ACS ChemLuminary Awards
Greater Houston
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
Eastern US YCC Partnership
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
On August 2-6, 2021, the EUS YCC Partnership hosted the 2021 ACS Eastern U.S. Younger Chemists Committee Partnership Virtual Research Symposium and Chemistry Career Expo. This event featured a variety of virtual programming between 4-8 PM ET each day of the week and was hosted through a combination of an interactive virtual platform, Gather.Town, and Zoom. The objective of this event was to provide young chemists the opportunity to showcase their research accomplishments and to network with other chemists and local employers in a professional setting. A technical program/abstract book was sent to all symposium registrants and available throughout the virtual platform. Approximately 220 people from 20 countries attended the event throughout the week. With over 102 abstract submissions, there were 9 technical sessions (42 talks total) and 6 poster sessions (49 poster total). The Gather.Town platform enabled meaningful dialogue between the presenters and judges/volunteers/attendees, as well as opportunities to network in formal and informal settings. Two companies (Pfizer and CMC Materials) sponsored prizes for the top presentations, as determined by the judges. A career fair (sponsored by the ACS SCHB) featuring 18 companies/universities took place on the last day of the symposium. There were keynote presentations highlighting the achievements and advice from three outstanding younger chemists. The overall impact of the symposium was to offer younger chemists the opportunity to present their research and network in a virtual setting midst a global pandemic, which was accomplished through this virtual event.
Eastern US YCC Partnership
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Eastern United States (EUS) YCC Partnership was co-founded back in May 2020 and now encompasses 8 ACS local section groups (Eastern New York, Northern New York, Nashville, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Rochester, St. Louis, and Virginia) as well as the Graduate Chemistry Society of the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras. The objectives of the partnership is to promote collaboration & support, cultivate leadership skills, and invest in long-term membership amongst local section groups while delivering easy accessible professional development programs to the ycc constituency. Since the formation of this new dynamic and diverse group, three main types of programs were offered: 1. professional development workshops (navigating your chemistry career in a COVID-19 world, CV/resume, interviewing skills, networking, and graduate school prep), 2. self-care Sundays and building confidence workshops, and 3. the day in a life of a chemist series. These programs were offered in a virtual format (Zoom) through a series of webinars, panels, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities and were strategically designed to support the career and professional development needs of younger chemists while they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger chemists from across the United States, inclusive of high school students, and even from a few foreign countries, were given the opportunity to expand their network and develop pertinent skills for career advancements in a safe and comfortable environment.
Northeastern
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
The 5th Annual NSYCC Fall Career Symposium went virtual for 2020. Instead of a day-long event with concurrent panels and in-person networking, events were spaced out over three weekends in an effort to (1) not overwhelm attendees with the commitment to a day-long Zoom event, and (2) allow for all panels to be held at separate times, so attendees could attend all four panels if they’d like. On November 7, a resume workshop and an interview workshop were held as the first events of the 2020 Career Symposium. Roy Simmons and Patrick Gordon, both ACS Career Consultants who have graciously volunteered their time to the NSYCC Career Symposium for over 5 years, held distinctive discussions on how to perfect your resume and how to ace your interview. On November 14, a LinkedIn workshop, a graduate school panel, and an industry careers panel were held. Kristin McGillicuddy, a marketing professor at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, held this very popular workshop for the second consecutive year. A panel on graduate school featured Vanna Blasczak (UMass Boston),Jonathan Flores (UMass Boston), Minte Kassu (Northeastern University) and Devin Swiner (The Ohio State University) and was moderated by Meredith Ward, NSYCC Chair. The final panel on the second day was an industry careers panel featuring Dr. Crystal Shih Byers(Ascidian Therapeutics), Dr. Ping Zhang (Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research), Dr. Katherine Lee (Pfizer), and Matt Coon (Bluebird Bio), which was moderated by Zemen Berhe, NSYCC Chair-Elect. On November 21, a nontraditional careers panel, an academic careerspanel, and a resume review session were held. The nontraditional careers panel featured Dr.Doris Lewis (NESACS Government Affairs Committee), Dr. Stephen Davey (Nature Reviews Chemistry), Enoch Allotey (UMass School of Law), and Dr. John de la Parra (The Rockefeller Foundation) and was moderated by Tongtong Luo, NSYCC Social Chair. The academic careerspanel featured Dr. Elizabeth Draganova (Tufts University and NSYCC Immediate Past-Chair),Dr. Mariam Ismail (Simmons University), Dr. Sossina Haile (Northwestern University), and David Manke (UMass Dartmouth) and was moderated by Klaudja Caushi, NSYCC Secretary and Publicity Chair. The success of the virtual Career Symposium hinged on the flexibility of the participants, panelists, and workshop leaders, as well as the adaptability of the NSYCC Executive Board to hold such an important event online during a pandemic. The NSYCC Executive Board would like to thank all who participated in the 2020 Virtual Fall Career Symposium.
Northern NY
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
East Central Illinois
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The ACS East Central Illinois Local Section Younger Chemists' Committee strived to provide professional development and leadership opportunities for younger chemists by reaching out to local high school/college-age students and facilitating networking among members and local industries. May events were planned with partner communities including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Chemistry Graduate Student Advisory Committee, Encouraging Tomorrow’s Chemists, the Women Chemists’ Committee, the Society for the Advancement of Chicano/Hispanic and Native Americans in the Sciences, and the undergraduate ACS student chapter.
Virginia Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
The Virginia Local Section Younger Chemists Committee co-hosted the 2nd Annual Chemistry Trivia Night & Poem Writing Contest at VCU in conjunction with the Medicinal Chemistry Graduate Student Association, the Chemistry Graduate Student Organization, and the ACS Undergraduate Student Affiliate Chemistry Chapter. This event was conducted in Celebration of The International Year Of The Periodic Table and it provided a great networking opportunity for the attendees to show off their trivia and poem writing skills.
Rochester Local Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Rochester Local Section Younger Chemists Committee helped younger chemists climb the ladder of success by bringing together speakers from chemical industry and academia to share their career journey and give advice to aspiring young chemists. Three professors from different types of academia and two industrial chemists shared their personal studies, offered advice and answered questions.
East Central Illinois Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The ACS East Central Illinois Local Section YCC worked closely with diverse organizations to educate and serve their community. Some highlights include providing a shadow opportunity for local students, hosting a seminar series on mental health and hosting science demonstrations.
Georgia Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
The Georgia Local Section YCC invited a panel of Atlanta based scientists to talk to younger chemists. They shared how they got their start, gave career and networking advice, and how to create a healthy work/life balance.
East Central Illinois Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The ACS East Central Illinois Local Section Younger Chemists' Committee included a cooking class and flavor lecture, industry tour to Millipore Sigma, coffee socials, a brewery tour, and helped organize the Second Annual Undergraduate Research Conference to name a few events.
Silicon Valley Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
The Silicon Valley Local Section partnered with the local section senior chemists committee to host a home brew competition at Golden State Brewery in Santa Clara, California.
Savanah River Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Savannah River Local Section Younger Chemists Committee had a wonderful year filled with exciting activities and events, whose main goals were to increase membership and volunteer participation. As a result, membership increased 22% from the previous year.
Colorado Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
The Colorado Local Section had a symposium, “Young Talent in Colorado and Beyond,” with the objective to give young scientists the opportunity to present their work and network with other scientists in Colorado. There were 19 oral presentations, 41 posters, and about 110 people participated. The participants were from Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas and half were ACS members.
East Central Illinois Local Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The East Central Illinois Local Section Younger Chemists Committee held many events that included a hands-on workshop for Big Brothers Big Sisters with their Encouraging Tomorrow's Chemists graduate group, a networking social with their Women Chemists Committee, and a workshop for the transition from undergraduate to graduate school with their undergraduate student chapter.
Northeastern Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
Northeastern YCC participated in 22 career development, networking, and community outreach events. Through local, national, and international collaborations, each program had an average of 30 participants and with the largest being a reception held during the National Meeting where over 250 participants were in attendance. After a restructuring, they expanded their board by 60% to include 13 people from 10 institutions. Currently they are discussing creating a community for young chemists in Boston.
San Diego Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
San Diego held an "Academics 2 Industry: UCLA" where over 30 people were in attendance. The Academics 2 Industry is a lecture series intended to give students studying chemistry a primer course on the transition to research as a medicinal chemist.
Nashville Local Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
Nashville YCC hosted a social at the joint regional meeting between the Southeast and Southwest regions. The Nashville YCC invited numerous other YCC groups to collaborate, with a state goal of introducing undergraduate and graduate students to the YCC, and encourage them to use this group as a stepping stone into involvement with their local section.
Chemical Society of Washington Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
In 2014, the CSW YCC successfully organized 7 events attracting over 700 attendees at all career stages, in particular students and young professionals. Events included outreach activities, thematic networking trivias, webinars, chemistry demonstrations, Halloween and a Mole Day celebration.
Indiana Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
After hosting chemists from the European Young Chemists Network at the ACS National Meeting, the Indiana Section was allowed to send four young chemists to a national meeting in Istanbul that resulted in one participant receiving an award.
Virginia Local Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Virginia YCC hosted a networking event at Legend’s Brewery where many of the participating younger chemists were new to ACS and used the event to learn more about involvement.
Savannah River Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Savannah River YCC was able to increase membership by nearly 25% mainly as a result of increased visibility among college students and the creation of a strong partnership with the Salvation Army of North Augusta.
Puerto Rico Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
The Puerto Rico YCC organized their third Green Fashion Show, with a Christmas twist. Three winners were chosen in both the Chem Club and Student Chapter categories for their costumes made of recycled material. The activity ended with a karaoke party for the volunteers.
Louisiana Local Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Louisiana Section YCC held two successful recruiting events and organized a symposium at the National ACS meeting in New Orleans. They helped start a database of local employers and, due to their efforts, the number of student members in the Section has noticeably increased., and other content
St. Louis Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Saint Louis YCC built upon their existing successful Career Management Seminar series by continuing the Chemistry Career Nights and executing a social event during the summer that connected young chemists from many institutions. Also, support of undergraduates was expanded by establishing the Young Researcher Award.
Puerto Rico Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
The Puerto Rico YCC hosted a dinner that honored volunteers and included a fashion show. Three outfits were chosen by a panel of judges promoting sustainability and showcasing style and talent in Puerto Rico. The recognition of volunteers was a highlight of this year’s many successful activities.
Michigan State University Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
To increase outreach during summer months, the MSU YCC reached out to 4H events and YMCA camps to present demos and hands-on activities to kids of all backgrounds. The effort not only increased YCC activity but was so successful they have been asked to return in 2012.
Chicago Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
Chicago conducted a variety of activities during 2011 to better involve young chemists in activities related to their field and to the Chicago Section. Six well-attended events were held that led to more younger chemists attending section meetings and volunteering to help with local activities.
Central Texas Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The Central Texas YCC program in collaboration with 3 local student chapters consisted of 9 activities targeted to undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and young faculty and professionals. Activities included a Federal Grant Writing Process introduction, Undergraduate Luncheon and Poster Session, Undergraduate and Graduate Networking Breakfast, Undergraduate Symposium, and a Graduate Recruiting Fair.
North Jersey Local Section
Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The North Jersey YCC held two movie screenings of "Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Scientist"; a YCC annual summer picnic; a Fall Happy Hour; and three National Chemistry Week activities integrating common household items and food products with a Ghostbusters theme to make marshmallow men and their own version of "slimer" attracting children, teens and adults.
Milwaukee Local Section
Outstanding or Creative Local Section YCC Event
Presentations representing all areas of chemistry were given at Milwaukee’s Second Annual YCC Poster Mixer. A National Chemistry Week booth at the event provided handouts and a special gift for high school students and teachers. Poster awards were made possible through a grant from the ACS Division of Small Chemical Businesses.
New York Local Section
Outstanding New Local Section Younger Chemists Committee
The reactivated New York YCC held a social mixer, a Career Panel and Discussion program, a Brooklyn Brewery Tour, and a joint seminar event with the Chemical Marketing & Economics Group.