Thomas J. Kucera
9310 Hamlin Ave.
Evanston, IL 60203
847-676-0125
tjkucera@interaccess.com
The Chicago Section's celebration of National Chemistry Week in 1999 returned to the Museum of Science and Industry on November 6. More than 1,000 people of all ages attended the all-day event, where over 100 volunteers worked along with exhibitors from industry, academia and government agencies. Co-sponsoring organizations included the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Alpha Chi Sigma, Chem West and the Chemical Industries Council of Illinois. Presentations, demonstrations, hands-on experiments and contests, and information booths covered three floors of the west wing of the museum. New and improved experiments added to the already rich program of events, including Determining pH with Red Cabbage Paper and a radial chromatography demonstration. See New Activity #4 for details on these events. Alexander Ho, the Chicago Section's representative to and the winner of the 1999 International Chemistry Olympiad was the keynote speaker along with his teacher Ann Levinson of Niles West High School, Niles, IL. In keeping with the National ACS celebration of polymers this year, a special presentation about and demonstration of Water Soluble Polymers was part of the program. Other presentation topics ranged from stellar nucleosynthesis to fighting crime with DNA. The Chemical Health and Safety Committee provided oversight to assure the safety of all participants. The Public Affairs Committee's booth provided information educating the public about science and public policy issues. Section members received information about the Legislative Action Network and R&D funding in Illinois. Pamphlets on global warming and acid rain were especially popular among high school students.
Photos?
Determining pH with Red Cabbage Paper
Top Activity # 2, National Chemistry Week, helped the Chicago Section achieve the following ACS Strategic Thrusts:
1.2: Expand Activities at Interdisciplinary Boundaries of Chemistry. Applications of chemistry in numerous fields were demonstrated, including chemistry and crime-fighting, and chemistry in space ("Stellar Nucleosynthesis: How Stars Make Atoms).
1.5: Outreach to Women and Under-represented Minorities: The site of the Museum of Science and Industry in downtown Chicago is readily accessible to and well-attended by under-represented minorities. The Section's Minority Affairs Committee staffed an information booth at the program, providing information about opportunities for minorities in chemistry.
1.7: Increase Student Participation: High school chemistry teachers from throughout the Chicago area conducted demonstrations during the program. Most activities were aimed at grade school and high school students. The museum environment provides an ideal venue to demonstrate fundamental principles as well as practical applications of chemistry in a fun and educational way.
2.1: Be the Leading Provider of Chemical Information: The Chicago Section ACS is the catalyst for National Chemistry Day in Chicago, mobilizing local companies, universities, schools and the museum to work together to provide useful information about chemistry to the general public.
3.1: Improve Public Recognition and Appreciation of the Contributions of Chemistry: The event helps visitors to the Museum of Science and Industry focus on chemistry, its contributions and practical applications.
3.2: Improve Scientific Literacy of Students: Hands-on experiments provide students an opportunity to learn the scientific process first-hand.
New Activity? The 1999 program included three new experiments and demonstrations.