SVACS

Tour of the Shoreway Environmental Center, the South Bay’s Waste Management Center
2023-11-13 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | In-person
Sponsored by the Society of Plastic Engineers, Golden Gate Section
1:00-2:30pm, In-person in San Carlos, Free, Registration required

Tour of the Shoreway Environmental Center, which is South Bay’s waste management center. The tour includes the Transfer Station and the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Permission slip must be signed to attend
Learn more about Rethink Waste

Programmable Shape Morphing & Responsiveness of Composite Hydrogels
2023-11-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Prof. Jinhye Bae, UC San Diego
Department of NanoEngineering & Materials Science and Engineering
Sponsored by the Golden Gate Polymer Forum (GGPF)
6:00-7:00pm, Online via Zoom, Free/$5 Donation, Registration required

Abstract: The design and fabrication of stimuli-responsive hydrogels and hybrids with reversible shape morphing and tunable actuation speed have been of great interest. In this talk, I will discuss our recent progress in approaches to integrate functional materials (e.g. graphene oxide, nanoclay, etc.) into stimuli-responsive hydrogels (e.g. poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)). These approaches provide insights into how the presence of functional additives and physical interactions between the additives and hydrogel networks can lead to different internal structures, and thus mechanical properties. Next, I will describe how we have leveraged these insights to precisely program the 3D shapes and control the swelling-deswelling kinetics by external stimuli, and tune the mechanical properties. Lastly, I will also demonstrate how different manufacturing processes can affect the microstructures and properties of hydrogels and their hybrids. Such a systemic approach to stimuli-responsive shape morphing systems of hydrogels and hybrids will allow us to understand their structure-property relationships and utilize these systems for applications ranging from soft robotics to biomedical devices.
Speaker background: Jinhye Bae is an Assistant Professor in the Department of NanoEngineering at the University of California, San Diego. She received her Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, then worked in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Her research focuses on understanding the structure-property relationship of polymeric materials to program their shape reconfiguration and responsiveness. Her research interests also include the integration of material characteristics into new structural design and fabrication approaches for applications in biomedical devices, soft robotics, actuators, and sensors. She has received several awards including the ACS PMSE Young Investigator Award (2023), the AIChE President Young Investigator Award (2021), and the ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Award (2021), She also has been selected as the Emerging Investigator in Nanoscale (2023), Soft Matter (2022), and Polymer Chemistry (2020).

Antibody-drug conjugates: Using IP and R&D Trends to Inform Innovation
2023-11-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service)
10:00-11:00am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are among the most promising drug classes in oncology. The ADC research landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in antibody engineering, linker technology, payload development and diversification, and more. These new innovations are reshaping the promise of ADCs.. However, they also present challenges for innovators and drug developers seeking to understand the complex and competitive intellectual property (IP) landscape.
In this webinar, experts will explore the latest trends in ADC innovation and the complications of understanding the IP landscape in this area. They will highlight the critical importance of staying up to date with evolving R&D trends and patent filings to determine freedom to operate, protect complex innovations, and maximize ROI.
What you will learn

The evolving global research and IP landscape of antibody-drug conjugates.
Unique challenges of developing ADC therapeutics.
The competitive landscape and complex patent claims for related technologies.
Strategies for a comprehensive IP search to inform investment and protect your innovations.
Insights into how CAS content and solutions can enable innovators and IP professionals.

Unbreakable Design: The Polymer Mechanochemistry of Self-Healing Materials
2023-11-16 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Polymer Chemistry Division
11:00am-12:30pm, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

What if we could invent materials that can repair themselves when damaged? Polymer molecules in various states – solid, melt, solution – are susceptible to covalent bond changes in response to mechanical fields. For example, traditional materials under load stress experience deformation which leads to deterioration. However, the “mechanophore hypothesis” proposes that new materials can be created that utilize selective bond activation where force drives a chemical change in selective and productive ways, leading to safer and longer lasting materials that are not susceptible to this cycle of deterioration.

Jeff Moore of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will introduce you to the mechanophore hypothesis, including the history of polymer mechanochemistry over the past two decades. Then, Steve Craig of Duke University will share several examples of materials-chemistry interplay in polymer mechanochemistry. These case studies will highlight how scientists can harness the intrinsic strength of polymers to delve into, shape, and potentially redefine the underlying principles of reactivity, and use embedded mechanochemical reactions to probe, influence, and even rewrite the performance rules of polymeric materials. Following these examples, Jeff Moore will conclude the webinar by sharing a recently developed tool/framework that can help scientists approach designing mechanophores that are thermally stable but mechanochemically active, paving the way for mechanoresponsive functions in polymeric materials. Discover how polymers have transitioned from a history of degradation to a future where mechanical adaptability is opening avenues for materials that heal themselves, warn of high stress or can even repair electrical circuits.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Junpeng Wang of the University of Akron and is co-produced with the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry.

What You Will Learn

Historical perspectives on polymer mechanochemistry
How the mechanophore hypothesis impacts selective and beneficial mechanochemistry in polymers
Why polymer mechanochemistry has a solid and quantitative foundation very much aligned with familiar reactivity principles
How the presence of mechanochemical reactions can have a profound and productive impact on polymer performance
Why embedding reactions in stretched polymeric materials can change the outcome of those reactions
The restoring force triangle as a mnemonic tool for mechanophore design

Webinar Details

Thursday, November 16, 2023 @ 2-3:30pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
Slides will be available on the day of the Live event

Making dark formulations data work for you
2023-11-29 07:00 - 08:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service)
7:00-8:00am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Join us for a discussion on formulations data with panelists from CAS, Dow, and Procter & Gamble. Learn about the challenges and opportunities of digitizing and leveraging formulations data to uncover valuable insights and enhance your company’s formulation innovation.

What you will learn

The pitfalls of digitization and how to overcome them
Best practices to search, retrieve, analyze, and connect your data
Strategies for getting the most from your existing data, adding value and enhancing innovation

SLAC Public Lecture: Faster! Catching up to Electrons on the Move (Hybrid Event)
2023-11-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Hybrid event – SLAC, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, 94025, United States
Sponsored by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory7:00-8:00pm, Free, Registration required to attend in-person (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Kavli Auditorium, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025) or Watch Live on SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s YouTube Channel | Learn more
Abstract: Electrons are tiny particles that hold together the atoms in molecules. When sunlight interacts with a molecule, it first transfers its energy to the electrons. Then, as the electrons move, the molecule changes form, reshaping itself or even breaking apart. We do not fully understand how electrons affect the molecules to which they belong because it is very hard to catch them in action. Electrons move incredibly quickly, and they behave according to the peculiar laws of quantum mechanics. But now, we can follow the motion of electrons using SLAC’s Linac Coherent Light Source, an accelerator that can make pulses of X-rays that are shorter than one millionth of a billionth of a second. In this lecture, I will explain how this one-of-a-kind tool allows us to watch speedy electrons as they move.

About the Speaker: Taran Driver is an Associate Staff Scientist at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and the Stanford PULSE Institute. He grew up in the United Kingdom, where he obtained his B.Sc. in physics and philosophy from the University of Nottingham in 2014, and his Ph.D. in biomolecular structure analysis from Imperial College London in 2019. He came to SLAC in 2019 as a postdoctoral scholar at the Stanford PULSE Institute. His research at SLAC focuses on using the unique ultrashort X-ray pulses made by the LCLS to understand how electrons move within molecules. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and playing soccer in the California sunshine.
See also: Taran Driver wins 2023 LCLS Young Investigator Award for work on capturing ultrafast electron movements (SLAC News, October 20, 2023)

Chemistry and the Economy: Looking forward to 2024?
2023-12-06 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Industry Member Programs, and ACS Division of Business Development and Management
10:00-11:00am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

A year that began with conflict in Europe and has now seen it expand to the Middle East continues to cause reverberations through various markets. Meanwhile, companies are taking sides on making greener investments or sticking to business as usual as the climate crisis continues to worsen. How will the chemical economy adapt in 2024 as the delta between supply and demand continues to grow amid these and other worldwide economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges?

Join Paul Hodges of New Normal Consulting and Bill Carroll of Carroll Applied Science as they share data and their observations on what is affecting the chemical economy, what tough decisions lie ahead, and predict the factors that will shape industry in the near future.
This ACS Webinar is co-produced with ACS Industry Member Programs and ACS Division of Business Development and Management.

What You Will Learn

Examining the current state of the auto industry and how it can help explain what is in store for other industries
A look at the Q3 financial reports and why most analysts are not expecting any improvement in the coming year
How years of stimulus in Japan have put its economy in a precarious situation, and what that could mean for the global market

Webinar Details

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
Slides will be available on the day of the Live event

2nd Annual ACS Sustainability Summit: Reimagining Chemistry Education (Hybrid Event)
2023-12-07 - 2023-12-08 | Hybrid
Sponsored by ACS campaign for a Sustainable Future, ACS Green Chemistry Institute, ACS Division of Chemical Education, and Beyond Benign (Green Chemistry Education)
In-person at ACS Headquarters, Washington, D.C. ($200) & Virtual (Free) | View agenda
Learn more and register now

Attend & learn how chemists are advancing green chemistry & sustainability in undergraduate & graduate education.
The ACS campaign for a Sustainable Future and the Green Chemistry Institute, together with the ACS Division of Education and Beyond Benign Green Chemistry Education, invite you to attend the 2nd Annual ACS Sustainability Summit: Reimagining Chemistry Education. This summit will bring together educators and thought leaders from across the spectrum of stakeholders working to advance green chemistry and sustainability in undergraduate and graduate education as well as training for those already in the workforce.
The summit will consist of discussions among panelists and participants attending both in person and online. The focus will be on facilitating critical connections between academia and industry to catalyze the propagation of green chemistry and sustainability concepts throughout curricula while expanding educational opportunities for both students and professionals. We will also highlight urgent requirements for accessible training that can provide every chemist and engineer with opportunities to cultivate valuable skillsets that empower them to make significant contributions toward achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

Central Themes

Challenges and opportunities relevant to the current state of secondary/tertiary teaching of chemistry in the U.S. and internationally.
Making and strengthening connections between concerned stakeholders, with educators as the pivot point: Education/Industry, Education/NGOs, Education/Funding and Policy, Education/Community Engagement, and Education/Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect (DEIR).
Identifying training needs for chemists and engineers to complement those offered at educational institutions.
Measuring impact and using that to drive new educational initiatives and future opportunities for chemists and engineers.

Attendees Will

Gain insight into the value and necessity for reimagining chemistry education.
Develop strategies for reimagining chemistry education that include perspectives from multiple stakeholders from across the chemistry enterprise.
Learn about opportunities to adopt existing curricular materials and/or contribute to developing new materials that empower chemists and engineers to contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In person attendees will network, connect, and build bridges between education and industry.

Kid Makers: Pop Up Hands-on Chemistry for Middle School Scientists
2023-12-09 14:00 - 14:30 | In-person (Redwood City Public Library-Downtown Library), 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA, 94063, United States
Sponsored by ACS Silicon Valley and Redwood City Public Library (RCPL)
2:00-2:30pm, RCPL Downtown Location, 1044 Middlefield Road,
Redwood City, Free, Learn more

Young scientists explore different aspects of chemistry! Once a month, join members of the ACS and take part in hands on experiments. For ages 9-12. This program will take place in the Makerspace.

Breaking Down the Mechanics of Polymers: From Networks to Viscoelasticity
2023-12-13 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering (PMSE)
11am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

When designing polymers to achieve desired characteristics, such as toughness, elasticity, and resilience, you must not only consider the type of polymer, but also the mechanics of its macromolecular architecture.

Sergei Sheiko of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will first delve into the nuanced properties of polymer networks, including their modulus, strain-stiffening behavior, and swelling tendencies, all of which are intricately linked to the network’s architectural configuration. Then, Adrianne Rosales of the University of Texas at Austin, will underscore the significance of viscoelasticity – a phenomenon embodying both solid and liquid properties. She will also elucidate the mechanical characterization of viscoelastic materials, employing shear oscillatory rheology techniques in both the linear and nonlinear regions.
Register now to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate world of polymer mechanics and its impact on material behavior.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Michael Silverstein of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and co-produced with the ACS Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering (PMSE).

What You Will Learn

The elastic responses of elastomers and gels
Network architecture: Decoupling softness, firmness, and swelling ratio
The forensics of polymer networks: Deciphering the network structure from its nonlinear elastic response
Characterizing the storage and loss moduli using shear rheology
Characterizing stress relaxation in viscoelastic polymers
Rheological characterization: The differences between “linear” and “nonlinear”

Webinar Details

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 @ 2-3:30pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
Slides will be available on the day of the Live event

Know the Crystallization Pathway During Processing: Crystallization of Nylons Using Fast Scanning Calorimetry and Beyond
2023-12-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Xiaoshi Zhang, PhD, Plastics Engineering Technology, Penn State University Behrend
Sponsored by the Golden Gate Polymer Forum (GGPF)
6pm, Online via Zoom, Free/$5 Donation; Registration required
Registration deadline: Tuesday, December 12@1pm

Abstract: In plastic manufacturing, understanding the interplay between processing conditions and the resulting properties of plastics is crucial. In this presentation, I will delve into the intricate relationship between processing conditions and the resultant properties of polymers, with a particular focus on nylons, PEEK, and their composites. Initially, I will discuss our recent research that utilizes Fast Scanning Calorimetry along with other technologies to unravel the complexities of crystallization pathways. We observe that through crystallization cooling pathways in a wide range from 10 K/s to 2000 K/s, kinetics and morphology can exhibit completely different behaviors, even under identical crystallization temperatures. Following this, I will examine the impact of shear on crystallization. Our exploration includes how rotational rheometry, employing Couette flow instead of traditional Poiseuille flow, broadens our understanding of shear-induced kinetics and morphological transitions. This is complemented by techniques such as synchrotron X-ray and X-ray CT, through which we will discuss intriguing observations in PEEK glass fiber and carbon fiber composites. Throughout the presentation, I will demonstrate how these methodologies significantly enhance our understanding of plastic processing, particularly in the context of injection molding. The insights gained are pivotal for the strategic manipulation of key processing parameters, such as injection velocity, pack pressure, and mold temperature. This knowledge is essential for optimizing the final properties of the manufactured parts.
Speaker Background: Dr. Xiaoshi Zhang is a research faculty member at Penn State Behrend, where he dedicates his efforts to studying polymer crystallization under processing-relevant conditions, advanced plastic polymer characterization, and the sustainability of plastics. His work at Penn State is marked by notable industry collaborations, securing funding from organizations including INVISTA, SKF, Shell, and the American Chemical Council. Prior to joining Penn State Behrend in 2020, Dr. Zhang gained valuable industry experience at DSM, a leader in engineering plastics. His contributions to polymer science have been recognized through his published work, which has been featured on the covers of journals like Macromolecules and Macromolecular Rapid Communications, and has received acknowledgment from the DOE Office of Science. Dr. Zhang earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Florida State University, studying under Professor Rufina Alamo.

Silicon Valley ACS Executive Committee Meeting
2023-12-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
7:00-9:00pm, Online via Zoom, Free. To attend as a guest, please contact the Chair.

Dr. Robert Huw Morgan: Holiday Organ Concert
2023-12-17 13:30 - 15:00 | In-person
Sponsored by Stanford Department of Music and Stanford Office for Religious & Spiritual Life
1:30-3:00pm, Stanford Memorial Church, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Building. 500, Stanford, CA 94305, Free, Open to the Public, Learn more

University Organist Dr. Robert Huw Morgan presents a program of festive organ works celebrating the season. This event is free and open to the public.
Donations will be accepted in support of music at Memorial Church.
Parking and Accessibility information for Memorial Church can be found here.

Silicon Valley ACS Executive Committee Meeting
2024-01-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
To attend as a guest, please contact the Chair

Kid Makers: Pop Up Hands-on Chemistry for Middle School Scientists
2024-01-13 14:00 - 14:30, 2024-02-10 14:00 - 14:30 | In-person (Redwood City Public Library-Downtown Library), 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA, 94063, United States
Sponsored by ACS Silicon Valley and Redwood City Public Library (RCPL)
2:00-2:30 pm, RCPL Downtown Location, 1044 Middlefield Road,
Redwood City, Free, Learn more

Young scientists explore different aspects of chemistry! Once a month, join members of the ACS and take part in hands on experiments. For ages 9-12. This program will take place in the Makerspace.

Frontier Fridays: Sorbent-based Direct Air Capture of CO₂ at Scale
2024-01-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Committee on Science
10-11 am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), direct air capture (DAC) is currently operating at just 18 plants worldwide and only collecting 0.01 million metric tons of CO2 combined per year. To stay on track to meet IEA 2050 net zero goals and limit global warming to 1.5˚C, DAC will need to scale up to capture 60 million metric tons per year worldwide by 2030 alone. So, limiting factors, including cost, materials, thermal and fluid management, process engineering and advanced manufacturing need to be addressed quickly!

David Moore, the Carbon Capture Technology Leader for GE Vernova Advanced Research, and his group are preparing to scale up their promising sorbent-based DAC system by more than 20-fold for a new round of testing in 2024. This project grew out of previous efforts to capture water from arid desert air for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and is a prime example of how novel solutions like DAC can arise through partnerships between US Government agencies, academia, and industry. By seamlessly coupling experimentation and computation, including the use of advanced machine learning methods, sorbent materials and sorbent-binder formulations were discovered to create a coating that, when covering a large surface area of a heat exchanger, will act like a sponge to pull CO2 out of the air and transfer it to other parts of the DAC system for processing into a storable or usable form.
Register now to learn about this promising contribution to the growing landscape of carbon capture science, how this system addresses limiting factors to scaling up DAC, and the strategic ways that General Electric’s team collaborated with external partners in government and academia to advance their work. This ACS Webinar is moderated by Young-Shin Jun (Chair of Science & Technology Subcommittee of the ACS Committee on Science) of the Washington University in St. Louis and is co-produced with the ACS Committee on Science.

What You Will Learn

What is sorbent-based direct air CO2 capture and how experimentally-derived structure-property-performance relationships coupled with machine learning play a role in the iterative advancement of sorbent materials
How scaling up direct air carbon capture will depend on intersecting innovations across materials, thermal and fluid management, process engineering and advanced manufacturing
How partnerships across government, academia, and industry are critical to large-scale scientific advancement

Scientific breakthroughs and emerging trends to watch in 2024: Expert webinar and panel
2024-01-25 07:30 - 09:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by CAS
7:30-9:00 am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

With millions of publications and patents published annually, the rate of scientific progress can feel overwhelming. What if you had a landscape view of the emerging scientific landscape, the trends to focus on, and the ones to deprioritize? Join experts from Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, The Ohio State University, and CAS as they highlight the scientific breakthroughs and trends to watch in 2024.
Register for brief presentations, a panel discussion, and a Q&A on the following topics:

AI’s impact in R&D
The rise of biomaterials
Tackling the undruggables
Sustainability trends

The Formula for Successful Interviews
2024-01-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Business Development & Management Division, ACS Professional Relations Division
11 am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

While your experience and publication count might earn you the opportunity to interview for a position, more often than not, the candidate who performs best during the interview gets the job.

Join Patricia Simpson, Director of Chemical Sciences Academic Advising and Career Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as she describes what employers look for when interviewing candidates, how you can best demonstrate your skills and abilities, and how you can seamlessly incorporate what you’ve learned about an employer into any type of interview. Register now to discover how to successfully demonstrate why you are the best fit for your next job opportunity even if you might not have everything an employer is seeking on paper.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Matt Grandbois, Strategic Partnership Manager of DuPont Electronics & Industrial and is co-produced by ACS Division of Business Development and Management and the ACS Division of Professional Relations.

What You Will Learn

How to start networking in order to build leads and gain knowledge about potential employers
Techniques for presenting your best self during interviews, including the STAR method and personalized preparation, in a way the interviewer wants to hear
How to navigate various types of interview settings (phone, virtual, on-site, etc.) with confidence and leave a lasting impression

Webinar Details

Thursday, January 25, 2024 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
Slides will be available on the day of the Live event

Mosher Award Reception and Lecture
2024-01-25 17:30 - 20:00 | In-person
The 2023 Mosher Award recipients are Drs. Cynthia Maryanoff and Bruce Maryanoff.

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2024
Time: Networking Reception 5:30-7pm, Presentations 7-8pm
Location: SAPP Center, Stanford University. The SAPP Center for Science Teaching and Learning is located in the remodeled “Old Chemistry” building on Stanford Campus. 376 Lomita Dr, Stanford. Free parking at Roth Way Garage after 4pm (see map at bottom of this entry).
Cost: $20 per person. To be collected at the door, cash or checks only. Registration required
View flyer

Initiated in 1980, the Silicon Valley ACS Harry and Carol Mosher Award recognizes individuals who advance the chemistry profession, make impactful scientific contributions, and support ACS in their outreach efforts to share chemistry with the general public. The award includes an ACS engraved plaque, a $2,000 honorarium, and a Mosher Lecture event.
Abstracts
Adventures in Drug Discovery: TOPAMAX® (Topiramate) for Treating Epilepsy and Migraine. Bruce E. Maryanoff, formerly at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Spring House, PA 19477-0776
During my 35-year career in the pharmaceutical industry (Johnson & Johnson) as a drug hunter, I have encountered many therapeutic targets and many clinical candidates. Under the old drug discovery paradigm of phenotypic assessment, I discovered TOPAMAX (topiramate), a billion-dollar drug for treating epilepsy and migraine headache. Its mechanisms of actions are diverse, but still not fully understood. Phenotypic assessment mainly involves pharmacological and cellular methodology, an approach which has become disfavored in the 21st century, given the wealth of receptor and enzyme molecular targets that have emerged, especially since the sequencing of the human genome. Nevertheless, phenotypic assessment still can have a valuable role to play for certain unmet medical needs.
Why Hawaii? Kona Coffee! Cyndie Maryanoff. Co-CEO and CTO at Absolute Palate®, Holicong, PA 18928
In 2015, Bruce and Cyndie Maryanoff established Absolute Palate® LLC (www.absolute- palate.com) as a coffee business on the Big Island of Hawaii. Thus, their long-standing passion for exceptional coffees and love of Hawaii were merged. A special interest in premium, single-estate 100% Kona coffee, led them to purchase two coffee farms in the iconic Kona Coffee Belt, which provide coffee fruit that is hand-picked, processed into green beans, and custom-roasted in small batches with a fluidized-bed air roaster. They assembled a laboratory for on-site decaffeination, thereby extracting green beans with supercritical carbon dioxide to furnish a flavorful 100% Kona decaf coffee (Absolute Decaf). Cyndie will discuss this coffee project and the organic chemistry that contributes to coffee’s special aroma and flavor.
Brief Biographical Information
Bruce Maryanoff received a BS and PhD at the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia and was a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton. He then embarked on a decades-long career in research and management with Johnson & Johnson. He is currently a Visiting Investigator at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. View biography
Cynthia Maryanoff received a BS at Drexel University and a PhD at Princeton University. She performed postdoctoral research at Princeton. She joined Johnson & Johnson for a long career in research and management. She is currently a Foundation Distinguished Professor at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute in Doylestown PA. View biography
Both Maryanoffs have extensive experience in drug discovery and management in the pharmaceutical industry. They are long-term active participants and supporters of ACS activities. They are founders of the Maryanoff Scholars – an annual program to assist undergraduate chemistry students in research in chemistry at Drexel University. The Maryanoffs also founded Absolute Palate LLC, a coffee company specializing in single-estate 100% Kona coffee, with two coffee farms in Hawaii.

SLAC Public Lecture: Searching for Trolls under the Electron Bridge
2024-01-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Hybrid event – SLAC, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, 94025, United States
Elizabeth Ryland, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Stanford PULSE Institute
Sponsored by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
7-8 pm, Free, Register here to watch in person in the Kavli Auditorium, or watch the lecture live on SLAC’s YouTube page | Learn more

Plants draw energy for all their chemical reactions from sunlight. Why can’t we? In theory, this can be done by building a molecular bridge: Attach a molecule that absorbs light and gives the energy to electrons to a molecule that accepts the electrons and uses them to catalyze the desired chemical reaction. With this strategy, we can design complexes that, for example, use sunlight to convert water to hydrogen fuel. Electrons cross the molecular bridge at high speed under the subtle influence of quantum mechanics. Often, they do not make it all the way across because they’ve been captured, stuck, or reflected back (or maybe eaten by bridge trolls). To counter this, we must investigate the details of the electrons’ rapid dash across the bridge. In this lecture, I will explain how we are using SLAC’s new experimental capabilities, such as ultrafast X-ray pulses, to design bridges that smoothly transport electrons and drive chemical reactions important to society.
About the speaker: Elizabeth Ryland is a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford PULSE Institute, where she uses SLAC’s X-ray free-electron laser to study important chemical reactions relevant to solar energy and catalysis. She received her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University and did her doctoral research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she built a table-top version of an X-ray laser. She then worked at the Naval Research Lab before joining SLAC in 2021. Ryland has since performed X-ray experiments at research facilities across the globe to understand better how molecules turn sunlight into energy.

How to Make Your Communication Accessible: The Newly Expanded ACS Inclusivity Style Guide
2024-01-31 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and EIE
11 am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Inclusive communication considers word choice, formatting, image selection, and the accessibility of your content to all audiences. The term “accessibility” is commonly misunderstood or defined so broadly that it can be difficult for some people to make improvements.

Join Associate Director Racquel Jemison of the Office of DEIR at ACS as she defines accessibility in three contexts: the use of plain language, compatibility with assistive technologies, and design and formatting. Register now to discover how to incorporate accessibility in your writing or communication projects as well as a range of easy-to-apply activities for many forms of communication ranging from peer-reviewed technical papers to social media posts.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Victoria Fuentes of the American Chemical Society and is co-produced with the ACS Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect (DEIR).

What You Will Learn

The importance of accessibility as a form of equity
How to plan and design a communication project with accessibility in mind
Simple methods to make your content more accessible for all

Webinar Details

Wednesday, January 31, 2024 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
Slides will be available on the day of the Live event

Additional Resource

ACS Inclusivity Style Guide – This guide aims to help American Chemical Society staff and members communicate in ways that recognize and respect diversity in all its forms.

Upcycling Polymers Seminar: Mixed Polyester Deconstruction to Enable a Circular Bioeconomy
2024-01-31 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Kat Knauer, PhD., National Renewable Energy Laboratory & CTO of the BOTTLE™ Consortium
Hosted by the Golden Gate Polymer Forum
6 pm, Online via Zoom, Free/$5 Donation, Registration required (Registration deadline: January 30 at 1pm)

The production, use, and disposal of plastics account for 3.8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nearly double the aviation sector, implying that plastics are a key energy and climate challenge. Studies have shown that a net-zero plastic supply chain can be achieved by combining biomass utilization with effective recycling. To address these challenges and decarbonize the plastic industry, we envision transitioning the plastic supply chain to a circular, biobased polyester model by enabling downstream recycling of biobased plastics. EsterCycle is a base-catalyzed methanolysis recycling platform designed to depolymerize both petroleum and biobased polyester plastics in one pot under mild conditions with high yields. These plastics include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and polybutylene succinate (PBS). This talk focuses on stages in the development of EsterCycle: deconstruction mechanisms, separations science, and economic and life cycle assessment (LCA). Also covered is the development of novel polyesters to challenge the polyolefins’ status quo. The proposed technology allows for sequestered, biogenic carbon to stay in circulation, reducing reliance on both fossil fuels and agricultural feedstocks. LCA models show a potential abatement of ~500 million tons of CO2 emissions per year if 35% of the plastic supply chain were replaced with biobased polyesters at a 70% recycling rate via our proposed recycling technology.
Bio-Optimized Technologies to keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE™) is a U.S. Department of Energy multi-organization consortium focused on developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today’s plastics and redesigning tomorrow’s plastics to be recyclable-by-design. Techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and supply chain modeling are critical tools to ultimately facilitate the development of economical and sustainable approaches for recycling and redesigning plastics.
About the speaker: Dr. Kat Knauer is a polymer scientist who has dedicated her scientific career to solving the plastic waste problem. She has a PhD in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Southern Mississippi. She completed the BASF Leadership Development Program (LDP) in 2018 and took a Senior Scientist role in BASF’s Plastics Division. Her research efforts focused on advanced recycling technologies which ultimately led her to leading the Materials Innovation R&D team at Novoloop (formerly BioCellection), a San Francisco Bay Area chemical recycling startup. At Novoloop she helped develop a technology that converted post-consumer polyethylene waste into valuable chemical building blocks to upcycle into new high-performing polymer applications. Currently Dr. Knauer is a senior researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the BOTTLE™ Consortium where she is developing sustainable technologies to chemically upcycle today’s existing plastic waste streams and develop new plastics for the future that are recyclable by design.

Silicon Valley ACS Executive Committee Meeting
2024-02-01 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
7:00-9:00 pm, Online via Zoom, Free. To attend as a guest, please contact the Chair

ORCID Workshop for Researchers
2024-02-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by Lyrasis
11 am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Getting and using your free ORCID iD and ORCID record can help you save time and get credit for your work in funding, publishing, and research reporting workflows. Funding organizations, publishers, and research institutions are increasingly requiring or asking for ORCID iDs from researchers, so this workshop will help you make sure you are ahead of the game.
In this workshop, we will cover:

An overview of the benefits of ORCID for researchers
How ORCID can help you save time throughout the research landscape
Tips and tricks for keeping your ORCID record up-to-date

No prior experience with ORCID necessary. The session recording will be sent to all who register. See you there!

Better Ion Transport Through Polymer Chemistry: Polymer Electrolytes and Ion-conducting Membranes
2024-02-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Polymer Chemistry Division
11 am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Electrochemical processes in devices like solar cells, fuel cells, lithium batteries, and water desalination systems rely on the safe, efficient, and robust transport of anions and cations between electrodes — all made possible by polymer chemistry!

Join two experts working on advances in polymer technology for use in the next generation of ion transport systems. First, Alexei Sokolov, ORNL/UT Governor’s Chair and Professor of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Tennessee, will introduce you to this exciting time of progress in the field of polymer electrolytes. Prof. Sokolov will provide an overview of the microscopic mechanisms controlling ion transport in polymer electrolytes, present recent achievements in the design of polymer electrolytes with high conductivity at ambient temperatures and share several examples of polymer-based solid-state batteries. Previous generations of batteries rely on liquid electrolytes to carry ionic charges, but new polymer electrolytes are reaching a level of conductivity that will enable solid state batteries with significant gains in energy density, robustness, and safety.
Then, Michael A. Hickner, the Craig A. Rogerson Endowed Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University, will zoom out to describe how mechanically tough polymer membranes with high ionic conductivity control the flow of electrolytes in the ion transport system. Prof. Hickner will cover key aspects of the synthesis of acid- and base-containing polymers that are used as proton and hydroxide exchange membranes in electrochemical devices, including the relationship between the membrane’s polymer backbone, ion content, and water uptake. Prof. Hickner will also describe the role of water in conducting protons and hydroxide anions and provide examples of other key applications for ion-containing polymers.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by X. Chelsea Chen, R&D Staff Polymer Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and co-produced with the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry.

What You Will Learn

Fundamentals of ion transport in polymers
Recent achievements in design of polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity
Advantages of polymer-based solid-state batteries
Synthesis of acidic and basic polymers for use in ion-conducting membranes
The role of water in conduction of protons and hydroxide anions
Key applications for ion-containing polymers

Toxic Beauty: The Effects of Phthalates and Bisphenols on Human Stem Cells and Embryo Development
2024-02-10 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sonya M. Schuh, PhD
Sponsored by Women Chemists Committee, California ACS Section
10:30-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required | View flyer
Abstract: Dr. Schuh’s research focuses on reproductive and developmental biology and toxicology. Her talk delves into the prevalent challenges of the current plastics and environmental toxin crisis, and their effects on human health, fertility, and congenital defects. Ubiquitous chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, present in a wide variety of plastics, cosmetics, personal care, and household products, disrupt hormones and pathways and act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the body. Despite efforts over the last several years to replace BPA with alternatives labeled “BPA-Free,” Dr. Schuh’s work has revealed that these substitutes actually carry similar, and in some cases much worse, toxic risks. She and her all–woman undergraduate research team were recently featured in a docuseries on HBO Max entitled “Not So Pretty,” which highlights their research on the toxic and teratogenic effects of bisphenols and phthalates on embryo development. Schuh, a self-proclaimed “Science Queen” and her team of “STEM Chicks,” also did testing of chemicals in various beauty products featured by the series. The Schuh lab has since filmed for another upcoming documentary and has published several impactful manuscripts, with this work getting national and global attention. All of Dr. Schuh’s recent findings emphasize the potential implications for human health and fertility, especially for women, urging consumer awareness, policy reform, sustainable alternatives, and putting ‘people over profit.’
About the Speaker: Dr. Sonya Schuh is a passionate mother, teacher, scientist, artist, athlete, environmentalist, and STEMinist. Originally from San Diego and inland Southern California, she grew up exploring nature, the ocean, and enjoying all things outdoors. An inquisitive bold nature, fascination with life and the natural world, and being the product of educator parents, would eventually lead her to a science career. She earned a BS in Marine Biology and Zoology from Humboldt State University, where she conducted marine research and worked as a Marine Naturalist. She then completed her PhD in Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Washington in Seattle, focusing on chemical effects on sperm. Later, at Stanford’s Stem Cell Biology Institute, she delved into genes and environmental factors affecting human fertility and led the largest study to date on genes linked with ovarian reserve (oocyte number) in women. Joining Saint Mary’s College of California in 2013, she initiated a research program on the impact of endocrine disruptors on embryos of various species and animal and human stem cells. Dedicated to teaching and diverse collaborations, her most cherished accomplishment is her three children, inspiring her ongoing commitment to shaping a better world. Dr. Sonya says, “Of all my accolades and work, my three amazing children are hands-down my best and proudest accomplishments, with my long list of wonderful students coming in second. They all inspire me to continue paving new paths, breaking barriers, challenging status quos, and working towards a better future. We can make a difference by the way we pursue answers and solutions, communicate our work, treat other people, and care for all people and life of this earth. I still have a lot of hope.”

February: See What’s New in CAS SciFinder-n
2024-02-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by CAS
11 am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Join us as CAS SciFindern experts walk you through recent solution enhancements. We will go in-depth, helping you understand how to take advantage of newly released features and their impact when using CAS SciFindern. Stick around until the end for a preview of additional enhancements you can expect in the coming months.
What you will learn

The latest CAS SciFindern enhancements and updates.
How these enhancements improve your existing workflows and search results.
A sneak peek at upcoming CAS SciFindern enhancements.

Eating Dangerously: How a Chemist’s “Poison Squad” Won the Battle for Food Safety in the US
2024-02-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS History of Chemistry Division
11 am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

In the late 19th century, simply eating food could be a genuine hazard. To increase the shelf life of their products, food manufacturers intentionally added dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde and salicylic acid to everything from milk to meat without any of the regulatory oversight that we take for granted today.

Join Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times-bestselling author Deborah Blum as she reveals the dramatic true story of how food was made safer in the United States during a 30-year food safety battle for consumer protection by chemist Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley and his heroic Poison Squad.
Register now to discover the surprisingly thrilling history of food safety standards in America – a story of politics, poison and a federal chemist turned crusader who took us from a century deemed the “great American stomachache” to the landmark 1906 Food and Drug Act.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Carmen J. Giunta, Professor Emeritus of Le Moyne College and is co-produced with the ACS Division of the History of Chemistry.

What You Will Learn

What the US food supply was like before regulation
How 19th century food chemists investigated the problem
The science and the politics of the first consumer safety laws – and their continuing influence

IUPAC Global Women's Breakfast: Catalyzing Diversity in Science
2024-02-27 | Virtual
Learn more: ACS website, IUPAC website

The IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast is an event that happens on a single day in February of each year in conjunction with the U.N. Day of Women and Girls in Science.
In celebration of 2024’s central theme “Catalyzing Diversity in Science”, you are invited to join the global chemistry community in:

Building active networks of people of all genders
Overcoming barriers to gender equality
Promoting professional and inclusive practices

Global Women’s Breakfast events are being planned by:

ACS North Carolina Section, Research Triangle Park, US
others to come…

Learn more and register your event at Global Women’s Breakfast – IUPAC. If you would like your event listed as part of the ACS celebration, include “ACS” in your event name.
Events of all sizes, scopes, and formats are welcome. Refer to the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast Organizer’s Guide for ideas and guidance.
Be sure to tag @IUPAC and @AmerChemSociety in your social media posts and use #GWB2024 to join the global conversation.
