SVACS

ACS Virtual Office Hours: Careers & Internships at U.S. National Laboratories
2026-03-05 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Careers
March 5, 2026, from 9:00-10:30 am
Online, Free, Registration required

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Laboratories tackle some of the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges across energy, science, environmental stewardship, and national security. With 17 National Labs located across the U.S., these institutions offer access to world-class facilities, specialized instrumentation, and interdisciplinary research teams.
Beyond their research impact, the National Labs provide a wide range of career pathways, including undergraduate and graduate internships, graduate research support, postdoctoral fellowships, and research staff positions. Because most Labs are operated by contractors or consortia rather than the federal government, their hiring processes can be complex and difficult to navigate.
This workshop will provide an overview of the DOE National Laboratory system, highlight key facilities, and offer practical guidance on how to explore and pursue career opportunities across the Labs.
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify major National Laboratory facilities and understand their internship and job application processes
Explore unique fellowship opportunities available at individual laboratories
Understand DOE complex-wide internship and fellowship programs
Gain clarity on clearance requirements associated with National Lab positions

Following the presentation, attendees will be able to ask their questions directly during a dedicated 30-minute Question and Answer session with the facilitator.

Navigating Career Disruption: Reframe, Adapt, and Reengineer
2026-03-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars and ACS Women Chemists Committee
March 5, 2026, from 11:00 am – Noon
Free, Online, Registration required

Heraclitus’ quote, “Change is the only constant,” remains relevant to chemical sciences today. Adopting a “disrupt or be disrupted” mindset is key to succeeding in this evolving field.
Join Liana Vaccari of IUPAC as she discusses career strategies for both good and challenging times and share personal experiences on adapting, transitioning, and gaining insights in the dynamic chemical science landscape. Register now to discover how by proactively embracing change, drawing wisdom from real-world experiences, and skillfully adapting to disruptions, you unlock the power to shape your own career journey and achieve lasting, meaningful success.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Danniebelle Haase of Dow and co-produced with the ACS Women Chemists Committee.

What You Will Learn

How to stay flexible and open-minded: Embracing change with a proactive attitude allows you to see new possibilities and adapt quickly to shifting circumstances
How to leverage your network and seek support: Connecting with mentors, colleagues, and industry peers provides valuable guidance and resources during times of transition
How to commit to continuous learning: Building new skills, learning from career pivots and staying informed helps you remain resilient and competitive in the face of disruption

Event Details

Thursday, March 5, 2026 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to attend
Slides will be available on day of the webinar

Co-Produced With

ACS Women Chemists Committee

Codemaker: CRISPR’s Origins and Applications (The 52nd Annual Linus Pauling Lectureship)
2026-03-06 16:00 - 17:00 | In-person
Sponsored by Stanford Department of Structural Biology
4:00-5:00 pm, Stanford University, Sapp Center Auditorium (STLC 111), Learn more
Directions and parking
Free Visitor Parking at Stanford University

About the Speaker:
Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D. – Nobel Laureate in Chemistry; Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences and Professor in the Departments of Chemistry and Molecular & Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

ACS CHAS Workshop: Risk Management in the Research Lab
2026-03-08 12:00 - 15:30 | Virtual
Sunday, March 8 from 12 pm to 3:30 pm PT
Sponsored by ACS Division of Chemical Health & Safety
Online, $25/participant, Registration required

This 3.5-hour workshop is primarily directed at frontline researchers in academic institutions: graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduate students.
Learn the principles of the RAMP paradigm through a series of case studies and discussion sessions focused on practicing each of the RAMP steps.
Faculty and safety staff are also encouraged to attend to learn strategies to better prepare the student researchers on their campuses for risk management of their experimental work.
This workshop is designed to be highly interactive, both to encourage networking among our participants and to support participants in developing functional plans to take back to their institutions. We utilize the Zoom platform to support both large group and small group activities. Those who have reported the workshop as useful are also those who heavily engaged. The participants add value to this workshop as much, if not more than, the organizers!
While we certainly understand that the unevenness of Internet connectivity and the challenges of work-from-home can serve as barriers, we strongly advise you to come to this workshop prepared to engage with mics and cameras on! If this is not possible, we ask that you engage via the chat function.
While this workshop has been designed from a US perspective, we have had participants from multiple countries report that they found it useful as well! This international audience is just one more reason why the interactivity among participants is so vital to the success of the workshop for all participants!
This workshop is brought to you by the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety as one of two workshops in the ACS CHAS Peer Led Workshop Series. To learn more about the Division and the ACS CHAS Peer Led Workshop Series, please visit our main website at dchas.org.

Silicon Valley ACS Executive Committee Meeting
2026-03-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Hybrid
Sponsored by the Silicon Valley ACS local section
7:00-8:30 pm, Hybrid Event, Free, Guests welcome: contact Chair to attend

Teaching Forensic Chemistry from a Mastery Perspective (AACT Webinar)
2026-03-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Forensic chemistry has gained a lot of traction over the past years. Students are more engaged in this discipline when instructors use inquiry-based learning and objective-mastery assessments. In this webinar, we will discuss how a new forensic chemistry class and laboratory course was implemented and how effective it has been to use this model to teach chemical principles.
If you are looking to incorporate more forensics-based teaching into your classroom, take a look at our Forensics Unit Plan.
Presenters: Carlos Olivo, Associate Chemistry Professor, Colorado State University
Date: Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, at 7:00 PM Eastern time

Paving the Path: Virtual Career Panel & Pizza-fueled Watch Parties
2026-03-16 16:30 - 18:30 | Hybrid
March 16th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Register by March 15 and choose a watch party location so we order enough food. Download flyer (PDF)
Calling all community college and transfer students interested in chemistry-related fields!
Silicon Valley American Chemical Society (SVACS) invites you to interact with a career panel of 4 chemistry professionals, all of whom began their educational journeys at community colleges. They will highlight their unique professional journeys and tell us their stories of resilience and determination. This year’s panelists are
MAGI YASSA, Materials Chemist, National Lab
RICKI MENARD, Chemical Technician, Industry
DAVID SANTIAGO, Graduate Student, Academia
LISA OLSHANSKY, Associate Professor, Academia
This virtual career panel can be accessed by Zoom on your own or at an in-person watch party at:

Cabrillo College
Cal State U Monterey Bay (CSUMB)
Evergreen Valley College
Foothill College
Gavilan College
Hartnell College
Mission College
West Valley College

The in-person watch parties will also include refreshments (read: pizza), networking, and ACS swag. Register by March 15 and choose a watch party location so we order enough food. All registrants will be contacted by email with the Zoom link and the location of the watch party on their choice of campus (if applicable).
Can’t make it to the watch party? Register & get the link to join us on your own by Zoom. Looking forward to an animated evening of inspirational stories and pizza-fueled conversation!

Careers in Industrial Chemistry: Identifying Your Role in the Value Chain
2026-03-18 09:00 - 10:30 | Virtual
This free, 90-minute virtual live event will provide an overview of the job market and job types for industrial chemistry. You will also learn about the latest employment trends and discuss what skills and values align with each sector, helping you identify the area best suited for your personal background and interests.
What You Will Learn:

How the industrial value chain can be used as a tool to help refine your job search in alignment with your strengths and values
Key components of job descriptions and how to break down job descriptions to best match job opportunities with your experience, strengths, and values.

The first hour of the workshop will feature a presentation by an ACS Career Consultant, while the last 30 minutes will be a dedicated Q&A session between participants and the facilitator.

Using spreadsheets to explore and make sense of data (AACT Webinar)
2026-03-18 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
College professors are reporting that students are coming to college with a lack of spreadsheet skills and knowledge. In this webinar, participants will gain techniques in using spreadsheets to take sets of data (whether created in class or found from external sources) and distill results from them. Skills include graphing, performing calculations, filtering data, conditional formatting, and more.
Speaker: Sean Regan, College Prep Chemistry Teacher
Sean Regan graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a master’s degree in Teaching. Sean is currently in his 10th year at Framingham High School in Framingham, MA after having taught four years at Brashear High School in Pittsburgh, PA. His passion in teaching is seeing kids understand chemistry through his goofy antics, approachable demeanor, and personally-built spreadsheet lessons. Sean also has a love of presenting his spreadsheet work to other teachers and seeing these ideas used in schools inside and outside of Massachusetts.

Turning Waste into Warning: Early Disease Detection through Rapid GC-FID Analysis of SCFAs
2026-03-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Chromatography is one of science’s most powerful tools, yet many of its breakthrough capabilities remain hidden in plain sight. When you truly understand the fundamentals, you unlock performance most labs never realize they already have.
Join Lee Polite of Axion Analytical Labs, Inc. as he reveals a game-changing Gas Chromatography (GC) method to quantify short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) ratios in human waste, biomarkers that may signal colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases at their earliest stages. Conventional wisdom says you cannot inject water directly into a GC because of its extreme liquid-to-gas expansion. Until now, labs relied on six tedious prep steps, including liquid-liquid extractions and derivatizations at the 100 µL level, sacrificing precision, sensitivity, and time. This novel pressure-pulsed injection approach changes everything. It enables direct water injection while improving precision, sensitivity, and separation simultaneously, transforming GC into a faster, sharper diagnostic tool.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Bryan Tweedy of the American Chemical Society and co-produced with the ACS Office of Career and Professional Education. As part of ACS’s ongoing celebration of our 150th anniversary, this month we highlight interdisciplinary collaboration. As the central science, chemistry connects disciplines and enables breakthroughs in sustainability, health, technology, and beyond. Celebrate with us at www.acs.org/150.

What You Will Learn

How to find the hidden capabilities built into your existing GC
What are the two critical parameters that must be adjusted for direct water injection
How to harness interdisciplinary collaboration to solve complex biomedical challenges

Event Details

Thursday, March 19, 2026 @ 2-3:15 pm ET
Free to attend
Slides will be available on day of the webinar

Co-Produced With

ACS Office of Career and Professional Education

ECOBIOMAXX: Biobased, Biodegradable Polyurethane Platform
2026-03-19 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
DATE and Time: Thursday, March 19, 5:30 PM Pacific time

Registration required by Wednesday, March 18, 1:00 PM.
Registration may close earlier than the nominal deadline if capacity is reached.
This event will be FREE OF CHARGE, but we still require you to fill out the registration form. In particular, we need to have your name and email address for you to be able to participate. Please provide affiliation also if you can, as it helps us judge audience interests.
If you can spare a small amount, GGPF requests an optional donation of $5 (or more) but this is not required to register and attend the webinar.
Abstract
Bezwada Biomedical has developed a new class of polyurethanes synthesized from biobased, hydrolysable monomers, resulting in polymers that are fully biodegradable and suitable for high-performance applications. This platform overcomes the limitations of conventional, biostable polyurethanes by enabling controlled hydrolytic degradation while maintaining essential mechanical properties, including tensile strength, elasticity, and processability.
The polymers exhibit tunable degradation kinetics, allowing precise modulation of material resorption profiles to match specific clinical or environmental requirements. These materials can be processed into diverse morphologies—such as foams, fibers, coatings, electrospun mats, scaffolds, and extruded filaments—facilitating their integration into a wide range of biomedical devices and sustainable product designs.
Scalable manufacturing processes have been established, ensuring reproducibility and suitability for industrial applications. This technology provides a unified solution for the development of absorbable medical devices and environmentally degradable industrial materials, contributing to reduced ecological impact without compromising functional performance.
Speaker Background
Rao S. Bezwada established Bezwada Biomedical, an innovation-based and technology-driven research company, in 2003. The company is focused on developing a wide range of novel absorbable polymeric biomaterials to help produce next generation bioabsorbable medical devices with therapeutic applications.
Dr. Bezwada earned a doctorate in chemistry from the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey and has over 40 years of research experience in the medical device industry, including 20 years of service at Ethicon, Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson Company). While at Ethicon, Dr. Bezwada’s research and development efforts led to the launch of a number of products, including Monocryl®, an ultra-pliable synthetic absorbable monofilament suture. This product has represented worldwide sales of more than two billion dollars since its launch in 1993. Its success earned him the prestigious Johnson medal from J&J in 1996.
Dr. Bezwada has over 150 issued US patents on absorbable polyurethanes, absorbable amino acid polymers, absorbable polyester amides, absorbable polyoxaesters, and controlled release polymers. His work has led to the creation of more than 10 FDA-approved products marketed by Abyrx for wound healing and bone applications, all based on Bezwada Biomedical’s absorbable polyurethane technology.

ACS Spring 2026 National Meeting, March 22-26 - Atlanta, GA and Digital
2026-03-22 - 2026-03-26 | Hybrid
Access breakthrough science, career-boosting events, and a community that’s shaping the future of chemistry.
Please note:

Registration – Advance savings deadline ends on February 23rd
Hotel – discounted rooms are limited, book by February 27th to lock in the best deals

Registration & Pricing | Meeting Badge Pickup
Virtual Platform | Systems Compatibility Checker

Ways to Attend | Travel | Hotels | Hotel Shuttle Map | Getting Around Town | Discover Atlanta
Schedule Overview | Keynote Events | Presidential Events |

Attendee Resources | 1st Time Attendees | Convention Center – Interactive Floorplan
Sessions by Divisions/Committees | Sessions by Themes | Digital Only Sessions

Exposition | Floor Plan | Exhibitor Directory
Full Program | | Program for Print/Download

Frequently Asked Questions | Policies
Presenter Tips | Presenter FAQs | SciMeetings

Registration Statistics | Meeting Demographics
Presider FAQs | Poster Presenter FAQs

ChemLuminary Awards | Governance Activities
Career Events | Social Events & Networking

The ACS Spring 2026 Virtual Platform is officially available. To utilize the full possibilities of the virtual platform, you must be signed in with your ACS ID. ACS President Rigoberto Hernadez offers a few tips on how you can take advantage of all the content available to you in the platform.

Watch this Video
ACS150 Celebrations and Special Events at the ACS Spring 2026 Meeting

ACS150 Keynote Speaker Announced: Omar Yaghi, the 2025 Chemistry Nobel Prize Awardee, as he highlights Organic Chemistry and AI for Our Planet, shares the experiences that led to his Nobel Prize, and discusses the impact ACS has had on his career. All Keynote Events are available to view on the virtual platform for digital meeting attendees.

Special Events:

ACS Exposition 150th Anniversary Activities and Giveaways
ACS150 Networking Celebration at the ACS Connect Happy Hour
Special Opening Session Honoring ACS 150th Anniversary
Daily ACS150 Programming in the ACS Expo Theatres
ACS150 International Welcome Reception

ACS 150 Anniversary Community Service Project: ACS is partnering with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance for the first‑ever ACS Spring Community Service Project. This experience, part of ACS’ sesquicentennial celebrations, honors scientists’ long‑standing commitment to advancing environmental preservation. Watch the video to learn more about how this immersive experience will bring together chemists, engineers, students, and local leaders to explore how chemistry can be a tool for healing communities and ecosystems in West Atlanta.

ACS150 Mole Squad Member Pins – Collect All Three! To mark ACS’s 150th anniversary, we’re introducing a limited-edition series of three exclusive member pins, each featuring our iconic mole characters like you’ve never seen them before. Plan to visit the Member Lounge in Atlanta to add these limited-edition pins to your collection.

Reinventing the Way We Break Down Plastic Waste (SLAC Public Lecture)
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:00 | Hybrid
Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 7:00–8:00 p.m. PDT
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Kavli Auditorium
Watch online or register to attend in person. Learn more
From our kitchens to our clothes to the delivery of medicines, plastics play an indispensable role in our daily lives. But, the end-life of these plastics is not always taken into account. Few types of plastics can be readily recycled, and durable plastics take centuries to break down in landfills or in the environment. Here at SLAC, we are designing chemical processes that can break down plastics under controlled conditions while also making useful products. Using X-ray light, we observe the details of this breakdown at the atomic level and use this information to design pathways for the degradation of plastics into useful products. We are members of a consortium that aims to make tomorrow’s plastics recyclable and biodegradable by design. In this lecture, I will describe my work on visualizing and improving our methods for breaking down plastic waste into useful products.

About Ozge Bozkurt
Ozge Bozkurt is a chemical and biological engineer, with bachelor’s of science degrees in molecular biology & genetics, and chemical engineering from the Istanbul Technical University, a master’s of science degree from Delft University of Technology and a PhD from Koc University. She has worked in the oil and gas industry as a research and development engineer with a specialization in biofuels. She is currently a research associate at SLAC, conducting experiments on chemical recycling of plastic waste. Working at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource at SLAC, she uses powerful X-rays to observe polymer breakdown and catalysts in action. In her free time she enjoys visiting science museums and has volunteered at many STEM outreach activities at SLAC.

ACS CHAS Workshop: Empowering Academic Researchers to Strengthen Safety Culture
2026-03-29 11:30 - 14:30 | Virtual
Sponsored by the ACS Division of Chemical Health & Safety
Sunday, March 29 from 11:30 am -2:30 pm
Online, $25/participant, Registration required

This 3-hour workshop is primarily directed at frontline researchers in academic institutions: graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduate students.
This workshop discusses the challenges of students making the transition to being independent researchers in academia. Topics discussed include: risk assessment of research projects, understanding the often confusing safety hierarchies of academic institutions, and graduate student led Laboratory Safety Teams.
Workshop goals are to:

Educate participants about the value of risk assessment
Guide participants towards gaining awareness of safety culture messages from the leadership at their institutions
Empower participants to expand their safety networks and develop laboratory safety teams.
Faculty and safety staff are encouraged to attend in order to expand their understanding of these challenges and seek ways to become better Champions for these researchers.

This workshop is designed to be highly interactive, both to encourage networking among our participants and to support participants in developing functional plans to take back to their institutions. We utilize the Zoom platform to support both large group and small group activities. Those who have reported the workshop as useful are also those who heavily engaged. The participants add value to this workshop as much, if not more than, the organizers!
While we certainly understand that the unevenness of Internet connectivity and the challenges of work-from-home can serve as barriers, we strongly advise you to come to this workshop prepared to engage with mics and cameras on! If this is not possible, we ask that you engage via the chat function.
While this workshop has been designed from a US perspective, we have had participants from multiple countries report that they found it useful as well! This international audience is just one more reason why the interactivity among participants is so vital to the success of the workshop for all participants!
This workshop is brought to you by the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety as one of two workshops in the ACS CHAS Peer Led Workshop Series. To learn more about the Division and the ACS CHAS Peer Led Workshop Series, please visit our main website at dchas.org.

Silicon Valley ACS Executive Committee Meeting
2026-03-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Hybrid
Sponsored by the Silicon Valley ACS local section
7:00-8:30 pm, Online Event, Free, Guests welcome: contact Chair to attend

P.I.E.F.E.S.T. - 5th Annual Bay Area Pasifika S.T.E.A.M. Fest
2026-04-11 13:00 - 17:00 | In-person
April 11th, 1:00-5:00 pm, Free, San Mateo Event Center (Directions and Parking), Registration required
Join us for a day of Exploration & Creativity!

This event is free to attend. Designed through a Pasifika lens, we aim to ignite curiosity and build confidence through interactive exhibits in robotics, Pacific Islander ingenuity, environmental science, and more.

The Antarctic Ozone Hole: A Global Success Story of Science and Policy (Distinguished Women in Science Seminar)
2026-04-13 15:00 - 16:00 | In-person
Prof. Susan Solomon, MIT
Sponsored by Stanford Department of Chemistry
April 13th, 3:00-4:00 pm, In-person, Free, Stanford University, Sapp Center Auditorium (STLC111), Learn more

The discovery of a massive hole in the Antarctic ozone layer shocked the world in 1985, leading to remarkable changes in science, public understanding, and environmental policy. In this talk, I will summarize how scientific discoveries revealed the chemistry that can deplete the Earth’s ozone layer, our planet’s essential “sunscreen” against damaging ultraviolet light from the sun. I will also describe how the world came together in an international process that has now effectively phased out the production of ozone-depleting chemicals. Finally, I will discuss some of the evidence that the ozone layer is slowly beginning to heal.
About the Speaker
Susan Solomon is the Martin Professor of Environmental Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is well known for pioneering research on the Antarctic ozone hole, as well as on climate change in the southern hemisphere. She received the 1999 US National Medal of Science (highest scientific award in the US), the Crafoord Prize of the Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Blue Planet Prize, and the Volvo prize. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society in the UK. Time magazine named Solomon as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008. And her favorite honor is a glacier in the Antarctic that has been named after her.

Atoms in Slow Motion, the Skyrmion, and Crackling Magnets: The Hidden World of Quantum Materials (SLAC on Tap)
2026-04-14 17:30 - 19:00 | In-person
Sponsored by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
April 14th, 5:30-7:00 pm, In-person at The Dutch Goose, 3567 Alameda de las Pulgas Menlo Park, CA 94025, Registration required

What do the sound of Rice Krispies and the motion of atoms and magnets have in common? Join us at the Dutch Goose for SLAC on Tap on April 14 at 5:30 pm to hear for yourself. SLAC scientist Joshua Turner will take us inside the hidden world of quantum materials; he will show how watching atoms in slow motion can tell us about exotic phases of matter such as high-temperature superconductivity, how tracking the way electrons spin can reveal new types of particles, and what “listening” to the chaotic motion of atoms and magnets can tell us about the properties of matter itself. Stick around after the talk for trivia, giveaways, a live cereal sound check, and the chance to create some chaotic motion of your own with a coordinated dance break.

About Joshua Turner
Joshua Turner is a lead scientist who uses X-rays to uncover nature’s secrets in the bizarre world of quantum materials. In addition to running complex experiments, creating AI tools to accelerate physics research, building cool machines and missing layups on the basketball court at SLAC, he loves spending time with his wife, riding roller coasters with his daughter, fishing with his older son, and doing Legos with his younger son.

Resume Development: Marketing Your Brand for Industrial Chemistry (ACS Career Pathways Virtual Workshop)
2026-04-15 09:00 - 10:30 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Careers
April 15th, 9:00 am-10:30 am, Online, Free, Registration required

This virtual live, 90-minute workshop will help you refine your résumé to apply and compete for chemistry jobs in industry. Participants will study the purpose, typical sections, and formatting of résumés to prepare a portfolio for your own personal brand, along with ineffective formatting and content as an example of what NOT to do when preparing your résumé.
After completing this module, participants will be able to:

Describe and analyze the sections of an industrial résumé.
Identify the format and style for print and electronic submission of résumés.
Plan next steps to getting hired in industry; and
Create a résumé portfolio for your own brand.

The presentation will be followed by the opportunity for attendees to network in small breakout groups led by ACS Career Consultants and receive personalized career advice.

Agentic AI in CAS SciFinder
2026-04-15 11:00 - 12:00
Sponsored by CAS
April 15th, 11:00 am-Noon, Online, Free, Registration required

Get ready to welcome a new lab assistant to your research team!
Join us as we introduce CAS Newton℠, an agentic AI companion created to support the complex needs of scientific researchers. See how Science-Smart AI trained on the world’s most comprehensive database of curated scientific information delivers deep insights that general AI cannot produce reliably.
What you will learn

How CAS Newton brings agentic AI capabilities to CAS SciFinder
How Science-Smart AI trained on curated scientific data delivers deeper research insights
How agentic AI can support complex scientific research workflows

Implications and Applications of Local pH in Electrocatalysis (Beilstein Institute Webinar)
2026-04-16 06:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Samuel S. Veroneau, PhD, Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, University of Pennsylvania
Sponsored by the Beilstein Institute
April 16th, 6:00-7:00 am, Online, Free, Registration required

Electrochemistry can transform abundant resources like water and carbon dioxide into useful chemical and sustainable fuels. These reactions often involve protons, which are either consumed or produced at the surface of electrodes. The concentration of protons at the electrode (i.e., local pH) fundamentally governs the efficiency and selectivity of myriad electrochemical transformations (e.g., the oxygen evolution reaction [OER]). As more and more protons are consumed or produced during operation, however, this local pH can change dramatically. Taking bulk pH, buffer composition, and mass-transport into account, we develop an accessible and robust model for describing this local pH. Our model explores how pH gradients form and dissipate during operation, which we correspondingly validate using rotating (ring) disc electrodes. We may employ this model to predict the local pH over a wide range of current densities, including under industrially relevant conditions, and propose that dramatic changes in local pH may be inevitable regardless of bulk conditions. The complicating effects of morphology on local pH are further described to highlight how understanding and controlling this environment is crucial to improving the efficiency of electrochemical transformations.
Samuel S. Veroneau
grew up near Washington, D.C. and studied chemistry at the University of Chicago. He returned to the East Coast and received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University in 2024 under the guidance of Prof. Daniel Nocera. His graduate studies focused on the electrochemistry of water splitting catalyst for green hydrogen production. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, his work now explores reactive nitrogen-based fuels under the supervision of Profs. Tom Mallouk and Daniel Mindiola. Dr. Veroneau was the recipient of the Herchel Smith Fellowship at Harvard and is currently funded by a Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Science on the Mic: How to Shine as a Podcast Guest
2026-04-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars
April 16th, 11:00 am-Noon, Online, Free, Registration required

Have you ever been invited to appear on a podcast, or hoped you might be someday? Podcasts have become one of the most effective ways for scientists to translate research, build visibility, and reach audiences far beyond the lab.
Join Margot Wohl, lead producer of the Chain Reaction podcast from the American Chemical Society, for a practical guide to becoming a memorable podcast guest. Discover how to prepare for interviews, communicate complex science with clarity, and deliver insights that resonate with listeners long after the episode ends.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Sam Jones of the American Chemical Society and co-produced with the ACS Communications Division.

What You Will Learn

Why podcasts are powerful platforms for communicating science
How to prepare for a podcast interview like a pro
Audio tips and techniques to sound natural, clear, and engaging

Event Details

Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to attend
Slides will be available on day of the webinar

Additional Resources

Chain Reaction – ACS’ new podcast explores how chemistry shapes the world around us, from the materials we use every day to the environment that we depend on. Each episode brings fresh perspectives and personal stories from chemists, engineers, and other scientists, as well as historians who guide us through pivotal moments in chemistry’s history.
Tiny Matters – An award-winning podcast about tiny things — from molecules to microbes — that have a big and often surprising impact on society. From deadly diseases to forensic toxicology to the search for extraterrestrial life, hosts and former scientists Sam Jones and Deboki Chakravarti embrace the awe and messiness of science and its place in history and today, and how it could impact our world’s future. New episodes every Wednesday.

ACS Communications Division

STEM Zone 2026
2026-04-19 10:00 - 16:00 | In-person
April 19th, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, Free, Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA
RSVP to the Event

The STEM Zone celebrates Santa Clara as the heart of Silicon Valley—bringing together innovation, creativity, and community.
Where Silicon Valley Sparks Innovation and Fun! The STEM Zone brings Santa Clara’s identity as the heart of Silicon Valley into the spotlight. It’s more than just an event — it’s a platform where our students, innovators, and local companies can showcase technology, sustainability, and creativity alongside the global excitement of major sports.

Quantum Dots: From Curiosity to Technology (30th Annual Stauffer Lectureship, Day 1 of 2)
2026-04-21 15:00 - 16:00 | In-person
Prof. Moungi Bawendi, MIT
Sponsored by Stanford Department of Chemistry
April 21st, 3:00-4:00 pm, In-person, Free, Stanford University, Sapp Center Auditorium (STLC111), Learn more

Colloidal quantum dots combine quantum effects, nanometer dimensions, and a chemical synthesis. They were one of the early examples of engineered functional nanomaterials. As such, they have served as a model in the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology. They provide a platform for exploring new size dependent fundamental properties as well as a sandbox for developing new applications. This talk will cover the origin story of chemically synthesized quantum dots, their basic physics, the synthesis that unlocked their widespread study and applications, an overview of their properties, and a few of their applications, including in bio-imaging and as emissive materials in displays.
About the Speaker
Professor Moungi Bawendi, the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at MIT, received his A.B. in 1982 from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in 1988 from The University of Chicago. This was followed by two years of postdoctoral research at Bell Laboratories, working with Louis Brus, where he began his studies on nanomaterials. Bawendi joined the faculty at MIT in 1990, becoming Associate Professor in 1995 and Professor in 1996.
Professor Bawendi was one of the initial developers of the field of colloidal quantum dots. Driven by an interest in light-matter interactions, he has followed an interdisciplinary research program that has probed the science and technology of chemically synthesized nanostructures. His work has advanced both fundamental studies as well as applications. His laboratory has demonstrated applications of nanomaterials for light emission, photodetection, spectral sensing, solar energy harvesting, and bio-imaging. His group has pioneered novel optical tools for the spectroscopy of single nanostructures.
Professor Bawendi’s studies have included: (1) the development of methods for synthesizing, characterizing, processing, and assembling quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, J-aggregates, and thin films of semiconducting perovskites, (2) the study of the fundamental optical and magnetic properties of nanostructures using a variety of spectroscopic methods, including the development of photon correlation tools to study single nanoscopic emitters and emitters of quantum ligtht, (3) incorporating quantum dots, magnetic particles, J-aggregates, and thin film materials into optical and opto-electronic device structures, and (4) developing optical tools and probes, both fluorescent as well as magnetic, including nanoparticles and other contrast agents, for biomedical imaging.
Professor Bawendi is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Professor Bawendi is a co-laureate of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Quantum Dots: From Biology to Quantum Science (30th Annual Stauffer Lectureship, Day 2 of 2)
2026-04-22 15:00 - 16:00 | In-person
Prof. Moungi Bawendi, MIT
Sponsored by Stanford Department of Chemistry
April 22nd, 3:00-4:00 pm, In-person, Free, Stanford University, Sapp Center Auditorium (STLC111), Learn more

Understanding the chemical properties and the fundamental optoelectronic behavior of colloidal quantum dots is a prerequisite to their varied applications. This talk will focus on two very different paths: the use of quantum dots in biological imaging, and their prospect as quantum emitters, to illustrate the potential, the challenges, and the solutions that emerge when working with hybrid systems at the nanoscale.
About the Speaker
Professor Moungi Bawendi, the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at MIT, received his A.B. in 1982 from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in 1988 from The University of Chicago. This was followed by two years of postdoctoral research at Bell Laboratories, working with Louis Brus, where he began his studies on nanomaterials. Bawendi joined the faculty at MIT in 1990, becoming Associate Professor in 1995 and Professor in 1996.
Professor Bawendi was one of the initial developers of the field of colloidal quantum dots. Driven by an interest in light-matter interactions, he has followed an interdisciplinary research program that has probed the science and technology of chemically synthesized nanostructures. His work has advanced both fundamental studies as well as applications. His laboratory has demonstrated applications of nanomaterials for light emission, photodetection, spectral sensing, solar energy harvesting, and bio-imaging. His group has pioneered novel optical tools for the spectroscopy of single nanostructures.
Professor Bawendi’s studies have included: (1) the development of methods for synthesizing, characterizing, processing, and assembling quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, J-aggregates, and thin films of semiconducting perovskites, (2) the study of the fundamental optical and magnetic properties of nanostructures using a variety of spectroscopic methods, including the development of photon correlation tools to study single nanoscopic emitters and emitters of quantum ligtht, (3) incorporating quantum dots, magnetic particles, J-aggregates, and thin film materials into optical and opto-electronic device structures, and (4) developing optical tools and probes, both fluorescent as well as magnetic, including nanoparticles and other contrast agents, for biomedical imaging.
Professor Bawendi is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Professor Bawendi is a co-laureate of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

A Walk in the Woods with Acorns and Sagebrush
2026-04-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Prof. James David Adams, USC
Sponsored by Southern California Section of ACS
April 22nd, 4:00-5:00 pm, Online, Free, Registration required

Acorns are an important food that come from oak trees. They contain about 10% protein, 35% carbohydrate and 55% fat. Acorn protein contains all 9 essential amino acids. Acorns are eaten by Chinese, Korean and other people but are not a normal food in California. Sagebrush, Artemesia californica, can be made into a liniment to treat pain. It contains 15 monoterpenoids that penetrate into the skin, inhibit transient receptor potential cation channels to relieve pain, then evaporate from the skin. The liniment can be safely used to treat major pain and chronic pain.
SPEAKER BIO
Dr. James Adams received a PhD in Pharmacology from UC San Francisco and was a faculty member at the USC School of Pharmacy for 33 years. He has over 300 publications and has published extensively on California medicinal plants. He learned California Indian Medicine from a California Indian woman for 14 years. He currently teaches Chemistry to pre-Nursing Students at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. He is an Expert in Apoptosis, Delayed Cell Death, Herbal Drugs, Nicotinamide, Ruptured Berry Aneurism, Smart Drugs, Stroke, Toxicity Testing and Parkinsons Disease.
May 2012 – Chumash Healer, Los Angeles, following 14 years of training by Cecilia Garcia, a recognized Chumash Healer
Sept 1981 – University of California, San Francisco (Ph.D., Comparative Pharmacology and Toxicology; Minors: Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry)
Spring 1975 – University of California, Riverside (Undergraduate, A.B., Biochemistry; Minor: Chemistry)
1993-2025 Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, USC
1987-1993 – Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California
1985-87 – Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University 1983-85 – Staff Fellow, NIADDK, NIH, Section on Oxidation Mechanisms
1981-83 – Postdoctoral Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Institute for Lipid Research 1976-81 – Research Assistant, University of California, San Francisco, Ph.D. program in Biochemical Toxicology
1975-76 – Research Assistant, University of California, Riverside, Ph.D. program in Insect Toxicology

PROFESSIONAL/HONORARY SOCIETIES
1981 – American Association for the Advancement of Science
1986 – International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics
1987 – American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
1988 – Society of Neuroscience
1989 – American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
1990 – The Oxygen Society
1994 – The American Society for Neurochemistry

Hierarchical Materials Through 3D Printing and Molecular Design
2026-04-22 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
Prof. Emily Davidson, Princeton University
Sponsored by Golden Gate Polymer Forum
April 22nd, 5:30-6:30 pm; Online, Free/$5 donation, Registration required by April 21st at 1pm

Nature creates remarkable material by controlling the hierarchical assembly of molecules that are broken down at the end of their useful life. Inspired by natural systems, my group’s research combines molecular design with directed assembly via extrusion-based 3D printing to program the structure and function of polymer-based materials across length scales. First, I will describe how in both liquid crystalline polymers and block copolymers we can control the extent of nanostructure alignment and functional anisotropy via the flow history the material undergoes during 3DP. By tailoring flow history and microstructural layout, we are able to encode ‘multiple properties’ in structures composed of a single material. I will also discuss our contributions to developing liquid crystal elastomers with tailored network structures that allow us to probe the interplay of network structure with liquid crystalline phase transitions.
Speaker Background
Emily Davidson is an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University. She leads a research group that works at the intersection of polymer synthesis, polymer physics, self-assembly, and additive manufacturing to develop hierarchically defined functional materials. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, her PhD from UC Berkeley, and performed postdoctoral research at Harvard University. She has been recognized with a 2019 Scientista ‘Young Professional’ Award, a 2022 DOE Early Career award, and the 2023 Princeton School of Engineering Alfred Rheinstein Faculty Award.

Guided Reactions: Mentorship Essentials for Meaningful Growth
2026-04-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Sponsored by ACS Webinars
April 23rd, 11:00 am-Noon, Online, Free, Registration required

Careers in chemistry are often defined not just by discovery, but by direction. At critical moments you may find yourself choosing a path, navigating transitions, or expanding into new areas. At times like this, having a powerful mentorship relationship built with intention can make all the difference. When both mentor and mentee actively engage, growth becomes a shared outcome.
In this practical, insight-driven webinar, Kelly Diggs of Kelly A. Diggs Consulting, LLC breaks down what effective mentorship really is and just as important, what it is not. You’ll discover how to identify the right mentors for your goals, structure relationships that create mutual value, and avoid the common pitfalls that make mentorship fall flat. You’ll also get an exclusive first look at the new ACS Mentorship Program designed to connect scientists across disciplines and career stages with purpose and clarity. Whether you’re seeking guidance or ready to give it, this webinar offers a framework to make mentorship actionable and impactful.
This ACS Webinar is co-produced with the ACS Mentorship Program and is moderated by Yvonne Pearson of the American Chemical Society.

What You Will Learn

What effective mentorship is and the misconceptions that hold people back
How to identify and approach the right mentor for your specific goals
How to build structured, high-impact mentoring relationships that deliver real outcomes

Event Details

Thursday, April 23, 2026 @ 2-3pm ET
Free to attend
Slides will be available on day of the webinar

ACS Mentorship Program

Into the Woods and Beyond: Essential Oils and the Chemistry of Forest Bathing
2026-04-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Amanda Lattin, Dean or Aromatherapy, American College of Health Science, Portland, Oregon
Sponsored by Southern California Section of ACS
April 23rd, 4:00-5:00 pm, Online, Free, Registration required

Into the Woods and Beyond: Essential Oils and the Chemistry of Forest Bathing explores how forest-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly monoterpenes such as α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, and bornyl acetate, contribute to the physiological and psychological benefits of Shinrin-yoku. Drawing on research in environmental health, phytochemistry, and integrative medicine, this session highlights how these compounds influence stress-related pathways, including reductions in cortisol and support for parasympathetic nervous system activity.
The presentation further examines how conifer essential oils, chemically aligned with forest VOC profiles, can be used to recreate key aspects of the forest bathing experience indoors. Attendees will gain insight into the chemical mechanisms underlying naturebased stress reduction and practical strategies for applying forest-inspired aromatherapy when outdoor access is limited, bridging environmental chemistry with accessible wellness applications.
SPEAKER BIO:
Amanda Lattin is the Dean of Aromatherapy at the American College of Healthcare Sciences and Vice President of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. She is an educator, clinician, and researcher with extensive experience in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and phytochemistry. Amanda has designed and taught curriculum in chemistry, phytochemistry, aromatherapy, and botanical medicine across multiple institutions, including ACHS and the Traditional Roots Institute at the National University of Natural Medicine.
Her scholarly work focuses on the therapeutic applications of essential oils and advancing a theoretical framework for researching aromatherapy through the lens of scientific holism; integrating biochemical, physiological, and whole-person health perspectives. She has published and presented on aromatherapy’s role in integrative health and evidence-informed practice.
In addition to her academic work, Amanda has maintained a clinical aromatherapy and herbal medicine practice in Portland since 2007, collaborating with integrative health clinics and practitioners to incorporate botanical medicine into comprehensive client care. Her work bridges scientific rigor, clinical application, and holistic wellness, with a focus on translating plant chemistry into meaningful health outcomes.

Chemists Celebrate Earth Week 2026
2026-04-25 11:00 - 14:00 | In-person
Sponsored by Silicon Valley ACS and San Jose Public Library
April 25th, 11:00 am-2:00 pm, Free, In-person, Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Children’s Room, 150 E. San Fernando, San Jose
Learn more
Download Flyer (PDF)

A FREE, interactive experience for kids of all ages and their families featuring:
· Hands-on chemistry activities for kids exploring the chemistry of plants, and spices. You will be able to check the purity of maple syrup, figure out what chemical makes spices smell, make a dye out of insects, and many more experiments.*

Free copy of “Celebrating Chemistry” the ACS publication for kids.

PRIZES for every child who participates!

*While supplies last
No registration required.
ADA Accommodation Requests
