2006 WCC ChemLuminary Awards - For
activity in 2005
Awarded September 12, 2006
Outstanding Advocacy on Behalf of Women in the Chemical
Sciences
This award is
given by the Women Chemists Committee to recognize a local section for
activities that promote the recognition of women in the chemical sciences,
including partnerships with other societies and groups with similar
interests. Examples include a program to
nominate women for awards, the publication of success stories, or efforts to
improve the climate for women in the workplace.
Finalists:
Georgia – Members
organized two Saturday events with the local Girl Scouts. The “case of the mystery skull” was solved
and chemical demonstrations were also used to demonstrate what women chemists
do.
Nashville - Women
in Chemistry month promoted the success of women in chemistry. Three outstanding women chemists were
involved in a variety of events to showcase women and minorities in chemistry.
Richland – The fourth year of Girls in Science brought together
106 girls in grades 6-8 in Northeastern Oregon. The daylong event focused on the analysis of
evidence and forensics to illustrate chemistry in a very tangible way.
Winner: Richland
Outstanding Single Event in a Local Section
Promoting Women in the Chemical Sciences
This award is given by the
Women Chemists Committee and recognizes an event supported by a local section
that addresses the concerns of women who are pursuing a career in the chemical
sciences or who may be considering a career in the chemical sciences. Examples
include a program highlighting women’s present or past contributions in the
chemical sciences, an outreach program to women science students, or an event
that offers networking or training opportunities to women actively engaged in
the chemical sciences.
Finalists:
Midland
– A book signing by Patricia Moore, author of
“You Can Be a Chemist” attracted hundreds. Television coverage of the event and
a related classroom visit demonstrated the creativity and excitement of
science.
Saint Louis – ACS President
Ann Nalley spoke at a reception held in connection with the opening of the
Chemical Heritage Foundation exhibit “Her Lab in Your Life: Women in
Chemistry”. The traveling exhibit was
placed in a gallery at Washington University in St.
Louis.
South Carolina
- The section solicited funding and arranged for
the placement of the Chemical Heritage Foundation exhibit “Her Lab in Your
Life: Women in Chemistry” at a two local public libraries. The exhibit was well publicized and attracted
over 6000 teachers and students as well as thousands more of the general
public.
Winner: South Carolina
Outstanding Overall Local Section Women
Chemists Committee
This award is given by the
Women Chemists Committee and recognizes a local section Women Chemists
Committee with an ongoing commitment to programs that address the concerns of
women in the chemical sciences, including outreach to women students in the
chemical sciences, and increased awareness of women’s contributions to the
chemical sciences. Examples include participation in Expanding Your Horizon
conferences, mentoring of chemical science students, and innovative programs by
and about women in the chemical sciences.
Finalists:
Eastern New York – The
section sponsored multiple activities to address professional development and
community outreach. A new activity, “Why
Plastics?” used sponsor support to provide science education through hands-on
activities at local schools.
Michigan State
– A series called “Things Every Scientist Should
Know - Outside the Laboratory” involved the community along with local women
chemists. Additional outreach events
included work with 66 girls during Girl Scout patch day and strong
participation in the Breast Cancer Walk.
Southern California – Activities
at the high school, elementary and college level introduced chemistry to the
community. Group sponsored events at the
Sally Ride Science Festival involved several hundred students and their
families in paint making and the chemistry of art.
Winner: TIE
- Eastern New York and Michigan
State
PHOTOS
of Previous WCC ChemLuminary Winners
2005 WCC ChemLuminary Awards
(For activity in 2004)
Outreach to Girls or
Young Women
Finalists:
Indiana-Kentucky – An overnight
chemistry event for 80 young girls has become an annual event for the
Indiana-Kentucky Border section. Girl
Scout badges and a late night chemical demonstration show are the highlights of
the event. The section has a waiting list for next year!
Michigan State
– Michigan State participated in several outreach
events for girls with an interest in chemistry in 2004. Events included the Girls Math/Science
Conference at Okemos
High School, a Scout
Chemistry Merit Badge Day, and many NCW events.
Richland – Girls in Science
was a daylong science event for approximately 100 girls in grades 6-8 in Northeastern Oregon.
Hispanic and Native American students were targeted. The activities ranged from sunscreens to
cigarette smoke and emphasized the NCW theme of Health and Wellness.
Winner:
Richland
Outstanding Overall
WCC
Finalists:
California – The California Section WCC held four
membership events and three outreach events in 2004. A joint activity with the Girl Scouts called
Girls Go Tech involved over 3000 girls. A highlight of the year was the summer
social held at a working historic farm in Fremont,
California.
Michigan State
– Brown-bag lunch discussions on career topics were a focus of the seventh year
of the women’s program at Michigan
State. Outreach events included a National Chemistry
Week activity at the Science Center in Lansing
which included 2600 visitors!
Nashville
– Women in Chemistry month was held in March by the Nashville Women Chemists
Committee. In addition to a number of
speakers, the group also assisted with the Expanding Your Horizons program
through scholarships, supplies and activities.
Winner:
Michigan State
Outstanding Single
Event Promoting Women
Finalists:
Dallas-Fort Worth – The WCC program at
the Southwest Regional meeting in Fort
Worth consisted of symposia and social events. The ACS PROGRESS road show on “Thriving in
the Workplace” was particularly well received. Speakers at the various events
included Bill Carroll, Helen Free and Madeleine Jacobs.
Eastern New York
– The Eastern New York WCC joined with Iota Sigma Pi on May 2004 to formally
initiate a local ISP and to honor new inductees to the society. Susan Marine, the National Immediate
Past-President of ISP joined Bill Carroll in making the presentations to 30
women inductees.
Puerto Rico –
The Puerto Rico WCC arranged several activities in conjunction with the ACS
Senior Technical Meeting, including social events, posters and symposia. There was excellent participation by industry
and graduate students. The symposium on “Women
in Chemistry” included speakers representing industry, government and academia.
Winner: Dallas-Fort Worth
2004 WCC ChemLuminary
Awards
(For activity in 2003)
Best Overall Local Section WCC
Finalists:
Michigan State University – Entering its
exciting and active eighth year, the mission of the WCC was to provide a venue
for interaction; activities that facilitate growth; network building and
mentoring relationships; and to serve as role models for girls pursuing careers
in chemistry. The ACS Women in Chemistry (ACSWiC)
program at Michigan State University had an eventful and activity-packed year
including workshops on such diverse topics as “Multi-National Perspectives on
Education” and “How to Buy the Perfect Suit,” as well as Meet the Speaker
events, and many outreach activities.
New York/North Jersey – The Metrowomen
Chemists Committee continues to work closely with local sister organizations, MetroAWIS and WIS,
to leverage opportunities for women in the chemical sciences, widen networking
opportunities, and enhance career development.
Richland
– The Richland Section expanded the Girl and Boy Scout Merit Badge and
“Expanding Your Horizons” programs. They performed hands-on experiments and
chemistry “magic” to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation.
Winner: Michigan State
University
Best Single Event in a Local Section Promoting Women in the Chemical
Sciences
Finalists:
Mid-Hudson – The Girl Scout Badge Day was hosted by WCC as part of
NCW activities, and 60 girl scouts (with 15 troop leaders present) earned their
“Making it Matter” badge by exploring chemistry through several hands-on
activities.
New York/North Jersey – At the 2003 Middle Atlantic Regional
Meeting, MWCC sponsored “Women in Pharma”
highlighting the diverse work in pharmaceuticals by women scientists, and
hosted a luncheon featuring Shirley Tilghman,
Princeton University President and noted biologist, as a guest speaker.
Pittsburgh –The Pittsburgh section’s
evening event included networking, dinner, and a panel discussion titled
“Non-traditional Careers and Transition Periods,” which attracted 63
participants, evenly split between chemical professionals and students from
several colleges and universities. The panel discussed how a chemical education
can launch a wide variety of careers, how choices affect careers, and how
opportunities can be used to realize personal and professional goals.
Winner: Pittsburgh
Most Innovative Recognition of Women in the Chemical Sciences
Finalists:
New York/North Jersey – In an
effort to reach out to women scientists in all disciplines, the Metrowomen Chemists Committee (MWCC) formed alliances to
help meet the needs and establish more networking opportunities for female
scientists.
Richland – The Richland Section participated
in, and made concerted efforts to acknowledge the world-class efforts of its
membership at the Local, Regional, and National Levels.
2003 WCC ChemLuminary
Awards
(For activity in 2002)
Best Overall Local Section WCC
Winner - California – The California Section WCC sponsored a Women’s History Month
presentation by world-class chemist Elizabeth Blackburn at the University of California, San Diego. They also hosted a welcoming
reception and provided two colloquium speakers for Iota Sigma Pi’s centennial
celebration at UC-Berkeley.
Best Single Event in a Local Section Promoting Women in the Chemical
Sciences
Winner
- Pittsburgh – The Pittsburgh Section WCC Sponsored
an event called “What Are You Waiting For: The Power Women Have and Don’t Often
Use!” Dr. Judy Giordan
presented a brilliantly constructed plan to foster networking opportunities and
encourage the local scientific community to interact with peers and science
students.
Most Innovative Recognition of Women in the
Chemical Sciences
Winner - Indiana Section – The section celebrated the WCC 75th
anniversary with a networking and recognition brunch at the Indiana Historical
Society. Twelve scientists representing industry, academia and government were
honored as “Women in the Lead’” to acknowledge the great things each had done
for the chemistry profession.
2002 WCC ChemLuminary
Awards
(For activity in 2001)
Best Overall Local Section WCC
Winner: New York/ New Jersey
Best Single Event in a Local Section Promoting Women in the Chemical
Sciences
Winners: Tie between University
of Missouri and
Indiana-Kentucky Border
Most Innovative Recognition of Women in the
Chemical Sciences
Winner:
Columbus
2001 WCC ChemLuminary
Awards
(For activity in 2000)
Best Overall Local Section WCC
Winner: Michigan
State University
Best Single Event in a Local Section Promoting Women in the Chemical
Sciences
Winner: Richland
Most Innovative Recognition of Women in the
Chemical Sciences
Winner:
Nashville