ORLANDO SECTION NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER PROGRAM

Date:          Monday, November 5, 2007

Where:       Florida Solar Energy Center

                  1679 Clearlake Road

                  Cocoa, Florida

Time:          7:00 pm

Speaker:     Dr. J. Ernest Simpson

Topic:         “The Chemistry of Wine”

 

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 About the Speaker

J. Ernest Simpson, Ph.D.

Dr. Simpson joined the Chemistry Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, in 1968 after completing his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. (organic chemistry) at the University of New Mexico and spending one year as a visiting chemistry professor at Pomona College. He spent 1973-74 as visiting research associate in the Department of Enology and Viticulture at U.C./Davis. He is an active member of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and has served on the editorial review board committee for the society's journal. He has published a California wine guide. At Cal Poly he has developed industrial chemistry and cooperative education courses/programs. He is currently the Director of Cooperative Education for Cal Poly. His research interests and publications are in the areas of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Carbon-13-labeled compounds, and phenolic compounds, especially in grapes and wine. In 1984 and 1986 through 1990 he was selected for Exceptional Merit Service Awards at Cal Poly. In 1996 he was selected as the outstanding advisor in the College of Science, and his co-op program was chosen as the best in California. He is a member of ACS (San Gorgonio section chairman, 1973), California Association of Chemistry Teachers (program chairman and southern section president, 1985-87), California Cooperative Education Association (president 1996-97), and Sigma Xi.

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Abstract of the Talk

The talk will include an overview of wine and wine-making, more detailed descriptions of the chemical composition of grapes and wine, laboratory methods for analysis of grapes and wines, sensory and organoleptic methods used for wine, the role of tannin and other phenolic compounds in wine, and some potential health aspects of wine. During a component analysis the audience will be given a reference wine sample with known levels of components such as acid, sugar, alcohol, etc. and then "unknown" samples in which one or more components have been increased by a known increment. During a varietal analysis a representative number of white and red wines will be compared.

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Electronic Newsletters

With postage now at 41¢ per letter, it costs over $180 to send out one newsletter to all of our members.  It also means that our newsletter editor must print and fold 459 newsletters and stuff them into 459 labeled envelopes.  Obviously, this takes time and effort, as well as money. 

In keeping with today’s technology, it would be cheaper and more efficient if the newsletters could be sent electronically.  But it will only save time if enough people are willing to receive their newsletter in this format.  If you are willing to receive your newsletters as an email attachment, please send an email to Ramee Indralingam at rindrali@stetson.edu and tell her “make mine electronic!”

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NCW

National Chemistry week is October 21 – 27 and this year’s theme is “The Many Faces Of Chemistry.”  We anticipate having our Creative Molecule Contest, a poster contest (see rules at http://acswebcontent.acs.org/ncw/k-12contest.pdf) and additional fun activities.  If you have ideas or just want to help, contact Nahid Mohajeri at 321-638-1525 or via email at nmohajeri@fsec.ucf.edu.

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Elections

Ballots will soon be mailed out.  Last year, over 20% of the ballots returned could not be counted because of failure to meet the criteria for a valid ballot.  According to the by-laws, the marked ballot must be placed in an unmarked envelope that must be sealed.  This envelope is then placed in the envelope that contains the address of the designated recipient.  This external envelope must be signed by the voter.  This year, when you receive your ballot, please remember to sign the outer envelope and print your name legibly so that your name can be crossed off the electoral roster, but make no marks on the inner envelope.  You take the time to vote so make sure that your vote gets counted. Both, the unmarked envelope and the stamped, labeled, outer envelope that you have to sign will be sent to you.

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$ AWARDS $

When you hear the phrase "outstanding chemistry student" does a particular individual immediately come to mind?  Do you know a teacher who makes chemistry exciting and fun for his/her students?  Do you know someone that you believe brings honor to the profession of chemist?  If you know someone who falls into one of these categories, now is your chance to have that person recognized.

Each year, the Orlando Section of the American Chemical Society honors outstanding high school and college students and teachers, as well as local chemists (see listing of awards at bottom of announcement).  This year’s awards will be presented at a banquet to be held in early December.  The award includes a plaque, a monetary award and dinner for the winner, his/her family, and the nominator.

To nominate an individual, write a letter of nomination stating why this person deserves the award and obtain an additional letter of support from someone else who knows the nominee.  Send nominations to Dr. Darlene Slattery at Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922 or dkslatt@fsec.ucf.edu.  Electronic submissions are preferred.  They must be received by November 16, 2007 to be considered.

Award Categories

                                    1.         Outstanding Chemist

                                    2.         Outstanding Four-year College Teacher

                                    3.         Outstanding Four-year College Student, undergrad

                                    4.         Outstanding Grad Student

                                    5.         Outstanding Two-year College Teacher

                                    6.         Outstanding Two-year College Student

                                    7.         Outstanding High School Teacher

8.         Outstanding High School Student

9.         Outstanding Student Affiliate Section

We hope to hear from you soon.