December 2021 Issue of The Crucible

We are pleased to provide the December 2021 Issue of The Crucible.  If you have something you would like included in future issues, please email Alysia Mondato at [email protected].

Congratulations to 2021 Distinguished Service Award Winner – Dr. Evonne Baldauff

Evonne Baldauff has been active in the ACS Pittsburgh Local Section since 2013, serving on the executive committee as secretary, treasurer (current), and chair (2016).  Coordinating the undergraduate program for the Central Regional Meeting (CERM) held in Pittsburgh in 2014 was an honor; she has since gone on to fulfill this role at the national level during the ACS Spring 2021 virtual meeting.   In 2019 Baldauff assumed the role of National Chemistry Week (NCW) coordinator, earning recognition for the Section with the “Outstanding Ongoing NCW Event” ChemLuminary award that same year. Baldauff has advised the Waynesburg University ACS student chapter since 2007, during which time the group was recognized twelve times as an “Outstanding Student Chapter.”  She looks forward to continuing her service to the Pittsburgh Local Section as it works to fulfill its mission to “advance the broader chemical enterprise and its practitioners” in the Pittsburgh region. Baldauff received her B.S. in chemistry from Grove City College followed by a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Purdue University.  She currently serves as Assistant Provost for Online Learning and Curriculum Development as well as Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Forensic Science at Waynesburg University where she is a Professor of Chemistry.  Outside of working and volunteering, she is an avid cook and baker. 

Congratulations to 2021 Pittsburgh Award Winner – W. Richard Howe

Richard Howe left the faculty at his alma mater, St. Vincent College, in 1970 to join the Chemistry Department at the University of Pittsburgh. He rose through administrative ranks to the position of Assistant Chair in the Department before being selected to serve as an Associate Dean in Pitt’s School of Arts and Sciences. He held that position for 30 years before his retirement in 2016.

Over his term as Associate Dean, he coordinated an aggressive capital projects program in excess of $300,000,000 that modernized most of the instructional and research laboratories within the Arts and Sciences. This effort increased the amount of research space available for the school’s expanding research programs and improved work/study facilities for the school’s faculty, staff and students. Before retiring, he served as principal author and project coordinator for a $15 million construction award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This award enabled the University to expand its excellence in nanoscience and experimental physics.

Associate Dean Howe demonstrated dedication to his profession through his service as the Chairman of the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (1986-87), Local Chair for the 1989 International Science and Engineering Fair (held in Pittsburgh), and the Local Chair for the 1992 International Chemistry Olympics which was also held in Pittsburgh.  He has belonged to the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Pittsburgh High School Chemistry Sub-Group of the local ACS, and the organizing committee for the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (PITTCON). In 1994 he served as the president of PITTCON and hosted over 32,000 attendees at their annual meeting in Chicago.

He served as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of College Chemistry Teachers (1981-1984). He also organized the 1978 annual meeting for the Middle Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists and the 1977 Northeast Regional meeting of the Society for Research Administrators. He was a key organizer of the Chemical Heritage Foundation’s (now Science History Institute) permanent museum of historical chemical instruments, served as the inaugural Chair of the CHF Committee on Instrumentation and Artifacts and served as an inaugural member of their Heritage Council.

In recognition of his contributions to science education and science outreach, Howe was awarded the 2008 Distinguished Service Award by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society.

In his spare time Howe has been active in a variety of arts and science outreach programs in the Pittsburgh area.  He served as Vice President of the North Allegheny Fine Arts Coalition and along with his wife served as President of the North Allegheny District Band Patrons. During their two years as Co-Presidents of the Band Patrons, they coordinated a successful fund-raising effort to support the band’s participation in the 1997 Tournament of Roses Parade and the 1998 Orange Bowl Parade. Among other activities, Howe served on the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project (2000-2006), the Pittsburgh Public School’s Science Institute’s Advisory Board (1986-1993) and Mayor Murphy’s Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (1999-2002).

Since his retirement, Mr. Howe has become a member of the Foundation Board for the Beaver County Community College. Since July 2020, he has served as their Board Chair.

Mr. Howe and his wife of 43 years, Betsy, now live in Beaver County’s Economy Borough which places them within driving distance of their three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Congratulations to our 2022 Officers!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the voting process!  We are pleased to announce our new officers and wish them the very best in their new role!

Chair-Elect

Dr. Ed Zovinka

Secretary-Elect

Jiahan Xie

Directors

Dr. Evonne Baldauff (term ends 2024)

Logan Miller (term ends 2024)

Councilors

Dr. Kristin Nuzzio

National Chemistry Week 2021 Illustrated Poem Contest Results

“Fast or Slow: Chemistry Makes It Go!”

This year the Pittsburgh Local Section received a number of entries for the annual NCW Illustrated Poem Contest.  We thank all of the teachers and parents who encouraged their students to enter the competition.  Entries were judged based upon artistic merit, poem message, originality and creativity, and neatness.  Winners receive a cash prize and recognition locally.  First place recipients are sent for judging at the national level.

Category Grade 9-12^th

1^st Place:  Alyssandra P., “Fascinating Fruits”

2^nd Place:  David K,. “The Fastest Action:  Water’s Reaction”

3^rd Place:  Ciarra R. “Catalyst”

Category Grade 3-5^th

1^st Place:  Mira M., “Elephant’s Toothpaste”

Mira’s poem was also selected as the second place winner at the national competition level!  Mira’s work can be found on the ACS website at http://www.acs.org/ncw, which receives over 25,000 unique visitors annually.

November 2021 Issue of The Crucible

We are pleased to provide the November 2021 issue of The Crucible.  If you have something you would like included in future issues, please email Alysia Mondato at [email protected].

The 2021 Nominating Committee of the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society submits the following slate of candidates for the Section office for 2022. All persons nominated are  members of the society and have agreed to serve if elected. Only members of the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society are eligible to vote. The polls will open November 21, 2021 Please note that all ballots must be received by November 29, 2021 when polls close.

Directors (Vote for up to 2)
Evonne Baldauff
Fu-Tyan Lin
Logan Miller

Councilors (Vote for 1)
Kristin Nuzzio
Ashley M. Smith

October 2021 Issue of The Crucible

We are pleased to provide the October 2021 issue of The Crucible.  If you have something you would like included in future issues, please email Alysia Mondato at [email protected].

23rd Annual ChemLuminary Awards

Congratulations to the ACS Pittsburgh Section – we are up to win a ChemLuminary:  Outstanding Performance Awards – Medium Large Size Category

Registration to watch the event (and hopefully see us win!) is free:  2021 ChemLuminary Awards Registration (cvent.com)

Pittsburgh Section Mourns the Loss of a Long-Time Member

From left to right: David Pratt, Theodore Cohen, Alan Russell, Jerome Rosenberg, Bodie Douglas at the 2010 Pittsburgh Award Dinner

It is with deep sadness we report the loss of long-time ACS Pittsburgh Section member and 1987 Pittsburgh Award winner Jerome Rosenberg.  You can find Jerry’s obituary here:  Obituary: Jerome L. Rosenberg | Served for 64 years at Pitt as faculty member and administrator | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette