Awards Announced

ACS 2006 National Awards

The American Chemical Society has announced the recipients of its 2006 national awards; the complete list appears in the August 29, 2005, issue of C & E News. The recipients will be honored at the Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, March 29, 2006, in conjunction with the ACS national meeting in Atlanta, GA.

ACS Award for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences, sponsored by the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation

• Susan R. Fahrenholtz, Fordham University, New York City

ACS Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences, sponsored by the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation

• Catherine H. Middlecamp, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI

ACS Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution, sponsored by Research Corporation

• Charles F. Beam, Jr., College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

Award for Volunteer Service to the American Chemical Society, sponsored by ACS General Endowment Fund

• E. Gerald Meyer, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching

• Gwendolyn S. Marbury, DeMatha Catholic High School, Hyattsville, MD

George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education, sponsored by Dow Chemical

• F. Albert Cotton, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX

Priestley Medal

• Paul S. Anderson, Bristol-Myers Squibb (retired)

Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry, sponsored by Mallinckrodt Baker

• Raquel L. Lieberman (student), Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
• Amy C. Rosenzweig (preceptor), Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

ACS 2005 National Award

ACS Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach

• Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI

Award Deadlines

Materials Research Society Launches Entrepreneurship Challenge

The Materials Research Society (MRS) has launched its Entrepreneurship Challenge, an international competition that pairs students and professional materials scientists and engineers with business school students to develop concepts for materials-based start-up companies. The grand prize is $3000, and the top three teams will each additionally receive travel funding of up to $3000 so that they can present their entries at the 2006 MRS Spring Meeting in San Francisco. The deadline for registration is November 1, 2005. While face-to-face meetings are not discouraged, the Challenge is structured to be virtual. Materials scientists and business students from around the world are encouraged to partner and collaborate on their technology ideas/business plans via phone or Internet. For more information about the Challenge, including entry instructions and eligibility requirements, visit the Web site (accessed Sep 2005).

Courses, Seminars, Meetings, Opportunities

Free Vernier Workshops

Vernier Software & Technology is offering a variety of free hands-on workshops in data-collection technology to science and math educators. The workshops will be held in 41 cities across the U.S. To find the dates and locations of workshops or to register, go to the Vernier Web site (accessed Sep 2005). The workshops are free for training and the manual; or educators may choose a training and hardware/software package for $250.

At the workshops, educators will spend a 4-hour session learning how to integrate data-collection technology into their chemistry, biology, physics, math, middle school science, physical science, or earth science curriculum. They will have an opportunity to collect data on computers, TI graphing calculators, and Palm OS handhelds. Workshop attendees may earn graduate credit for participating in a workshop. Full information is available at the Web site.

19th BCCE, July 30–August 3, 2006, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

The Biennial Conferences on Chemical Education (BCCEs), which are sponsored by the ACS Division of Chemical Education, emphasize the improvement of chemistry teaching at all levels and are the largest gathering of chemical educators in the world. The conferences feature the most modern developments in chemistry and chemical education and are regarded with a high degree of respect in the chemical education community. The Department of Chemistry at Purdue University is proud to host the 19th BCCE at its campus in West Lafayette, IN from July 30 to August 3, 2006. William R. Robinson is the general chair of the conference.

Abstracts for talks, posters, workshops, and demonstrations are currently being accepted through the 19th BCCE Web site (accessed Sep 2005). As well as looking for general papers, the conference organizers are looking for papers that would fit into programs on laboratory work, use of computers and technology in teaching chemistry at all levels, courses for majors and for non-majors, chemistry for the public, cooking chemistry, problem solving, professional issues, and research in chemical education. In addition, there will be a series of symposia that address the National Science Education Standards in the classroom and other issues of interest to high school chemistry teachers (see below), as well as a special symposium in memory of Babu George. Visit the 19th BCCE Web site for an up-to-date list of specific symposia that have been submitted and keep reading for general information from the conference program chairs: Mickey A. Sarquis, Arlene A. Russell, and Laura Slocum.

Call for Papers and Posters, 19th BCCE, The Bridge between Teaching and Learning

What do Ethics, Inquiry, Inorganic, Bioanalytical, Modeling, Cooking, Service, Promotion, Demos, Labs, and National Standards have in common? They are all a small part of the program we, the conference program chairs, are setting for you.

We have identified a number of programming strands to facilitate our bridge between teaching and learning. More than 30 symposia are already lined up, many of which will be introduced in plenary and keynote lectures from eminent speakers. The symposia that have been accepted to date are posted on the Web site, but it is not too late to contribute: if we’re missing a topic you feel can add to the conference, please submit your proposal by the deadline—November 1, 2005. The richness of the program depends on your input and willingness to contribute. Symposia organizers and the program chairs will keep you informed about the status of your submission. Contact any of the program chairs if you have questions.

Topics already in the program cover many aspects of teaching and learning chemistry and the bridge that ties them together. Whether you teach in a high school, a two-year college, a primarily undergraduate institution, or a university with graduate students, you will find symposia that are of interest to you. So, bookmark the conference Web site and keep watching for more information regarding the technical program, registration, housing, and family and leisure activities as we approach July 27, 2006.

High School Program, 19th BCCE

It is not too late to submit a proposal for a symposium, workshop, or demonstration to the high school program. These symposia, as well as general symposia, will be a part of the conference program:

• Surviving the Initial Years: A symposium to encourage high school chemistry teachers in their first five years of teaching. Organizer: Esther Freeman (HS)
• The George R. Hague, Jr. AP Chemistry Symposium. Organizer: Harvey Gendreau (HS)
• Integrating Real-Life Applications into High School Chemistry

There will be a series of five symposia designed to help high school teachers understand and present lessons that meet the national standards:

• Addressing the Inquiry Standard: Activities and lessons designed to develop students’ ability to do and understand scientific inquiry. Organizers: Kathy Kitzman (HS) and Deb Herrington (Grand Valley State)
• Addressing the Physical Science Standard: Activities and lessons designed to explore the structure of atoms, structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, conservation of energy, and the increase in disorder and interaction of energy and matter. Amy Lou Keep (HS) and Joe Shane (College)
• Addressing the Science and Technology Standard: Activities and lessons designed to develop students’ ability and understanding of technological design and the relationship between science and technology. Claire Baker (HS) All day symposium
• Addressing the Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Standard: Activities and lessons designed to develop students’ understanding of natural resources, environmental quality, and natural and human-induced hazards. Linda Weber (HS)
• Addressing the History and Nature of Science Standard: Activities and lessons designed to develop students’ understanding of science as a human endeavor, the nature of scientific knowledge, and historical perspectives. Jeff Hepburn (HS)

Questions about the High School Program should be sent to Laura E. Slocum, University High School of Indiana, 2825 West 116th Street, Carmel, IN 46032; phone: 317/733-4475, ext. 203; fax: 317/733-4486.

DivCHED Endowment Campaign Gains Momentum

Donations to the DivCHED Teaching Excellence Endowment have passed the $60,000 milestone. Since this amount will be matched by DivCHED, this puts the campaign well on its way toward the final goal of $300 000. Contributions are from a diverse group of donors—individuals, ACS Local Sections, ACS Regional Boards and officers, councilors, and staff.

Glenn Crosby, chair of the solicitation committee, remarked in his report to DivCHED, “particularly gratifying to me is the response from ACS Student Affiliate Chapters. Students comprise the group that is closest to the high school experience, and their response to this appeal confirms my conviction that many chemists enter our profession because of the influence of a good high school chemistry teacher.” Plans are underway to reach a wider audience using direct mail.

Mail contributions to the Dept. of Meeting and Expositions, DivCHED High School Fund, ACS, 1155 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Checks should be made payable to the DivCHED High School Fund; other payment methods (credit card, stock transfer) can be accommodated. For details please call the ACS Dept. of Meeting and Exposition Services (800/227-5558 ext. 8072). Donations are tax-deductible.

Materials Available

Offers from Flinn Scientific

Flinn Scientific offers free laboratory safety training by email. Using the name Flinn Scientific Science Department Meeting Safety Notes, the service provides a 6- to 8-minute safety training lesson to science teachers every month. It can be included in a monthly department meeting or presented as a short safety meeting. To take advantage of this offer, email your request along with your name, school name and address, and the subjects and grade levels that you teach to Flinn Scientific.

Flinn also has a free kit for first-year secondary school science teachers and aspiring teachers: the First-Year Teacher Survival Kit includes demonstration ideas, safety posters, a reproducible safety contract, money-saving coupons, and a copy of their catalog and reference manual. Teachers only may request copies of the Survival Kit, catalog number AP4564, from Flinn Scientific, Inc., P.O. Box 219, Batavia, IL 60510; phone: 800/452-1261; fax: 866-452-1436; email (accessed Sep 2005).

Proposal Deadlines National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) The following NSF deadlines have been established or are anticipated. Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Formal Proposals October 18, 2005 Preliminary Proposals (2006) April 25, 2006 Course, Curriculum and Lab Improvement (CCLI) Full Proposals, Phase 2 and 3 January, 24, 2006 Instructional Materials Development (IMD) Preliminary Proposals November 14, 2005 Full Proposals March 13, 2006 Research on Gender in Science & Engineering (GSE) Prelim. Proposals (Research) November 4, 2005 Prelim. Proposals (Extension Serv.) January 6, 2006 Full Proposals (Research) February 24, 2006 Full Proposals (Dissemination) April 24, 2006 Full Proposals (Extension Serv.) April 24, 2006 Official deadline dates for proposals will be specified in the new program solicitation for each program, to be published at least three months before the relevant deadline date. Consult NSF Education and Human Resources (EHR), Division of Undergraduate Education for the most up-to-date listings and guidelines; phone: 703/292-8670; email. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc. Camille Dreyfus Teacher–Scholar Awards Program: November 10, 2005 Faculty Start-Up Award Program: May 11, 2006 Henry Dreyfus Teacher–Scholar Awards Program: June 29, 2006 New Faculty Awards Program: May 11, 2006 Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry: May 25, 2006 Senior Scientist Mentor Program: Completed Proposals: September 29, 2005 Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences: Preliminary Proposals: June 1, 2006 Completed Proposals: August 24, 2006 Further information and confirmation of the above deadlines may be obtained from The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., 555 Madison Avenue, Suite 1305, New York, NY 10022-3301; phone: 212/753-1760; email. Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Awards: May 15 and November 15 Cottrell Scholar Awards: September 1 Research Innovation Awards: suspended 2004-2005 Research Opportunity Awards: May 1 and October 1 Special opportunities in Science Awards: prospective applicants should submit a preliminary letter. Further information may be obtained from Research Corporation, 4703 East Camp Lowell Drive, Suite 201, Tucson, AZ 85712; phone: 520/571-1111; fax: 520/571-1119; email.