News Briefs

Celebrate National Chemistry Week October 18-24

October 20, 2009

The Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society is promoting a wide array of activities to help everyone celebrate the importance of chemistry during this year’s National Chemistry Week, October 18-24. This year marks the 140th anniversary of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table, so this year’s theme, Chemistry—-It’s Elemental!, focuses on the elements. Information about how you can become involved in National Chemistry Week is available at www.acs.org/ncw.

Local activities for National Chemistry Week include the following:

October 20: Science Café at Fernbank Science Center from 6:30PM-8PM Joyce Palmer and David Gottfried from Georgia Tech’s Nanotechnology Research Center will lead a public discussion on “Nanotechnology: It’s Bigger Than You Think.” See http://www.fernbank.edu/ or contact Mary Breen at MARY_BREEN@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us for more details.

October 21: Georgia Tech radio station WREK, 91.1 FM, will broadcast a special National Chemistry Week episode of “Inside the Black Box” with Professor Pete Ludovice on the topic, “Chemistry: What is it Good For?” The broadcast, which airs from noon - 1 PM, will feature a panel of chemists and questions from high school students participating live via teleconference.

October 22: Georgia Tech will host students from three area high schools for chemistry demonstrations and talks with chemists.

October 22: ChEmory, the undergraduate chemistry club at Emory University, will host a chemistry demonstration show at 5:30 pm in room 360 of the Atwood chemistry building. Contact Rachel Reiff at rreiff@emory.edu for more details.

October 23: ChEmory will host a Mole Day event outside of the chemistry buildings at Emory University, beginning at 5:30PM This event will include chemistry-themed games, the dropping of a mole ball, and the presentation of the annual “periodic table of the cupcakes.” Contact Rachel Reiff at rreiff@emory.edu for more details.

October 24: Fernbank Science Center will host hands-on chemistry activities from 11AM -4PM Hands-on science tables will demonstrate the properties of the elements, make liquids change colors, and more. Chemical Magic Shows at noon and 2 pm. Free and open to the public. See http://www.fernbank.edu/ or contact Mary Breen at MARY_BREEN@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us for more details.

October 24: A Girl Scout Science event will be heldon the Southern Poly campus from 8AM- 2PM “The Case of the Kidnapped Cookies.” Volunteers are needed. Please contact JoAnn Arceneaux at JoAnn.Arceneaux@cytec.com for more details.

For more information Contact David Terraso (Phone: 404-385-2966)

"Outcasts United” Author Visits Georgia Tech

September 22, 2009

New York Times reporter and bestselling author, Warren St. John, will visit the Georgia Institute of Technology September 24-25.

St. John’s latest book, Outcasts United, is assigned reading for GT1000 students this semester. The book features a Clarkston, Ga., soccer team comprised of refugees from various war-torn countries and highlights their resilience in the face of extraordinary hardship.

St. John will present a lecture for GT1000 students and a seminar for faculty/staff. He will also serve as the keynote speaker for Georgia Tech’s Family Weekend and sign copies of his book at the Barnes & Nobles Bookstore at Georgia Tech.

For more information Contact Lisa Grovenstein (Phone: 404-894-8835)