Spring 2012 - Awards

This year at the spring ACS meeting two student chapters were recognized for receiving the inaugural funding awards that are jointly administered by the POLY and PMSE divisions.
The University of Southern Mississippi chapter was awarded $1,000 to bring one academic and one industrial scientist seminar speaker to campus,support a recycling outreach program in local public schools and provide professional development activities to chapter members. The University of South Carolina chapter was awarded $1,000 to sponsor a lecture series in polymer science bringing in speakers from academia, government and industry.
Each award had a matching cost-share of $1,000 from the student chapter. The next call for proposals will be in fall 2012 and is open to all active POLY/PMSE student chapters.

(l to r) B. Benicewicz (USC Chapter Advisor), K. Cavicchi, (Univ.
of Akron), M. Mollelo (USC Chapter President),
J. Mabry, (POLY Chair), R. Hensarling (USM Chapter President),
and D. Patton (USM Chapter Advisor)

University of Southern Mississippi POLY/PMSE Student Chapter:

2011 - Introducing the newest student chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

We are excited to launch the POLY Student Chapter at the University of Southern Mississippi this fall semester.  Planning has been underway to provide members with a social environment that promotes networking, mentorship, and outreach. We are currently establishing key contacts between industrial and professional associations encouraging science-related interactions outside the department, not only allowing for a partnership between students and potential employers but also educating the community about polymer science. Throughout the year, we plan to host seminars with invited professors within the polymer science community,conduct professional development workshops, and teach the next generation of scientists what polymers are and how they are used. We are looking forward to what this upcoming year unfolds for our Chapter.
Ryan Hensarling, USM POLY Chapter President

Student Chapter Committee (l to r) Treasurer:
Emily Hoff, Secretary: Brad Sparks, Vice
President: Sarah Exley, President: Ryan
Hensarling, Faculty Advisor: Professor
Derek Patton

University of Texas-Dallas POLY/PMSE Student Chapter:

2011- This is a year of many achievements starting with the establishment of the POLY Student Chapter in UTD, collaborations with other student Associations, participation in academic activities, symposia and two ACS conferences.

This summer, UTD-PSC participated in the George A. Jeffrey Nano-xplorer program, a well recognized program in Texas. UTD-PSC members guided young Nanoxplorer undergraduate students in learning experiences and won
the “Tech Titans of the Future” Award for this involvement. UTD-PSC members, actively involved in ACS national conferences, presented their work in oral and poster presentations and attended the POLY Board meeting. Since some of the members of UTD-PSC were former members of the Clemson University POLY student chapter, we are
planning to keep an information bridge with Clemson to exchange updates, improvements and suggestions between the Clemson University POLY Student Chapter and UTD-PSC. We are also collaborating with the UTD Chemistry Student Association (CSA) which will help to enlarge our Student Chapter and involve undergraduates. In the upcoming semester, UTD-PSC plans to discuss future events, develop strategies for fundraising, and spread information about ACS fellowships and awards. We also plane to invite speakers representing local industries to talk about industrial experience and job opportunities in the polymer field.
Babloo Sharma, UDT POLY Chapter President

University of Michigan POLY/PMSE Student Chapter:

2011 - We have been very active this year. In May, many of our POLY members volunteered at the Hands-On Museum of Ann Arbor during the Hands-On Chemistry Demo Weekend. We explained to kids the role chemistry plays in fun demos such as “bracelet making with UV color changing beads” and “Acid/Base invisible ink: paint with lemon juice”. We are preparing for our Macromolecular Science and Engineering 35th Annual Symposium, which is scheduled for October 27th. Professor Laine will be awarding the first Charles G. Overberger Research prize to Professor Yoshio Yokamoto from Nagoya University.
Daniel Flynn, UM POLY Chapter President

Website:  http://macromolecular.umich.edu/UMPOLY.html