Chemists Celebrate Earth Week

For years, chemists have been promoting a better world through recyclable plastics, cleaner-burning fuels, phosphate-free detergents, environmental monitoring, and green chemistry initiatives. The American Chemical Society joined the Earth Day celebration on April 22, 2003. There have been annual Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) events ever since.

Each year, ACS highlights one of four general topics (water, air, plants/soil or recycling) and chooses a specific “theme name” under the topic to focus the CCEW celebration.

ACS local sections, Student Member Chapters, and divisions are encouraged to take part in the celebration, particularly the annual community event. Additionally, hands-on activities have been developed for CCEW celebrations, and it is hoped that ACS members, chemical educators, and chemistry enthusiasts will use them to illustrate the positive role that chemistry plays in the world.

Coordinator

If you have any questions, please contact the CCED Coordinator, Mike Mautino, at [email protected].

2021 Earth Day Poem Contest Winners

The Pittsburgh Local Section K-2 winner took second place in the national competition! Congratulations, Shri A. from Bradford Woods Elementary School! 

As part of the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) 2021 Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) celebration, the Pittsburgh Section ACS sponsored an illustrated poem contest for students in grades K-12. Students could pick topics related to the 2021 CCED theme “Reducing Our Footprint with Chemistry.” Poems could be any style (free verse, limerick, haiku, etc.). Entries were judged based upon relevance to and incorporation of the theme, word choice and imagery, colorful artwork, adherence to poem style, originality and creativity, and overall presentation.  Each 1st place winning entry will receive a check for $50 and their winning poem was entered into the national ACS CCEW poetry contest sponsored by the ACS’s Committee on Community Activities. National ACS CCEW poetry contest winners will be announced the week of June 1, 2021.  And the winners of the 2021 Pittsburgh Section ACS’s CCEW poem contest:

K-2nd Grade

Shri A. (2nd Grade), Bradford Woods Elementary School

3rd-5th Grade

Efua K. (5th Grade), Peebles Elementary School

6th-8th Grade

Aiden Q. (7th Grade), Linton Middle School

9th-12th Grade

Andrea K. (12th Grade), Ringgold High School