WELCOME TO THE MINNESOTA LOCAL ACS SECTION WEBSITE
The Minnesota Local Section (#513) of the American Chemical society serves chemists, chemical engineers, educators, and the general public in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is the world's largest scientific society and one of the world's leading sources of authoritative scientific information. A nonprofit organization, chartered by Congress, ACS is at the forefront of the evolving worldwide chemical enterprise and the premier professional home for chemists, chemical engineers and related professions around the globe. Learn more about the history, mission and vision of the American Chemical Society here. Become an ACS member here.
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For more information about future meetings, please use the "Meetings" link.
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For more information about current activities the local section is involved in, please use the "Activities" link.
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If you are interested in volunteering, please use the "Contact Us" link to send a message letting us know where you would like to help and we will get back to you. For specific information on what roles need filling, please use the "Officers" link.
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For more information about National ACS, please use the "Resources" link or go to the ACS website.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
​Unlock Project Success: Intro to Project Management for Scientists
Are you a scientist navigating the complexities of academia, industry, or volunteer-led STEM initiatives? Join us in April for a 1-hour introductory session, presented by Rachel Mussell and Mike Schafer of Back in the Box Consulting, LLC., designed to equip you with essential project management tools and techniques tailored for the scientific community. Registration is open now; RSVP by April 13th.
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May Awards Dinner at 3M Innovation Center
Mark your calendars for a special evening at the 3M Innovation Center on May 13th! Join us as we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our award recipients while exploring one of the most cutting-edge research hubs in the industry. Stay tuned for more details!
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Click the "Meetings" link for more information.
ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHT
Women Chemist Meeting
Urvashi Sandhir is hosting a WCC event at Hamline University on April 11th at 3pm for women faculty in both chemistry and biochemistry, women graduate students, and women postdocs. The purpose of this meeting is to network and gather input from those interested in participating in WCC. Registration is open now - click the "Meetings" link for more information.
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Chemists in the Library
The next Chemists in the Library event for 2025 is on February 22nd at 1:30pm at the Rondo Community Library in Saint Paul. If you are interested in volunteering for this or future events, please contact Phil Buhlman (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information). No preparation is needed before the events and no commitment has to be made; you can sign up for one event at a time.
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State Science Fair Judges
The State Science Fair for middle schools and high schools will be held on March 28 at the St. Paul River Center, Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Judging will take place from 11am to 3pm and there is usually a judges meeting where questions are answered before that. Lunch is provided as well as coverage for the cost of parking downtown which is refunded by the MN ACS section. Students present their projects, and explain them to a judge for a few minutes, and judges tour the projects and ask a few questions. It is a lot of fun and encourages the students to keep learning and growing in STEM areas. See the Minnesota Academy of Science website for details about the 2025 State Science and Engineering Fair. We are very short of judges this year! College undergraduates with chemistry majors are also welcome to judge. Please let Lynn Hartshorn (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information) know if you could help judge.
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Senior Chemists
The Senior Chemists are looking forward to another year of engaging activities and great company! The next meeting with take place in April 2025. Please reach out to Lynn Hartshorn or Ken Latham (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information) if you would like to learn more.
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Click on the "Activities" link for more information.
OTHER NEWS
Call for 2025 MN ACS Awards Nominations
This year we will be awarding the Janet Tarino Volunteer Award, the Minnesota High School Chemistry Teaching Awards, and the Lyle Hall Senior Chemist Award. Nominations should be emailed to Ramesh Kumar (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information) on or before March 15th. Below are the details on each award and the nomination documents:
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Janet Tarino Volunteer Award - given to an individual for outstanding volunteer service to MN ACS, and/or chemistry related projects and events not directly connected to MN ACS. This person will have demonstrated an exceptional passion for and commitment to community outreach, and dedication to projecting a positive image of chemists. Nominating documents should include curriculum vitae and examples of volunteer service. The award consists of a plaque and cash award of $250, which will be presented at the May awards meeting.
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Minnesota High School Chemistry Teaching Award - recognizes an outstanding high school chemistry teacher. This person must be engaged in high school chemistry teaching (grades 9-12). The nomination must include a biographical sketch, a list of publications (if any) and a statement of and evaluation of the nominee's achievements as a high school chemistry teacher. The nomination should clearly demonstrate the following attributes: 1) the quality of the candidate's teaching, including effective methods of presentation; 2) the ability to challenge and inspire students; 3) extracurricular work in chemistry including science fairs, science clubs, and activities that stimulate the interest of young people in chemistry and related science; 4) willingness to keep up-to-date in chemistry. The nominating packet may include up to three supporting letters from supervisors, associates, MN section members, or former students who have graduated from high school. The award consists of a plaque and cash award of $600, which will be presented at the May awards meeting.
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Lyle Hall Senior Chemist Award - given to an individual based upon preferably post-retirement professional activities of a member of the MN ACS who has entered into formal retirement from their primary job. Professional activities can include volunteer ACS service, volunteer activities in any other scientific organization, professional writing, consulting, and/or research. Nominating documents should include curriculum vitae and examples of volunteer service. The award consists of a plaque and cash award of $250, which will be presented at the May awards meeting.
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Winchell Symposium Scholarship
The 2025 Winchell Symposium will be held on Saturday, April 26th at North Hennepin Community College. This is a great chance for chemistry program students to present their research, and the MN ACS local section offers a scholarship for student presenters to cover some of the costs. In order to qualify for the scholarship you must meet the following criteria:
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You and/or your advisor is a member of ACS
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Your research is in chemistry or biochemistry
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You are among the first seven students to register from your institution
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You attend an institution within the boundaries of the MN ACS local section (see list of schools here)
Scholarship requests should be emailed to Nick Schlotter (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information).
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Chemistry for a Better Planet
The 2025 Great Lakes Regional Meeting of the ACS is coming up fast! We hope to see you there in Appleton, WI on June 4-6, with hundreds of chemistry students, faculty, and industry professionals from around the upper Midwest. Abstract submission is currently open, with an extended submission deadline of March 10th. For more information, see our website at https://greatlakesregion-acs.org/event-welcome/glrm-2025.
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Committee Volunteer Opportunities
Are you looking to enhance your leadership, project management, and networking skills? Volunteering as a committee chair for the Minnesota Local Section of the ACS is a fantastic way to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact! We are currently seeking passionate leaders for the following committees:
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Younger Chemists - leads initiatives to support, engage, and connect early-career chemists and students within the MN ACS
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National Chemistry Week - responsible for leading efforts to promote and coordinate activities related to National Chemistry Week, an annual outreach event organization by the ACS
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Public Affairs - serves as a bridge between the chemistry community and policymakers, advocating for science-related policies and engaging the public on key issues
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Government Affairs - plays a key role in advocating for science policy and fostering relationships between the chemistry community and government officials
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Minority Affairs - plays a key role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the MN ACS
If you're interested in learning more, please reach out to Sarah Dimick Gray (click on "Contact Us" link to request contact information) to explore these opportunities. Take the next step in your leadership journey - get involved today!