A record number of undergraduates atten ded the 233^rd ACS National Meeting in Chicago. The 2,345 students at the meeting presented an unprecedented 1,264 undergraduate research and Student Affiliates Chapter posters in the Division of Chemical Education.

U.S. Chemistry Olympiad team wins four medals The 2007 U.S. Chemistry Olympiad team won three silver medals and one bronze medal at the 39^th annual International Chemistry Olympiad in Moscow. The U.S. team, consisting of the nation’s top high school chemistry students, competed with 254 students representing 66 countries. The U.S. team was selected from more than 10,000 students screened by ACS Local Sections nationwide.

High School ChemClubs program expands As of Dec. 31, 2007, 117 Chemistry Clubs were chartered with the ACS Office of High School Chemistry, exceeding the goal (100) established for 2007-2008 in the initial program funding request. Also in December, the ACS Board of Directors approved the continuation of the High School Chemistry Clubs program as an ongoing Society program. High school chemistry teachers serve as volunteer advi sors to these clubs. Project SEED continues to sprout In 2007, more than 100 institutions sponsored 316 students — all mentored by ACS members — in the Project SEED summer research program. The program awarded 38 Project SEED college scholarships to qualified Project SEED alumni. More than 50 Project SEED students presented posters about their summer research at the 234^th ACS National Meeting in Boston.

Photo courtesy of Leo Sorel.

“People ask me why I am such an ‘active’ volunteer in the American
Chemical Society. My response is pretty simple — the ACS allows
me to focus my volunteer time to coincide with personal passions,
including improving science education for future generations.”

JANET BRYANT Scientist/Engineer IV, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash. She is a 12-year ACS member.