Chemistry of anticancer agents, MTBE, biotech food top agenda of American Chemical Society's national meeting

The latest scientific research in medicine, health, the environment and food will be presented at the American Chemical Society's 219th national meeting March 26-30 in San Francisco. A record attendance of nearly 20,000 ACS members is expected and nearly 9000 papers are scheduled for presentation on cutting-edge chemistry research.

The national meeting's theme -- the first in the Society's history -- is "Chemistry in the 21st Century," with several symposia slated to predict future directions in research. The meeting will take place at the Moscone Convention Center and surrounding hotels. The American Chemical Society, with 161,000 members, is the world's largest scientific society. Reporters planning to attend the meeting can access housing and registration forms at www.acs.org/meetings/sanfran2000 and are requested to immediately FAX their forms to 202/872- 4370, ATTN: Pam Wilkerson. The housing deadline is Friday, February 25, and space is limited. For further information, reporters can contact Charmayne Marsh at 202/872-4445, or at y_marsh@acs.org.

ACS will operate a pressroom at the Moscone Center and further information about the meeting will be available on Eurekalert! at www.eurekalert.org, as well as on the ACS web site, www.acs.org/press. News releases pertaining to the national meeting will be posted on both sites.

Symposia and topics on the San Francisco program include:

• New Prospects in Anticancer Agents for the 21st Century -- A look at promising new anticancer agents including byrostatins and epothilones;

• You'll Be What You Eat -- A discussion on what food producers can do to make products safe and nutritious, yet meet consumer demands for convenience and the freedom to eat what they want;

• Recalcitrant Compounds in Gasoline -- A comprehensive exploration of the environmental chemistry of the gasoline additive MTBE and its possible replacements;

• Analysis of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors -- A closer look at specialty chemicals in the environment that may pose an emerging concern; and

• The Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Substances of Abuse -An examination of tobacco, marijuana and related substances.

  Other ACS meetings in 2000 are:

  --The 220th national meeting, August 20-24, in Washington, D.C. --Pacifichem 2000, the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, December 14-19, in Honolulu, brings together leading researchers in the chemical sciences from Pacific Rim countries, including Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and Korea.

  ###

  A nonprofit organization with a membership of 161,000 chemists and chemical engineers, the American Chemical Society publishes scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences, and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. (www.acs.org)
  

  ---

  [ | E-mail Article ]