News from Journal House

General Chemistry Collection, 6th Edition

The 6th edition of General Chemistry Collection CD-ROM (GCC) has been released by JCE Software and shipped to those who have placed orders. GCC 6th edition contains 30 tried and tested JCE Software programs appropriate for introductory-level chemistry students. Programs for both Macintosh and Windows computers are available on a single CD-ROM; all programs have been peer reviewed. A more detailed description of GCC 6th edition and the abstract that appeared in J. Chem. Educ. 2002, 79, 637-640 can be found on JCE Online.

Selected images from the General Chemistry Collection. A single beam spectrometer in Spec UV-Vis (top) and the simulation screen in KinSimXP (bottom).

New in this Edition

• Spec UV–Vis: An Ultraviolet–Visible Spectrophotometer Simulation
• KinSimXP: A Chemical Kinetics Simulation
• Le Chat: Simulation in Chemical Equilibrium
• SIRs: Simulations and Interactive Resources for Windows
• Equilibrium Calculator for Windows (update)

Bulk Purchases

GCC is intended for use by individual students. Institutions and faculty members may adopt GCC 6th edition as they would a textbook. JCE can arrange for CDs to be custom packaged with laboratory manuals or other course materials or to be sold to students through a campus bookstore. The cost per CD can be quite low when large numbers are ordered (as little as $3 each), making this a cost-effective method of providing students access to software they need. Network licenses to distribute the software to students via a local campus network can also be arranged. Contact JCE Software for details. GCC may be purchased in bulk (20 or more CDs) at greatly reduced prices.

Awards Announced

Excellence Award Winners Announced

The ACS Division of Computers in Chemistry (COMP) and Chemical Computing Group (CCG) announced the winners of the CCG Excellence Awards at the ACS Spring national meeting in Orlando. The awards were created in 2000 to stimulate graduate student participation in COMP division activities at ACS national meetings. Winners receive a one-year software license of CCG's Molecular Operating Environment for their academic research group in addition to reimbursement for travel costs associated with attending an ACS national meeting to present their results. The award winners are:

• Thomas Dick, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA: Computational Modeling of Brine to Aid CO₂ Sequestration Research. Jeffry Madura, advisor.
• Benoit Leblanc, Institut Francais du Petrole, Reueil-Malmaison, France: Mixing Monte Carlo Moves More Efficiently with an Evolutionary Algorithm. Herve Toulhoat, Bertrand Braunswig, and Evelyne Lutton, advisors.
• Viera Lukacova, North Dakota State University, Fargo, NC: Implementation of Multiple Binding Modes in CoMFA. Stefan Balaz, advisor.
• Sabine Schefzick, Indiana University–Purdue University–Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN: Theoretical Ligand Distortions in Chiral Catalysts: Can Molecular Deformations Enhance a Catalyst's Chirality Content? Kenny Lipkowitz, advisor.
• Xuelin Wang, University of North Texas, Denton, TX: Error Analysis in Density Functional Theory: Atomization Energies. Angela K. Wilson, advisor.

2002 Catalyst Awards

The American Chemistry Council has announced the 2002 Responsible Care® Catalyst Award Winners. The program honors educators who excel at teaching science and chemistry to students in college, high school, middle school, and elementary school. All winners receive a medal and citation. National winners are honored at an awards dinner held in conjunction with the NSTA annual meeting and their schools receive $5,000 to be used to improve their science education programs; regional winners' schools receive $2,500.

National Winners

• Morton Z. Hoffman, Boston University, Boston, MA

• Karen Woscyna-Birch, Tunxis Community College, Farmington, CT

• Larry R. Nordell, Mt. Miguel High School, Spring Valley, CA

• Craig R. Wolter, Windom Area Middle School, Windom, MN

Regional Winners

• Karen Hyatt Stump, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

• Melissa K. Payne, Jeffersontown High School, Louisville, KY

• Denise Gordon, Applied Learning Academy, Ft. Worth, TX

Award Deadlines

Passer Education Grants

The Passer Education Grants provide support for teachers in small programs at two- and four-year colleges that do not have any advanced degree programs in the chemical sciences. The grants are to support continuing education activities that must be directly related to the applicant's teaching and must take them away from their campus. These grants are made possible through a generous donation of Dorothy and Moses Passer. Moses (Mike) Passer was for many years the head of the ACS Education Division.

An applicant must be a full-time faculty member at his or her institution. A committee reviews applications. There is no application form but the application must include: a description of the proposed activity and how it relates to the applicant's teaching with dates, locations, titles, and contacts; a brief description of the applicant's institution and department; a short curriculum vitae; an itemized estimate of expenses, amount of aid requested, and sources of all supplemental funds. Closing dates each year are: January1, April 1, and September 1. For further information contact Donald E. Jones, 3726 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Apt. 108, Washington, DC 20008.

A list of recent recipients of Passer Education Grants appears in the May 2002 issue of this Journal.