Coming out of COVID-19 restrictions the last two years, our top priorities are increasing member participation and retention. This school year, we plan to do that through events that focus on green chemistry that can be applicable to any students, regardless of their exposure to chemistry. Through interdisciplinary events with other departments at Florida Southern College, we hope to interact with non-chemistry majors to get them involved in our student chapter and events. By showing that scientific knowledge and effects are not meant only for those with previous exposure, we can inspire others to think in scientific ways and become engrossed.

We are also working closely with other ACS chapters in the area. Southeastern University has an ACS chapter at their school and we will be working alongside them at community events and demonstrations to help them grow and expand their chapter. We have also reached out to the FIU and FGCU chapters and are planning to collaborate on projects across our state. We have also worked with our chapter at PUCP in Peru in order to diversify member knowledge and hope to gain a connection with them to work together in the future.

Events we will be continuing from previous years include community outreach and green chemistry education. We regularly participate in a community event called First Friday, in which we educate the public (adults and children alike) about chemistry using fun and safe demonstrations. Our demonstrations are typically interactive and contain a theme that helps to get people interested and involved. We teach the children that come about safety first, have them wear a pair of goggles, and explain the chemistry in kid friendly ways which they enjoy.

Our student chapter will be hosting guest speakers to come and give presentations on interesting fields of research that students might not have been previously exposed to. Our largest aspiration is to bring scientists from across our campus, state, and beyond in order to give various perspectives that our peers may have not considered before. For example, we are having our Organic Chemistry professor give a seminar on the different plastic polymers and how to properly dispose of them to protect our local aquatic environment. This event is specifically focusing on the green chemistry principle of using renewable feedstocks. With events like this, we are able to bring students of vastly different interests into one location to find inspiration and collaboration.

Mackenzie Van Hees

Appearances