What we've been up to in 2020...
With several engaging and educating events, we've been off to a fantastic 2020 as part our year of Leadership, Learning and Chemistry! Learn about what's been happening below, and then continue scrolling to learn about what's next, important information from your local section executive committee, and announcements from our committees.
What's up next?
Artificial intelligence is a promising approach to speed up the drug design process at multiple levels, including estimates of drug binding strength, pharmacokinetics, and synthesizability. Professor David Sherrill, Associate Director of the Georgia Tech Institute for Data Engineering and Science, will present a summary of his group's research on using machine learning to model the interactions between drugs and protein binding pockets. Professor Le Song, Associate Director for Georgia Tech's Center for Machine Learning, will present a summary of recent advances in AI for retrosynthetic analysis, and his group's state-of-the-art synthesis prediction and planning models. Join us on March 12th for this exciting talk!
Atlanta’s biggest interactive science event is FREE and open to adults, families, and children of all ages and interests. With more than 100 hands-on, interactive science booths from local organizations, universities, and companies, the American Chemical Society Georgia Local Section be showing off at this year’s Exploration Expo. Come visit our booth!
- April 17, 10 am - 2 pm, Earth Day at Georgia Tech (Atlanta)
- April 18, 11 am - 3 pm, Earth Day at the Fernbank Science Center (Decatur)
- April 20, 7:10 am - 2:10 pm, Sustainability workshop at Peachtree Ridge High School (Duluth)
- April 21, 12 pm - 3 pm, Georgia Gwinnett College Earth Day (Lawrenceville)
- April 25, 5 pm - 9 pm, Wild Earth Odyssey, Gwinnett Environmental Heritage Center (Buford)
- April 27, 10 am - 2:10 pm, Sustainability Workshop at Meadowcreek High School (Norcross)
In honor of the significant contributions Dr. Julian made in pure and applied research in science, The Minority Affairs Committee of the Georgia Local Section of the American Chemical Society is pleased to announce the 2020 Percy Julian Award on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Suites Dining Hall at Spelman College. This award will be given to two High School Seniors (one male and one female) in recognition of scholastic achievement and leadership ability. Each recipient will receive a $500 book scholarship and a one-year (student) membership in ACS. Applications are due April 16th!
Dr. Julian was an African-American who obtained his BS in Chemistry from DePauw University in 1920. Although he entered DePauw as a “substandard freshman,” he graduated as the class valedictorian with Phi Beta Kappa honors. His frst job was as an instructor at Fisk University. Julian left Fisk and obtained a master’s degree in chemistry from Harvard in 1928, and his Ph.D. in 1931 from the University of Vienna, Austria. It was after his return to DePauw in 1933 that Julian conducted the research that led to the synthesis of physostigmine, a drug used in the treatment of glaucoma2. Julian left DePauw in 1936 to become director of research of the Soya Products Division of the Glidden Company in Chicago. This position at Glidden made Julian the world’s first African – American to lead a research group in a major corporation. Dr. Julian rewarded Gliden’s faith in him by producing many new commercial products from soy beans.
Announcements from the Executive Committee
From 2020 Past Chair, Cheryl Trusty
I want to tell the section members how much I have enjoyed being the 2019 chair of the ACS Georgia Local Section. It was the highlight of my year! So many of us worked hard all year to truly make it a year of "Elements of Collaboration". I want to share some special acknowledge and appreciation for our members and leaders within the section:
- Mark Mitchell and Ajay Mallia for a successful 50-60-70 year award, including an excellent program!
- Ajay Mallia, Jahari Soward, Tyler Kinner, and Joe Stoner for help in documenting the year's activities for the annual report (which is viewable on our website, acsga.org)!
- All of our volunteers and members who participated in ACS Georgia Section activities this year. We nominated ourselves for 16 ChemLuminary awards - I'm sure you'll join us in hoping we'll get all 16 (including best large section)!
- Everyone in the section, but especially Ajay Mallia, Jahari Soward, Tyler Kinner, and Holly Davis for their support and encouragement over the past two years during the chair succession.
From the Secretary, Tyler Kinner
I appreciate our members for reading this far into the newsletter! I hope you've noticed the new look and feel of our section emails by now - and that you've been receiving just a smidge fewer for our event announcements.
As we move to improve our communication with members, switching from our previous email provider to a new, more modern system has allowed us to better tailor communications. We value your time and want to keep communications as effective as possible.
Be on the look out for a member survey to help us improve these communications in the near future. If you have any questions or concerns about our email communications, please email me at secretary@acsga.org.
From the Chemistry Olympiad Committee,
The 2020 USNCO Chemistry Olympiad in Georgia is underway. In just a few days, more than 350 students from 21 different schools across the metro area will showcase their chemistry skills in the chemistry olympiad examination. The chemistry olympiad is an international competition organized by the USNCO and supported by the ACS that allows students to compete with their chemistry knowledge and skills.
From the Herty Award Committee,
Dr. Susan Richardson of the University of South Carolina has been awarded the 2020 Herty Medal for her research in environmental chemistry. We'll be honoring her work with a symposium and dinner reception at Georgia Tech, followed by an undergraduate research symposium on the following day at Georgia Gwinnett College. Dates and details will be shared as we approach September 2020 - so keep your inboxes and calendars open!
From the Awards Committee,
The time is here to nominate ACS members for the prestigious ACS Fellows award!
The American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows Program was created by the ACS Board of Directors in December 2008 to recognize members of ACS for outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the profession, and the Society.
From the national ACS career services
ACS Career Day is bringing FREE Career Coaching and Professional Development workshops to the Atlanta area on April 25 at Roam Dunwoody from 8 - 4 pm
American Chemical Society is bringing a one-of-a-kind free career day to your community. Enjoy breakfast and lunch while learning how to advance your chemistry career in today's changing market. Register now for one amazing day packed with professional skill-building opportunities, networking activities, and interactive workshops designed to help reach your professional goals. Registration is free and required to attend. Members may take advantage of 1:1 career counseling during the career day. ACS Membership specials will be available onsite.
From the national ACS Committee on Chemical Safety
From our sister organizations
ASME Atlanta March Talks
Join ASME Atlanta this month on March 21st at Pye Barker Engineered Solutions for a lunch talk. Don Layyous will be giving a technical talk on basic hydraulics & understanding of centrifugal vs. positive displacement pumps. Seating is limited so register early. Lunch is included.
Thanks for reading! Questions or comments? Email newsletter@acsga.org