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A Quarter of NESACS ACS Report on Science Outreach Graduate Ed ucation Summary of Governance NESACS Election Actions Results 245th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA Katherine Lee selected as 2014 NESACS Chair- Elect 2 The Nucleus Summer 2013 The Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, Inc. Contents Office: Anna Singer, 12 Corcoran Road, Burlington, MA 01803 (Voice or FAX) 781-272-1966. A Quarter of NESACS Science Outreach ______4 e-mail: secretary(at)nesacs.org NESACS Homepage: Written and compiled by Jack Driscoll and Jennifer Maclachlan http://www.NESACS.org Officers 2013 ACS Report on Graduate Education ______6 Chair Liming Shao 9th Annual NESACS Scramble Golf Tournament 8 158South Great Road ______Lincoln, MA 01773 limingshao(at)comcast.net National Chemistry Week Events ______9 shao(at)fas.harvard.edu 781-518-0720 Summary of Governance Actions/Reports 10 Chair-Elect ______th Catherine Costello American Chemical Society 245 National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, Boston University School of Medicine April 7-11. 2013 670 Albany Street, room 511 Boston, MA 02118-2646 Cecmsms(at)bu.edu Call for Nominations______13 Immediate Past Chair Gustavus John Esselen Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest Ruth Tanner Olney Hall 415B Lowell, MA 01854 Historical Note ______13 University of Mass Lowell Leon Mir 1938-2013 Ruth_Tanner(at)uml.edu 978-934-3662 Secretary: NESACS 2013 Election Results ______15 Michael Singer Sigma-Aldrich Photos from Summerthing and Earth Day Events ______15 3 Strathmore Rd, Natick, MA 01360 774-290-1391, michael.singer(at)sial.com Photos by Doris Lewis Treasurer: James Piper Esselen Award Photos ______16 19 Mill Rd, Harvard, MA 01451 978-456-3155, piper28(at)attglobal.net Photos by Joel Laino Auditor: Anthony Rosner Cover: Gustavus Esselen IV (L) presents the Esselen Award to Michael H. Gelb Archivist as co-awardee František Tureček (center) looks on. The award was presented on Tim Frigo Trustees: April 4, 2013 at the Pfizer Lecture Hall at Harvard University. (Photo by Joel Peter C. Meltzer, Esther A. H. Hopkins, Laino). Michael E. Strem Directors-at-Large Editorial Deadlines: September 2013 Issue: July 15, 2013 David Harris, Stephen Lantos, James Phillips, Ralph Scannell, Mary Burgess, John Burke October 2013 Issue: August 15, 2013 Councilors Alternate Councilors Term Ends 12/31/2013 Alfred Viola Mark Froimowitz Michael Singer Sophia R. Su Robert Lichter Kenneth C. Mattes Mary Shultz Tim Frigo Leland L. Johnson, Jr. Mukund Chorghade Term Ends 12/31/2014 Katherine Lee C. Jaworek-Lopes The Nucleus is published monthly, except June and August, by the Northeastern Section of the American Michael P. Filosa Lawrence Scott Chemical Society, Inc. Forms close for advertising on the 1st of the month of the preceding issue. Text Doris Lewis Andrew Scholte must be received by the editor six weeks before the date of issue. Morton Z. Hoffman Raj Rajur Editor: Michael P. Filosa, Ph.D., ZINK Imaging, Inc., 16 Crosby Drive, Building 4G, Patrick Gordon John Podobinski Bedford, MA 01730 Email: Michael.filosa(at)zink.com; Tel: 508-843-9070 Mary Burgess Stuart Levy Term Ends 12/31/2015 Associate Editors: Myron S. Simon, 20 Somerset Rd., W. Newton, MA 02465, Tel: 617-332-5273, Catherine E. Costello Marietta Schwartz Sheila E Rodman, Email: serodman(at)hotmail.com, Ruth Tanner JerryJasinski Mindy Levine, 516-697-9688, mindy.levine(at)gmail.com Dorothy J. Phillips Stephen Lantos Board of Publications: Mary Mahaney (Chair), Mindy Levine, Vivian K. Walworth, James Phillips Michaeline Chen Norton P. Peet Business Manager: Karen Piper, 19 Mill Rd., Harvard, MA 01451, Tel: 978-456-8622 Jackie O’Neil Wilton Virgo Advertising Manager: Vincent J. Gale, P.O. Box 1150, Marshfield, MA 02050, All Chairs of standing Email: Manager-vincegale(at)mboservices.net; Tel: 781-837-0424 Committees, the editor Contributing Editors: Morton Hoffman, Feature Editor; Dennis Sardella, Book Reviews of THE NUCLEUS, and Calendar Coordinator: Sheila Rodman, email: serodman(at)hotmail.com the Trustees of Section Photographers: Morton Z. Hoffman and James Phillips Funds are members of the Board of Directors. Any Proofreaders: Donald O. Rickter, Vivian K. Walworth, Mindy Levine Coun cilor of the American Chemical Soci- Webmaster: Roy Hagen ety residing within the section area is an ex Copyright 2013, Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, Inc. officio member of the Board of Directors. The Nucleus Summer 2013 3 A Quarter of NESACS Science Outreach Written and compiled by Jack Driscoll and Jennifer Maclachlan, NESACS Public Relations Committee These three months were a very busy February 16-17, 2013- Family Sci- Our hands-on materials were pro- time for NESACS science outreach ence Days at the American Associa- vided by National Chemistry Week programs. Check our website at tion for the Advancement of Science Coordinator, Chris Jaworek-Lopes. http://www.NESACS.org for addi- (AAAS) Meeting, Hynes Convention David Sittenfeld of the Museum of tional events. Any NESACS members Center, Boston MA Science not only donned a Chemistry interested in volunteering for future This spectacular science outreach Ambassador sash and put in volunteer events please contact Jack Driscoll, PR event was sponsored by AAAS and co- hours at the booth, he also arranged for Chair, at [email protected]. Age is no sponsored by the Cambridge Science us to borrow the MoS demo kits that barrier, whether you are younger Festival. This free two-day event was we utilized in addition to the NCW chemist or a senior chemist. attended by 3,700 people. The Ameri- supplies. We had three experiments: can Chemical Society: Northeastern sun screen, surface area & nanosand. Section of the ACS (NESACS), The latter was the most popular. I men- together with the ACS Division of tioned to booth visitors that the ACS Small Chemical Businesses (SCHB), had some very educational nanotech reserved and staffed a booth. The ACS videos on their YouTube channel. Office of Public Affairs provided sev- eral hundred copies of both Kids Dis- cover Chemistry magazine and the Celebrating Chemistry Nanotechnol- ogy National Chemistry Week handout, in addition to Chemistry Ambassador sashes, stickers and pins for distribu- tion at this event. There were more than 60 organizations at the Family Science Days.
When thanked for his time at the booth, Mark Jones (pictured right above next to Jack Driscoll) replied that the experience was “surprisingly enjoy- able”. Mark Jones is a Keynote speaker at the 2013 ACS Central Regional Meeting (CERM) and was volunteered to us by his Dow Chemical colleague, Katie Hunt, 2007 President of the ACS, who knew that we had booked an ACS table at this AAAS event. We had about 350 parents and children visit us on the first day and about 250 on the second day. The audi- ence was primarily K-6, but we did talk to several sophomores about careers in chemistry. One Post Doc mom asked
4 The Nucleus Summer 2013 Science Outreach I spent Saturday afternoon at the while working the chemistry table Cape Cod Museum of Natural History together. I’m glad we decided to vol- continued from page 4 participating in the Cambridge Science unteer instead of just attend. Some- me whether I would make a video to Festival, Science on the Street STEM times it really pays to be a VIP. invite her 6-year old son to the Expo outreach event. This was an event I Something’s Brewing in the Bayou the next day. I did that and met her son had planned to attend with my family, moderated by Jack Driscoll of the next day. but instead we ended up as exhibitors, NESACS at ACS NOLA 4/9/13 On Sunday, Lisa Shatz from Suf- representing the American Chemical Jack Driscoll of NESACS was the folk University, brought a number of Society & NESACS. My eight-year old moderator for the Brewmaster Panel EE gadgets including a Mendocino daughter enjoys the VIP experience of representing three local breweries: motor driven by a flashlight, solar cells working at science festivals for several Abita, Covington Brewery and NOLA and magnets, a robot, a Gauss meter, a reasons: getting there before the public Brewing. After a short presentation on magnet & a tube of iron filings that is allowed to enter, as the kid of a vol- the history of brewing, this panel could be used to demonstrate a mag- unteer she gets to try all the cool activ- answered questions for two hours in netic field. ities before everyone else since the front of an audience of 25 chemists We were graced with the most exhibitors are eager to practice on a organized by the ACS Division of amazing volunteers from the ACS real kid and the best is having a spot to Small Chemical Businesses. Small Chemical Businesses Division, rest between doing fun activities. Northeastern Local Section of ACS April 13-20, 2013- Cambridge Sci- (NESACS), Mid-Hudson Local Sec- ence Festival-this is the second con- tion of ACS, Dow Chemical (MI & secutive year that NESACS has MA), Suffolk University Department participated. “pH measurements of Chairs, including a Trustee, and common household solutions” Museum of Science Boston (MOS). Prepared by Jackie O’Neil, PR for We couldn’t have staffed the six hours NSYCC each day (Saturday and Sunday) with- continued on page 14 out this team of volunteers: Mukund Chorghade, Jack Driscoll, Chris Gilmore, Mark Jones, Jennifer Maclachlan and family, George Ruger, Lisa Shatz, David Sittenfeld, Sonja Strah-Pleynet and family, Tricia Vick- rey and Dennis Walczewski. Workshop at AAAS : “Learn how to Satisfy your Entrepreneurial Career Cravings”- NESACS/SCHB (4/17/13) Jennifer Maclachlan coordinated and Since both of my girls had planned to facilitated the workshop, while Jack assist me at the ACS table, I told each Driscoll and Mukund Chorghade of their teachers about it. The second- talked about their entrepreneurial expe- grade teacher suggested I make a flyer riences. We had about 25 people in that she would send home with the stu- attendance. Two of the people talked to dents in the class plugging the event us afterward about starting their own with a call-out box stating that their small chemical business, and a reporter classmate would be at the Chemistry interviewed Mukund. AAAS provided Table and we hoped to see them there. a lounge area after the talks, where we As a result of our *backpack market- met additional people and continued ing,* each of my girls had a classmate the discussion on starting small chemi- attend. We talked to more than 100 cal businesses. interested children. Before my six year old (picture above in goggles on the Science on the Street - At the Brew- *worker* side of the table) went to ster Museum of Natural History in sleep that night she told me that this Brewster, MA, Sat. March 23, 2013. festival was the best one we have ever By Jennifer Maclachlan, NESACS, done. It was her favorite. I told her it Public Relations Committee Member was my favorite, too. Some serious mother-daughter bonding took place
The Nucleus Summer 2013 5 ACS Report on Graduate Education The ACS recently released the report degree levels and genuine oppor- nary and multidisciplinary team of the Presidential Commission on tunities for them; replication in approaches to complex problem solv- “Advancing Graduate Education in the excess is wasteful of resources and ing. Chemical Sciences,” where the term does injustice to the investment • Students interested in entrepreneur- “chemical sciences” is used to encom- made by students and society. ship should have access to a curricu- pass chemistry, chemical engineering, 5) Postdoctoral training and educa- lar option providing an introduction biochemistry, molecular biology, mate- tion is an extension of graduate to relevant topics; one or more formal rials science, polymer science, education that is important for courses should be developed for the nanoscience, and other activities that success in a variety of career more explicit preparation of students focus on molecules, chemical reac- paths, particularly for faculty who intend to seek academic employ- tions, and chemical properties. The appointments; a postdoctoral ment. Commission, appointed by ACS Presi- appointment should be a period of • ACS is encouraged to undertake an dent, Bassam Shakhashiri, consisted of accelerated professional growth extensive survey of representative distinguished chemists and other scien- that, by design, enhances scientific graduate programs at selected major tists from academia, industry, and gov- independence and future career universities to ascertain requirements, ernmental and non-governmental opportunities. expectations, and organizational organizations. The work of the Com- Recommendations for Each Conclu- structures that best facilitate the edu- mission was supported by a grant from cational goals of the Commission. the National Science Foundation and sion the ACS, mainly through its Presiden- 1) Preparation for careers 2) Financial support of graduate tial Discretionary Fund, and is avail- • Departments are encouraged to students able online at
6 The Nucleus Summer 2013 Graduate Education have historically been made in our “teaching postdoctoral associates,” so graduate programs and in our that trained professional instructors continued from page 6 national technical enterprises by become an alternative to the current dents for two months during the sum- international citizens who were first reliance on doctoral students for so mer before the start of courses to attracted to the U.S. as graduate stu- much of a department’s undergradu- receive initial training in professional dents. ate teaching responsibility. skills, including instructional skills, • To take advantage of the nation’s • A feedback mechanism linking the and to begin exploring research whole talent pool, graduate programs size of Ph.D. programs to job avail- opportunities. must place an emphasis on attracting ability is needed to minimize bulges 3) Best safety practices and empowering students from in the career pipeline at the postdoc- • Safety as a culture must be consis- under-represented groups. toral level. tently led by example in all graduate • Communications to undergraduates Summary Statements programs in the chemical sciences. should point out that not only is grad- •The Commission hopes to free uate education in the chemical sci- • A natural supporting step would be to departments and programs from feel- ences free to them, but that they will establish a safety performance part- ing the need to be nearly identical. receive a stipend, as well. nership between industry and aca- There is room for greater variation in demic institutions, whereby 5) Postdoctoral training and educa- program design than has been corporations share best practices with tion recently typical in American graduate students and faculty on a regular • Institutions and departments, as well education in the chemical sciences. It basis. as faculty mentors, should take is believed that the field would bene- • Leadership from the top of an institu- greater responsibility for ensuring fit from more venturesome design tion is essential for a sound safety that postdoctoral associates develop and greater experimentation. culture to take root and thrive, and professionally. • The Commission explicitly discour- faculty members in the chemical sci- • All funding agencies should require ages any form of checklist for gradu- ences can and should take the lead general mentoring plans of applicants ate programs or any analogue to the toward best practices, advocating for seeking support for postdoctoral ACS Committee on Professional support at the highest institutional associates. Training, which serves usefully to levels. • Foundations and other funding agen- approve undergraduate chemistry 4) Availability of new graduate stu- cies should re-explore programs for programs. dents continued on page 14 • Given that the employment opportu- nities for new Ph.D.s are and will continue to be uncertain, departments are urged to adjust their program sizes to reflect those opportunities for graduates that are truly attractive. • Faculty members and other academic leaders in every graduate program, whether at the master’s or doctoral level, are urged to reassess and to focus the program distinctively toward its competitive advantages. • To encourage and help guide needed changes, it is recommended that the ACS collect and publish aggregated, privacy-protected data, organized by graduate program, on post-degree outcomes for all graduates, including time-to-degree, types of job place- ments, salaries, and overall student satisfaction with the graduate experi- ence and employment outcome. • Programs should build the domestic fraction of their graduate enrollments as a high priority; at the same time, it is recognized that great contributions
The Nucleus Summer 2013 7 9th Annual NESACS Scramble Golf Tournament 2013 Tournament Co-Organized with PCI Synthesis Kernwood Country Club www.kernwoodcc.org Salem, MA August 5, 2013 BBQ Lunch followed by a Shot Gun Start at 1 PM Buffet Dinner and Awards Immediately Following Cost: $170 per golfer Fee Includes: Greens fee, Cart Full BBQ lunch, snacks and drinks on the course, passed appetizers, and full buffet dinner with carving stations Prizes include longest drive, closest to the pin, first, second, and third place teams
Hole Sponsorships are available at the suggested levels: $2500 Boron $2000 Osmium $1500 Sulfur $1000 Tritium $500 Oxygen $300 Nitrogen Please note: hole sponsorships are very important. All proceeds support NESACS pro- grams Registration: contact Harry Mandeville at [email protected]. Please include all golfers’ names and e-mail addresses. Payment: by check only. Please send your check to: Harry Mandeville 7 Pillings Pond Road Lynnfield, MA 01940
8 The Nucleus Summer 2013 National Chemistry Week Events* Celebrating Energy: Now and Forever! *(National Chemistry Week is Officially held Oct.20 -26)
October 27, 2013 – Museum of Science Boston • Phyllis A. Brauner Memorial Lecture by Dr. Bassam Shakhashiri Dr. Bassam Shakhashiri is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea. Professor Shakhashiri has captivated audiences with his scientific demonstrations at a variety of locations, including Boston’s Museum of Science, the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
Taking place in Cahners Theatre (2nd floor, Blue Wing) at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
* Admission to the museum is required. Free tickets to Dr. Shakhashiri’s show will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets are available via advance reservation. To reserve tickets, please contact the NESACS secretary either via email [email protected] (preferred) or by phone 1- 781-272-1966 before October 23, 2013. Tickets will be available for pick-up in the lobby of the museum at the ACS table. • Hands-on Activities related to energy Taking place from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm on October 27, 2013 throughout the Museum.
November 9, 2013 – Boston Children’s Museum From 11 am – 4 pm, NCW volunteers will be on-hand throughout the museum to perform demonstra- tions and assist in hands-on activities related to the yearly theme.
September 1 – October 5, 2013 K-12 students participate in the NCW poetry contest. Visit www.nesacs.org and http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_MULTICOLUMN_T2_50&node_id=1033&use _sec=false&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid=58ef8ea1-4479-48ac-91dd-6d2467fe63bc for more information (after July 15, 2013).
July 1 – September 20, 2013 K-12 students participate in the Northeastern Local Section “design a t-shirt competition.” Visit www.nesacs.org for more information.
The Nucleus Summer 2013 9 SUMMARY OF GOVERNANCE ACTIONS/REPORTS AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 245th ACS NATIONAL MEETING NEW ORLEANS, LA APRIL 7-11, 2013 The following summary is provided to Candidates for Directors-at-Large: electoral districts have parity in help Councilors report to their local • The Committee on Nominations and member populations. At this meet- sections and divisions on key actions Elections announced the selection of ing, the Committee on Nominations of the ACS Council and Board of the following candidates for Direc- and Elections reported on their dis- Directors at the 2013 spring national tors-at-Large for a 2014-2016 term: cussions of a revised redistricting meeting. Susan B. Butts, Thom H. Dunning, proposal which brings all six elec- tion districts within 400-1,000 mem- ACTIONS OF THE COUNCIL Jr., Dorothy J. Phillips, and Kath- leen M. Schulz. The election of bers of the mid-point of the Election Results two Directors-at-Large from among permissible range. This proposed • The Committee on Nominations and those candidates and any selected action is designed to eliminate the Elections presented to the Council via petition will be conducted in the need for frequent small changes for the following nominees for selection fall. Ballots will be mailed to the some time to come. The proposal as candidates for President-Elect, Council on or before October 10. will be up for vote at the fall Council 2014: G. Bryan Balazs, Charles E. meeting in Indianapolis. Kolb, Jr., Carolyn Ribes, and Diane Committee Election: Grob Schmidt. By electronic ballot, • Two vacancies on the Committee on Society Finances: the Council selected G. Bryan Bal- Committees were created by the • Despite the sluggish economy, ACS azs and Charles E. Kolb, Jr. as candi- election of Ingrid Montes to the ACS generated favorable operating results dates for 2014 President-Elect. Board of Directors and the appoint- in 2012. Total revenue was $490.7 These two candidates, along with ment of H.N. Cheng as chair of the million, which was $6.1 million or any candidates selected via petitions, Committee on International Activi- 1.3% greater than the approved will stand for election in the Fall ties. Prior to the New Orleans meet- budget, and 3.9% higher than 2011. National Election. ing, the Committee on Nominations The Net from Operations was $20.2 • The Committee on Nominations and and Elections presented to the Coun- million, or $4.3 million favorable to Elections announced the results of cil the following slate of candidates budget. This was largely attributable the election to select candidates for membership on the Committee to better-than-expected performance on Committees beginning 2013: by ACS Publications and CAS, and from the list of nominees to serve as th Directors from District II and Dis- Christopher J. Bannochie, Arindam represents the Society’s 9 consecu- trict IV on the Board of Directors for Bose, David Lohse and Jason tive year of positive operating the term 2014-2016. Nominees for Ritchie. Christopher J. Bannochie results. While operating perform- District II included George M. Bod- and Jason Richie were selected to fill ance was favorable, Unrestricted Net ner, Jed F. Fisher, Alan A. Hazari, three-year and one-year terms, Assets declined $1.4 million to and Robert A. Pribush. Nominees respectively. $100.6 million. Finally, ACS ended the year in compliance with four of for District IV included John P. Committee Review: Fackler, Jr., Rigoberto Hernandez, the five Board-established financial • As part of a regular performance guidelines. Larry K. Krannich, and John A. review, the Council VOTED unani- Whittle. By mail ballot, the Coun- mously to continue the Committees 2014 Member Dues: cilors from these districts selected on Chemical Abstracts Service, • The Council VOTED to set the George M. Bodner and Alan A. Haz- Environmental Improvement, and member dues for 2014 at the fully ari as District II candidates; and Younger Chemists. Continuation of escalated rate of $154. This rate is Rigoberto Hernandez and Larry K. these three committees requires established pursuant to an inflation- Krannich as District IV candidates. Board concurrence. adjustment formula in the ACS Con- Ballots will be mailed on or before stitution and Bylaws. October 10 to all ACS members in Re-alignment of Electoral Districts: District II and District IV for elec- • At the 2012 fall meeting, Councilors Petition to Amend the Constitution tion of a Director from each District. called for a broader and long-lasting and Bylaws (For Action): solution to requirements that Board • After discussion, a vote to approve
10 The Nucleus Summer 2013 the Petition to Amend National Elec- allocations to individual Local Sec- 2025: Helping ACS Members Thrive tion Procedures FAILED (85% tions beginning in 2014. The new in the Global Chemistry Enterprise,” against, 15% in favor). The petition allocation will be divided as follows: to identify globalization opportuni - sought to shorten the campaign base allotment (49%); per member ties and engage members in advo- period for candidates for President- allotment (43%), and LSAC pro- cacy for improving the business and Elect and to charge the Committee gram funds (8%). job climate. Following the presen- on Nominations and Elections Divisional Activities Name Change tation, 29 Councilors engaged in a (N&E) with proposing two candi- Request: robust discussion on what the Soci- dates for President-Elect. Currently, • The Divisional Activities Committee ety currently offers or could offer to N&E proposes four nominees from (DAC) received a request from the help members thrive in the global which Council selects two candi- Division of Colloid and Surface chemistry community. dates. Under the petition, Council Chemistry to change its name to the would no longer vote on a list of ACTIONS OF THE BOARD OF Division of Colloids, Surfaces and DIRECTORS nominees. In collaboration with the Nanomaterials. Six divisions have Committee on Nominations and registered opposition to the proposed The Board’s Committees and Work- Elections, the Council Policy Com- name, largely due to the use of the ing Groups: mittee authorized a joint task force term ‘nanomaterials’. DAC will ask • The Board of Directors received on election timelines and proce- Council to vote on the new name in reports from its committees on dures. This task force will examine Indianapolis, with a recommenda- Grants and Awards (G&A), Execu- the entire election system. tion to approve. tive Compensation, Professional & Member Statistics Member Relations (PM&R), Plan- Revision to Charter Bylaws for the ning, and the oversight group on • Society membership at the end of International Chemical Sciences Society Program Portfolio Manage- 2012 was 163,322 - 893 lower than Chapters: ment. the total for year-end 2011 despite • The Council VOTED to approve recruiting 24,943 new members. • The Committee on Grants and changes to the Charter Bylaws for Awards presented the Board with The net loss occurred primarily in New International Chemical Sci- the Regular, full member category. screened lists of nominees for the ences Chapters. These changes will 2014 Priestley Medal and the Award There was continued growth in both guide the Committee on Constitution the Student Member undergraduate for Volunteer Service to the ACS. and Bylaws in reviewing bylaw The Board VOTED to approve the and international categories, which changes before proposed changes helped mitigate the overall decline in screened lists, and will now vote on, are approved by the membership of and announce, the winners of these membership. The Membership the new chapter. Affairs Committee approved five two awards at its June meeting. The pilot market data tests to increase New International Chemical Sci- Board also VOTED to approve a membership. ences Chapter: Society nominee for the National • The Council VOTED, in concur- Medal of Science. Attendance Report rence with the Board of Directors, to • On the recommendation of the Com- • As of this morning (April 11, 2013), approve the petition to charter the mittee on Executive Compensation, the ACS spring national meeting had Romanian International Chemical the Board VOTED to approve sev- attracted 15,596 registrants, includ- Sciences Chapter, consisting of the eral actions relative to compensation ing 8,105 regular attendees and Territory of Romania. for the Society’s executive staff. 5,793 students. The meeting had The compensation of the Society’s Special Discussion Item: 11,232 papers presented. executive staff receives regular • A special discussion item was put on review from the Board of Directors. Academic Professional Guidelines: the Council agenda for this meeting. • On the recommendation of the Com- • The Council VOTED to approve the ACS President Marinda Li Wu pre- mittee on Professional & Member Academic Professional Guidelines as sented and moderated a discussion Relations, the Board VOTED to submitted by the Committee on Eco- on “What else should ACS do to approve an alliance with the Latin nomic and Professional Affairs. help members to thrive in the global American Federation of Chemical These guidelines apply to those mem - chemistry enterprise?” ACS has Associations (FLAQ) and to renew bers of the academic community established a strategic goal to an alliance with the Chinese Chemi- whose job function impacts directly “Empower an inclusive community cal Society. The signing ceremony or indirectly on scientists practicing of members with networks, opportu- for alliances with the Chinese Chem- the profession of chemistry. nities, resources, and skills to thrive ical Society and the South African in the global economy.” In support Local Section Allotment Formula: Chemical Institute (which was previ- of this goal, President Wu commis- • The Council VOTED to approve a ously approved) took place prior to sioned a task force entitled, “Vision new formula for the distribution of continued on page 12
The Nucleus Summer 2013 11 her direct reports updated the Board Shakhashiri receives on the following: highlights of accomplishments from 2012; the major challenges and projects facing science communications the Society in 2013; and the activi- ties of CAS (Chemical Abstracts award Service), the ACS Publications Divi- sion, and the Society’s General The Council of Scientific Society Pres- Counsel. As part of the Publications idents (CSSP), an organization of lead- report, the Board VOTED to approve ers of 60 scientific societies journal editor re-appointments and representing more than 1.4 million an appointment to the ACS Govern- members, has honored the 2013 ACS ing Board for Publishing. past president, Bassam Shakhashiri of Other Society Business: the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for his decades of effort in promoting • The Board ratified several of its public understanding of science by interim actions, including an Bassam Shakhashiri performs during his annual appointment to the Committee on naming him the recipient of its presti- “Once Upon a Christmas Cheery In the Lab of gious Carl Sagan Award for Public Shakhashiri” chemistry demonstration program Executive Compensation. Understanding of Science. in 2009. • The Board also received reports Photo: Bryce Richter, from the Presidential Succession on Shakhashiri is the William T. University of Wisconsin-Madison Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wis- their current activities and plans for consin Idea. His most recent effort in ence Guy), Richard Harris and Ira Fla- the remainder of 2013 and the begin- fostering the public understanding of tow (NPR), Alan Alda (TV science ning of 2014; a briefing from the science has been in leading the devel- programs), and Edward Wilson (Har- new director of the ACS Green opment of the ACS Climate Science vard University). u Chemistry Institute®; and a report Toolkit,
12 The Nucleus Summer 2013 Governance Call for Historical continued from page 12 tion on “Why should I join the ACS?” [email protected] – email address for Nominations Note the Committee on Nominations and The Gustavus John Esselen Leon Mir 1938–2013 Elections Dr. Leon Mir was born in www.acs.org – then click on “About Award for Chemistry in the Public Interest Krystynopol, Poland on July 13, 1938. Us” and scroll down to ACS Financial He died on Saturday, February 23, Information for information on the The Northeastern Section of the Amer- 2013 in Brookline, MA of liver cancer. Society’s finances ican Chemical Society (NESACS) is He emigrated to Canada in 1948 [email protected] – email address for inviting nominations for its prestigious and later to New York. He obtained his comments and suggestions about Gustavus John Esselen Award for B.A. and B.S. from the Columbia chemical safety to the Committee on Chemistry in the Public Interest. This School of Engineering in 1959 and his Chemical Safety award is given annually to a chemical M.S. and Sc.D. in Chemical Engineer- www.acs.org/bulletin5 - ACS govern- scientist, whose scientific and techni- ing from MIT in 1961. He was a fifty- ing documents including information cal work has contributed to the public year member of the American on petitions and certified bylaws for all well-being and has thereby communi- Chemical Society. units cated the positive values of the chemi- Mir’s expertise was in the fields of [email protected] – email to send peti- cal profession. The significance of this membrane and chromatographic sepa- tions (deadline May 22) work should have become apparent ration technologies. He worked at www.acs.org/ei - information on the within the five years preceding nomi- Abcor, Millipore, Ionics and Protient ACS Entrepreneurial Initiative nation. The awardee shall be a living and for a long time was a consultant in www.acs.org/sequester - location for resident of the United States or Canada separation processes. completing the survey on sequestration at the time of the nomination. In 2005 Mir co-invented single- www.acs.org/supportfedscience - There is no limitation to the field pass tangential-flow filtration, an information on ACS materials related of chemistry. The selection committee important innovation in ultra-filtration to federal S&T funding focuses on the general public recogni- processes, for which he obtained sev- www.acs.org/ethics - information on tion of the work, as well as its scien- eral patents. In 2006 he co-founded the ACS Committee on Ethics tific/technical significance. SPF Innovations to develop and com- The Award consists of a bronze http://nationalethicscenter.org – mercialize the technology. medal and the sum of $5,000. Travel “Ethics CORE” web address and the He was the husband of Judith expenses incidental to the conferring chemistry landing page which links to Bedrick Mir, father of Jonathan Philip of the award will be reimbursed. The chemistry related ethics content (click Mir of New York and Lisa Tova Mir award will be presented at the April ‘resources by discipline’ then click of San Diego, CA. He had two grand- 2014 meeting of the Section. The ‘chemistry’) sons, Nicholas David Mir and Alexan- Awardee is expected to deliver an der Grounds Mir. u Local Section Resources address on the subject of the work for Submitted by Judith Mir /mss www.acs.org/getinvolved - grant infor- which the honor is conferred, or for mation, important deadlines and officer work in progress which is also directed articles indicative of public benefit and resources toward chemistry in the public interest. interest. Further information is avail- www.acs.org/forms - submit annual Nominations should be submitted able at www.nesacs.org. reports, record meetings, activities and as a single pdf file including: 1) a letter Nominations Are Due October events year round signed by the primary sponsor with a 15, 2013 to [email protected] [email protected] – nominate speakers description of the nominee’s work rec- with cc to [email protected]. for Online Speaker Directory ognized as making a major contribu- Award recipients will be notified by [email protected] – information on tion to the public welfare and as February 1, 2014. “Celebrating Chemistry” for 4th – 6th communicating positive values of the Inquiries may be directed to the graders u chemical profession, plus the names of above or to Dr. Mukund Chorghade, two co-sponsors; 2) short supporting Tel. (508) 651-7809 or Karen Piper, co-sponsor statements; 3) the nomi- Tel. (978) 456-8622. Address: 19 Mill nee’s professional biography including Rd., Harvard, MA 01451. u a list of no more than ten of the nomi- nee’s publications selected for their Your one-stop source to career-related pertinence to the work nominated for links in the Chemical Sciences recognition; and 4) copies of popular WWW.NESACS.ORG/CAREERS and technical press news or feature
The Nucleus Summer 2013 13 Science Outreach safety related to the Boston Marathon Graduate Education tragedy. continued from page 5 continued from page 7 While we got off to a chilly start on April 28, 2013-(12-4PM)-–Earth Day • The Commission’s charge certainly Saturday at the Science Festival, we at the Boston Museum of Science includes master’s level education. were quickly surrounded by plenty of (originally scheduled for April 21, The distinctive role that the M.A. kids ready to learn some chemistry. 2013 and was postponed due to city- degree level fulfills in our society We started the afternoon off with pH wide investigations and concerns for suggests that there is room for fuller paper experiments of commonly public safety related to the Boston use of it in the development of the encountered “chemicals” —table vine- Marathon tragedy). professional workforce. The master’s gar, orange juice, cranberry juice, Prepared by: Jayashree Ranga, degree needs to be reconsidered as lemonade and window cleaner. NESACS CCED Coordinator the diversity of opportunities in the chemical sciences increases. • The Commission also understands that progress on several of the dimen- sions addressed among its conclu- sions and recommendations will require modifications to the reward structure for faculty members partici- pating in doctoral programs. • The Commission has focused on the goal, rather than the path toward Photo of green chemistry in action pro- improving graduate education in the vided by Beyond Benign. chemical sciences. The emphasis on experimentation is an acknowledge- The Chemists Celebrate Earth Day ment that many new paths will need event was a very busy and productive to be explored as progress is sought time with a wide range of activities at along various dimensions of graduate the Suit Cabot Lab - MoS. Our efforts education. For the older students, we had pH here in NESACS and MoS reached • In the effort to improve and reform, meters to determine how accurate the more than 400 visitors with positive the Commission expects that there pH paper actually was. A pH scale with messages about green chemistry and will be successes and successive a hamburger on the acid side and broc- the environment! The volunteers were stages. Pioneering departments and coli on the basic side is a favorite of absolutely great and enthusiastic. In practices will emerge and become the children. Over 100 children spite of change in CCED event sched- exemplars. Subsequent commissions between the ages of 4 and 16 were ule and finals weeks, we had more than and task forces will be needed to taught about the effect that acids and 50 volunteers at the event. This event address topics in greater depth or bases have on the body and how scien- would have been impossible without broader imagination than was possi- tists use pH to learn about chemicals you all, great job volunteers! David ble now, or to revisit strategies in the and liquids around us. We were con- Sittenfeld was great in rescheduling light of results from actual trials. Its veniently located next to the NE this whole event in such a short most earnest hope is that our field Aquarium’s table explaining the effect notice. Thank you David! CCED-2013 will brilliantly renew its vigor and of pH on the ocean, so this provided an was a fun and joyful celebration of intellectual strength. u additional level of understanding with Chemistry at MoS! u children who participated at our table. What’s Yours? NESACS Climate Science Café at For late breaking news, job postings Many local employers post positions the Cambridge Science Festival and the latest meeting and event on the NESACS job board. scheduled for April 15, 2013 was post- information please visit us at poned due to the tragic events occur- Find yours at ring at the Boston Marathon. Efforts to WWW.NESACS.ORG www.nesacs.org/jobs reschedule are underway. Northeast Student Chemistry The NESACS website Research Conference and Career Updated frequently • Late-breaking news • position postings Symposium scheduled for April 21, Back issues of the Nucleus archived • Career-related Links • Awards and Scholarships 2013 was cancelled due to city-wide investigations and concerns for public WWW.NESACS.org
14 The Nucleus Summer 2013 NESACS Earth Day Photos Photos by Doris Lewis Even though Earth Day was rescheduled to April 28, enthusiastic volunteers and 2013 attendees turned out for Earth Day 2013 at the Museum of Science. Election Chair-Elect Total Winner Katherine Lee 264 xx James Phillips 65 Trustee Dorothy Phillips 169 xx Charles Kolb 140 Councilor (c) / Alternate Councilor (a) Michael Singer 232 c David Sittenfeld of the Museum of Science Participants in Earth Day events at MOS April Mary Shultz 230 c (MOS) and Jayashree Ranga, NESACS organ- 28, 2013 Robert Lichter 223 c izer of Earth Day at the MOS on April 28, 2013. Heidi Teng 222 c Marietta Schwartz 221 c Sophia Su 203 a Summerthing at Fenway Leland Johnson 202 a Mary Mahaney 196 a Photos by Doris Lewis Andrew Scholte 194 a Park 2013 Raj Rajur 193 a A great evening on May 10 with 70 NESACS members and friends, perfect Kenneth Mattes 192 weather, Jon Lester pitching a one-hitter, and of course the Red Sox winning! Sonia Strah-Playnet 189 Wilton Virgo 182 Director-at-Large David Harris 168 xx John Neumeyer 162 xx Gary Weisman 148 Mukund Chorghade 101 Nominating Committee Raj Rajur 165 xx Heidi Teng 149 xx Marietta Schwartz 139 Sophia Su 130 Heidi Teng, NSYCC Chair, and friend at Fenway Dr. and Mrs. Tom Gilbert Park, May 10, 201 Esselen Award Committee Karl Hansen 189 xx Jeffrey Steinfeld 168 xx Eric Jacobsen 133 Vinod Patel 116 Richards Award Committee Jerry Jasinski 180 xx Morton Hoffman 153 xx Howard Mayne 145 James Morken 98 Tellers Ruth Tanner (chair), Mike Filosa, Dorothy Phillips and Sandy Hoffman James Phillips and Morton Z. Hoffman Doris Lewis, Martin Isaks, Jenny Li, Christine Jaworek-Lopes, Nancy Spicer, Michael Singer Total Ballots 335 u
The Nucleus Summer 2013 15 DIRECTORY Esselen Award Meeting SERVICES (Photos by Joel Laino)
(L-R) Rose Simon, Sophia Su, and Vivian Wal- Dr. Arthur Obermayer (L), founding member of worth at the social hour. the Esselen Award Committee, with Bill Eykamp.
(L-R) Gustavus J. Esselen, IV, Dr. Michael Gelb Dr. Laura Bachrach and Mrs. Gustavus J. Esse- and Dr. František Tureček, corecipients of the len III during the social hour. Dr. Bachrach had award, with Dr. Catherine Costello, Chair-elect hoped to come for several years and was finally of the Northeastern Section. able to attend.
Dr. Anna Sromek of McLean Hospital and Chair Dr. Myron Simon, a founding member of the of the 2013 Esselen Award Committee with her Esselen Award Committee, and Vivian Walworth husband, Juan Alejandre. at the social hour.
(L-R) Dr. Anna Sromek, 2013 Chair of the Esse- At dinner at the Harvard Faculty Club, seated len Award Committee; Dr. Liming Shao, 2013 (from the left) Dr. Sromek; Dr. Gelb; Dr. Shao; NESACS Chair; Dr. Tureček; Gustavus Esselen, Dr. Tureček and Mrs. Tureček. Standing (from the IV; Dr. Gelb; and Dr. Paul Hopkins, chair of the left) Mr. Juan Alejandre; Dr. Hopkins; Mrs. Rose University of Washington Chemistry Department. Simon; Dr. Myron Simon and Josef Tureček.
16 The Nucleus Summer 2013 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES
The Nucleus Summer 2013 17 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
SERVICES CAREER SERVICES CAREER SERVICES
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18 The Nucleus Summer 2013 The Nucleus Summer 2013 19 u u A A more permanent long-term Please callAnna Singer at 781- NESACS expresses great appreci- New Members New Invitation to attend a meeting are cordially You invited to attend one of as our meetings Section upcoming a guest of the Section at the social hour meeting. the preceding dinner and sec- or email: 508-653-6329 272-1966, retary(at)nesacs.org by of Thursday first the her month, letting noon of the member. new a are you that know NESACS Archives Move The NESACSArchives were moved from their location of many years thein basement of the Library to a Regis new temporary location at College Sigma-Aldrich Corporation in Natick, MA. desired. is location storage ation to Regis College forNESACS allowing to store its archiveslibrary. NESACS in is its further apprecia- tive of Michael SingerAldrich and Sigma- for makingavailable storage while space sought. is a solution more permanent on facebook Join NESACS Photos by Morton Z. Hoffman Z. Morton by Photos www.facebook.com/nesacs Presentation of the James Flack Norris Award of the James Flack Norris Presentation Chemistry to Ned Porter in Physical Organic University), flanked by Liming Shao (Vanderbilt (NESACS Chair), at right, and Marinda Wu (ACS President).
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID NORTHEASTERN SECTION AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 19 Mill Road Harvard, MA 01451
Liming Shao (NESACS Chair) with the certifi-
Daniel Nocera (Harvard University) with University) Daniel Nocera (Harvard National Meeting Photos National Meeting cate of appreciation from ACS for the Section's from cate of appreciation Marinda Wu (ACS President) at his Kavli Foun- (ACS President) Marinda Wu 50-year sponsorship of the James Flack Norris Chemistry. in Physical Organic Award dation Innovations in Chemisry Lecture, "The dation Innovations in Chemisry Lecture, Artificial Leaf."