YCC Recognizes Outstanding Local Section YCC Efforts at the 9TH Annual ChemLuminary Awards in Boston, Massachusetts
Since 1999, the American Chemical Society (ACS) has honored the efforts of volunteer members through the ChemLuminary Awards. The awards recognize participants in ACS Local Sections and Divisions whose efforts have helped to achieve excellence. The 2007 ChemLuminary Awards ceremony, which marked the 9th year since its inception, was held in Boston Westin Copley Place on August 21, 2007, during the 234th ACS Fall National Meeting. A poster session, where finalists showcased their accomplishments, preceded the awards ceremony. Music and dancing completed the evening’s festivities.
The Younger Chemists Committee (YCC) sponsored and presented three ChemLuminary Awards to recognize the distinguished achievements of younger chemists in their Local Section YCCs (LSYCCs) during 2006. The YCC also honored an ACS Division through an additional ChemLuminary Award this year for its significant contributions to younger chemists. The Awards presented: Outstanding LSYCC, Outstanding New LSYCC, Most Creative LSYCC Event, and Outstanding Divisional Programming for Younger Chemists. A representative from each honored LSYCC or Division was awarded an elegant crystal trophy to symbolize its efforts.
Outstanding LSYCC: Minnesota
The award for Outstanding LSYCC recognizes groups that have demonstrated organizational stability, solid membership and participation, involvement with their ACS local section, and a balance of activities, e.g., career development, social networking, and public outreach. The outstanding LSYCCs nominated for this award included Delaware, Minnesota, and Northeastern.
The winner of the 2007 Outstanding LSYCC went to the Minnesota LSYCC (MNACS-YCC). In 2006 this LSYCC focused on recruiting an executive committee, which has grown from two to seven members over the past year. They also aimed to encourage professional development and increase networking opportunities for younger chemists in industry, academia, government, and all chemistry-related fields. Three events in 2006 highlighted the great success of MNACS-YCC. First, the mentoring workshop provided an opportunity for younger chemists to learn about the benefits of having a mentor, as well as information on how to find a mentor and how it can advance one’s career. Three speakers from 3M provided valuable information in this event. Second, the MNACS-YCC co-sponsored a research symposium with the Institute of Technology Summer Undergraduate Research Expo (IT-SURE) program at the University of Minnesota. A variety of individuals from academia and industry participated in this event. About 50 posters were presented in which three top graduate and undergraduate poster awards were granted, respectively. Third, they co-hosted a networking social for younger chemists with AXE, the co-ed chemistry fraternity on UMN campus. The social was very popular and a huge success in bringing very busy chemists together to network. Great work MNACS-YCC ! We applaud your efforts and accomplishments!
Outstanding New LSYCC: Indiana-Kentucky Border
The Outstanding New LSYCC award is presented to a successful LSYCC that has been established two years or less by National YCC recognition. This LSYCC must show outstanding potential for organization and growth. Preference is given to the group that has successful events, strong ties with the local ACS, and a broad base of membership. Nominees for the 2007 Outstanding LSYCC award were Binghamton, Indiana-Kentucky Border, and Memphis.
Indiana-Kentucky Border was awarded the 2007 ChemLuminary Award for hosting two events in 2006 that were sponsored by an ACS YCC starter grant. The first event was an academic/industry poster session with over 50 participants and 25 students from the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana who presented the posters. Industrial representatives from GE Plastics and Red Spot Paint also attended, including Dr. Kathy Glasgow, 2006-7 National YCC Chair, who gave a talk on the ACS and YCC. The second event involved a discussion panel on Careers in Chemistry, in which a group of chemists from local industry and academia discussed their careers to college students. Keep up your good work and good luck, Indiana-Kentucky Border!
Most Creative LSYCC Event: Western New York
The Most Creative LSYCC Event award is given to the organizers of a creative or unique career development, public outreach, or social event. The 2006 nominees for Most Creative LSYCC Event included: Midland for its Family Fun D.A.Y.S., Minnesota for its Joint YCC/IT-SURE Poster Session, and Western New York for its Graduate Students’ Symposium.
The award for the 2006 Most Creative LSYCC Event was presented to the Western New York LSYCC. This local section YCC was recognized for its 24th annual Graduate Students’ Symposium at the University at Buffalo. The Graduate Students’ Symposium was created by graduate students for graduate students and aims to provide a relaxed educational opportunity. Over 1000 graduate students from 41 different universities have presented their work over the 24 years. This event cosponsored by the Western New York LSYCC continues to be a success. Best wishes for continuing your future endeavors, Western New York!
Outstanding Divisional Programming for Younger Chemists
The Outstanding Divisional Programming for Younger Chemists honors a divisional event(s) that had the greatest impact on younger chemists, e.g., organizers of a scientific, career development, public outreach, membership recruitment/retention, or social event. The finalists for this award were the Division of Chemical Education (CHED), Division of Chemical Information (CINF), and Division of Polymer Chemistry (POLY).
The CINF Division received this outstanding award in 2007. At the 2006 ACS National meetings CINF organized several symposia to improve the scientific literacy of students and to assist younger scientists in their career choices, namely “The Nuts and Bolts of Scholarly Publishing” [cosponsored with Younger Chemists Committee (YCC)], "Chemical Information and Chemical Information Education in the Electronic Age” (with Division of Chemical Education), “Careers in Chemical Information” (with YCC), “Careers for Computational Chemists in Pharma, Biotech, Patent Law, Software Vendors, National Labs, and the National Institute of Health” (with Division of Computers in Chemistry), “Meaningful Employment: What is Career Development and Mentoring in Chemical Information?” The programs were well attended and generated a number of questions from the audience. In addition, at the 2006 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, the CINF division organized two sessions to ensure the quality education of students: “Teaching Students about Copyright and Plagiarism” and “Information Obstacle Course: Successfully Incorporating Chemical Information Into Your Curriculum,” featuring a shortened version of the CINF Education workshop. The sessions were very well attended and generated a myriad of questions about understanding copyright, combating plagiarism among students, and ideas for teaching chemical information. Last but not least, the year of 2006 was highlighted by the record number of students participating in the CINF program at national meetings. The division offered nine scholarships and some travel support for younger scientists to foster their involvement in CINF, including the CINF Lucille M. Wert Scholarship and CINF Scholarships for Scientific Excellence sponsored by the IO Informatics. Excellent job, CINF Division! We truly appreciate the efforts from your division for the professional growth of younger chemists!
