The theme for 2008 for the Nashville Section is “Each One Reach One.”
We had a wonderful kick-off meeting. Thanks to our hosts at Vanderbilt and thanks to all those who attended.
Thanks to our hosts at Belmont and thanks to all those who attended.
Featured Speaker: Dr. C. Alton Hassell
Baylor University
"Chemistry Appreciation 100: Chemistry for the Liberal Arts Student "
Abstract of Talk
Too often the news media paints the image of the chemist as the bad guy who poisons the environment or causes explosions. It is time that chemists do some positive public relations. The right chemistry course designed for liberal arts students can help those students to understand enough chemistry to respect and appreciate chemistry. An extra benefit is that it also provides for them a background to make consumer decisions in soaps, food, and drugs and voter decisions in water pollution, air pollution, and power plants, including nuclear.
Printer friendly flier here.
Thanks to our hosts at APSU and thanks to all those who attended.
Featured Speaker: Dr. Steven I. Dutch
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
"A Scientist Goes to Desert Storm"
Abstract of Talk
When my army reserve unit was mobilized in December 1990, I got a fascinating, if somewhat unwelcome, opportunity to view one of the great environmental disasters of history close at hand. My unit, a Civil Affairs company, was tasked with aiding civilian recovery efforts in Kuwait and moved into Kuwait only 24 hours after the cease fire. From our compound only three kilometers north of the Maqwa Oil Field, we could see up to 100 burning wells. Although press coverage depicted Kuwait as smothered in total darkness, Kuwait City was actually smoke-free most of the time. Communities on the shore south of Kuwait City experienced much worse conditions of darkness. On at least one occasion, we experienced complete darkness from horizon to horizon at midday, during which it was literally impossible to tell whether it was noon or midnight. In addition to observing an environmental catastrophe, my experience in Kuwait gave me the chance to see first-hand some of the astonishing physical effects of modern munitions. After being redployed to Saudi Arabia in April 1991, we were sent to Operation Provide Comfort, the effort to aid the Kurds in northern Iraq. This experience allowed me to view the spectacular geology of northern Iraq, near the boundary between the Arabian and Turkish plates, as well as to observe and photograph some remarkable arid-climate meteorological events.
Dr. Donna Dean, President of the Association for Women in Science will speak at MTSU in Wiser Patton 102, a reception will follow.
This even is co-sponsored by the Nashville Section of the American Chemical Society
Contact Judith Iriarte-Gross for further details.
Jane Bryant, Senior Chemist/Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will speak at MTSU in Wiser Patton 102 in celebration of National Women's History Month, a reception will follow.
This even is co-sponsored by the Nashville Section of the American Chemical Society
Contact Judith Iriarte-Gross for further details
Golden Goggles Invitational Lecture at MTSU (Details TBA)
We will have a presentation/demonstration by the Fisk Altitude Achievement Team.
Postponed to August.
28 August 2008
Fisk University
Nashville, Tennessee
We will have a presentation by the Fisk Altitude Achievement Team.
Time: 5:45 pm – 7:00 pm, presentation begins at 6:00 pm. Light refreshements will follow the presentation.
Location: Appleton Room, Jubilee Hall, Fisk University
"The Current State of Society Publishing...from some long-standing ACS members"
Professor Lawrence J. Marnett, Director of the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, and editor of Chemical Research in Toxicology (American Chemical Society)
Katherine Porter, Librarian, Science & Engineering Library, Vanderbilt University, Member of the Library Advisory Group (American Chemical Society)
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, lecture begins at 5:30 pm. Refreshements follow lecture.
Location: Room 5211 Stevenson Center, Vanderbilt University. Enter the Science & Engineering Library. Room 5211 is adjacent to the library. The closest public parking is at Wesley Place, at the intersection of 21st Ave S and Scarritt Place. See http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/science/map.html for maps and directions.
Questions: Tracy Primich, t.primich@vanderbilt.edu, 615-343-6043
Dinner and further details TBD by local host
Featured Speaker: Dr.s Otis Rothenberger and James Webb
Illinois State University
"Six Points of Chemical History that Belong in the Curriculum "
Abstract of Talk
It has been more than thirty years since Stephen Brush published "Should the History of Science be Rated X?" Published in the March 1974 issue of Science, the paper has become an almost obligatory reference in any discussion of the role of history in chemical education. For the chemical profession, there is at least one issue related to Stephen Brush's question that has driven the profession to answer the question with a resounding, "No!" Central to the collective chemistry curriculum is the message of the economic and social importance of our profession. Perhaps the proper teaching of physics can be hung solely on the framework of the beauty of a celestial machine, but chemistry is not sundered so. Having grown tired of the academic debate over this issue, Otis and Jim turned to a more light hearted approach. Using chemical demonstrations and a selected list of six historical scenarios, they explore the issue of using history as part of the modern chemistry curriculum. What are the six points? Don't be surprised if one or two traditional favorites are missing from the list, having been substituted by seemingly trivial points. The presentation framework is really a vehicle to stimulate discussion about the chemistry curriculum. This presentation is designed for chemical educators and other chemists with an interest in chemical history and chemical education.
The staff of Aegis Sciences will host our meeting. Our speakers will be Dr. Tim Robert and Dr. David Black. Further details TBD.
TBA