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.
The ACS-GHS is excited to announce the launch of our Fall 2019 Event Passport program! We are piloting the event passport as a way to recognize local members and non-members who take time to participate in ACS events and help us build a strong chemistry community in the Greater Houston area. Participating in the passport program is a great opportunity to talk to ACS board members at events and share your perspectives with other chemists in the region.
Download Your Passport Here!
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.
Kiresha Johnson is from The Woodlands, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Baylor University and is pursuing a medical graduate degree while teaching science in elementary and secondary education. Passionate about community service and science, Kiresha joined the American Chemical Society Greater Houston Local Section chapter. She was elected as director in 2018 and 2019. She has served as a Director on the Board and is currently leading several programs like Chemists Celebrate Earth Week, National Chemistry Week and also serves as Chair of Student Affiliates Committee.
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.
The ACS-GHS teamed up under sunny skies on May 5th in support the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America by participating in the 2019 Houston Walk to End Lupus Now. Three members of team ACS-GHS ran in the chip-timed 5k race, and three participated in the 5k walk. Proceeds from this event support programs such as education and outreach, direct services, research and overall support of the lupus community in the Texas Gulf Coast Region.
Team Members: Catherine Faler, Bo Braddock, Kevin Ramirez, Cotton Starr, Dawn Friesen, and Snigdha Chennamaneni
The ACS National Meeting was held in Orlando, FL from March 31 - April 4, 2019 and GHS was well represented. The following are a few highlights of interest:
The complete highlights of the ACS Board of Directors meeting and Council Meeting can be found here.
The Greater Houston Section of the American Chemical Society is pleased to announce the winners of the local section Illustrated Poem Contest for Chemists Celebrate Earth Week. The theme this year was The Chemistry of Paper, and there were several submissions at the middle and high school level. The winner of the middle school contest was Chloe Wilson, who is in the seventh grade and the winner of the high school contest was Zoe Barinaga, who is a senior; both girls attend Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. Their poems have been forwarded to the American Chemical Society for judging in the National Contest. Congratulations to both girls for their outstanding work.
The ACS-GHS kicked off Earth Week early this year by taking part in Earth Day celebrations at Discovery Green on April 14th. GHS Director Kiresha Johnson and volunteers from Texas Southern University shared hands-on chemistry activities including making fake snow and chromatography butterflies with the public. This was the second year that the ACS-GHS participated in the Discovery Green Earth Day event.
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