence of big data and machine learning has enabled new avenues for scientific discovery and innovation in all industries. However, protecting innovations that stem from computer-based learning and complex algorithms face increased scrutiny at patent offices around the world. In our May seminar, Dr. Valerie Moore talked about how patenting can work to protect inventions in these areas, and the challenges in framing inventions so that they meet legal patentability requirements where the inventors want patent protection. This seminar was an excellent introduction to the complexities of the global patent landscape and a the contributions that a chemist can make as a patent agent.

Valerie Moore is a registered patent agent with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP in Houston, and a past Chair of the ACS-GHS. She received her Ph.D. in chemistry, with a physical-organic chemistry and nanotechnology focus, and M.A. in chemistry from Rice University. Her experience is in the areas of nanotechnology, materials engineering, supramolecular science, analytical methods, surface science, chemistry and biotechnology.

The Younger Chemists Committee of the ACS-GHS hosted a happy hour at Spring Street Beer and Wine Garden on Friday, May 10th. Attendees braved a rainy Friday to celebrate the end of the semester  in good company, and with some fun arts and crafts activities!  Quilting squares and drawing supplies were on hand for participants to contribute to the GHS's quilt-making efforts for the International Year of the Periodic Table.