The ACS Illinois-Iowa Local Section was proud to have assisted the ACS in celebrating National Chemistry Week (NCW) with a focus on this year's theme, "The Joy of Toys!".  Local businesses, schools, universities, a museum, and the local section got involved to make the local NCW sites successful.  NCW in this American Chemical Society (ACS) was a huge success.  Near 1500 students participated, and hundreds of adults and ACS members supported the events. Several high schools, colleges, and ACS members held chemical demonstrations and other events. Scroll through the highlights below to look through a summary of the events and to see photographs of some of the activities.
 

Bettendorf, Iowa & Colona, Illinois - Family Museum, Grant Wood Elementary, Colona Grade School

Coordinators:  Jerod Corbin, Danielle Geerts, Alene Vandermyde

An annual event in its third year begins with a small tour of local elementary schools before (and after) NCW week doing chemical demonstrations before small groups and promoting the section's poster contest.  The chemical demonstrations included a variety of science toys, such as the "glowing alien eye", "fart putty", gyroscope, and "love meter" hand boilers.  Seven different shows for ~250 children of grades 3, 4, 5 and 7 were put on.
 

The culminating spot of this event is the main show at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, IA.  This year the museum show further embraced the NCW yearly theme of "The Joy of Toys!" by having a "science toy fair".  The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves chasing air-squealing balloons, driving the space rover, fascinated by magic tricks, or exploring the dinosaur books.  A special thanks to Keith of Toys'r'us, Paul Ziebath of Barnes & Nobles, Brian Thomas Moore of Mr. Wong's House of Magic, and the Family Museum gift shop team for showcasing their toys and other wonders.

Our typical chemical show was also put on followed up with an award presentation of the winners of the section's poster contest.  New to this year were hands-on activities such as playing with tornado tubes or watching a rainbow of colors mixed in soapy milk.  Approximately ~125 visitors attended the two hour event.

A final real joy though was a collection of letters from Grant Wood Elementary that expressed thanks for the demonstrations put on at their school.  One particular letter stated, "Thank you for coming to Grant Wood.  I had a lot of fun watching you.  My favorite part was the circuit (alien eye) ball.  It was really cool.  I'm on crutches and it cheered me up.  Thanks again, <signed by 4^th grader>".
 

Clinton, Iowa - Ashford University
 

Dr. Miller and his students conducted chemical demonstrations for some local children. His organic chemistry students did some demos (divers with baking powder, gluep and making bubbles better and worse) with the Campus Pals group, which is a group of middle school students that are brought on campus for tutoring, etc. The students were all given nanomoles and pocket periodic tables. Several of the students remarked that "chemistry is cool!"  

Dr. Miller's General Chemistry students went to Elijah Buell Elementary school to do some activities with the 5th graders there. They made gluep and demonstrated the divers with baking powder. Each student received a nanomole.

Clinton, Iowa - Felix Adler Discovery Center
 

With about 35 attendees at the event, it was a good start for a wonderful idea.  The exhibitors had chemical demonstrations, science toys, and hands on activities.

Clinton, Iowa - "Fun with Science"
 

The well thought out program was presented this year to students in 20 classes from seven school districts.  More than 500 fifth grade students, their teachers and parents are awed by a series of chemical demonstrations in a 75-minute program presented by "The Doctors of Science".   Economic struggles of the time have caused some schools not to participate this year.
 

Student participation is encouraged during the entire program.  Using series of questions the "Doctors of Science" lead students through the steps of logical scientific thinking from observations to forming and testing hypotheses.  Practical applications of all chemical principles are discussed.

The "Fun With Science" program was written by scientists from the DuPont Chemical Company.  It is recognized as an excellent motivator that encourages the study of science

Davenport, Iowa - St. Ambrose University
 

SAU had tremendous publicity coverage from local news channel (KWQC Channel 6) to two local newspapers (QC Times and Argus).  The event included demonstrations and hands-on activities and toys!  Local Scout Troops could also earn a badge for attending.

Kewanee, Illinois - Black Hawk College (East Campus)

Coordinators:  Alan Abbott

Getting into the holiday season, Dr. Abbott and his crew "treated" some 500 kids in the annual "Trick or Treat Trail" event at Black Hawk College - East Campus.  As the kids came through the chemistry lab, they saw a burning spell book, Cartesian

Rock Island, Illinois - Augustana College
 

Student affiliate members and faculty either performed many demonstrations for the attendees or assisted them with hands on activities.  Approximately 100 people visited the site.

SPECIAL TOPICS
 

NCW Committee Recognition

Mike Applequist has been an involved member of the NCW Committee for the last two years.  At midsummer, Mike informed the committee that he was leaving the area for better job opportunities.  The committee wishes him the best of luck.  Thanks Mike, for your service.
 

Broaden Public Outreach

To further expand public awareness, the NCW Committee purchased two television quality commercial tapes from Brainstorm Media.  These tapes were created from another ACS local section's innovative grant proposal a few years back.  The promotional videos available cover only Earth Day and National Chemistry Week.  The purchased videos were sent to KWQC-TV6 and WQAD-TV8 and to be run free as public service announcements (PSA).  Members noted seeing these PSAs around the news (early morning and evening).

Conclusions
 

Jerod Corbin