Mark Galley
mwgalley@aol.com
609-439-1308 in Princeton, N.J.

American Chemical Society

World's largest scientific society convenes regional meeting June 8 - 11 in Princeton, N.J.

More than 400 research papers will be presented at the 36^th Middle Atlantic regional meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, in Princeton, N.J., June 8-11. Approximately 800 scientists and students are expected to attend the meeting on the Princeton University campus (McDonnell Hall and Jadwin Hall, 609-258-6115). Highlights include the following:

Analytical chemistry

Forensic chemistry

Nanotechnology

Pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry

Role of chemistry in homeland defense

Monday, June 9

9 a.m. - Noon

New Bachelor of Science program in forensic chemistry at Towson University — Beginning in the fall of 2003, Towson University in Maryland will formally address the shortage of qualified forensic chemists nationally with its baccalaureate program in forensic chemistry. This poster session will present the program's development, a sample curriculum and future plans. (Liina Ladon, Department of Chemistry, Towson University, Towson, Md., 410-704-3054, lladon@towson.edu)

2:30 p.m.

Challenges in drug discovery in the 21st century: target validation — This presentation will highlight the use of genetics as a tool to understand human diseases. Genetic models are used to identify physiological "switches" for treating these diseases with small molecule drugs. (S. David Kimball, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Princeton, N.J., 609-466-5515, dkimball@lexpharma.com)

Tuesday, June 10

10 a.m.

Analytical chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry — This presentation will highlight techniques and methods used by analytical chemists in the development of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. (Jacqueline Erickson, Product Development, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Parsippany, N.J., 973-889-2368, JACQUELINE.A.ERICKSON@GSK.COM)

2:30 p.m.

Odors at the World Trade Center — Odors present during a traumatic event can trigger an emotional or stress response when later encountered. The distinct and pervasive odors lingering in the vicinity of lower Manhattan for weeks following 9-11 were prime candidates for eliciting odor-mediated "flash-backs" among workers and residents. The researcher will identify the compounds that are commercially available and may be used to reconstitute those characteristic odors to educate rescue workers and to desensitize those who have already developed odor-stress associations. (George Preti, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pa., 215-898-4713, preti@monell.org)

Wednesday, June 11

9 a.m.

The forensic use of DNA and its future at the New Jersey State Police Laboratory — This talk will cover the analysis of DNA samples by the New Jersey State Police DNA Unit and the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) group. The future of DNA and CODIS within the state will be previewed. (William "Bill" Rochin, New Jersey State Police, CODIS UNIT, NJSP Central Regional Laboratory, West Trenton, N.J., 609-671-0022, lpprochw@gw.njsp.org)

11:20 a.m.

Forensic anthropology — This presentation will introduce the audience to the role of the forensic anthropologist in a death investigation and discuss the use of New Jersey's Internet/Facial Reconstruction/Computer Image Enhancement in the identification of bodies. (Donna Fontana, New Jersey State Police, Missing Persons Unit, West Trenton, N.J., 609-882-2000, ext. 2893, lppfontd@gw.njsp.org)

In addition to the in-depth scientific presentations, ACS President Elsa Reichmanis will present a special keynote address from 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. on Monday, June 9, in the Wu Dining Hall. President Reichmanis' topic is "Chemistry in the 21^st Century."

Alan G. MacDiarmid, 2000 Nobel Prize winner for chemistry, will discuss the future of electronic polymers (materials that are being used for advanced technology consumer products) at the plenary lecture from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Monday, June 9, in McDonnell Hall, Room A02.

Shirley Tilghman, President of Princeton University, will speak at the Women Chemists Luncheon at 12 Noon on Tuesday, June 10, in the Wu Dining Hall.

There will be three significant awards presented at the meeting:

Charles Blaisdell, John Carberry, Lawrence Haight, George Heinshohon, Malli Rao and Terence A. Rensi of DuPont in Wilmington, Del., will receive the ACS Industrial Innovation Award on June 9 for designing a manufacturing process that eliminates the need to transport and store the hazardous chemical methyl isocyanate.

Carl Wigal of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., will receive the E. Emmet Reid Award on June 9 for excellence in teaching at a small college in the Middle Atlantic region of the American Chemical Society.

Rebecca Isseroff of Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls in Hewlett Bay Park, N.Y., will be honored on June 10 with the ACS Regional Award in High School Chemistry Teaching for her establishment of a research laboratory program at the high school and for inspiring young women to pursue careers in chemistry.

Additional details about the Middle Atlantic regional meeting can be found at http://membership.acs.org/T/Trenton/MARMindex.html.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The two general chairs of the meeting are Peter Boughton, 609-771-9173, and Jerry Goodkin, 609-882-4763. The program chairs are Donna Bassolino-Klimas, 609-259-0742, and Bing Zhou, 609-716-8438.