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Chemistry Education Projects
The following Chemistry Education Projects offer opportunities for volunteering and stay active in chemistry
National Chemistry Week |
Chemagination! |
Chemathon |
Chemistry Olympiad |
Project SEED
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National Chemistry Week

National Chemistry Week NCW-2007 Theme: "The Many Faces of Chemistry" Celebrate: October 21-27, 2007
Additional Activities, Puzzles, and Games for Kids!
Chemical Society of Washington National Chemistry Week Activities
The following events were arranged by CSW members for NCW.
- Tuesday, October 23, 2007: Moten Elementary School, Washington, DC
- The American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Chemical Society of Washington (CSW) co-sponsored an NCW event with elementary school children. Volunteers assisted the students with several activities.
- Also on Tuesday, October 23, 2007, several CSW members assisted the ACS Office of Legislative Affairs (OLGA) with an NCW event with legislators and staff at the U.S. Capital. As in the past, CSW volunteers assisted OLGA with distributing NCW information and conducting some simple demonstrations.
- October 23, 24 and 26, 2007: St. Mary Star of the Sea School, 6485 Indian Head Highway, Indian Head, MD 20640
- Volunteers performed demonstrations for children in K-8th grades and handed out NCW publications.
- October 28, 2007: Crystal City Street Spectacular, Crystal City, Arlington, VA
- The Spectacular was held in conjunction with the Marine Corp Marathon. CSW members partnered with the National Children's Museum for this event. Volunteers performed demonstrations and handed out NCW publications.
- October 2007: John Marshall Library, Alexandria, VA
- During the month of October, a CSW member prepared a display in a showcase for NCW at a local library.
- October 22-26, 2007
- Several CSW members had displays at their place of work and passed out copies of the 'Celebrating Chemistry' publication.
Linda Wang’s eight-page article celebrating the National Chemistry Week events around the country appears on pages 36-43 of C&EN for December 17, 2007. The online version of the article is at: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/acsnews/85/8551acsnews1.html
CSW NCW Coordinator Kim M. Morehouse
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Chemagination
Chemagination!
Chemagination 2006 Report
The Chemical Society of Washington and the Maryland Sections of the American Chemical Society jointly sponsored a Chemagination competition at the American University on April 5, 2006. The Chemagination competition is a chemistry competition in which teams of students create a new product that is chemically sound and feasible for production in the year 2031. The students must design a cover for ChemMatters Magazine and write a scientific article as though it is 25 years from now. The students must create a poster and defend their premise to a team of chemists from the American Chemical Society. More than sixty students from four Maryland and Virginia high schools participated. The students competed in four categories, Alternative Energy Sources, Environment, Medicine/Health, and New Materials. Four teams were chosen, one in each category, to represent CSW at the Regional Chemagination competition which will be held June 4, 2006 during the Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting (MARM) which will be held in Hershey, PA. The teams that advanced to the MARM 2006 competition were:
Alternative Energy Sources:
"Sounds Crystal Clear"
Yeji Kim and Anthony Lee
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
Environment:
"Intact Plasma Assisted Condenser"
Tim Swaim, Kasey Cunningham and Mike Greenberg
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpeppe
Medicine/Health:
"Save Your Own Life, Make Your Own Blood"
Naomi Heilweil, Marisa Pinchas and Rachel Blank
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
New Materials:
"Lime-Dry"
Kira Levitzky and Thomas O'Brien
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
The following are the students who participated in the CSW sponsored Chemagination Contest for 2006.
Alternative Energy Sources:
"Fast Food"
Tigran Kapinos and Judy Sheary
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Neutrino Powered Car"
Samantha Smarte, Kyle Flynn and Neketa Kakar
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Sounds Crystal Clear"
Yeji Kim and Anthony Lee
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
"Soda Pop Fuel"
Camila Osorio and Laura Tierney
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
"From Trash to Energy"
Harrison Garfinkle and Robert Magin
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
"Ultimate CO2 Efficiency"
Josh Kaplan, Ben Bardin and Ted Bloch-Rubin
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
"Green Electricity"
Nicole Birrer and Joyce Jin
Oakcrest School
Teacher: Arundhati Jayarao
Environment:
"BioDiesel"
Tony Caruso, Mike Baird and Alex Dutil
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Intact Plasma Assisted Condenser"
Tim Swaim, Kasey Cunningham and Mike Greenberg
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Toxic Emissions Could Help Conserve Petroleum"
Ben Lehmann, Cloe O'Connor and Alberto Ramos
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
"Converting Plastics: Saving the World One Cola Bottle at a Time"
Lily Carhart, Molly Deutsch-Feldman and Adam Lazrus
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
Medicine/Health:
"Anti-Cavident"
Wesley Hughes, Ethan Bodie and Vamshi Gajjala
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Rememoral"
Melanie Dollar, Megan Drenski and Calliope Sylvers
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Hippo-People"
Wesley Davis and Alison Rutsch
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
"Artificial Growth?"
Kate Boyd, Rachel Pelzer and Katherine White
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
"Save Your Own Life, Make Your Own Blood"
Naomi Heilweil, Marisa Pinchas and Rachel Blank
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
"Fighting Fat - The New FAD Injection"
Daphna Katz, Anat Kimchi and Gabi Sandler
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
New Materials:
"Fire Retardant Money"
Brandon Corrado, Jeff Simpson and Jeff Spencer
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Laquiem"
Steve Beam, Mike Johnson and Dave Wenzel
Damascus High School, Damascus, MD
Teachers: Elena Pisciotta and Dave Culpepper
"Heat Me, Freeze Me, Make Me Comfortable"
Ron Joe Conde, Yadale Fassil and Cookie Soloman
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
"Lime-Dry"
Kira Levitzky and Thomas O'Brien
Albert Einstein High School, Kensington, MD
Teachers: Ann Coren and Scott Soderholm
"The Trains of Tomorrow, Today"
Dan Margulies and Stephen Pupkin
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
"Bet You didn't Think the Fountain of Youth Would Look Like This"
Jay Kaplan, Benjamin Prigal and Jonathan Sayag
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Teacher: Daniela Munteanu
- Chemathon at the University of Maryland
Dear Colleagues:
The Chemathon competition for high school chemistry students will be held again at the University of Maryland on Saturday, April 28 in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Building. This year's competition will include 48 teams of 6 students from 28 high schools. In addition, the Chemathon program this year will be held on Maryland Day on the UM campus, so there will be activities for the family all day.
The Organizing Committee for Chemathon already has 30 volunteers on hand to assist with the various judging activities, however, we always could use additional volunteers to serve as judges. COME JOIN US! The day is great fun and you will have the opportunity to meet and stimulate the "next generation" of chemists. If you are willing to be a volunteer, please contact Cathy Rosenfelder at 301-405-1791 or send an email to crosen@umd.edu .
Additional information concerning Chemathon including a map of the campus is available at http://www.chem.umd.edu/chemathon .
The schedule of events is available at
http://www.chem.umd.edu/chemathon/07/schedule.html . For information relating to Maryland Day activities see www.marylandday.umd.edu .
Sincerely yours, Phil DeShong
- Chemistry Olympiad
Mentors Wanted! U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Searching for the HS Mentor Position
High School educators are invited to apply for a position as mentor for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program.
Duties during the three-year term include helping to conduct the national study camp for high school students held at the United States Air Force Academy located in Colorado during mid-June 2009, 2010, and 2011. Generally, in their second and third year, mentors accompany four U.S. student competitors to the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). During the competition, the mentors will serve as members of the IChO Jury. The 2010 and 2011 IChO events are scheduled to be held in Japan and Turkey, respectively. Most students at the study camp have completed Advanced Placement Chemistry or the equivalent; therefore instruction at the camp is well beyond the level of high school general chemistry courses. The curriculum also includes considerable laboratory work.
Successful applicants are expected to have background in one or more of the areas of organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, or biochemistry with classroom experience and should demonstrate involvement with students in special projects or activities. Applicants must be prepared to make a three-year term commitment as outlined above. ACS pays all expenses and travel costs, as well as an honorarium.
Interested individuals may obtain an application form at: www.chemistry.org/education/olympiad.html
or by contacting:
Margaret Thatcher, Senior Program Associate
U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Program
American Chemical Society
1155 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 872-6328
The deadline for completed applications is January 28, 2008. Applicants must also arrange to have three letters of reference forwarded to Cecilia Hernandez by February 8, 2008 at the above address. For more information, please call Cecilia Hernandez at (202) 872-6169.
- Project Seed
Local High School Students Receive Research Grants through Project SEED
CSW is looking for Mentors for high school students during the Summer 2008
If you wish to help the Chemistry profession, submit a proposal for a student research project. Three 2007 mentors will be applying again to Project SEED with new proposals for bright but economically disadvantaged high school students that have one year or more of chemistry. Research projects may be in many forms but must be accomplished in 8-10 weeks. It can be a part of a larger project, but must be suitable for a student with minimal science background. Project SEED is a program administered by the ACS that offers a unique opportunity to spend a summer conducting hands-on research with a scientist in an academic, a government or an industrial laboratory setting. Students are awarded a $2,500.00 fellowship. Working together provides both student and mentor a rewarding partnership, school references, learning of new analytical techniques, opportunities for developing creativity, writing skills, and paid work within the science field. Help start a person on a path to help the world through a profession in Chemistry.
For more details contact: Projectseed@acs.org
Research project proposals are due in early February 2008.
Interested in being a mentor?
Please contact the CSW Project SEED Committee so we can represent you.
"Mentors, councilors and High School chemistry teachers are the people who encourage young minds to value and enjoy chemical research."
Special THANKS to two of our 2007 Project SEED Mentors!
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Dr. Shiow Wang USDA |
Dr. Changwoo Ahn George Mason University |
Through the efforts of CSW's Project SEED volunteers, three local students were recently awarded Project SEED grants to perform chemical research in the DC Metropolitan area. The American Chemical Society's Project SEED Summer I program provides $2,500 fellowship to economically disadvantaged students to participate in summer research at an academic, government, or industrial laboratory. An important feature of the Project SEED program is its emphasis on career development and its motivation of students to pursue higher education in the natural sciences.
- Miss Caroline Jackson, a 2007 graduate of Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, was selected to perform chemical research at George Mason University, Dept of Environmental Sciences and Policy. She will work under the direction of Dr. Changwoo Ahn who is investigating the "Characterization of an ecosystem development in a created wetland in Northern Virginia case of North Fork mitigation bank." Dr.Changwoo Ahn has served as a mentor for many years. Although the ACS provides no monetary compensation for researchers who work with SEED students, Dr.Ahn feels that helping students is worth the effort.
Miss Caroline Jackson was nominated to do research with Project SEED by Ms. V. Colbert, chemistry teacher at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in the Washington, DC. She was encouraged to take technically interesting subjects in a school club by her guidance counselor, Mrs. Vernita Jefferson, among others. She is taking engineering courses at a university in the fall of 2007 based on her success in a school club.
- Mr. Jun Mo Wang, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, was selected to perform chemical research at Geogetown University Department of Chemistry. He will work under the direction of Dr. Sarah Stoll who is investigating "Hydrothermal Synthesis of Luminescent Copper Crystals." Dr. Sarah Stoll, a member of the ACS, has served as a mentor for Project SEED students for several years. She has launched several students into a chemistry based career.
Mr. Jun Mo Wang was nominated to do research with Project SEED by Ms. V. Colbert, chemistry teacher at Banneker Academic High School. Mr Wang was also encouraged by the US Dept. of Energy as a 2006 summer web designer employee and by Mrs. Jernita Jefferson, guidance counselor.
- Mr. Dien Nguyen, a 2007 graduate of High Point High School, has been selected to perform chemical research at Agriculture Research Service's USDA Fruit Laboratory in Beltsville, MD. He will work under the direction of Dr. Shiow Y. Wang who is investigating Antioxidant Capacity in Berry Fruit. Dr. Shiow Y. Wang has served as a mentor for many years but this is her first Project SEED student. Mr. Dien Nguyen was nominated to do research with Project SEED by Mrs. Yuanjun Liu, chemistry teacher at High Point High School in Prince Georges County. She was encouraged by members of the ACS local section (CSW) who attended with her and her team of students the University of Maryland's annual competition for high school students, Chemathon.
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Last updated on 2008-JAN-07 by webmaster
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