SVACS

SLAC Public Lecture: Faster! Catching up to Electrons on the Move (Hybrid Event)
2023-11-30 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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)

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

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

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.

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).

Tour of the Shoreway Environmental Center, the South Bay’s Waste Management Center
2023-11-13 13:00 - 14:30 | 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

Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities Symposium (Hybrid Event)
2023-11-11 06:00 - 13:00 | Hybrid
Sponsored by ACS New York Local Section, ACS Committee on Chemists with Disabilities, ACS Committee on Chemical Safety, and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York
6:00am-1:00pm, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

The National Science Foundation estimates ~10% of undergraduates have at least one disability. The New York Local Section and the Committee on Chemists with Disabilities and the Committee on Chemical Safety of the American Chemical Society and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York are proud to co-sponsor a day-long symposia entitled ‘Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities’. Aimed at high school and college science faculty, graduate teaching assistants, and disability service administrators, this free hybrid program will explore issues including safety considerations in the lab environment, adapted lab equipment and procedures, electronic data collection in the laboratory, adaptations for written handouts, computer resources, and evaluative materials, American Chemical Society materials and programs, and service dogs in the laboratory environment. This event is free, but please register.
E-Book: Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: Published by the ACS Committee on Chemists with Disabilities, the 5th edition is now available in PDF format. This informative tool helps students and educators understand how to identify and address the needs of students with disabilities to ensure an inclusive and accessible chemistry education experience. Download the 5th edition
If you have any need for accommodations, please contact the symposium organizer, Dr. Patricia Redden, at predden@saintpeters.edu.
If you have questions or want to ensure you are on the mailing list, please contact the symposium organizer, Dr. Patricia Redden, at predden@saintpeters.edu. If you have expertise in any of the topics, please contact Dr. Redden to be included in the program.

Psychological Safety is Lab Safety: Using RAMP to Assess DEIR Hazards
2023-11-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Committee on Chemical Safety, and ACS Chemical Health & Safety Division
11:00am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Think back to a time when you tried to go to work or class tired, stressed out, or upset. You likely had difficulty focusing which lead to more mistakes, poor collaboration, and results that were not at your usual level. Now imagine that you feel this way every day at work, and the stakes are higher because those mistakes can lead to dangerous lab incidents. Challenges around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect are often thought of as HR issues, but poor mental health stemming from a toxic lab culture will inevitably lead to scientists engaging in risky lab behavior to protect their psychological safety at the detriment of their physical safety. Students bullied by their peers or supervisors begin to work at night, alone, to avoid those individuals. Professionals who do not hold a Ph.D. are told directly that their opinions on the safety of laboratory procedures do not matter and stop bringing up potential issues. Stress or pressure to produce results quickly (in both academia and industry) lead to improper risk assessment and unsafe practices.

Diversity of thought creates a culture to avert disaster and a workspace where safety can be proactive rather than reactive. In a recently published JACS article, anecdotes from academia and industry describe positive situations where a bench scientist who disclosed their pregnancy led to in-depth conversations around reproductive health and best safety practices in their lab. Individuals who came from different countries, universities, or companies were empowered to bring new perspectives to improve safety and challenge unsafe practices by suggesting alternative syntheses or chemical reagents. Individuals who felt psychologically safe enough to share their cultures with others had increased engagement.
Join authors of “Reducing Risk: Strategies to Advance Laboratory Safety through Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect,” Debbie Decker of ACS CHAS, Anna Dunn of Merck, and Daniel Jacques of SUNY Brockport, as they discuss the latest research regarding the intersection of Safety and DEIR with innovative ideas on how to mitigate this hazard. Register now to discover how addressing DEIR hazards or issues by using the RAMP risk assessment framework will advance safety for all laboratory personnel.
This ACS Webinar is co-produced with the ACS Committee on Chemical Safety and the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety.

What You Will Learn

What is a DEIR hazard and what are some ideas on how to mitigate these risks
How one might apply the RAMP assessment concept to DEIR hazards
Anecdotes from academia and industry regarding how marginalization, stereotyping, unconscious or conscious bias, or other forms of exclusion have directly or indirectly led to increased safety incidents in the lab

Webinar Details

Thursday, November 9, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
Slides will be available on the day of the Live event

The James Webb Space Telescope: Astrochemistry's Exciting New Window
2023-11-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
The James Webb Space Telescope: Astrochemistry’s Exciting New Window
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and the ACS PHYS Astrochemistry Subdivision
11:00am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

The James Webb Space Telescope (“Webb”), the new flagship space mission from NASA, can operate with exquisite sensitivity at infrared wavelengths and with two spectrometers on board covering the 1-28 micron wavelength range at medium spectral resolution (R~3000), it is also a fantastic new astrochemistry machine!

Join Ewine van Dishoeck, Professor of Molecular Astrophysics at Leiden University as she presents the fascinating initial results of mid-infrared spectra of gases and ices in various environments, ranging from cold dark clouds to warm protostars and planet-forming disks. During this interactive webinar you will explore the intricate chemistry behind the fascinating ice spectra found in the outer envelopes of protostars, revealing complex molecular evidence. Then delve into the chemical makeup of young and mature disks, unveiling a diverse array of gaseous compounds such as CO, OH, H2O, CO2, C2H2, and HCN, while uncovering exciting discoveries of novel molecules. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the synergetic interplay of astronomy and chemical physics of our forming solar systems!
This ACS Webinar is moderated by David Woon of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is co-produced with the ACS PHYS Astrochemistry Subdivision.

What You Will Learn

A large variation in H2O vs CO2 is found in astronomical sources
A rich hydrocarbon chemistry–from methane to benzene–is associated with very low-mass stars
Complex organic molecules are formed in ices

Webinar Details

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
Slides will be available on the day of the Live event

Shining Light on Solar Cells and Their Material Impacts
2023-11-04 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Rachel Woods-Robinson, PhD, University of Washington Clean Energy Institute
Sponsored by California ACS
10:30am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Abstract: Addressing climate change requires transitioning to renewables such as photovoltaic solar panels, but one key barrier to this transition is that we need better materials. In this talk, we’ll start at the sun and then zoom into a solar panel all the way down to the nanoscale, highlighting materials challenges that scientists face at each length scale to make solar more efficient, reliable, and sustainable. We’ll meet the different material components, such as absorbers and transparent conductors (TCs), and I’ll share some of my research into designing new TCs for solar. Next, we’ll zoom back out to discuss challenges we face beyond the lab in bringing solar to society, including critical raw materials, environmental impacts, and “green sacrifice zones.” Lastly, I’ll share some insights from my outreach project Cycle for Science and college course Cycle the Rockies.
About the speaker: Rachel Woods-Robinson (she/her) received a B.S. in Physics from UCLA, and a Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley and Berkeley Lab designing new crystals for solar energy by combining computational chemistry, thin film growth, and device fabrication. Rachel recently started as a Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute to study environmental and human impacts of such new solar materials. In addition to research goals to curtail climate change, Rachel aims to support scientists in sharing our work accessibly and engaging collaboratively with our communities, and loves outdoor adventuring. She co-founded “Cycle for Science,” in which scientists go on bicycle tours and visit K-12 classes to teach hands-on lessons about sustainability, and she instructs “Cycle the Rockies” (Wild Rockies Field Institute), an immersive month-long course in which undergrads ride bicycles across Montana to learn about local energy and climate impacts.

4th Annual Bay Area Chemistry Symposium (BACS) 2023
2023-11-03 | In-person
Robertson Auditorium, UCSF Mission Bay
For more information on sponsorship & registration: bayareachemistrysymposium.com
View and share flyer

Join Us for the 4th Annual Bay Area Chemistry Symposium (BACS)
The Bay Area Chemistry Symposium provides a unique opportunity to connect local students and academics with scientists from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, covering themes of synthesis and design in medicinal, process, biological, and computational chemistry. The one-day symposium will feature keynote addresses given by leading professors and industrial chemists from the Bay Area and showcase research talks from graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and industry researchers. A poster session will also take place with presentations representing research conducted in both academic and industry laboratories. This symposium, co-chaired by Professor Ian Seiple of UCSF and Caleb Karmel of Maze Therapeutics, promises to be an exciting and influential community building event for synthetic, medicinal, and computational chemists across the Bay Area.

Silicon Valley ACS Executive Committee Meeting
2023-11-02 19:00 - 21:00 | Hybrid
7:00-9:00pm, Online via Zoom, Free. To attend as a guest, please contact the Chair.

CAS SciFinderⁿ Live: What's New and Upcoming
2023-10-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service)
11am-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 the overall impact on researching in CAS SciFinderⁿ. Stick around until the end for a preview of some additional enhancements you can expect in the coming months.
What You Will Learn

Stay current on the latest enhancements in CAS SciFindern.
See how these enhancements improve existing workflows and ask questions specific to your own research.
Get a sneak peek at some of the upcoming enhancements in CAS SciFindern.

Presenter(s): TBD

Kid Makers: Pop Up Chemistry for Middle School Scientists
2023-10-21 11:00 - 11:30 | 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)
11:00-11:30AM, RCPL Downtown Location, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, Free, Learn more

Young scientists explore different aspects of chemistry! Celebrate National Chemistry with with a special Pop Up Chemistry. Join members of the ACS in the Makerspace and take part in hands on experiments. For ages 9-12.

National Chemistry Week, Ronald McDonald House
2023-10-20 | In-person
Sponsored by Silicon Valley ACS
Volunteers needed. Please contact us.

National Chemistry Week (NCW) is a public awareness campaign that promotes the value of chemistry in everyday life. ACS members and chemistry enthusiasts celebrate NCW by coordinating events and communicating the importance of chemistry. Read more about NCW.
National Chemistry Week (#ACS_NCW) is celebrated this year during the week of October 15-21, with the theme “The Healing Power of Chemistry.” Chemistry plays a crucial role in formulating the medicines we take when we get sick, developing the vaccinations we roll our sleeves up for, and testing the blood samples that we provide at our doctors’ offices.
The theme recognizes the tremendous advances made by medical professionals and scientists with inspiration from ancient peoples’ habits, from plants and animals in the wild, and from our own bodies’ mechanisms to prevent, fight, heal, and restore us to health. Did you know, currently about 11 percent of all medicines considered “essential” by the World Health Organization (WHO) are derived from flowering plants?

Exploring Health And Environment: Navigating Chemicals In Our Everyday Lives
2023-10-11 17:00 - 19:30 | In-person
A Joint Event Between California Section of American Chemical Society & Association of Women in Science, East Bay Chapter.
Schedule:
5:00 – 5:30 PM: Sign-Up and Networking
5:30 – 6:30 PM: Talk and Q&A
6:30 – 7:30 PM: Networking W/ Light Bites
Location: 4D Molecular Therapeutics, 5959 Horton St., #200 conference room, Emeryville, CA 94608. Free, registration required.
Abstract: The presentation delves into the prevalent challenges of human infertility and congenital defects exacerbated by environmental toxins. Chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, present in plastics, cosmetics, and personal care items, disrupt hormones and pathways as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). Despite efforts to replace BPA with alternatives labeled “BPA-Free,” these substitutes carry similar risks. These findings emphasize the potential health risks, urging consumer awareness, policy reform, and sustainable alternatives.
About the speaker: Prof. Sonya Schuh, originally from Southern California, developed a passion for nature and water activities. Her curiosity and upbringing by educator parents led her to a science career. She earned a B.S. in Marine Biology and Zoology from Humboldt State University and conducted marine research. Later, she completed her Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Washington, focusing on chemical effects on sperm. At Stanford’s Stem Cell Biology Institute, she delved into genes and environmental factors affecting human reproduction. Joining Saint Mary’s College of California, she initiated a research program on endocrine disruptors’ impact on stem cells and embryos. Dedicated to teaching and diverse collaborations, her most cherished accomplishment is her three children, inspiring her ongoing commitment to shaping a better future.

The Silicon Valley ACS invites you to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum for wine-tasting & networking, a discussion of winemaking, and garden strolls
2023-10-07 12:30 - 15:00 | In-person UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Santa Cruz, United States
Saturday, October 7, 2023, 12:30-3pm at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden, Horticulture Room 2. Cheese, fruit, and veggies will be served. All attendees 21 years+ will receive a glass of wine during the reception (12:30pm-1pm) and will taste four different wines during Phil Crews’ presentation (1pm-3pm). View flyer.
Reservations required by September 29th: $15 regular, $10 students, Free for under 21. Pay at the door with cash or check. Includes access to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum all day, 9am-5pm.

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden | Visitor Guide & Updated Trail Map (PDF) | Directions
Watch a video narrated by Frans Lanting, noted wildlife photographer, explaining the unique value of Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

Wines from great vintages to wildfire catastrophes: Merging natural products chemistry fundamentals with sensory evaluations. A workshop to gain a 21st Century perspective.
Prof. Phil Crews, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UC Santa Cruz

Abstract: Wine is a complex liquid comprised of many bioorganic compounds in a 12.5% alcoholic solution with a pH range of 3-4. Wine quality assessment and winemaking methods have been in place for many centuries. Nowadays, contemporary approaches to winemaking are quite scientific as many aspects of this complex drink appear to be understood. For example, there is an excellent contemporary book, “Understanding Wine Chemistry” (Waterhouse et al., 2017). Decades ago, Wired Magazine reported on the Grapes of Math (GoM) in a comprehensive article to underscore that consulting companies exist to help winemakers craft award winning wines. The GoM approach uses databases created via metabolomics approaches. On the other hand, many subscribe to the idea that successful winemaking and wine quality evaluations can be achieved by just using a “right-brained” approach. In this wine-centric event we will explore principles of wines and winemaking through natural products & sensory evaluations. Different flavor outcomes achieved in winemaking as a function of grape variety and the terroir differences of vineyards in California will be illustrated. The approaches to wine creation will be explored using case examples. Everyone at the workshop will have a chance to dissect the major and minor complex flavors and aromas associated with wines and to correlate them with a few key biomolecules. Answers to vexing questions will be sought by examining outcomes derived from tasting and talking about three different Burgundy style California wines. Also discussed with be recent advances obtained by the Santa Cruz campaign (UCSC & SC Labs) using small molecule natural product wine chemo-markers to forecast wine quality damage caused by wildfire smoke.
Recommended reading before the workshop: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00028 (open access)

Biography: Phil Crews is a California native and has spent most of his academic career in the state. He received his B.S. from the University of California at Los Angeles and his Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara working with Domenick Bertelli. After becoming a postdoc at Princeton University, in 1970, he started as an Assistant Professor and is currently an Emeritus Professor for the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at UC Santa Cruz. The primary goals of his research group were to understand the chemistry of tropical marine sponges and marine-derived fungi. Bioassay-guided isolation assisted in the discovery of natural products potent against human diseases such as cancer and neglected tropical diseases. The search for novel active compounds incorporated elements of structure elucidation, employing state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Crews Lab site
A passionate home-winemaker and wine educator, he took his “hobby” public. Specializing in Burgundian and Rhone style wines from select coastal vineyards, the Pelican Ranch Winery is a family owned and operated winery in the heart of Capitola. Established in 1997, the winery is just a few blocks from Monterey Bay, which provides a constant, cool, coastal influence that allows for the making of fine elegant wines.

Silicon Valley ACS Executive Committee Meeting
2023-10-05 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-09-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual
7:30-9:00pm, Online via Zoom, Free. To attend as a guest, please contact the Chair.

The “Ins and Outs” of Networking
2023-10-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars, ACS Professional Relations Division, and ACS Industry Member Programs
Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Your professional network is critical for your development and success as it creates future opportunities and strengthens your influence within your organization. Sounds like a great idea in theory, but how do you make it a reality at your current workplace?

Join frequent ACS Webinar contributor, Matt Grandbois of DuPont Electronics & Industrial, as he shares more of his actionable tips and tricks for growing your network especially among the colleagues you interact with most…your coworkers inside the workplace! Register now to discover how to have fun while building a network that opens doors and increases your influence as you grow your career.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Katherine Johnson of the ACS Younger Chemists Committee and ACS Division of Professional Relations and co-produced with ACS Industry Member Programs.

What You Will Learn

What is the difference between internal networking and external networking
What are the benefits of growing your internal network and its impact on your career
Strategies for increasing your influence and impact through internal networking

Webinar Details

Thursday, October 5, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
The slides will be available for download on the day of the event

Co-Produced With

ACS Industry Member Programs and ACS Division of Professional Relations

Who Will Win the #ChemNobel? Predicting the 2023 Nobel Laureate(s) in Chemistry
2023-09-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and C&EN
Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Can’t wait until Oct. 4 when the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announces the winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry? Neither can we.

Join Laura Howes of Chemical & Engineering News and a panel of special guests as they make their predictions for who will receive this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry and why. Enjoy a lively discussion about why prize winners are often polymaths, whether hot topics in chemistry like Artificial Intelligence, and the COVID-19 pandemic will impact this year’s decision-making process, and which fields of science (and scientists) that our panel believes are historically underrepresented and should be considered for future awards.
During this free interactive broadcast cast your virtual vote and ask the panelists questions about Nobel-worthy science! This is ACS Webinar is co-produced by Chemical & Engineering News.

What You Will Learn

Who are our front-runners for this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry and why
Why Nobel prize winners often don’t just focus on their science
Big ideas in chemistry that we think should someday win the prize

Webinar Details

Thursday, September 28, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to register with ACS ID
The slides will not be shared, we don’t want to give away the panelists’ votes!

Co-Produced With
Chemical & Engineering News

Adapting to AI in Peer Review and the Publishing Process
2023-09-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Cosponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS on Campus
Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Artificial intelligence and other automated tools continue to become more ubiquitous throughout society, but how will this affect researchers as future applications of AI-powered algorithms impact each stage of the review and publishing process?

Join Sonja Krane of ACS Publications and Osvaldo Oliviera of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces for an interview and audience Q&A session on AI and the impact to the peer review and publishing processes and systems. Be part of the conversation regarding the varied ways that the scientific and academic communities are embracing or resisting AI and get a glimpse into the current and future role of AI in publishing and peer review processes. Register now for a deeper understanding of AI as well as the critical issues to ensure its responsible and effective implementation in the scientific community.
This ACS Webinar is co-produced with ACS on Campus.

What You Will Learn

How AI is positively and negatively impacting the publishing and peer review as well as the author, reviewer, and researcher
How the scientific and academic communities are reacting to and using AI
The present and future state of AI in the publishing and peer review processes

Webinar Details

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
The slides will be available for download on the day of the event

Co-Produced With

ACS on Campus

2023 SSRL/LCLS Users' Meeting
2023-09-24 - 2023-09-29 | Hybrid event – SLAC, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, 94025, United States
Sponsored by the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) National Laboratory
2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California USA.
Learn more and register. General $275, Student $50.

Every year, thousands of scientists from universities, laboratories, and private companies around the world use our cutting-edge research facilities. Their discoveries benefit a wide range of fields, including materials and energy sciences, chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, engineering, astronomy, and physics.
This annual meeting is a unique opportunity to gather together the light source community in a single scientific event that includes numerous presentations in the plenary, poster, and parallel sessions. Participants can learn about current/future facility capabilities and the latest user research and discuss science with colleagues from academia, research laboratories, and industry worldwide.
Come join us for the opportunity to join the following sessions for scientific exchange, discussions, and awards: plenary sessions, keynote talks, award presentations, scientific workshops, poster sessions, town hall discussions, and breakout sessions.

The Gut Microbiome-Brain Alliance: The Connection to Health and Disorders
2023-09-20 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars
Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

The Human microbiota, often referred to as the “forgotten organ,” is a large collection of predominantly bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and archaea. With around 40 trillion bacterial cells, its size eclipses the number of cells in your own body. But, what does the latest research tell us about this hidden ecosystem and the constant communication that exists between the gut and brain?

Join an expert panel from Bayer, the California Institute of Technology, and CAS as they discuss recent research on the gut microbiome−brain axis, its complexity, functionality, and its effect on health and disorders. Register now for free to discover how gut microbiota in humans has evolved and how it plays a key role in health and disease.
This ACS Webinar is a co-produced with CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society.

What You Will Learn

Examples of how the gut microbiome-brain axis uses constant bidirectional communication in its role in many physiological processes in the human body
What is the correlation between living microorganisms found in the gut and their effect on gastrointestinal and mental disorders
What are some clinical applications of gut-microbiota-related substances and metabolites with their development pipelines

Webinar Details

Wednesday, Sept 20, 2023 @ 2-3:30pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
The slides will be available for download on the day of the event

The Physics and Chemistry of the Atomic Nucleus
2023-09-16 10:30 - 12:00
Heather Crawford, PhD, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
Sponsored by California ACS Section
10:30am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

Abstract
The atomic nucleus truly sits at the intersection of chemistry and physics – over the decades both scientific fields have laid claim to these uniquely mysterious quantum systems. I will talk in this presentation about the current state-of-the-art in nuclear science, including the new Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, which is opening a new era for studies of the nucleus. I’ll also discuss what we are learning each day to advance our understanding of nuclei across the Segre chart, and through these studies, our knowledge of the origin of the elements and isotopes we find on Earth and across the cosmos.
About The Speaker
Heather Crawford received her B.Sc. in Chemistry from Simon Fraser University, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. She earned her Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from Michigan State University, working with Prof. Paul Mantica and studying the beta-decay properties of neutron-rich isotopes of Ca, Sc and Ti at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the nuclear structure group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), before moving to an Assistant Professor of Physics position at Ohio University in Athens, OH. Heather then returned to LBNL as a career-track and now career staff scientist in the nuclear structure group. She is a researcher into the structure of very neutron-rich exotic nuclei and served for 5 years as the chair of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) Users executive committee, representing a user’s group of 1400+ scientists.
RSVP here!
Zoom link to be shared with attendees the day of the event.
Please register before Thursday, September 14, 2023, 12 noon. Your email address is needed to send the Zoom link, which will be shared with attendees on or before the day of the event via Brown Paper Tickets.
Please visit the CalACS website www.calacs.org to register for this meeting or use Brown Paper Tickets.
The event is FREE and open to the community. More information: e-mail WCC co-chair Elaine Yamaguchi.

The 33rd First Annual Ig Nobel Prizes: Act I (Webcast)
2023-09-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Virtual
Sponsored by Improbable Research
3-4:30pm, Online via Zoom, Free, Learn more

The 2023 ceremony will happen entirely as a webcast, not in a theatre.
Livestream options will be made available here.
The ceremony itself will include these and other traditional elements:

Winners — Ten new Ig Nobel Prize winners will be introduced. Each winner (or winning team) has done something that makes people LAUGH, then THINK
Presenters — A gaggle of genuine, genuinely bemused Nobel laureates will hand the Ig Nobel Prizes to the new Ig Nobel winners. Here are some of this year’s prize presenters:

Frances Arnold (chemistry, 2018)
Marty Chalfie (chemistry 2008)
Peter Doherty (physiology or medicine 1996)
Esther Duflo (economics 2019)
Jerry Friedman (physics 1990)
Wolfgang Ketterle (physics, 2001)
Eric Maskin (economics 2007)
Ardem Patapoutian (physiology or medicine, 2021)
Al Roth (economics 2012)
Rich Roberts (physiology or medicine 1993)
Barry Sharpless (chemistry 2001 and chemistry 2022)

Theme — the theme of the 2023 ceremony, evinced in the non-opera and other bits, is: Water.
Mini-Non-Opera — A new mini-non-opera — about water — will premier as part of the ceremony, starring:

Alexey Eliseev, book
Ivan Gusev, piano
Barbara Allen Hill, soprano
Thomas Michel, accordion
Julie Reimann, cello

Scott Taylor, baritone

24/7 Lectures — Several of the world’s great thinkers will tell us, briefly, what they are thinking about (first in 24 seconds, then in 7 words) in the 24/7 Lectures. Here are this year’s 24/7 lecturers:

Nadia Dominici & Alberto Minetti & Yury Ivanenko — TOPIC: Running on water on the moon
David Hu — TOPIC: Water in the human body
Erika Johnson — TOPIC: Hydrodynamics
Jasmine Nirody — TOPIC: Gekkos running on water
Andrea Sella — TOPIC: Medium density amorphous ice

Paper Airplanes — Paper airplanes will be thrown, by people in many countries and many walks of life.
Welcome, Goodbye — The traditional Welcome, Welcome Speech and the traditional Goodbye, Goodbye Speech will maintain the standard for what welcome speeches and goodbye speeches should be.
And other things

Mass Spectrometry Made Simple; or, How to Weigh a Molecule (Even Though There Isn’t a Way to Weigh a Molecule)
2023-09-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Office of Career and Professional Education
Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

What does an exploding car and a motorboat have in common with mass spectrometry?

Lee Polite of Axion Anyaltical Labs and his entertaining analogies return to ACS Webinars for another journey through the world of mass spectrometry! Mass spectrometry is one of the most important analytical tools available to scientists, but many chemists feel its complexity is beyond understanding. From the fundamentals to quadrupoles to GCMS to LCMS to triple quadrupoles, he will explain how these different instruments work, how best to choose the most appropriate tool for a specific application, and break down this seemingly complex topic into simple steps appropriate for scientists at all levels of experience!
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Bryan Tweedy of the American Chemical Society and co-produced with the Office of Career and Professional Education.

What You Will Learn

The fundamental operation of a mass spectrometer, the world’s most powerful identification tool
Why GC/MS is the single best approach for identifying most unknowns, while LC/MS/MS is by far the most sensitive instrument on the market
How to differentiate among the various instrument choices

Webinar Details

Thursday, September 14, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
The slides will be available for download on the day of the event

Co-produced With

ACS Office of Career and Professional Education

Passport to Progress: New Immigration Initiatives for International Students and Early Career STEM Researchers
2023-09-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Advocacy
Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

International students and professionals bring the United States a wealth of knowledge, skills, and perspectives that can help drive innovation and economic growth. Did you know that new immigration initiatives are now available to attract and retain international STEM talent?

Join Dan Berger of Curran Berger & Kludt LLP and Jonathan Grode of Green and Spiegel as they discuss how students and junior researchers can build their profile to prepare for higher level US immigration categories and how mentors in academia or industry can help support these kinds of applications. This webinar will share invaluable advice from lawyers experienced in immigration case law that can benefit researchers, scientists, students, industry professionals…anyone interested in understanding the US immigration system!
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Heath Weems of the American Chemical Society and co-produced with ACS Advocacy.

What You Will Learn

What are the latest US immigration options for STEM talent, including recent Biden Administration STEM immigration initiatives
How can students and junior researchers qualify for achievement based immigration categories
How mentors can help support their employees, students and lab members in being ready for success in the US immigration system

Webinar Details

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
The slides will be available for download on the day of the event

Co-Produced With

ACS Advocacy

Chemical Vapor Deposition Techniques for Design & Synthesis of Polymer Nanomaterials
2023-09-07 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Prof. Rong Yang, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
Sponsored by the Golden Gate Polymer Forum, GGPF
5PM Pacific time, Online via Zoom, Registration required (Registration deadline: Sept. 6th @ 1pm)

Abstract
Polymers are some of the most prevalent materials in the modern age. While they have been predominantly synthesized in solution and processed into a variety of macroscopic sizes and shapes, the need for programmability in microscopic morphology has challenged traditional synthesis approaches. Recent advances in vacuum-based synthesis technologies, such as initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD) and Condensed Droplet Polymerization (CDP), have enabled a new mode of control over material properties during polymerization. Distinct from prior research that has placed a strong emphasis on the design of monomer molecular structure and controlled polymerization, the all-dry synthesis methods enable manipulation of the molecular interactions, such as nanoscale dewetting, molecular complexation, and long-range molecular ordering, to achieve programmable nanoscale structures. In this talk, we will use three examples to illustrate the underlying principles and potential benefits of this distinct synthesis paradigm: (i) leveraging nanoscale dewetting of nonpolar liquids to create polymeric nanodomes with spatiotemporal resolution on the nanoscale; (ii) enabling vapor-phase molecular complexation during polymerization to achieve an unprecedented range of molecular weight, mechanical properties, and film morphology; and (iii) templating continuous polymerization via structured liquids. Taken together, these advances in manipulating the physicochemical interactions during polymerization are poised to open up a new dimension in the design and synthesis of programmable polymeric materials, benefiting numerous existing and future technologies, ranging from membrane separation to drug delivery.
Speaker Background
Dr. Rong Yang is an Assistant Professor at the R.F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell University and a Faculty Fellow at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2009 from Tsinghua University in Beijing, her M.S. in Chemical Engineering Practice from MIT in 2012, and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT in 2014. From 2014-2016, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she later became an Assistant Professor before joining Cornell in 2019. Her research lies at the intersection of material science and biomedical engineering, with a focus on all-dry polymer synthesis techniques, functional nano- or living materials with controlled morphology and reactivity, and their application in drug delivery, infectious disease treatment, and environmental sustainability. Her work has been recognized by the NIH Pathway to Independence Award, the NSF CAREER Award, the ACS PMSE Young Investigator Award, and the Intel® Rising Star Faculty Award, among others.

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: Mentors, Imposter Syndrome, and Diversity
2023-09-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect (DEIR)
11am-Noon, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required

How can you choose a mentor that will support your academic and personal career goals? How do you recognize and overcome imposter syndrome? How can you champion diversity and why is it vital to do so?
Dr. Armando M. Rivera-Figueroa, Dean of Economic Development and Workforce Education at Los Angeles City College will share the inspirational story of his journey overcoming challenges and embracing opportunities on his way to a successful academic career as a Community College chemistry faculty, investigator, and administrator. Learn the importance of choosing and having a mentor at all stages of an academic and professional career, how imposter syndrome can show up unannounced, why it is important to recognize it, and ways to overcome it; and finally, how to champion diversity, when and how to speak up, and why it is important to do it. Register now to learn how to embrace diversity, take as many opportunities as possible, and never be ashamed to ask for help!
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay, Senior Vice President of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) at the American Chemical Society and is co-produced by the Office of DEIR at ACS.

What You Will Learn

How to find support and mentorship as student and professional
How to overcome imposter syndrome
Examples of strategies to champion diversity

Webinar Details

Thursday, September 7, 2023 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to Register with ACS ID
The slides will be available for download on the day of the event

Co-produced With

ACS Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect
