Contact: Sharon Worthy
s_worthy@acs.org
202-872-4371 in Wash., D.C.

Russell Johnson
russellw.Johnson@honeywell.com
847-391-3174 in Ill.
Cell: 630-235-5752

American Chemical Society

World's largest scientific society convenes regional meeting May 30 - June 2 in Chicago

More than 250 research papers will be presented at the 35th Great Lakes regional meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, in Chicago, May 30-June 2. Approximately 800 scientists and students are expected to attend the meeting on the Loyola University Lakeshore Campus in Chicago (6525 North Sheridan Road; Centennial Forum Building, Damen and Flanner Halls; 773-508-3100 chemistry department). Highlights of interest to the public include:

Drug development and delivery
Environmental chemistry of the Great Lakes
Ground water contamination
Green chemistry and the environment
Mentoring and professional development
New crop development in the Midwest

Saturday, May 31
9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Innovative approaches in formulating green products — Three main approaches will be highlighted: (1) utilizing biodegradable surfactants; (2) improving product efficiency by using biologicals; and (3) selecting disinfectants that are environmentally preferable. (Claudio L. K. Lins, Johnson Diversey, Sanitation & Hygiene, Sturtevant, Wis., 262-631-4431, claudio.lins@jwp.com)

Organic functional group playing card deck — Chemistry becomes user-friendly for non-science majors by associating playing card games of "Old Maid," "Go Fish," "Poker" and "Gin" with patterns of organic molecules. (Michael John Welsh, Columbia College in Chicago, Science/Math Department, 312-344-7534, mwelsh@colum.edu)

The Greenlist® process: a method for environmental classification of raw materials used in consumer products — Researchers will explain the evaluation criteria and goal of the Greenlist® and trade process, initiated by S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., in 2000 to institutionalize recognition and tracking of better choices for the environment and promote incremental movement toward sustainability. (Fredrick H. Martin, 262-260-2112, frmartin@scj.com and David Long, 262-260-3085, dclong@scj.com, S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Research and Development, Racine, Wis.)

New ground water chromium detection technique — Chromium contamination in ground water is widespread and has received much attention in the past decade, including the Hollywood movie "Erin Brockovich." Researchers have developed a laser technique that makes it easier to measure the environmentally relevant concentration levels in real time of the micro particles in ground water. The presentation will discuss these developments. (Franz Geiger, Northwestern University, Department of Chemistry, Evanston, Ill., 847-467-6553, geigerf@chem.nwu.edu, Amanda Mifflin, amifflin@northwestern.edu, Katie Gerth and Brian Weiss)

The chemistry of mist and the morning helps to understand climate change — This presentation will discuss the formation of mist in the early morning hours and its ability to enhance our understanding of climate predictability and atmospheric composition. (Franz Geiger, 847-467-6553, geigerf@chem.nwu.edu, Andrea Voges, voges@northwestern.edu, Northwestern University, Department of Chemistry, Evanston, Ill.)

Molecules in art and life: organic chemistry for the artist — This poster presentation introduces students of the fine, performing and communication arts to the application of organic chemistry in art and nature. (Michael John Welsh, Columbia College in Chicago, Science/Math Department, 312-344-7534, mwelsh@colum.edu)

Sunday, June 1
9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Land-lake breeze effect studies in Chicago - air pollution study — Researchers at Loyola University Chicago Air Monitoring Station located on the shore of Lake Michigan conducted a study of the land-lake breeze effect in July and August 2002. This transport of air pollution from land to the lake and back was sampled from early morning to early afternoon with time resolutions adjusted to the land-lake breeze effect as predicted by model calculations. Results of ionic species and ozone relative to wind direction will be presented. (Tinamarie Fosco, 773-508-3137, tfosco@luc.edu and Martina Schmeling, 773-508-3124, mschmel@luc.edu, Loyola University of Chicago, Department of Chemistry, and Paul Doskey, 630-252-7662, pdoskey1@anl.gov, V. Rao Kotamarthi, vrkotamarthi@anl.gov, Lucas Harris, Heidi Ochsner, Argonne National Laboratory, Environmental Research Division, Argonne, Ill.)

From the West Indies to Chicago, new pharmaceuticals — Elisabethanes are a family of natural products found in waters near the West Indies. They are generating pharmacological interests due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic and cytotoxic biological properties. The researcher will describe preliminary studies for the synthesis of elisabethanes. (Viresh H. Rawal, University of Chicago, Department of Chemistry, 773-702-2194, v-rawal@uchicago.edu)

Organic pollutants in sediments of the Great Lakes — Sediments of the Great Lakes are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other compounds. The researcher will present a model that enables scientists to determine the degree of dechlorination in the sediments and the origination of the various compounds. (Erik R. Christensen, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Civil Engineering & Applied Science, 414-229-3968, erc@uwm.edu)

Stepping into the future — This presentation will discuss the mentoring process at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR). (Victoria L. Finkenstadt, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Plant Polymer Research, NCAUR, 309-681-6469, FINKENVL@ncaur.usda.gov)

Mentoring and modeling: the importance of both roles in supporting and inspiring aspiring chemical scientists — Presenter will provide examples of his career as a mentor and as a role model. (James Shoffner, Columbia College in Chicago, Science Institute, 312-344-7181, 312-344-7180, 847-439-7254, jshoff@msn.com)

Promoting diversity in science without being exclusionary — This talk will highlight recent decisions and policies on affirmative action and focus on how mentors can actively promote diversity in science. (Hilary Arnold Godwin, Northwestern University, Department of Chemistry, Evanston, Ill., 847-467-3543, h-godwin@northwestern.edu)

Monday, June 2
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Cleaning the uncleanable: particulate and finger oil removal by a polymer strip coating on nanostructures — Researchers will discuss a new and safe way to remove particles from the inside of nanostructures that doesn't harm the structure. Although currently implemented for high-end use such as telescopes, this process will eventually be available for consumers. (James P. Hamilton, 608-342-1670, HAMILTOJ@uwplatt.edu, Brenden J. Caroll, John D. Persons, personj@uwplatt.edu and Matthew S. Lewis, lewism@uwplatt.edu, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Department of Chemistry and Engineering Physics, and L. Assoufid, Argonne National Laboratory, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne, Ill., 608-342-1566)

In addition to the in-depth scientific presentations, three significant awards will be presented at the meeting:

John I. Brauman of Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., will receive The Willard Gibbs Award on May 30, 6 p.m., at the Argonne National Laboratory Guest House. He is a pioneer in reaction dynamics of ions in the gas phase. His research emphasizes the understanding of molecule reaction and the factors that determine the rates and products of chemical reactions.

Mary Jane Christopherson of Chosen Valley High School in Chatfield, Minn., will be honored on May 31 with the ACS Regional Award in High School Chemistry Teaching for her devotion to making the best use of modern technology in her teaching and for serving as the only physical science teacher in her rural school, thus, teaching chemistry, physics, physical science and environmental science.

Andrew J. Ouderkirk of 3M in St. Paul, Minn., will receive the ACS Industrial Innovation Award on May 31 for his invention of the 3M Multilayer Optical Film technology platform and related products that use polymer chemistry to manage light.

Additional details can be found at: http://membership.acs.org/g/glrm03/. The general chair of the meeting is Kenneth Olsen, 773-508-3121, and the Program Chair is David Crumrine, 773-508-3114, both of Loyola University Lakeshore Campus' Department of Chemistry in Chicago. All press inquiries should be directed to Russell Johnson, Honeywell, Des Plaines, Ill., 847-391-3174, cell 630-235-5752, russellw.Johnson@honeywell.com.