Chemical society convenes regional meeting in Fairfax, Virginia

More than 200 research papers are scheduled for presentation at the 35th Middle Atlantic regional meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, in Fairfax, Va., May 28-30. Noted scientists as well as undergraduate and graduate students are expected to attend the meeting at George Mason University’s Johnson Center and Student Union Building II (703-993-1070).

Scientific topics include forensic DNA testing, structural genomics, biotechnology crops, and physical, polymer, organic, inorganic, analytical and space chemistry. Meeting highlights include:

Tuesday, May 28, 2002
9 a.m. – 12 Noon

Improved electrical energy harvesting by electrode-reducing microorganisms in marine sediments — Microorganism in marine soil can be used to generate electrical power. (Gregory Konesky, ATH Ventures, Inc., Hampton Bays, N.Y.)

Tuesday, May 28, 2002
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

September 11, 2001: a mass disaster response by the armed forces DNA identification laboratory — This presentation describes the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory’s approach to successfully managing and processing the Pentagon and Somerset, Pa. disaster sites. (Robert M. Fisher, The Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rockville, Md.)

Wednesday, May 29, 2002
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

New biotech products in the pipeline could revolutionize agriculture — Researcher presents an overview of the new market of biotech products that make foods tastier and healthier for consumers, and improves feed quality and provides other benefits for the producers and consumers. (Jay K. Mitchell, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.)

Exposure to airborne radiation in Fairfax County, Virginia — A twelve year study by George Mason University faculty and students shows that exposure to airborne radiation is higher than it should be. (Fiorella Simoni, Chemistry Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.)

Wednesday, May 29, 2002
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Cortisol sensor for soldier stress and fatigue monitoring — To address the demands of the Department of the Army’s Land Warrior program, a polymer-based sensor is used to monitor cortisol levels in the body and determine a soldier’s relative stress level in the field. (David Scott Lawrence, Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel Md.)

Professional achievement recognition is highlighted at the meeting. ACS will honor chemists from Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey on May 29 for industrial innovations that improve global welfare, for exemplary teaching at the high school level, and for stimulating and fostering diversity. Three ACS members who have contributed to the commercial success of their company and to their communities and society are winners of the Industrial Innovation Awards.

Shun C. Fung of the ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company in Annandale, N.J., will be honored for career-long research that has improved our understanding of catalysts — chemicals widely used by the petroleum industry to produce high-octane gasoline and basic chemicals.

Jawahar C. Parekh of Reheis, Inc. in Berkeley Heights, N.J., will be honored for developing the first aerosol antiperspirant that does not contain ozone-depleting chemicals such as Freon.

Robert DiCosimo, Susan Fager, John Gavagan, F. Glenn Gallagher, Eugenia Hann, Susan Hennessey, Neal Perkins, Amy Sigmund and Barry Stieglitz of E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Company, Inc. in Wilmington, Del., will be honored for developing a “greener” way to produce the new, low-use herbicide Milestone®.

Jeannette Brown of the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, N.J., will be presented the Women Chemists Committee Regional Award for contributions to diversity for her work supporting and encouraging women and minorities to pursue chemistry studies and careers.

Elena Stephanie Andrys Pisciotta of Damascus High School in Montgomery County, Md., will be honored with the ACS Regional Award in High School Chemistry Teaching for more than 30 years of teaching chemistry in Montgomery, Carroll and Prince George’s County schools.

General chair of the meeting is Gregory D. Foster, Chemistry Department, George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. (703-993-1081).