ChemLine

Marion Johnson
563-243-5350
Secretary
marjoh@clinton.net

FEBRUARY 2005

If you have items to be included in the next newsletter, submit the items by February 15 to the Secretary.
For the latest information about upcoming events, visit our website at http://membership.acs.org/I/ILIA/

A publication of
The Illinois-Iowa Section of
The American Chemical Society

FEBRUARY MEETING

Wednesday,February 16, 2005

Sponsor-a-Student: We are again looking for volunteers to sponsor a college student at the February 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 John Bonte

ABSTRACT

Ryan Welch graduated from East Central High School, Miles IA, in 1996. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology and Systematics from the University of Northern Iowa; he minored in Anthropology and Natural History Interpretations.  While at UNI he became interested in the study of Prairie Ecology through his association with Dr. Daryl Smith. Because of his love for prairies, he has been involved in the maintenance of several prairies in the area including those on the campuses of Clinton Community College and East Central schools. Using the prairie as an outdoor classroom, he has helped with high school and elementary classes in East Central and Preston. He was the Environmental Educator and Assistant Director at Camp Tanager for several summers. During the summer 2004 Ryan was selected to participate in an Earthwatch project sponsored by Equistar. He went to Belarus to study Belarus’ vast and impressive bog system, one of last of its kind in the world. He worked with top scientists from that country to explore, define, and categorize some of the bogs in the country.  A new species of moss may have been identified during the study.  Currently Ryan is enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa as a graduate student under Daryl Smith; he will be working on a project for the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City Iowa.

NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK

At report of the activities of National Chemistry Week 2004 may be found at this website. The theme for NCW 2005 is “Joy of Toys.”

2005 CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD SET FOR MARCH 12

Mark your calendars!!! The 2005 Chemistry Olympiad will be held at Muscatine Community College, Saturday, March 12, 2005. The committee is in the process of making the final arrangements. Your help will be greatly appreciated – financial $$$$, or time! For further details contact: Dr. John Bonte jbonte@eicc.edu, or Dr. Janelle Torres y Torres, jtorres@eicc.edu.

UPCOMING MEETING

The March meeting will be held at The Franciscan University of the Prairie, Clinton, Iowa on March 8, 2005.
Details in the next Chemline.

BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM THE OFFICE OF LOCAL SECTION ACTIVITIES

Deb McLaughlin of the Office of Local Section Activities has put together a newsletter. Topics include call for papers, Regional and National meeting activities, Education programs, This Month in Chemical History, thoughts to ponder, etc. If anyone is interested in the entire newsletter from the Office of Local Section Activities, it can be accessed at http://chemistry.org/localsections/editors.html .

Please Post

“The Bogs of Belarus by Ryan Welch ”

Clinton Community College
1000 Lincoln Blvd.,
Clinton, IA

February 16, 2005 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Contact: Dr. John Bonte jbonte@eicc.edu