The ACS Illinois-Iowa Local Section was proud to have assisted the ACS in celebrating National Chemistry Week with a focus on this year’s theme, “Earth’s Atmosphere & Beyond!”.  Local businesses, schools, universities, a museum, and the local section got involved to make the local NCW sites successful.  The following are the highlights of the individual sites.

NCW Sites within ILL-IA Local Section:

Rock Island, Ill – The ACS Augustana Student Affiliate group sponsored an open house event on Oct 19.  With support of the Augustana College faculty, the student affiliates put on two chemical shows and hands-on demonstrations for approximately 150 people.  Two local new stations covered the event on the evening news.  These stations cover much of the ILL-IA Section including the Quad Cities Metro-area (325000+ population).

Davenport, IA – The chemistry department of St. Ambrose University sponsored an open house event on Oct 19.    The chemistry faculty put on a chemical show and hands-on demonstrations for approximately 35 people.  The experiments included topics relative to this year’s NCW theme.

 

Bettendorf, IA – A first time ever site was introduced at the Family Museum of Arts & Science in Bettendorf, IA.  The Museum agreed to showcase our poster contest for the entire week and then hosted a chemistry show at the end of the week.  A press release about this event was published by a few of the local newspapers and on the Museum’s website.  120 students in grades 2^nd  – 4^th from one local elementary school participated in the poster contest.  The poster contest encompassed this year’s NCW theme.  A group of 5^th graders (~60 students) of the aforementioned elementary school instead made computer slide-shows about individual planets in our solar system.  The MAC-based presentations included fun facts about the planets, animations, and cool sounds.    At the end of the week, the chemistry show was put on by the ACS Augustana Student Affiliate group to an audience of 75 parents and children.    Also, at the show, the poster winners were commended for their efforts with prizes and certificates of accomplishment.  Immediately after the show, some parents expressed gratitude for the program while others requested that the program be expanded to include more area schools next year.

Dubuque, IA – Clarke College hosted a “Chemistry Day” on Oct 23 for some six graders (~25).  The day events revolved around the Martian atmosphere, gas-generating experiments, and how to identify the elemental gas generated.

 

Kewanee, ILL – The eastern campus of Black Hawk College hosted a poster contest for area junior high school students (17 participants).  This poster contest focus was this year’s NCW theme.  Prizes and acknowledgements were given to the winners.

 

Amboy, ILL – Amboy High School hosted six assemblies during NCW week (Oct 20, 22, & 24) for elementary schools around Lee and Carroll Counties in Illinois.  Approximately 830 elementary students attended the assemblies while another 20 or so 7^th graders from St. Anne School saw an abbreviated version.  Several demonstrations and hands-on events were conducted at each event.  Each assembly was successful in terms of content and enthusiastic reception by the elementary students, teachers, and staffs.  One of the events was covered and photographed by the Dixon Telegraph newspaper.   

 

Clinton, IA -  An annual event, “Fun with Science”, was conducted at the Bemis Clysar Clinton Plant, over a two week period, Oct 27 – Nov 7.  Retired DuPont workers, local science teachers, and college professors help bring this event to the attention of the elementary students of Clinton County.  There were eighteen 75 minute sessions presented to about 630 students and faculty from 13 different schools.  The program was very successful in bringing chemistry to real-life demonstrations.  One event was covered by the QC Times Gateway Edition.  ACS materials were given to the teachers who attended.

 

Summary

 

Overall, the Illinois-Iowa section deemed the public exposure to chemistry and its impact on the public successful.  One way to “measure” our success is in the numbers:  over 1700 students attending, over 20 different schools from two states participating, newspaper and news station coverage with hundreds of thousands of people being informed.  This success could not have been possible with out the time, dedication, and monetary donations of our local section, local businesses, colleges, universities, elementary and high schools, teachers and professors, retirees, undergraduate students, and, of course, the kids and their never ending desire to learn and reach for the sky.

 

 

Jerod Corbin, M.S.

2003 NCW Coordinator

ACS Ill-IA Section Vice-Chair