Session: Successful Student Chapters:

The Barry University Chemistry Club/ACS Student Chapter is actively engaged in offering a range of activities and outreach to serve the diverse interests of its members and needs of the wider community. We host seminar speakers, and members participate in the Barry STEM symposium where they present their research posters. Chem Club members annually host a National Chemistry Week (NCW) informational booth in the science building lobby and to perform NCW demos to over 2000 children and adults at science museums in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. In Fall 2020, due to social distancing regulations, the chapter joined other South Florida chapters to make videos for the museum showing fun chemistry experiments, for kids to perform at home. Each child visiting the museum also received a “goody bag” prepared by members containing copies of “Celebrating Chemistry” magazines, an “Honorary Chemist” certificate, a fuzzy nanomole, and a chemistry tattoo, in order to their encourage their enthusiasm for science. One of our most succesful events this Fall was a virtual seminar given by a Barry alumna. She talked about her experience after graduating Barry University as an Organic Chemist, attending graduate school, and working in chemical industry. Chem Club members participate in events promoting environmental/conservation issues such as the annual Barry Earth Day Fair, Climate Strike rally, MLK Day of Service, and the Nature Conservatory coastal cleanup. The chapter received an ACS Community Interaction Grant (CIG) and the university’s Community Impact Award in 2020 for science outreach to under-served elementary and middle schools through our COACH program (Community Outreach Approaching Chemistry Hands-on), visiting poorly funded schools to teach science topics and provide fun experiments that inspire their interest and excitement about science. This year we are visiting remotely with 6^th-graders to mentor them in their science fair projects, that they are performing at home. Members enjoy social activities throughout the academic year to network with peers, faculty, and professionals, including science trivia, annual Halloween bash, periodic table of cookies, and seminar speaker meet-and-greets. At the end of each semester, the Chemistry Club hosts a luncheon where students and faculty come together as family to enjoy a potluck meal, awards for outstanding students, and a reflection of the year’s accomplishments to propel chapter improvements for the subsequent year.

Amanda Nicole Escalera Torres

Appearances