Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society

Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society. The Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society is a local section of the American Chemical Society, founded in 1894 by a group of chemists including William McPherson and Alexander Smith. This organization has a long history of promoting the field of chemistry in the Chicago area, with connections to institutions such as Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and Illinois Institute of Technology. The section has been involved in various activities, including hosting meetings and events with speakers such as Linus Pauling and Glenn Seaborg, and has ties to other organizations like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Chemical Society of the South.

● History

The history of the Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society dates back to 1894, when it was founded as a local section of the American Chemical Society. The section's early years were marked by meetings and events featuring prominent chemists such as Dmitri Mendeleev and Marie Curie. Over the years, the section has been involved in various activities, including hosting conferences and seminars with speakers from institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and California Institute of Technology. The section has also had connections to other organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Notable members have included Enrico Fermi, Ernest Lawrence, and Emilio Segrè, who have made significant contributions to the field of physics and chemistry.

● Organization

The Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society is organized into various committees and subgroups, including the Executive Committee, the Program Committee, and the Membership Committee. These committees are responsible for planning events, managing the section's finances, and recruiting new members from institutions like University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University, and University of Michigan. The section is also divided into several subgroups, including the Inorganic Chemistry Subgroup, the Organic Chemistry Subgroup, and the Physical Chemistry Subgroup, which are affiliated with organizations like the Inorganic Chemistry Division and the Organic Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society. The section's leadership includes a Chair, a Vice Chair, and a Secretary-Treasurer, who are responsible for overseeing the section's activities and ensuring its continued success, with support from organizations like the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education.

● Activities

The Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society hosts a variety of activities throughout the year, including meetings, conferences, and seminars with speakers from institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University. The section also sponsors events such as the Chicago Section Awards Banquet, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry by individuals like Roger Adams, Fritz Haber, and Irving Langmuir. Additionally, the section participates in outreach activities, such as National Chemistry Week, which aims to promote the field of chemistry to the general public, with support from organizations like the American Chemical Society Committee on Public Relations and Communications and the Chemical Education Foundation. The section also collaborates with other organizations, including the Illinois Science Teachers Association and the Chicago Academy of Sciences, to promote science education and science literacy.

● Awards

The Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society presents several awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the field of chemistry, including the Chicago Section Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry, which has been awarded to individuals like Harold Urey, Willard Libby, and Melvin Calvin. The section also presents the Chicago Section Award for Excellence in Teaching Chemistry, which recognizes outstanding chemistry teachers from institutions like Chicago Public Schools and Archdiocese of Chicago. Other awards include the Chicago Section Award for Outstanding Service to the Section, which has been awarded to individuals like Joel Hildebrand and George Kistiakowsky, and the Chicago Section Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Chemical Community, which has been awarded to organizations like the American Red Cross and the Environmental Protection Agency.

● Membership

Membership in the Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society is open to anyone with an interest in chemistry, including students, professionals, and academics from institutions like Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University. Members receive benefits such as discounted registration fees for section events, access to the section's newsletter, and opportunities to network with other chemists and chemical engineers from organizations like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. The section also offers student membership and emeritus membership options, with support from organizations like the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education. Members have included notable individuals like Nobel laureates James Watson and Francis Crick, as well as presidents of the American Chemical Society like Albert Ghiorso and Glenn Seaborg. Category:American Chemical Society