JACKSON, Tenn. — March 21, 2002 — 51社区鈥檚 American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Affiliate Chapter will be honored for the third year in a row for outstanding research in a variety of areas of study. Nine students and as many as six faculty members are to be recognized, along with the university鈥檚 chapter, at ACS鈥檚 national conference in Orlando, Fla., in early April.
鈥淭his is no small deal,鈥� said Randy Johnston, chair and professor of Union鈥檚 chemistry department. Among more than 900 chemistry chapters affiliated with the ACS, Union鈥檚 chapter is one of only twenty-seven to be recognized at the prestigious gathering of more than 15,000 chemists. The chapter, which has only been in existence for five years, is excited about achieving this recognition a third time, said Johnston.
Aside from the recognition of the chapter as a whole, six students are to present papers at the conference. The topics of the chemistry papers range from 鈥淧latinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of 1-tetradecene鈥� to 鈥淐atalysis of the Guerbet alcohol synthesis.鈥�
Union鈥檚 ACS chapter includes 50 members and 2 faculty sponsors. The chapter does community service, organizes activities for National Chemistry Week, holds and attends scientific meetings, sponsors field trips and tours, does college service, and has club functions.
Any student pursuing an undergraduate degree or curricular program in the chemical sciences is eligible to become a student affiliate. The object of ACS is to give students the opportunity to become better acquainted, obtain experience in preparing and presenting technical material, instill a professional pride in the chemical sciences and to foster an awareness of the responsibilities and challenges of the modern chemist.