How about these topics: Chemistry Escape Rooms, Chemistry and Art, Digital and Interactive Resources, Drop-wise Chemistry, Fact or Fiction Formative Assessments, Organic Apps, Favorite labs, Round Table Discussions, Taste the Chemistry, and many more. These were just a few of the selections of workshops that several chemistry teachers from the Greater Houston Section, including Jamie Flint, Alicia Doffing, Roxie Allen, Amiee Modic and others were able to attend at the Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas Biennial Conference in June at Texas A&M San Antonio. The Biennial conference is a 3-day event held during the summers of even-numbered years and provides chemistry teachers from across the state a chance to meet, network, and share labs, activities, and pedagogies.

Check out this awesome Density Conundrum video!

Award-winning attendees, Left to Right: Jamie Flint, Jane Gray, Amiee Modic, Roxie Allen, and Jane Smith (Schulz – DFW)

See here for the complete announcement.

2022 Team USA and alternates, Left to Right: Yufei Chen, Gideon Tzafriri, Nathan Yihe Ouyang, Phoenix Wu, Jack Liu, and Mingwen Duan (Photo Credit: Robin Polk)

Fourteen high school students were nominated from the Greater Houston Section to participate in the National Chemistry Olympiad competition in person at the University of Houston Main Campus. The Greater Houston Section is proud of the selection of Phoenix Wu from Seven Lakes High School and Anantshri Asthana from Dulles High School among the twenty finalists nationwide to join the Study Camp for the International Chemistry Olympiad. More impressively, this is the third consecutive year that two students were selected from our section!

Great job and congratulations, Phoenix Wu and Anantshri Asthana!

Please see here for the full announcement of the top 20 finalists. Students who also performed well and received High Honors and Honors in the national competition can be found here.

June Invention and Innovation Articles and Statistics about Houston and Texas

• Houston is the 3rd fastest growing tech ecosystem in the US!
• Texas Innovation Corridor (near San Marcos) is attracting the Life Sciences Industry
• Houston is poised to be a hydrogen innovation hub
  

Pictured (L to R): Eme Abu (Chair), Tracey Simmons-Willis (Alt. Councilor), Safia Mohamed (Younger Chemist Leadership Development Award recipient), and Lisa Houston (Director, District IV).

"It’s because of my local [ACS] section network that I’m still in chemistry today." - Dr. Angela K. Wilson, May 3, 2022.

May Invention and Innovation Fun Facts

May is National Inventor Month! Here are some fun chemistry inventions:

• Ruth Fuller Brown, along with her research associate Elizabeth Lee Hazen, discovered nystatin, the first antibiotic effective against fungal diseases in humans.
• Polyethylene was an accidental invention in 1898 while researching diazomethane.
  
• Ruth Benerito discovered wash-and-wear cotton fabric that has fewer wrinkles after washing.
  

May Invention and Innovation Resource

The US Patent and Trademark Office recently launched the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB) Pro Bono Program to assist independent inventors with free legal assistance in preparing ex parte appeals to the PTAB.

The ACS booth had plenty of volunteers from the University of St. Thomas and they did a great job interacting with families during Chemists Celebrate Earth Week.

Since the theme this year was Bug Chemistry, we brought awareness to how crickets and superworms help our Earth's environment. For example, superworms can digest plastic and are believed to help possibly reduce pollution in the future! Volunteers also led a mini activity of creating a personal magnifying glass and gave out ACS Earth Day goodie bags which included an ACS 2022 Earth Day booklet, science mood pencil, and stickers. In all, it was a success!

The ACS-GHS Senior Chemists Committee was pleased to host a coffee tasting and social get-together on April 20th at Java Pura Coffee Roasters. Attendees had an enjoyable morning tasting regional coffees from Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Sumatra, followed by conversation and lunch at Auntie Pesto's. The event was a great success!  Everyone at the event made new friends and shared the fun and interesting activities that keep them busy as retirees. The ACS-GHS Senior Chemists Committee looks forward to hosting future events and we already have a new volunteer host for the next event!  See you then and if you have any ideas for a senior activity, please let us know...we are open to old and new fun.

A well-caffeinated bunch!

Time to taste!

The coffee process from bean to cup

After a long wait, Houston area Chemistry teachers gathered to celebrate the Buzz about Bugs on April 2nd!

They ate cookies made with cricket flour and shared ideas for a fun Chemists Celebrate Earth Week and a great finish to the school year.