SVACS

Charging Ahead: Batteries of the Future (SLAC Public Lecture)
2022-10-06 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hybrid event – SLAC, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, 94025, United States
Prof. Yi Cui, SLAC, Stanford University
Sponsored by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
7:00-8:00pm, Hybrid event, Free, Registration required to attend in person (Panofsky Auditorium, SLAC) or watch live on SLAC’s YouTube page. Registration deadline: October 5th. See SLAC Visitor Map

To transform our energy sources to carbon neutrality, we need to power as much of modern society as possible with clean electricity. In doing so, electricity generated from solar and wind sources requires energy storage. To meet today’s tough demands, however, energy storage designs must do many things – store more energy, charge faster, be capable of mass production, decrease costs for the consumer, be safe, and be made of materials that minimize harm to the environment. We can now address these issues not only through the overall battery chemistry but also by observing the structure and operation of batteries at the nano- and even the atomic scale. In this talk, I will present some new ideas about the design of batteries – from electric vehicles to consumer power on the grid – and share my perspective on the path to the batteries of the future.
Join us at the Panofsky Auditorium or online. Registration is required if you plan to attend the lecture in person.
We will also be streaming the lecture live on SLAC’s YouTube. You do not need to register if you plan to watch online.
Click here for more information about the SLAC Public Lectures.
About the Speaker:
Yi Cui is the Director of the Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford University. He is the Fortinet Founders Professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Energy Science and Engineering, and a Professor at Photon Science at SLAC. He obtained his B.S. in chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1998 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Harvard University in 2002. He joined the Stanford faculty in 2005. By now, he has published 540 research papers in chemistry, materials science, and energy science, earning him a #1 ranking in Thomson Reuter’s “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds” in 2014, the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Award in 2020, and election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2022. He has founded six companies to commercialize technologies developed by his research group: Amprius, 4C Air, EEnotech, EnerVenue, LifeLabs Design, and EnnoPure. Amprius, a leading high energy density battery company, was recently listed (AMPX) in the New York Stock Exchange.
Attend In Person:
The public lecture will be held in person at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, in the Panofsky Auditorium in the Science & User Support Building (SUSB). Parking is free and can be found in front of the SUSB. Doors open at 6:30 pm. The lecture will start promptly at 7 p.m. and conclude at 8 p.m. There will be opportunities to chat with the scientists following the event. Registration is required if you plan to attend the lecture in person. The deadline to register is Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
COVID-19 safety protocols:
SLAC’s current COVID-19 safety protocols for visitors attending an on site event include 1) attendees are encouraged to perform COVID testing prior to the start of the event 2) wearing of a mask is highly recommended 3) social distance when possible 4) if you are feeling sick, please stay home.
To join the public lecture in person, you are required to follow all protocols and instructions from SLAC staff. We will provide updates to this event page if there are any changes to SLAC’s COVID-19 safety protocols.

Navigating Questions About Reproductive Health When in the Lab
2022-10-06 11:00 - 12:15 | Virtual
Robin M. Izzo, Asst VP, Environmental Health and Safety, Princeton University; Dr. Rich Wittman, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Stanford Health Care; Katie McGeough, graduate student, Boston College School of Social Work
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Division of Chemical Health & Safety, ACS Committee on Chemical Safety
11am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

A recent analysis of the current guidance from more than 100 academic institutions’ Chemical Hygiene Plans (CHPs) indicates that the burden to implement laboratory reproductive health and safety practices is often placed on those already pregnant or planning conception. This report also found inconsistencies in the classification of potential reproductive toxins by resources generally considered to be authoritative, adding further confusion.

Molecular Glues in Drug Discovery: Solutions that Stick for the Undruggable
2022-10-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Philip Chamberlain, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Neomorph; Dr. Benjamin Ebert, Chair, Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Janet Sasso, Information Scientist at CAS
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and CAS
11am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Molecular glues have emerged as one of the promising approaches for drug discovery to treat a wide range of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory and immune diseases, and infections. Currently, conventional small molecule inhibitors can only target a small portion of disease-causing proteins, leaving the majority as undruggable. However, protein degradation utilizing small molecule glues is able to recruit non-druggable proteins for rapid destruction.

Join Philip Chamberlain the Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Neomorph, Dr. Benjamin Ebert, the Chair of Medical Oncology of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Janet Sasso, Information Scientist at CAS as they discuss a landscape view of the research and drug discovery efforts for molecular glues, the latest techniques for molecular glue drug discovery, and their application in the treatment of diseases.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Angela Zhou, Information Scientist at CAS and is co-produced by CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society.

What You Will Learn

Landscape views of molecular glue research, drug discovery, and therapeutic potential
The latest molecular glue drug discovery efforts
Application of molecular glues for disease treatment

Webinar Details

Wednesday, October 5, 2022 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
Slides will be available to download on the day of the webinar

Additional Resources

Molecular Glues and Induced Proximity – Article by Janet Sasso of CAS
Molecular Glues are Beginning to Stick – Article by Gina Vitale of C&EN

Los Increíbles Líquidos Iónicos: Síntesis y Caracterización
2022-09-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Prof. Clarissa P. Frizzo, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria and Prof. Ingrid Montes, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, Sociedad Quimica de Mexico, and C&EN en Espanol
11am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Los líquidos iónicos (IL) se describieron por primera vez hace casi un siglo aunque recientemente han despertado interés debido a una variedad de aplicaciones potenciales en procesos químicos, biológicos y con los más diversos materiales. Las propiedades fisicoquímicas de estos compuestos se pueden ajustar fácilmente mediante la elección adecuada del catión y el anión que los constituyen. Por lo tanto, una propiedad más atractiva de los ILs es la flexibilidad o el ajuste del desarrollo de las propiedades físicas, químicas y biológicas al cambiar la estructura del catión y el anión.
Durante el webinar gratuito, la Dra. Clarissa P. Frizzo de la Universidade Federal de Santa Maria en Brasil hablará sobre cómo se puede sintetizar y caracterizar nuevos líquidos iónicos y cómo funcionan sus propiedades físicas, como la tensión superficial, la viscosidad, la densidad, la estabilidad térmica y la fuerza de interacción catión-anión. Regístrese hoy para aprender sobre las propiedades de los tensioactivos, lubricantes, emulsionantes propiedades biológicas tales como citotoxicidad y actividad antimicrobiana.

Lo Que El Público Aprenderá

Qué son líquidos iónicos
Cuales son las propriedades físicas de líquidos iónicos y como se caracterizan
Qué es la aplicación de líquidos iónicos en la biolubricación

Detalles del Evento

Miércoles, el 28 de Septiembre, 2022 @ 2:00–3:00pm ET / 1:00-2:00pm CT
Coste: Gratuito
Las diapositivas estarán disponibles para descargar el día del evento

Tightly-Bound Polymers
2022-09-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual
Prof. Frank Blum, Department of Chemistry, Oklahoma State University
Sponsored by the Golden Gate Polymer Forum
6:30-7:30pm, Online via Zoom, Free/$5 donation, Registration required (Registration deadline: September 21st at 1pm)

Abstract:
Tightly-bound polymer can be described as those polymer segments near a solid surface with which they have a strong attraction. Compared to bulk segments, they have reduced mobility, smaller heat capacity, and broadened-elevated glass transitions. The distance scale for such a polymer interphase in several systems was determined to be around 1 nm. Nevertheless, they can have a significant effect on the properties of composites. Their small scale makes them difficult to characterize with most techniques normally used in polymer composites. To highlight the effects of these tiny interphases, we have used large specific surface area substrates (nanoparticles such as silica, alumina and graphene oxide) with small adsorbed amounts of polymer. Typically, we have used polymers which hydrogen bond to the substrates. To probe both the dynamics and structure of the interphase we have used FTIR, deuterium NMR, calorimetry, and molecular simulations. We find that this combination of techniques can give us some significant insight into these important interphases. For example, they may have glass transitions which can be 40 to 100 °C wide!
Speaker Background & Research Interests:

Frank D. Blum, Harrison I. Bartlett Chair and Regents’ Professor of Chemistry at Oklahoma State University has research interests in materials science and surface chemistry. His work has focused on the molecular motion and physical properties of polymers and surface-active agents at interfaces. He has also headed an interdisciplinary group to make polymer composites from used carpets and beverage bottles. Frank is a Fellow of the American Chemical Society and a Fellow of the Division of Polymer Chemistry (POLY), Inc. His ACS National service includes: Chair of the Committee on Nominations and Elections and the Divisional Activities Committees. Frank has also served as Councilor from the South Central Missouri Section and Polymer Division of the ACS for 30 years. For POLY, he served as Assistant Editor of Polymer Preprints, Secretary, and in the Chair succession (Chair in 1999). The Division awarded him both a Distinguished Service Award and Special Service Award. He received his BS and MS degrees from Eastern Illinois University in 1976 and 1977, respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1981.

More than One Route to Inclusion: How Different Demographic Groups Confront Global Underrepresentation
2022-09-21 08:00 - 09:00 | Virtual
Prof. Isai T. Urasa, Director of the Water Resources Research Laboratory, Hampton University; Asst. Prof. Hooi Ling Lee, Universiti Sains, Malaysia; Kabrena Rodda, Senior Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Lab; Prof. Ingrid Montes, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Respect; ACS Committee on International Activities
8-9am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

What does diversity and inclusion mean in different countries? Today more than ever, it is important to understand that diversity implies recognizing the differences of each demographic group and their unique dialog and culture.
Join a multicultural panel of speakers as they discuss how effective communication will require a global mindset to ensure that a diversified workforce is nurtured and integrated in order to inspire creativity and ensure innovation.
This ACS Webinar is co-produced with the ACS Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Respect and the ACS Committee on International Activities.

What You Will Learn

What cultural barriers need to come down in order to develop an inclusive culture
How can cross-cultural competence be developed and who should be responsible
What changes are needed to adopt a global mindset

Webinar Details

Wednesday, September 21, 2022 @ 11am-12pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
Slides will be available to download on the day of the webinar

Nanotechnology Research in CAS SciFinder-n Webinar (offered 1am, 7am, 1pm Pacific Time)
2022-09-21 07:00 - 08:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by CAS
Offered at 1am, 7am, and 1pm Pacific Time. Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Applications for using nano-sized particles have expanded from colloids and pure physical domains into pharmaceutical formulation, electrodes, cosmetics, ceramics, and others. Join us as we show you how to incorporate nanotechnology in your research using CAS SciFindern.

What You Will Learn

See some best practices on searching for nano-sized materials and their respective applications.
Discover how a combination of substance, formula, and text searches combined with filtering capabilities drive focused search results.

ACS on Campus: Peer Review Week (Peer Review & Research Integrity)
2022-09-21 07:00 - 08:00 | Virtual
Professor Marc Hillmyer, Editor-in-Chief, Macromolecules
Sponsored by ACS Publications
September 21, 2022, 6-7am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Celebrate Peer Review Week with ACS on Campus! Join us on September 21st to learn about peer review through the lens of research integrity. Prof. Marc A. Hillmyer, Editor-in-Chief of Macromolecules and Chair of the ACS Publication Ethics Committee, will lead a conversation about how we can all create and support trust in scientific research. All researchers in the sciences, not just chemistry, are encouraged to sign up for this free webinar!

C&EN's virtual Talented 12 Symposium (Pt1: 9/19@9:30-11:30am, Pt2: 9/20@9:30-10:45am, Pt3: 9/20@Noon-3:30pm, Pt4: 9/21@6:30-8:30am
2022-09-19 08:00 - 2022-09-21 17:00 | Virtual
Keynote speakers: Prof. Zhenan Bao, Stanford University; Prof. Ben L. Feringa, University of Groningen and Nobel Laureate
Sponsored by Chemical & Engineering News

Part 1: Sept. 19 from 9:30-11:30am.
Part 2: Sept. 20 from 9:30am-10:45am.
Part 3: Sept. 20 from Noon-3:30pm.
Part 4: Sept. 21 from 6:30-8:30am.

Online via Zoom, Free, Learn more and register

C&EN’s Talented 12 program celebrates young chemists working in academia, industry, and government who are just beginning to put their innovative and transformative ideas into practice. This special three-day event features remarks from keynote speakers. Don’t miss these exciting TED-style talks by the rising stars in our 2022 class in which they lay out their vision for the future of their fields.

Part 1: Opening Remarks: Thermo Fisher Scientific; Keynote: Zhenan Bao; T12 Speakers: Alex Komor Base-Editing Ace, David Romney Enzyme Architect, Maher El-Kady Graphene Vanguard, and Alexandra Velian Inorganic Chemist

Part 2: T12 Speakers: Abigal Dommer Molecular Modeler, Bichlien Nguyen IT Innovator, Adeyemi Adeleye Environmental Chemist, and Cate Levey Climate-Tech Champion

Part 3: Remarks and Introduction: Carolyn Bertozzi, ACS Central Science Editor-in-Chief; Speaker: Professor Dame Clare P. Grey, 2022 ACS Central Science Disruptors and Innovators Prize Lecture

Part 4: Closing Remarks: Thermo Fisher Scientific; Keynote: Ben L. Feringa; T12 Speakers: Ming Joo Koh Organic Chemist, Weixue Wang Assay Inventor, Gabe Gomes Machine Learning Maestro, Helen Tran Polymer Designer

Fill out and submit the form to attend this virtual symposium, which will cover a range of exciting, cutting-edge research.

Advances in Polyolefins
2022-09-18 - 2022-09-21 | In-Person in Mountain View at Cuesta Park Group BBQ Areas #1-2, 615 Cuesta Drive, Mountain View, CA, United States
3-day workshop held September 18-21, 2022
Doubletree by Hilton, Rohnert Park, CA
Sponsored by ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry
Registration required

Advances in Polyolefins (APO-22) proudly announces the third Professor James McGrath Memorial Lectureship
Tobin J. Marks, Northwestern University

THE MCGRATH MEMORIAL LECTURESHIP

In honor of the many contributions of Prof. James E. McGrath, including the creation of the “Advances in Polyolefins” workshop series in 1997, APO 2017 introduced a lectureship in his honor. Prof. McGrath was the University Distinguished Professor and Ethyl Corp. Professor of Chemistry at Virginia Tech. He wrote more than 400 articles and was a co-inventor of 40 patents. Prof. McGrath was the recipient of many awards in recognition of his scientific contributions.

PARTIAL LIST OF INVITED SPEAKERS

Rufina Alamo (Florida State University)
Finizia Auriemma (Università Federico II, Napoli)
Cristophe Boisson (CNRS, France)
Eugene Chen (Colorado State University)
Paul Chirik (Princeton University)
Dongmei Cui (ChangChun Institute of Applied Chemistry)
Phil Fontaine (Dow)
Leon Govaert (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Damien Guironnet (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Julia Ham (U.S. Naval Academy)
Ken Kearns (Dow)
Clark Landis (University of Wisconsin)
Carlos Lopez-Barron (ExxonMobil)
Alceo Macchioni (University of Perugia)
Bob Maughon (Sabic)
Scott McIndoe (University of Victoria)
Kalman Migler (NIST)
Alejandro Mueller, (University of Basque Country, Spain)
Alberto Ortin (Polymer Char)
Christian Paulik (Johannes Kepler University)
Marcia Pires (Nova Chemicals)
Kim Ragaert (Maastricht University)
Jay Reimers (ExxonMobil)
Aaron Sadow (Iowa State University)
Roland Schmidt (Arlanxeo)
Susannah Scott (University of California, Santa Barbara)
Ken-ichi Seno (Sumitomo)
Fabio Sofri (Braskem)
Maria Soliman (Sabic)
Theo Tervoort (ETH)

Introduction

The last “Advances in Polyolefins” Workshop (APO 2019) was held in September 2019, with 137 in attendance. This Advances in Polyolefins(APO 22), will be the 13th in this series held biennially. Topics will include catalysis, characterization, physical/mechanical behavior, structure/property relationships, thermal analysis, melt rheology, processing/fabrication, applications, stability/degradation phenomena, and blends/composites. All invited speakers are experts in their areas from both industries and academia worldwide. This workshop will again bring together researchers from industrial, academic, and government laboratories to discuss the state-of-the-art in polyolefin chemistry and technology. The purpose of this workshop is to address key challenges, opportunities and advances in the area of polyolefin research. We are making changes (more social and meal events) to how this workshop is run to allow maximum interactions among all participants.

The 32nd First Annual Ig Nobel Ceremony 2022
2022-09-15 15:00 - 16:30 | Virtual
Sponsored by Improbable Research
September 15, 3-4:30pm PT, Online via Zoom, Free, Learn more

The 32nd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony will happen (as in 2020 and 2021, in deference to the lurking ambitions of Covid-19) entirely online on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 6:00 pm (US eastern time). Ten new Ig Nobel prizes will be awarded for things that make people LAUGH, then THINK.
While you are waiting… watch a recording of last year’s (2021) Ig Nobel Prize ceremony. And dip into some of the press reports, which even include an editorial or two.

Addressing Sustainability Challenges with Earth Abundant Metal Catalysis
2022-09-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Prof. Paul Chirik, Princeton University & Editor-in-Chief, Organometallics
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Office of Sustainable Development, and Organometallics
September 15, 11am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

How chemists interact with and ultimately use the elements on the periodic table is one of the primary sustainability challenges for the 21st century. Applications ranging from alternative energy to the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and every day products should rely on terrestrially abundant elements such as iron rather than rare ones that have a large environmental footprint associated with mining and purification.
Join Paul Chirik, Edward S. Sanford Professor at Princeton University and Editor-in-Chief of Organometallics as he explores the new chemistry enabled by catalysis with Earth abundant transition metals. Dr. Chirik and his research group strive to discover highly effective catalysts with applications in the pharmaceutical, flavor and fragrance, silicones, energy and polymer science industries and often engage with industrial collaborators. They seek to uncover the unique pathways that enable these transformations, many of which are distinct from precious metals and rely on the unique electronic structures of the first row transition metals. Register now to discover the distinct chemistry enabled by iron and cobalt catalysts and the design principles that were used in catalyst discovery. Learn about real-life applications and broad challenges that confront the field such as air-stable, easily handled precursors, functional group tolerance, ligand design and understanding reaction mechanism.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Director of Sustainable Development, Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal of ACS and is co-produced with the ACS Office of Sustainable Development and Organometallics.
Discover more about the webinar topic including submission details for the planned joint Virtual Special Issue in Organometallics and OPR&D “Advances and Applications in Catalysis with Earth-Abundant Metals.”

What You Will Learn

How to understand your elemental footprint and what is the importance of elemental usage in society
What is the indefensible role of hydrocarbons in our daily lives and what are some approaches to increase the sustainability of our elemental usage and hydrocarbon future
What are the potential frontiers in development of sustainable base-metal catalytic transformations

Webinar Details

Thursday, September 15, 2022 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
Slides will be available to download on the day of the webinar

Catalyze the Vote! 2023 ACS President-Elect Candidates
2022-09-14 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
Prof. Mary K. Carroll, Union College; and Prof. Rigoberto Hernandez, Johns Hopkins University
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Younger Chemists Committee
September 14, 2-3pm, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Join Mary K. Carroll of Union College and Rigoberto Hernandez of Johns Hopkins University for a friendly virtual discussion between the 2023 ACS President-Elect Candidates. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover more about each candidate’s values as they answer questions relevant to young chemists as well as the entire Society. Become more informed of their specific goals during this free interactive broadcastY and get the information you need to confidently cast your vote.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Amber Wilson of Green Analytics, LLC and co-produced with the ACS Younger Chemists Committee.

What You Will Learn

Meet the ACS President-Elect Candidates
Listen as the candidates share their vision for ACS
Ask your questions for the candidates

Webinar Details

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 @ 5-6pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
Slides will be available to download on the day of the webinar

ACS Chemical Biology Young Investigators Webinar (7-8:30am & 5-6:30pm)
2022-09-13 07:00 - 08:30 | Virtual
September 13, 2022. Session 1: 7-8:30am. Session 2: 5-6:30pm. Online via Zoom, Free, Learn more and register
The interface of chemistry with biology is continuously evolving, and so is the chemical biology community. As part of our continuous efforts to reflect and promote this rapid progress, we are proud to present this webinar featuring authors from our Young Investigator Special Issue of ACS Chemical Biology. The purpose of this event (and accompanying collection of content) is to promote early career scientists who are doing cutting edge research at the interface of chemistry and biology.

Session 1: 7-8:30am PDT

Chuan He and Peng Chen – Welcome and Introduction
F. Ifthiha Mohideen (Concordia University) – In Vitro Reconstitution of the dTDP-l-Daunosamine Biosynthetic Pathway Provides Insights into Anthracycline Glycosylation
Frédéric Friscourt (Université de Bordeaux) – Impacting Bacterial Sialidase Activity by Incorporating Bioorthogonal Chemical Reporters onto Mammalian Cell-Surface Sialosides
Samira Musah (Duke University) – Adriamycin-Induced Podocyte Injury Disrupts the YAP-TEAD1 Axis and Downregulates Cyr61 and CTGF Expression
Jeremy Baskin (Cornell University) – A Chemoproteomics Approach to Profile Phospholipase D-Derived Phosphatidyl Alcohol Interactions
Sloan Devlin (Harvard Medical School) – A Gut-Restricted Lithocholic Acid Analog as an Inhibitor of Gut Bacterial Bile Salt Hydrolases

Session 2: 5-6:30pm PDT

Chuan He and Peng Chen – Welcome and Introduction
Mia Huang (Scripps Research) – Cell Surface Engineering Enables Surfaceome Profiling
Xiao Wang (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) – Chemically Modified mocRNAs for Highly Efficient Protein Expression in Mammalian Cells
Ellen Sletten (University of California, Los Angeles) – Spatiotemporal Control of Biology: Synthetic Photochemistry Toolbox with Far-Red and Near-Infrared Light
Kabirul Islam (University of Pittsburgh) – Allele-Specific Chemical Rescue of Histone Demethylases Using Abiotic Cofactors
Shixian Lin (Zhejiang University) – Probing the Role of Aurora Kinase A Threonylation with Site-Specific Lysine Threonylation

Moving the Needle: How key interventions can increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM
2022-09-10 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Malika Jeffries-El, Assoc. Dean Graduate School in Arts and Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dept. Chemistry and Div. Materials Science, Boston University
Sponsored by the ACS California Section’s Women’s Chemists Committee (View flyer)
September 10, 10:30am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Abstract:
Although African Americans make up approximately 13% of the US population, they are severely underrepresented in advanced degrees awarded in STEM disciplines. Currently, they hold ~2% of tenure/tenure track positions in research institutions in the US. Despite the overwhelming statistics, Dr. Jeffries-El pursued and completed a doctorate in chemistry, obtained an academic job, and then tenure in promotion in due course. She was born in Brooklyn, NY where she lived in public housing and attended public school. Although her situation was less than ideal, she always had a passion for science that her parents encouraged her to pursue. In this talk, Dr. Jeffries-EL will discuss what excites her about science, diversity, equity and inclusion issues and potential solutions woven all within the context of her personal experiences.
Bio:
Malika Jeffries-El is the Associate Dean of the Graduate School in Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Division of Materials Science at Boston University. Dr. Jeffries-EL’s research focuses on the development of organic semiconductors –materials that combine the processing properties of polymers with the electronic properties of semiconductors. She is a fellow of the American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry and has won numerous awards including the Percy Julian Award from the National Organization of Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), the ACS-Women Chemist Committee Rising Star award, the Iota Sigma Pi Agnes Fay Morgan Award, and the Stanley J. Israel award for diversity. She has authored over 40 publications, received over 4000 citations, and given over 175 invited lectures domestically and abroad.
Professor Jeffries-El, is also a staunch advocate for diversity and a dedicated volunteer that has served in several activities within the American Chemical Society. She is a science communicator who seeks to encourage students from underrepresented groups to pursue STEM degrees and recently appeared on the NOVA series Beyond the Elements. She also serves the community through her work with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA).

International Chemical Biology Society West Coast Symposium: Advancing Chemical Biology Through Industry & Academia Collaboration
2022-09-09 08:00 - 17:00 | In-Person in Mountain View at Cuesta Park Group BBQ Areas #1-2, 615 Cuesta Drive, Mountain View, CA, United States
Keynote speaker: Prof. Carolyn Bertozzi, Stanford University
213 E. Grand Parade, South San Francisco,
September 9, 2022. $100, Registration required
Online registration is available until: 9/9/2022

Executive Committee Meeting for Silicon Valley Section - September 2022
2022-09-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual
Please contact Chair to attend as a guest.

From Wood Pulp to a Candidate Medicine: Green Manufacturing Technologies Enable Production of Nemtabrutinib
2022-09-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Ben Turnbull and Mike Di Maso, Associate Principal Scientists at Merck
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Green Chemistry Pharmaceutical Roundtable
September 8th, 11-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Green manufacturing technologies including biocatalysis, enzyme immobilization, and continuous manufacturing in a packed-bed reactor enabled Merck to produce investigational leukemia drug nemtabrutinib from a biorenewable starting material while reducing an 11-step synthesis down to just two steps! If these green technologies are the future of efficient manufacturing processes, how can all pharmaceutical companies replicate this sustainability success and support the long-term supply of necessary medicines and vaccines?
Join Associate Principal Scientists Ben Turnbull and Mike Di Maso of Merck, part of the team that won the 2022 Peter J. Dunn Award for Green Chemistry and Engineering Impact in the Pharmaceutical Industry, as they explain how they leveraged these green manufacturing technologies to efficiently manufacture nemtabrutinib from a biorenewable commodity material to sustainably push forward this investigational treatment for leukemia.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Philippa (Pippa) Payne of Gilead Sciences and co-produced with the ACS Green Chemistry Pharmaceutical Roundtable.

What You Will Learn

How an 11-step synthesis was reduced to just two steps!
How toxic solvents were replaced with a biorenewable to avoid a highly energy-intensive transformation and employ catalysis to improve efficiency
How three green manufacturing technologies were effectively employed to contribute to the sustainability of the process

Webinar Details

Thursday, September 8, 2022 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
Slides will be available to download on the day of the webinar

Helping Scientists Stay Safe through the Chemistry Safety Library Webinar
2022-09-08 07:00 - 08:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by Pistoia Alliance and CAS
September 8th, 7-8am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

This webinar co-hosted by The Pistoia Alliance and CAS will engage a panel of experts to highlight how scientists and research organizations can reduce the risk of adverse chemical safety events in their labs using the Chemical Safety Library, an open-access platform for searching and sharing hazardous reaction information crowd-sourced from scientists in academic, industry, and government labs around the world.
Learn more about:

The value of crowdsourcing to improve chemical lab safety globally
What the Chemical Safety Library contains
How you can use and contribute to the Chemical Safety Library
Building a safety-focused culture in your lab

How We Study Molecules in Space: Finding and Analyzing Cosmic Carbon
2022-08-31 11:00 - 12:15 | Virtual
Prof. Brett A. McGuire, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Prof. Kyle Crabtree, UC Davis
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Astrochemistry Subdivision
August 31, 11am-12:15pm PT, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required
Slides will be available to download on the day of the webinar

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large reservoir of reactive carbon in the interstellar medium that play a significant role in star and planet formation. These molecules have been observed both in our galaxy and numerous others by NASA telescopes and can even be found on Earth in engine exhaust and the char on a grilled hamburger. But what is the relationship between interstellar PAHs and those found on our planet, and what can that tell us about the makeup of the universe?
Astrochemist Brett McGuire of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology led the GOTHAM research collaboration that in 2021 became the first scientists to identify individual molecules of PAHs via radio observations of the Taurus molecular cloud. This breakthrough will enable astrochemists to investigate the detailed chemical pathways for the formation and destruction of these complex molecules, which until now have only been observed en masse. Register now to discover how we study molecules in space, why PAHs are important to both interstellar chemistry and understanding the origins of life on Earth, and what are the current efforts to understand the chemistry of PAHs in the wake of the GOTHAM collaboration’s discovery.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Kyle Crabtree of the University of California, Davis and is co-produced by the ACS Astrochemistry Subdivision.

What You Will Learn

How we study molecules in space, including detections of PAH molecules via their rotational transitions using Green Bank Telescope observations of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC-1) from the GOTHAM collaboration
Why Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are important to interstellar chemistry
Methods for studying the chemistry of PAHs from Earth, including astrochemical models and laboratory spectroscopy

ACS Fall 2022: Sustainability in a Changing World
2022-08-21 08:00 - 2022-08-25 17:00 | Hybrid event – Michael’s at Shoreline, 2960 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, CA, 94043, United States
Sustainability in a Changing World
ACS Fall 2022
August 21 – 25
Chicago, IL and Online
Abstract timeline and planned symposia available now.

An Evolutionary Mystery: Mirror Asymmetry in Life and in Space (Rebroadcast)
2022-08-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Brett McGuire, National Radio Astronomy Observatory; and Ryan Fortenberry, University of Mississippi
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Astrochemistry Subdivision
August 18, 11am-Noon PT, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Most molecules used by life exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other. One of the great unanswered questions in our evolutionary history is why all life on Earth, and their critical biological molecules like amino acids and proteins, use only one “hand” of these forms. Sugars are exclusively right-handed, amino acids are left-handed, and even DNA coils into right-handed helices. What clues can we glean from molecules in space to discover the possible interstellar origins of this “homochirality?”
Join Astrochemist Brett McGuire of currently the McGuire Group at MIT to find out how chemists are using state-of-the-art tools to peer into the center of our galaxy for the answers!

What You Will Learn

What is the impact of homochirality on biology and chemical evolution
What are the potential origins of homochirality and what are the challenges in studying possible interstellar origins
What was the first detection of a chiral interstellar molecule and what are the challenges associated with measuring a potential chiral excess in space

Webinar Details

Thursday, August 18, 2022 @ 2–3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
Slides will be available to download on the day of the webinar

Extreme Mechanics of Soft Functional Materials
2022-08-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Prof. Lihua Jin, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
Sponsored by the Golden Gate Polymer Forum
August 16, 6-7pm, Online via Zoom, Free/$5 Donation, Registration required (Deadline Aug. 15@1pm)

Soft robotics and stretchable electronics are transforming the fields of robotics and biomedical devices, in that they are capable of sustaining large deformation and interacting safely with fragile objects and human beings. Soft functional materials, as the building blocks of soft robotics and stretchable electronics, are typically subjected to extreme mechanical conditions, such as large deformation, cyclic loading, and fracture. In this seminar, I will present our recent progress in modeling and charactering extreme mechanics of soft functional materials. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are special polymers combining cross-linked elastomers with rod-like liquid crystal mesogens, aligning in a certain direction, called the director. Combining theory and experiments, we show that the directors of a LCE can reorient with stress in a highly rate-dependent manner. We further investigate the coupling between stress and director fields at a crack tip, and observe significant and highly inhomogeneous director rotation, resulting in crack-tip stress and strain distributions of LCEs distinct from those of regular elastomers. Stretchable carbon nanotube electrodes are used in various stretchable electronic devices. When deformed, they show characteristic resistance–strain hysteresis. We use coarse-grained molecular simulations together with experiments to unravel the microstructural origin of the resistance–strain hysteresis. Finally, we study fracture of thin conducting/semiconducting films. We have developed a new testing methodology to measure the fracture energy of free-standing ultrathin films. We further demonstrate that the fracture strain of a thin film is not an intrinsic material property, but can be significantly augmented by tuning interfacial properties.
Speaker Background & Research Interests:

Lihua Jin is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Before joining UCLA in 2016, she was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. In 2014, she obtained her PhD degree in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Fudan University in 2006 and 2009. Jin’s group conducts research on mechanics of soft materials, stimuli-responsive materials, instability and fracture, soft robotics, and biomechanics. Lihua was the winner of Haythornthwaite Research Initiative Grant from American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2016, Extreme Mechanics Letters Young Investigator Award in 2018, Hellman Fellowship in 2019, UCLA Faculty Career Development Award in 2020, and NSF CAREER Award in 2021.

Frontier Fridays: Putting Sustainable Chemistry to Work in Manufacturing
2022-08-12 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Prof. Mark Mascal, University of California at Davis; Prof. Ryan Lively, Georgia Institute of Technology
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Committee on Science, and ACS Office of Sustainable Development
Augusts 11, 10-11:30am, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Building a more sustainable future requires research innovations, but equally important is translating that research into technical solutions for industrial manufacturers where it can have a practical impact. “Frontier Fridays” returns to explore the science that will revolutionize the future of the human race.
Mark Mascal at the University of California Davis (a 2022 EPA Green Chemistry Challenge Award winner) will describe his work with Origin Materials, Inc. in developing and implementing a novel technology to replace chemicals commonly made from petroleum with products derived from forestry, agricultural and municipal wastes. This technology could change the environmental impact of the plastics industry, among others, by supplying chemical feedstocks that are both net zero-carbon and recyclable.
Modern chemical manufacturing depends upon purification via chemical separations and most industrial separations are achieved with energy-intensive, thermally driven processes (e.g., distillation) that account for 10-15% of global energy usage. Dr. Ryan P. Lively at Georgia Tech will describe how his research team and collaborators developed the first polymeric membranes for crude oil fractionation, an extremely complex hydrocarbon separation process that is vital to the production of modern fuels and chemicals. This new approach could drastically reduce the energy needed for industrial separations.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Adelina Voutchkova, Director for Sustainable Development at ACS, and is co-produced with the ACS Committee on Science and the ACS Office of Sustainable Development as part of the 2022 Frontier Fridays series.

What You Will Learn

How biomass waste is being used to make plastics that are net zero-carbon and recyclable
How innovative new materials can dramatically reduce energy use for industrial separations processes
How innovative scientists are working with industry to put these new discoveries to work for society

Executive Committee Meeting for Silicon Valley Section - August 2022
2022-08-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual

Starting a Company: How to Set Up Essential Business Contracts (ACS Webinar)
2022-07-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Jim Verdonik, Innovate Capital
July 28, 11am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Do you want to start a new company based on your research discovery, a new technology, or innovative service? Prepare yourself to enter into LOTS of contracts. There are licensing agreements with your university, shareholder agreements with your co-founders, conflict-of-interest and conflict-of-commitment agreements, funding terms and conditions with investors, employment contracts and many, many more.
Join Professional Corporate and Securities Attorney Jim Verdonik of Innovate Capital as he helps you navigate the intricacies of these various indispensable contracts and prepares you to carefully consider their implications for you and your new company.
Part 8 of our series on Starting a Company is moderated by Jim Skinner of Terregena Inc. and ACS SCHB and 2015 ACS President Diane Grob Schmidt of the University of Cincinnati. This event will have special introductions from 2021 ACS President H.N. Cheng of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and 2022 ACS President Angela Wilson of Michigan State University, and is co-produced with the ACS Division of Small Chemical Businesses and the ACS Division of Business Development & Management.

Polymeric Fibers with Novel Antibacterial and Antiviral Functions
2022-07-20 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual
Prof. Gang Sun, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis
Sponsored by the Golden Gate Polymer Forum
6:30-7:30pm, Online via Zoom, Free/$5 donation, Registration required (Registration deadline: July 19, 1pm)

Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous consequences to the economy and human life in the world. Personal protective equipment (PPE), especially a face mask, is a basic tool for protection of professionals and the public from infection by the disease. The PPE materials are defensive barriers that can block penetrations of and reduce personal exposure to pathogens. However, the pathogens can still survive on surfaces of PPE for days and weeks, allowing potential cross-contamination and causing human infections. Thus, the use of antibacterial and antiviral materials in PPE have been considered as an effective tool to inactivate the pathogens on the surfaces, and consequently improve protection from disease. Additionally, the daily use and consumption of face masks have brought about demand for reusability of PPE. Durability of antibacterial functionality would be a necessary feature for the reuse of the biological protective PPE materials.
In this presentation, desired biological protective functions on PPE are discussed. Two approaches, halamines and photo-sensitizers that can produce reactive oxygen species, are discussed as sample biocides to be considered in the development of reusable biological protective PPEs. The daylight-induced antiviral and antibacterial materials may serve as an example to be employed in reusable and antiviral face masks.
Speaker background and research interests:
Gang Sun is a professor at UC Davis, and has been conducting research on materials, polymer/textile chemistry, and nanotechnologies since 1995, including development of novel antibacterial textiles and polymers for biological protections. Chlorine rechargeable and daylight-induced / photo-induced biocidal materials have been applied or are in the process to be employed in medical, chemical, and biological applications. Additionally, a high-throughput production process for thermoplastic nanofibers and membrane materials with chemical and biological protective functions was developed in the group. Personal-use highly sensitive and selective colorimetric and electrical sensors for pesticides and toxicants were prepared based on nanofibrous membranes. More recently, a new cooling media with non-meltable, reusable, and biodegradable features was invented in the group. Dr. Sun is a recipient of the CAREER award from the National Science Foundation and the Olney Medal from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), and is the Editor-in-Chief of AATCC Journal of Research. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles.

ACS Silicon Valley Annual Picnic and Awards Ceremony
2022-07-16 16:00 - 19:00
Please join us for our annual picnic and awards ceremony!
Registration: Advanced registration required. Registration deadline is July 13, 2022.
Cost: $5 for adults, free for children.
Date: Saturday, July 16, 2022 (download flyer)
Time: 4:00-7:00 pm
4:00-5:00 pm: Beer and Wine Tasting (Altamont Beer Works and Picchetti Wines)
5:00-6:00 pm: Dinner Catered by Armadillo Willy’s
6:00-7:00 pm: Awards for Long-time Members and the Radding Award Winner
Location: Cuesta Park, Group BBQ Area #1-2, 615 Cuesta Dr, Mountain View, CA 94040 (view map) (get directions)
Your safety is our priority. After careful consideration, CDC guidelines, scientific advice, and the ongoing issue of variants, we request
all attendees self-certify their vaccine status and encourage all attendees to wear face coverings during the event while not eating or drinking.
We look forward to seeing you!

Are Hazardous Chemical Facilities Prepared for More Natural Disasters Due to Climate Change? (ACS Webinar)
2022-07-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Krista Mantsch, U.S. Government Accountability Office; and Russell Pfifer, WC Environmental, LLC.
July 7, 2022, 11-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

There are over 11,000 facilities across the United States that handle hazardous chemicals, such as chemical manufacturers and water treatment plants. These facilities face hazards from flooding, rising sea levels, storm surges, wildfires, and other natural disasters that are increasing in frequency due to climate change. According to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), at least 31% of these facilities are already in areas with increased risk from some of these adverse weather events. However, the US Environmental Protection Agency does not consistently assess how they are preparing for the next natural disaster.
Join Senior Analyst Krista Mantsch from GAO’s Natural Resources and Environment team and the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety (CHAS) to learn how chemical facilities can increase their resilience to climate change, including what to consider when updating their existing Risk Management Plans (RMP).
This ACS Webinar is co-produced with the US Government Accountability Office, ACS Chemical Health & Safety, and ACS Advocacy.

47th National Organic Chemistry Symposium
2022-06-26 - 2022-06-30
Sponsored by the ACS Organic Chemistry Division
La Jolla Marriott, California.
Learn more

The National Organic Chemistry Symposium is the premier event sponsored by the Division of Organic Chemistry to highlight recent advances in organic chemistry, and provides a breadth of programming and opportunities that you won’t want to miss. Please plan to join us in 2022!
