5^th Annual ACS Undergraduate Chemistry Research Symposium

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

4:30 – 9:00 PM

Student Center

Marist College

Poster Session 4:30-6:00 PM

Dinner at 6:30 PM

Guest Speaker: Dr. Ann McDermott

Department of Chemistry

Columbia University

Topic: NMR Structural Studies of Membrane Proteins

Contact Dr. John Galbraith

(Marist) at (845) 575-3000 x2264

or by email at

john.galbraith@marist.edu

About the lecture: Most membrane-bound proteins are structurally uncharacterized at present. Solid state NMR methods promise to offer important information for these systems. Recently it was discovered that NMR spectra of uniformly labeled solid state proteins are well-resolved and may provide the basis for structural and functional studies. Many small proteins, including BPTI and ubiquitin, and several intrinsic membrane proteins have been studied using high-field state-of-the-art solid state NMR equipment. Torsional angles and tertiary contacts are characterized through existing dipolar methods.

Directions to Marist College:

http://www.marist.edu/welcome/direct.html/

Marist College is located off Rte. 9 (north of the Mid-Hudson Bridge) in Poughkeepsie, NY. The Student Center is located at the rear of the Marist campus. Enter the Main Entrance of the campus and continue down the hill. The Student Center is the domed building to the left. Rooms 348A and 349 are on the third floor.

Please see page 2 for symposium details and deadlines.

Molecular Wires as Chemosensors and New Materials for Electronic Packaging

Dr. Wayne Jones

Department of Chemistry

SUNY Binghamton

Wednesday, May 12, 2004

7:00 PM

Lecture Center, Room 104

SUNY New Paltz

Refreshments at 6:30 PM

Contact Dr. John Harrington

(SUNY New Paltz) at

(845) 257-3728 or by email at harringj@newpaltz.edu

About the lecture: The work to be presented involves the application of molecular wires for the detection of nanomolar quantities of transition metals in solution. A series of fluorescent chemosensor materials has been prepared. Current efforts, supported by the National Institutes of Health, involve preparing new, more reversible, and water sensitive versions of this exciting new class of materials. Of particular interest is the non-linear quenching response in these polymers, which make them significantly more sensitive than monomeric sensors. A unique mathematical model for this energy transfer process has also been developed, which for the first time, allows distinction between Dexter and Forster energy transfer mechanisms.

Directions to SUNY New Paltz: http://www.newpaltz.edu/about/directions.html

From the South, take NYS Thruway (I-87) north to Exit 18, make a left onto 299 at the light (heading towards New Paltz). Go about 2-3 miles, and turn left onto South Manheim Boulevard (Rte. 32 South). If you are coming from the North, take NYS Thruway (I-87) south to Exit 18. Take 299 towards New Paltz. If you are coming across the Mid-Hudson Bridge, turn right onto Rte. 9W North. Proceed 2 3/4 miles to traffic light at intersection with Rte. 299. Turn left onto 299 and proceed approximately 6 miles to New Paltz. Turn left onto South Manheim Boulevard (Rte. 32 South).

ACS Undergraduate Chemistry

Research Symposium

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

The Mid-Hudson Section of the American Chemical Society is pleased to announce the fifth annual Undergraduate Chemistry Research Symposium to be held at Marist College on Wednesday, April 21^st from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM.

The symposium provides a chance for area undergraduate students in the chemical sciences to present their research. Work in all areas of chemistry, environmental science, molecular biology, and related fields is welcome. The poster presentations will be held from 4:30-6:00 PM, followed by dinner and a guest speaker.

The Symposium: The symposium will be held from 4:30-6:00 PM in rooms 348A and 349 in the Student Center at Marist College. Set-up must be completed by 4:30 PM. As in previous years, all research will be presented as posters. To present a poster, please submit an abstract of 200 words or less. The format for the abstract should adhere as closely as possible to the following guidelines: 1) 12-point Times Roman font, 2) One-inch margins, 3) MS WORD document, 4) The abstract title should be typed in capital letters, followed by the authors' names and institution name, institution address, and telephone number in lower case letters. Advisor’s name, if included, should be followed by an asterisk (*). Please submit the abstract no later than Friday, April 9^th, by email to John Galbraith. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please contact John Galbraith by phone or email. We will have poster easels available for the first 35 participants; tables will also be available. Your poster should be self-supported on cardboard or posterboard backing. The standard size for ACS posters is 48 inches wide by 36 inches high. You will be contacted before the symposium to confirm acceptance of your abstract. Please note: there will be a $25 conference fee per poster up to $100 maximum per school.

Please submit, via email or diskette, your abstract to:

Dr. John Galbraith

Department of Chemistry and Physics

Marist College

3399 North Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Phone: (845) 575-3000x2264

Email: john.galbraith@marist.edu

Dinner: Please make reservations with John Galbraith by Friday, April 9^th. Dinner is at 6:30 PM, immediately following the symposium, at The Cabaret in the Student Center.

Call for Applications for Undergraduate Student Research Awards

The Mid-Hudson Section of the American Chemical Society invites applications for 2004 Undergraduate Research Awards from student researchers who plan to present their work at the 2004 undergraduate poster symposium. Three students will be selected to receive $200 in travel funds to present their work at a regional or national conference. Applications for research awards are not a requirement for attending and presenting at the poster symposium.

Rationale

The Mid-Hudson Section wishes to reward undergraduates who participate in good quality research and plan to present at the poster symposium by providing small grants to allow students to present at a regional or national conference.

Criteria

Research work should be completed by a student currently enrolled (2003-2004 academic year) as an undergraduate at one of colleges in the Mid-Hudson ACS area. Students must plan to present their work at the 2004 Mid-Hudson ACS Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit a short (2 page maximum) summary of their research work aimed at an audience with college level chemistry knowledge. Applicants should include a brief background, relevant results, and possible significance of the research to the wider community. The summary should be written in normal scientific format and split into appropriate sections (Introduction, Experimental, Results and Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgements, and References). Applications should be sent along with the poster abstract to Dr. John Galbraith (Marist College, 3399 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, email: john.galbraith@marist.edu) by April 9, 2004, preferably in electronic format (as a WORD document).

Awards

Applications will be judged by a panel chosen by the Mid-Hudson American Chemical Society and a maximum of three applicants selected to receive awards of $200 each. Awards must be used towards registration and/or travel to a regional or national meeting (ACS meetings preferred). Award winners will be announced at the poster symposium and awards paid upon presentation of conference receipts.

CALL FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Mid-Hudson Section of the American Chemical Society is soliciting nominations for its High School Chemistry Teaching Award. The purpose of this award is to encourage and reward excellence in the teaching and promotion of chemistry. The winner of the award will receive a plaque and a $200 prize. Additionally, the winner will be nominated for the regional ACS award in High School Teaching. Recipients of the Regional Awards become candidates for the James Bryant Conant Award in High School Teaching sponsored by Albemarle Corporation, given to the nation's best chemistry teacher. We invite your nominations of outstanding teachers for this award. Please contact Patti Cusatis ((845) 569-1359 or by email at patti63@aol.com) to receive the guidelines for nomination and a nomination form.

Please note that nominations must be submitted by April 2, 2004 to:

Patti Cusatis
Awards Chair
Mid-Hudson Section of

the American Chemical Society
15 Arrowhead Court
Newburgh, NY 12550

WOMEN CHEMISTS COMMITTEE UPDATE

The Women Chemists Committee held a meeting at the Ship's Lantern on February 27^th. Another Girl Scout badge day was held on Saturday, March 13^th, at Vassar College. The WCC members assisted girls in earning their "Making it Matter" badge, by providing activities like making slime, making a circuit, designing a structure out of newspaper rolls, learning about household chemical safety and acid-base reactions.

The next meeting will be held sometime in April or early May. Stay tuned for more details.

Attention: High School Teachers and Students

The Mid-Hudson Section of the American Chemical Society will be participating in the International Chemistry Olympiad for 2004. We are starting the selection process to choose 8 participants from the Mid-Hudson Section. These 8 participants will take the National Chemistry Olympiad qualifying exam on Saturday, April 17^th, at Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh, NY. Part of the National exam will consist of a laboratory practice section, as in past years. Twenty students will be chosen nationally from the results of the national exam to participate in a study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in June. From these students, the national team will be selected to represent the U.S. in Kiel, Germany in July.

To select our 8 students, we will hold Local ACS Section qualifying exams, which will be administered at your school, should you choose to participate. If you feel that your school has students who can compete in the Local Section exams, or are a high school student who would like to participate, please let us know. We will then send you or your teacher a copy of the 2002 Local Section exam and an answer key, which you can use to prepare, along with the rules of the exam.

We encourage you to take part in this exciting program! Contact Lynn Maelia by phone: (845) 569-3131, fax: (845) 562-6762, email: maelia@msmc.edu or mail at Mount Saint Mary College, 330 Powell Avenue, Newburgh, New York 12550.

American Chemical Society's Boat Cruise on the Hudson

Sunday, July 11, 2004

South Dock

United States Military Academy

West Point, NY

Please join the Mid-Hudson section for a cruise on the Hudson on Sunday, July 11^th. We expect to depart at 3:00 PM and return by 5:00 PM. Boarding will begin at 2:30 PM. The boat departs promptly, so it is advisable to arrive at least 15 minutes early. The boat will be docked at the West Point South Dock. Snacks and beverages will be served. Cost: $5 per person, $10 per family (parents and children). Please contact Michelle Rodden at (845) 687-5000/5165 or by email at roddenm@sunyulster.edu. Reservations and payment are due by July 7^th. Please make checks payable to the American Chemical Society - Mid-Hudson Section and mail to:

Michelle Rodden

91 Lucas Avenue

Kingston, NY 12401

The boat holds 150 people and it is expected to fill quickly, so reserve early- best if by June 15^th! Note: Smoking is not permitted on the vessel.

Current Force Protection Levels require that all vehicles be searched at the gate. Please do not be discouraged by this routine procedure, but you will need to allow additional time for the vehicle search. Please also note that if there is a change in Force Protection Level, the cruise may be cancelled on short notice. To be notified directly of this situation, when making reservations leave your name, telephone number, and email address.

Directions to the West Point South Dock: Take Route 9W to Thayer Gate (Highland Falls entrance). Signs are clearly posted for the proper turn when coming from the north or the south. Coming from the north, take the 3^rd exit from the bottom of Storm King Mountain, just past a BMW dealership located on the left. Continue a short distance past Buffalo Soldier Field bearing to the right. Look for signs for South Dock. You will be turning downhill (to the right) from the stop sign at Buffalo Soldier Field.

NERM 2004

The Executive Board would like to remind everyone that the Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society will take place from October 31^st to November 3^rd in Rochester, NY. No abstract submission deadline has been posted yet, but it will probably be announced sometime during
the summer. This would be an excellent opportunity for students doing undergraduate research to present their results. If anyone is interested in going as a group from the Section, please contact Dan
Freedman at (845) 257-3795 or freedmad@newpaltz.edu.

Executive Committee:

Chair, John Harrington; Chair-Elect, John Galbraith; Past Chair, Sarjit Kaur; Treasurer, Joan Skinner; Secretary, Daniel Freedman; Councilor, David Straus; Alternate Councilor, Timothy MacMahon; Members–at–Large, Lynn Maelia, Mary Dery, Cynthia MacMahon; Program Chair, John Harrington; Public Relations Chair/ NCW Coordinator, Michelle Rodden; Awards Chair, Patti Cusatis; WCC Chair: Mary Dery; Mid-Hudson Chemist: Editor: Gissel Mentore; Publisher: Patti Cusatis.

National Chemistry Week 2003

Limerick Contest Winners

(from the NCW Coordinator,

Michelle Rodden)

Ages 10 to 100 were asked to create a limerick that included any of the following words: chemistry, air, clouds, pollution, acid rain, scrubbers, aviation, solar energy. One hundred fourteen entries were received. English Professor Martha Robinson, with Ulster County Community College since 1991, was the judge. Each winner will receive a t-shirt from the American Chemical Society on-line store.

The top five entries for the 2003 National Chemistry Week Limerick Contest:

Amanda Hadden, Newburgh (6th grade student, Bishop Dunn Memorial School)

Air pollution makes your throat dry

It makes your eyes sting and you cry

Please don’t be so mean

And keep the air clean

Everyone in the world should try.

Karen Merker, Port Ewen (3rd grade teacher, St. Joseph’s School, Kingston)

The Earth is a planet, a sphere

Where we live in the Earth’s atmosphere.

We need a solution

To end the pollution.

We need to breathe air that is clear!

Alex Quilty, Lake Katrine (5th grade student, St. Joseph’s School, Kingston)

There once was a chemist named Zye.

The project he made went awry.

He turned into Hyde

And went for a ride

While acid rain filled up the sky.

Cameron Sweeney, Kingston (5th grade student, St. Joseph’s School, Kingston)

I knew a man who liked Science.

He bought from Lowes an appliance.

And when he got home,

Ripped open the foam,

Found it was not in compliance.

Alfred Turk, Wappingers Falls (retired, American Chemical Society member)

A talented chemist from Spain

Concerned by the high acid rain

Found a solution

For this pollution

Now neutral rain falls on the plain.

(apologies to Lerner and Lowe)

CHEMISTS CELEBRATE

EARTH DAY 2004

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22^nd across the United States. This year, the Mid-Hudson section is assisting National ACS in promoting several activities. The theme this year is: What Do You Know About H₂O?

The major contest is the Music Video Contest. See below for contest rules. The Journal of Chemical Education packed its February 2004 issue to help

celebrate this special day.

EARTH DAY MUSIC VIDEO CONTEST

This contest encourages students to produce a music video best illustrating the theme “What Do You Know About H₂O?” The competition is open to all K-12 students in the US and Puerto Rico.

·      All entries must be original work and cannot be previously submitted in other video contests.

·      Videos must be produced after January 1, 2004.

·      Entries must be submitted to Michelle Rodden (845) 687-5000/5165, 91 Lucas Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401 and postmarked by May 1, 2004.

·      A video entry form must be completed (call Michelle Rodden to obtain the form).

·      A video/parental consent form must be completed by each person appearing in the video (call Michelle Rodden to obtain the form).

·      Entry must be recorded in English and submitted on a new VHS video cassette.

·      All first-place entries in each of the following categories will be sent to the National competition in August: K-2, 3-4, 5-8, and 9-12 grade.

·      The maximum total running time for the entry is 5 minutes.

·      Footage and audio must be suitable for the general public.

·      All Mid-Hudson video entries will be shown at local meetings between September and December 2004.

·      ACS is not responsible for lost or damaged entries.

·      Winning entries at the local level will receive a half hour AWESOME chemical demonstration by chemists for their group, grade, or school.

·      Winning entries at the national level will receive $100. Honorable mention entries will receive $50.

NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK 2004

Plans are underway for National Chemistry Week 2004 to be held October 17^th–23^rd. The theme is Health & Wellness. If you have any ideas (ideas in the works: Family Chemistry Night, Guest speaker, and Survival, Health, & Biochemical Jeopardy!), or would like to volunteer to help, or want your children to participate in activities, please contact the Mid-Hudson NCW Coordinator: Michelle Rodden (845) 687-5000/5165 or email roddenm@msn.com. To assist the section with funding events, ask your employer if they would like to provide funds for this community outreach program! $150 goes a LONG way with NCW events!

(Please Post)

The Mid-Hudson Section of the

American Chemical Society U.S. POSTAGE PAID