Highlights from the April Section Meeting at the University of Virginia

REPORT ON THE APRIL SECTION MEETING

The annual poster session and undergraduate awards meeting was held at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on Friday, April 15, 2022. Forty undergraduate research posters were presented by students from eight colleges and universities within or near the Virginia Section. This marked the 34th year of the Poster Session that highlights undergraduate student research. As usual, the University of Virginia topped the list of presentations, with twelve posters this year, followed by Bridgewater College with nine, the University of Mary Washington with five, and Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College with four each. Students from Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, and James Madison University also presented papers. Pizza and soft drinks were served during the Poster Session.

About 40 persons attended the awards meeting that followed the poster session.
Dr. Rebecca Rose Pompano, the meeting host, greeted everyone. Ms. Vanessa Lopez, Chair of the Virginia Section, presided. She presented awards and gifts to ten outstanding students from colleges and universities (several other students could not attend the meeting). Each award winner received a Certificate of Recognition, a membership in the American Chemical Society, and a gift card. Thanks to Rebecca Rose Pompano, Jim Demas, Cindy Knight and the University of Virginia for organizing this excellent meeting.

2022 Undergraduate Senior Chemistry Student Awardees

To view the Powerpoint presentation of the 2022 Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student Awards click here

“Guiding the Future of Chemistry”

On November 13, 2021, the Virginia Section kicked off a new year of mentorship activities. Mentors and mentees met in virtual format, using Zoom, to get the program going. The Mentorship program is operated by the Section’s Younger Chemists Committee (YCC). Dr. Julian Bobb, Chair of the YCC, coordinates the Mentorship Program. The Kick-Off Social was funded by a grant to the Virginia Section from the ACS National Senior Chemists Committee. An informative set of slides on the Mentorship Program and the Kick-Off Social can be found here: Mentorship Program Info Slides

General Description:

  • Serves the need for college students and young professionals to receive guidance on their educational & career paths and to promote necessary skills.
  • Provides a means to increase engagement of students, and early career & senior professionals to become more active within the local section while enhancing their network.
  • Provides a means for mentors and mentees to develop meaningful relationships by sharing each other’s career & educational experiences, and passion & love for chemistry.
  • Mentors and mentees work on setting and achieving mentoring goals.

The program was selected as one out of three finalists for a 2021 Outstanding Local Section Industry Event ACS ChemLuminary Award. Additional details about the program can be found here: http://acsva.org/mentorship-program/

Younger Chemists are always interested in connecting with professionals. Are you interested in serving as a Mentor? Feel free to contact YCC Chair & Mentorship Program Coordinator, Dr. Julian Bobb at bobbja@vcu.edu with inquiries.

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2021 ChemLuminary Awards

Outstanding Engagement with K-8 Students

Outstanding National Chemistry Week Event for a Specific Audience

Best Activity or Program in a Local Section Stimulating Membership Involvement Award shared with Eastern New York, Northern New York, Philadelphia, and St. Louis Section Local Sections.

Outstanding Local Section Younger Chemists Committee Award shared with the Eastern New York, Northern New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Rochester, Nashville, & the North Carolina Local Sectionsand the Graduate Chemistry Society of the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras.

Younger Chemists YouTube Channel

The Eastern U.S. Younger Chemists Committee Partnership of the American Chemical Society which includes the Virginia Section now has a YouTube Channel that features recordings of great events and resources for younger chemists! Check it out! The most recent video is from our “A Day in the Life of a Process Chemist” webinar. Stay tuned for more! Feel free to subscribe also.

Link to Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEJgX28mFQPEGW4eNH6Wvgw

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