ChemLine 
Marion Johnson 563-243-5350 A publication of
Secretary The Illinois-Iowa Section of
marjoh@clinton.net The American Chemical Society
November 2003
If you have items to be included in the next newsletter, submit the items by December 20 to the Secretary.
For the latest information about upcoming events, visit our website at http://membership.acs.org/I/ILIA/
 |
DECEMBER MEETING
Thursday, December 11 2003
| Location: |
Black Hawk Community College 6600 34th Ave. Moline, IL 61265 |
|
|
|
||
| Times: | ||
| 6:00 – 6:30 PM | Social Hour | |
| 6:30 – 7:30 PM | Dinner: Buffet | |
| 7:30 – 9:00 PM | Presentation of Service
Awards and Program:
Dr. Sally Rigeman |
"The Impact of Technology on Chemistry StudentsConstruction of Meaning From a Laboratory Investigation of Boyle`s Law "
|
|
Reservations: |
|
|
|
Member/Guest: Cost $15, Students $7 (Please note the sponsor-a-Student Program below.) |
||
|
Deadline for Meal Reservations: Wednesday, December 10. Please note if you are participating in the Sponsor-a-Student program. Contact: Alan Abbott 309-852-3816 or abbotta@bhc.edu. |
||
Sponsor-a-Student: We are again looking for volunteers to sponsor a college student at the October meeting. Your part is to pay the meal cost of one student – or ask your employer to pay the cost – and spend the social and dinnertime visiting with the student that you are matched with. Whether you are currently employed, retired, or between jobs, you have much to offer to a student planning a science-based career. Additionally, after this brief mentoring experience you will likely find that you too have gained a lot. Please take part by signing up when you make your dinner reservation with Alan Abbott.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
How would you like to be honored at the next local section meeting? Yes, you. If your membership anniversary is at any 5 year increment you will be mentioned at this month’s meeting and you will receive an award. Award or not, I encourage you to come. Speaking of attendance, a large crowd gathered to hear Dr. Badal Saha from the USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research distill his ethanol production research down to a short engaging seminar. Dr. Saha and our hosts at Kent Feeds put on an excellent program. The December meeting will also feature the work of an accomplished chemical educator right from our local section. Sally Rigeman will explain some interesting results from her education research. Finally, I need to say that it has been a pleasure being the chair of this section for the last year. The knowledgeable and experienced people here are like a fertile field for the growth of local section leaders. Our new leaders, Jerod Corbin (incoming chair) and Janelle Torres y Torres (incoming chair elect) will find this out. As they begin their duties, please step forward and support them as you have me. Thank you. Alan
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Ms. Rigeman is the Quality Learning Secondary Math & Science Consultant for the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency in Iowa. Her agency serves 56,000 school children in 3 counties surrounding the Quad Cities and Muscatine. She has had extensive teaching experience in secondary and postsecondary science education. Among these are AP chemistry and other sciences at Moline High School, chemistry workshops at Knox College and more recently as a lecturer in science education at the University of Iowa. She has also held positions at Winnebago High School and Black Hawk College. Ms. Rigeman’s has earned a B.S. in science from St. Dominic College, M.S. in science education from Northern Illinois University and Ph.D. in science education from the University of Iowa. She has also obtained an extensive amount of funding from both state and federal grants. Ms. Rigeman’s Ph.D. dissertation won the Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award at the University of Iowa. She has also published in The Journal of Chemical Education.
ABSTRACT
In the rush to implement technology use in the science classroom, rarely does the classroom teacher have time to question whether a new method is better than the one it replaces. If an existing laboratory method is effective and efficient, should it be replaced by a technology method because the procedure appeals to students? Will all students benefit equally from this new technology? How can inequities in student understanding be identified? These questions were carefully analyzed by Ms. Rigeman in the course of her Ph.D. work. The answers will be revealed in her presentation.
NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK
Focusing on this year's theme "Earth's Atmosphere and Beyond!" more than 1700 students throughout the Illinois-Iowa Section were treated to chemical demonstrations and hands-on events during NCW. The ACS Augustana Student Affiliate group sponsored an open house which included demonstrations; two local news stations covered the event. The chemistry department of St. Ambrose University also put on a chemical show and hands-on demonstrations. Clarke College hosted a “Chemistry Day” for six graders. Black Hawk College (Kewanee) held a poster contest for junior high students. The Franciscan University presented demonstrations for pre-school children. Amboy High School hosted six assemblies for elementary schools around Lee and Carroll Counties in Illinois.
A new first time venue this year was held at Bettendorf Family Museum of Arts & Science during NCW. Students participated in either a poster contest which was showcased at the Museum or made computer slide shows; at the end of the week, ACS student affliliates from Augustana presented a chemical show.
In Clinton, from October 27 to November 7, fifth grade students, their teachers and parents enjoyed the annual “Fun With Science,” a series of chemical demonstrations presented by “The Doctors of Science,” a group of retired DuPont workers and retired chemistry faculty. The program was held at the Bemis Clysar Plant. Due to recent cutbacks in school funds, Illinois area students were unable to participate this year.
Funding for these events was provided by our local section, and donations from local businesses, colleges, universities and individuals. Details may be found in the full report which is posted on the web site http://membership.acs.org/I/ILIA/
CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD
Note the following change: The Chemistry Olympiad 2004 will be held at Clinton Community College under the direction of Dr. John Bonte. The date will be announced in the next newsletter.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The January meeting will be held at Scott Community College. Lt. Kaufman of the Bettendorf Police Department will give a talk on “Crime Scene Investigations.” Tentatively, the date is set for Thursday, January 22nd.
Tuesday, February 18th, the next meeting will be held at Augustana College. Randall Wanke is the host.
2004 OFFICERS
The officers for the ACS Illinois-Iowa Section for 2004 include:
Chair: Jerod K. Corbin Councilor: Brian Mundall
Chair-elect: Janelle Torres Y Torres Alternate Councilor: Mel Peterson
Treasurer: Richard Rogers
Secretary: Marion Johnson
Contact us:
Chair: Dr. Alan Abbott Audit Committee Chair Public Relations Committee Chair
(309) 852-5671, ext. 6253 Mr. Richard Helms Mr. Richard Kissack
abbotta@bhc.edu (563) 264 – 4240 (563) 242 – 4812
FAX (563) 264 – 4216 rkissack@clinton.net
Chair Elect: Jerod Corbin Education/Grants and Awards National Chemistry Week
(563) 243-3943 Committee Chair Coordinator 2003
sethnesslab@revealed.net Dr. Sally Rigeman Jerod Corbin
FAX (563) 243-1663 (309) 797-4369
srigeman@netexpress.net
Secretary: Mrs. Marion Johnson
(563)243-5350
marjoh@clinton.net Kiser Scholarship Committee Chair
Mr. Rich Craddick
Treasurer: Rich Rogers (563) 264 – 4394 Webmaster
rickgpc@mchsi.com (FAX) (563) 264 – 4367 Craig Willi
rich_craddick@kentfeeds.com craigwilli@juno.com
Councilors: Brian Mundell
brian@bio-researchprod.com Mentoring Committee Chair
Dr. Lisa B. Fields
Mel Peterson (563) 264 – 6039
chpeterson@augustana.edu lisafields@direcway.com