ASU Student Chemistry Group Gets National Recognition
October 28, 2011
This marks the sixth straight year the ASU chapter has received a year-end award from the national ACS. Of the more than 330 ACS chapter reports submitted to the society’s Committee on Education, only 122 received a Commendable or higher award. Award-winning chapters will be honored at the 243rd ACS National Meeting on March 25 in San Diego. The list of award-winning chapters will also be published in the Chemical & Engineering News magazine and inchemistry, the ACS student member magazine.
The ASU chapter was recognized for its participation in chemistry outreach activities, attendance at national meetings, and fundraising and social events. Chapter members annually take part in ASU Science Days, Mole Day, Earth Day and National Chemistry Week activities, and host a Spring “Green” Chemistry Symposium on the ASU campus. They also conduct a campus speaker program, have regular burrito sales for fundraising and frequently include local and area high school students in their activities. Members also present their research at various organizational meetings, including the national ACS and Texas Academy of Science.
Additionally, the national ACS also recognized the ASU chapter as a Green Chemistry Chapter for engaging in at least three green chemistry activities during the academic year. “Green chemistry” is a movement that encourages the design of processes that reduce the usage of hazardous or environmentally unfriendly substances, encouraging the idea of sustainability in the chemical industry and in research.
Faculty sponsors for ASU’s student chapter are Kevin Boudreaux, senior instructor of chemistry, and Dr. Edith Osborne, assistant professor of biochemistry.
In a letter to the ASU chapter, ACS president Dr. Nancy B. Jackson said, “We extend our warmest congratulations to the students and Professors Boudreaux and Osborne for setting such a fine example for other chapters and being exemplary chemistry ambassadors!”
ACS is the world’s largest scientific society. It is a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress, and is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.