Section News & Happenings

The local section committee held their last meeting of the year and celebrated with a dinner and lecture by Dr. Malika Jeffries-El at Waynesburg University, as a part of the Pittsburgh ACS On the Road series. The meeting and dinner had a festive mood as the committee looked back on the successful events of the past year and the events of the year to come. Dr. Jeffries-El presented her STEM journey and lab’s work in a well-attended lecture that was open also to the students at Waynesburg University. An award was presented to Dr. Jeffries-El by Waynesburg University for her contributions.

View photos from the event.

The votes are in, and we congratulate the following new officers and wish them all the best!

Chair-Elect: Samuel Leung
Secretary-Elect: Ronghong Lin
Councilor: Haitao Liu
Director: Kevin Noonan
Director: Heather Juzwa

Thank you for participating in our important election process. The election was conducted virtually via Survey Monkey and began on November 9 at 8 AM EST. We had 92 responses from voting members of the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society.

As the incoming Chair of the Pittsburgh Local Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS), I want to wish you a happy 2024. I am honored to serve as the Pittsburgh ACS Chair this year after serving in different roles since 2019. I am thankful for the support of the greater Local Section and for the special support of Former Chairs Matt Price, Kevin Noonan, Kim Woznack, and Ed Zovinka.

Read the remainder of the letter to the section.

​1. What is your work and ACS (if applicable) title?

ACS: Initially, I served the Pittsburgh section as secretary (2 years), alternate counselor (3 years), and then counselor (6 years). Recently, I helped the ACS polymer division (POLY) as a programming chair (3 years) for National ACS Meetings. Work: Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Penn State University New Kensington.

2. How many years have you been in the ACS?

I learned about becoming a member through local sections and joined in 2002.

3. What is the biggest benefit of ACS Membership?

I have met many wonderful people.

4. What did you want to be when you were a child?

As a child, I liked taking electrical and mechanical devices apart and trying to rebuild them. Often, a few screws were left over. I also liked woodworking. So, many jobs were interesting.

5. What made you fall in love with Chemistry?

Two experiences played a role. First, undergraduate research in the lab of Professor Chris Gorman at NC State University stimulated an interest in materials chemistry. Second, while working as a lifeguard and swim instructor, a scientist from a local company encouraged me to apply for an internship. As an intern, I was fascinated with making adhesive formulations!

6. What is your favorite part of your career or job?

I like learning about science through a combination of teaching, research, collaborations, and conferences.

7. What is your favorite book and why?

Bread Science: The chemistry and craft of making bread. Even though bread making has been around for thousands of years, I’m intrigued by the complexity of this process.

The Healing Power of Chemistry

The ACS Pittsburgh Local sections congratulates the following winners of the NCW 2023 Illustrated Poem Contest. Student artwork was evaluated based on the rules and guidelines established by the ACS National Contest. All first-place winners were submitted for judging at the national prize level. The ACS Pittsburgh Local section recognizes and thanks local teachers for encouraging their students to submit artwork. For further information: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/outreach/ncw/plan-an-event/illustratedpoem-contest.html

Grade Category: 9-12
1st Place Winner: G.T. “Chemistry, oh Chemistry”
2nd Place Winner: P.H. “CHEMISTRY”
3rd Place Winner: L.B. “Zoopharmacognosy”

Grade Category: 6-8
1st Place Winner: A.C. “Chemistry Wound Healing”
2nd Place Winner: C.H. “The white blood cells train with the vaccines”
3rd Place Winner: M.Q. “An Ode to Skin”

Grade Category: 3-5
1st Place Winner: K.S. “Apples”
2nd Place Winner: E.H. “Zoopharmacognosy”
3rd Place Winner: J.S. “White Blood Cells”

Grade Category: K-2
1st Place Winner: C. H. “Casts Help Your Bones”
2nd Place Winner: P. L. “Bandaids”

Click here to see all of the winning poems!

National Chemistry Week 2023: The Healing Power of Chemistry

The ACS Pittsburgh Local Section celebrated National Chemistry Week by partnering with the Carnegie Science Center for a variety of events hosted throughout this very special week!

“Gene-age Dream” STEM Adventure Scholars Program: On October 16, 18, and 19, the ACS Pittsburgh Local Section helped to sponsor the “Gene-age Dream STEM Adventure” which is the Carnegie Science Center’s “school field trip enhancement program.” Teachers from local schools will brought groups of their students to participate in a full laboratory experience that they may not get in their schools. Fourteen volunteers attended the sessions throughout the week to serve as lab assistants alongside the Carnegie Science Center professionals. Teachers from four districts brought approximately 158 high school students to participate in this event.

“SciTech Days”: Health and Medicine demonstrations and Career Panel at the Carnegie Science Center. A traditional exposition-style event, schools from the Pittsburgh region and surrounding communities brought students to experience hands-on demonstrations and activities on Friday, October 20th. A total of 186 students from 7 individual schools came on-site specifically for this program in addition to 700 individual visitors who were able to engage the exhibitors present. The Pittsburgh Local Section showcased the chemistry of bandages at their demonstration table which was staffed throughout the day by ten volunteers.

We extend a heart-felt thank you to the numerous volunteers who contributed to make this event a success, particularly all exhibitors, panelists, and lab assistants. Similarly, we recognize the Carnegie Science Center, for their major role in organizing and coordinating these NCW activities. The ACS Pittsburgh Local Section also wishes to acknowledge and thank our financial contribution partners, without whom our National Chemistry Week activities could not be possible:

The Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh
The Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh
Their support went directly to cover the costs of both student admission and laboratory supplies.

As I write this note for the Crucible, I am somewhat surprised that 2023 and my year of service are coming to a close! I have learned a great deal about ACS, ACS Pittsburgh, and our community in 2023. The year has been so much fun mostly due to all the wonderful people I have met and worked with through ACS Pittsburgh. The year has been amazing, as we hosted two award dinners at the Grand Concourse, hosted live meetings at Jadens in Monroeville (kickoff), at Levity Brewing in Indiana, at the University of Pittsburgh, at the Mount Lebanon
Public Library, and at Waynesburg University (On the Road). Once again, ACS Pittsburgh was active participating at the Carnegie Science Center for National Chemistry Week, sponsoring a Project SEED student, supporting the WCC events, and so much more. All because excellent volunteers are willing to take the time to commit to our community (locally, regionally, &
globally). Thank you to the ACS Pittsburgh Executive Committee and to our volunteers who have made an impact!

Yet there is so much more to do – and I ask you to consider becoming even more involved. Our new Chair Alysia Mandato and Chair-elect Sam Leung are excellent leaders (they have done so much for me this year!) but I know they could use your help to have even more impact! It doesn’t have to be a time sink but every little bit helps. Maybe you could become involved with Project SEED to encourage high school students from diverse identities and socioeconomic backgrounds to engage in the chemical sciences. Maybe it is to volunteer at the Carnegie Science Center during National Chemistry Week. Maybe it is to attend the virtual ACS Pittsburgh Environmental lectures (Thank you Ronghong!). Of course, I hope you will get more involved, even becoming an officer! My service to the Pittsburgh section has been personally rewarding and I hope to work with you in the future as we need active members to keep ACS Pittsburgh moving forward.

Thank You,

Edward P. Zovinka

We are pleased to provide the December 2023 Issue of The Crucible. If you have something you would like included in future issues, please email Sarah Scrivener at [email protected].

Get to Know a Member – Haitao Liu

1. What is your work and ACS (if applicable) title?

ACS: Councilor of ACS Pittsburgh Local Section | Work: Chair and Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh

2. How many years have you been in the ACS?

13

3. What is the biggest benefit of ACS Membership?

Meeting a lot of fantastic people outside my immediate work circle!

4. What did you want to be when you were a child?

I wanted to be a scientist, for real!!

5. What made you fall in love with Chemistry?

I was a very curious kid. My mom had some chemistry books from work. I read them because there was nothing else to read. Chemistry was fascinating to me because I realized that you can use chemistry to create new and transform materials.

6. What is your favorite part of your career or job?

As a university professor, you are surrounded by young students who are eager to learn. You have the rare opportunity to shape their professional growth.

7. What is your favorite book and why?

“But How Do It Know? – The Basic Principles of Computers for Everyone”- I have a computer science BS degree (in addition to Chemistry BS) but I never truly understood how computer works at the gate/transistor level. I bought this book for my son and end up reading it through myself. I finally understood how computer works and how it is built from transistors.

The 2023 Nominating Committee of the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society has submitted candidates for the Section Office for 2024. 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 9, 2023. Please note that all ballots must be received by November 16, 2023 when polls close.

Chair-Elect (vote for 1): Samuel Leung

Secretary-Elect (vote for 1): Ronghong Lin

Directors (vote for up to 2): Heather Juzwa, Kevin Noonan

Councilor (vote for 1): Haitao Liu

Assuming you are a member in good standing, you will receive your ballot electronically. The polls will open on at 8:00 AM on November 9 and close November 16 at 11:59 PM.

For ballot questions, please contact:
Kimberly Woznack
Immediate Past Chair – ACS Pittsburgh Section
[email protected]

Click here to access the candidate biographies.