Chemistry club joins American Chemical Society

By KARIM JIVANI

The chemistry club is no longer dead.

After three years on campus as the Dead Chemists Society of HBU, the organization’s officers completed a full transition to membership in the American Chemical Society.

The process of applying for ACS membership required 1 1/2 years’ worth of paperwork, said senior Becca Cook, ACS president.

The first chapter of the organization was founded in 1876 at New York University with the goal of promoting policies that support scientists and encouraging students to enter science and engineering fields. Today, it is the world’s largest scientific society, with more than 161,000 members, according to its website.

Dr. Saul Trevino, assistant professor of chemistry and ACS sponsor, said the shift will be beneficial for chemistry students.

“There are opportunities to win chapter awards that recognize successful programs and activities conducted by each school,” he said.

Among the activities in which members may participate are Community Assessment of Community Annotation with Ontologies, a competition for which students correct errors in sample research papers, and the United States National Chemistry Olympiad, a contest whose winning team represents the country at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Cook said that club members may take advantage of these and other opportunities that were not available when the organization was not affiliated with a national chapter.

“Becoming a chapter of ACS gives numerous advantages to HBU students, such as the ability to apply for ACS scholarships and grants, and organize activities with other ACS branches at nearby schools such as the University of Houston and Rice University,” she said.

ACS members will attend the Fall 2011 National Meeting and Exposition in Denver where they will present research on childhood cataracts in addition to offering chemistry tutoring throughout the year.