News from Journal House

Next Month: Earth Day 2006 Issue

The tradition continues. The February 2006 issue of the Journal will feature articles related to Earth Day and this year’s theme: “Chemistry—Dig It!” You will find articles, lab experiments, the Classroom Activity, a Resource Paper, and more…. Mark your calendar to look for the February 2006 issue in mid-January.

Awards Announced

AIChE 2005 Awards

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) presented 12 awards of accomplishment at its recent annual meeting. The awards included the Warren K. Lewis Award for Contributions to Chemical Engineering Education:

• Thomas F. Edgar, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Award Deadlines

New: ACS Award for Achievement in Research for the Teaching and Learning of Chemistry

The ACS solicits nominations for this new award in chemistry education research. The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding contributions to experimental research that have increased our understanding of chemical pedagogy and led to improved teaching and learning of chemistry. The award will recognize research contributions involving a significant body of work rather than a single project or contribution. This is an international award.

The award consists of $5,000, a certificate, and a plaque; reasonable travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented will be reimbursed. Prentice-Hall Publishers will sponsor the award in 2005 for the 2007 award.

The award honors qualitative, quantitative, experimental research or case study research that investigates some aspect of the teaching and learning of chemistry. The research contributions may include the testing of research hypotheses, basing experiments on existing theories, incorporating what is known in the literature into the research, using an experimental design or recognized data collection procedure, analyzing quantitative or qualitative data, and drawing valid conclusions from the observations and data. Experimental research should include one or more recognized techniques and designs. The research must show independence of thought and originality.

Evidence of outstanding research may include, but is not limited to dissemination of the results of the research via appropriate peer reviewed science education, chemical education, or science journals; chapters in science education, chemical education, or science books; invited talks at academic institutions; and or invited talks, posters, workshops, and participation in panel discussions at professional meetings. For papers that have multiple authors, the candidate shall indicate the percentage and a description of his her contribution to the research. Support of the research through local, regional or national grants and/or, the adoption, adaptation or citation of aspects of the work by other researchers, scholars, and or practitioners serve as evidence of the validity, applicability and acceptability of the research.

The deadline for all nominating material for the 2007 ACS National Awards is February 1, 2006; earlier transmittal is encouraged. More information about the award, the nomination process, and rules of eligibility may be found on the ACS Web site under the “Awards” category (accessed Nov 2005).

2006 Leaders in Learning Awards

Cable in the Classroom, the education foundation of the cable industry, has announced its Leaders in Learning Awards initiative to recognize classroom and community program teachers, administrators, community leaders, and policymakers who demonstrate vision, innovation, action, and transformation in education. The objective of the awards is to promote and encourage innovative learning practices by honoring individuals who have transformed an aspect of education on a large or small scale. See the Web site for details of the award program, categories, eligibility, and prizes (accessed Nov 2005). The online applications are available between December 1, 2005 and January 31, 2006.

Kenneth G. Hancock Memorial Student Award in Green Chemistry

The Green Chemistry Institute, American Chemical Society, will receive applications for the 2006 Hancock Memorial Award until February 1, 2006. This is a one-time cash award in the amount of $1,000 and is open to all undergraduate and graduate students; typically one award is given each year.

Applications for the award must be examples of studies or research that address the scope and objectives of green chemistry, and more specifically, that address one or more of the following three green chemistry focus areas:

• Using alternative synthetic pathways for green chemistry, such as catalysis and biocatalysis; natural processes, such as photochemistry and biomimetic synthesis; alternative feedstocks that are more innocuous and renewable (e.g., biomass)
• Using alternative reaction conditions for green chemistry, such as use of solvents that have reduced impact on human health and the environment; increased selectivity and reduced wastes and emissions
• Designing chemicals that are: less toxic than current alternatives (for example); inherently safer with regard to accident potential

The Hancock Award is offered under the auspices of the ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry. An award application package is available online; search for Hancock Award (accessed Nov 2005).

Nominations for Green Chemistry Awards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting nominations for the 2006 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. This Challenge was established to recognize and promote fundamental and innovative chemical methods that accomplish pollution prevention through source reduction and that have broad applicability in industry. The awards program recognizes technologies that incorporate the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use. It is open to all individuals, groups, and organizations—both nonprofit and for profit—including academia, government, and industry. The nominated green chemistry technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past five years in the U.S. (for example, been researched, demonstrated, implemented, applied, patented, etc.). EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics is particularly interested in technologies that reduce or eliminate the following: lead; mercury; perfluorinated alkyl surfactants; polychlorinated or polybrominated biphenyls; or persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances.

See descriptions of all Challenge-winning technologies, get instructions for nominations for the Challenge program, or find program publications, green chemistry links, and tools at the EPA green chemistry Web site (accessed Nov 2005).

Courses, Seminars, Meetings, Opportunities

Mentor Needed, Chemistry Olympiad

College educators are invited to apply for a position as mentor for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program. Duties during the three-year term include helping to conduct the national study camp for high school students held at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado during mid-June 2007, 2008, and 2009. Generally, in their second and third year, mentors accompany four U.S. student competitors to the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). During the competition, mentors will serve as members of the IChO jury. The 2008 and 2009 IChO events are scheduled to be held in Hungary and England, respectively. The ACS sponsors the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad program.

Most students at the study camp have completed Advanced Placement chemistry or the equivalent; therefore, instruction at the camp is well beyond the level of high school general chemistry courses. The curriculum also includes considerable laboratory work.

Successful applicants are expected to have a broad background in organic, theoretical, and descriptive chemistry with classroom experience; they should demonstrate involvement with students in special projects or activities. Applicants must be prepared to make a three-year time commitment as outlined above. ACS pays all expenses and travel costs, as well as an honorarium.

Interested individuals may obtain an application form at the ICho Web site (accessed Nov 2005) or by requesting an application from Margaret Thatcher, Senior Program Associate, U. S. National Chemistry Olympiad Program, American Chemical Society, 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone: 202/872-6328.

The deadline for completed applications is January 30, 2006. Applicants must also arrange to have three letters of reference forwarded to Cecilia Hernandez at the above address by February 6, 2006. For more information, please call Hernandez at 202/872-6169.

Materials Available

Directory of Graduate Research: Online

Are your students having trouble selecting a graduate school? Need to know who’s doing research critical to yours? ACS may have answers!

The ACS Directory of Graduate Research 2005 continues to be the premier source of information on faculty and their research at programs in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, and related chemical sciences in the U.S. and Canada. The Directory of Graduate Research (DGR) lists faculty members’ biographical information, area of specialization, titles of all papers published within the last two years, individual telephone numbers, and fax numbers. It also contains listings for over 650 academic programs, 10,000 faculty members, and 90,000 publication citations.

New in 2005! DGRweb 2005 may now be searched at no charge. In November 2005, the ACS launched an improved DGRweb, which is a searchable online directory containing all of the information in the print version of the 2005 edition of the DGR. With the DGRweb 2005 one may search for faculty and institutions by virtually any field in the DGR. The search feature for faculty includes specific research area, academic rank, and gender, and the search results produce complete contact information for faculty including direct links to faculty email addresses and Web pages. Institutional searches provide all departmental contact information along with statistical data on the number of students and faculty in the department involved in graduate research.

The printed version of the DGR can be ordered from the ACS Office of Society Services or the ACS Online Store. For more information on ordering, call 1-800-227-5558 or 1-202-872-4600, or send email.

The data in the DGR have been supplied by the respective departments according to policies established by the ACS Committee on Professional Training. Any suggestions for changes to the information in the book should be directed to the Secretary of the CPT.

Windward, Free Internet Game

Windward: Outsmart the Weather in a Race around the World is a free Internet game from Cable in the Classroom in cooperation with NASA, Discovery Education, and The Weather Channel. Windward, which targets middle school science students (although is meant for adults and children to play together), pits players’ navigational wits against challenges such as tricky currents and developing hurricanes and thunderstorms. The route around the globe consists of four legs, and players will confront two weather challenges on each leg; multiple tools will be available. Learn more about this game, or access Windward (accessed Nov 2005).

Proposal Deadlines National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) The following NSF deadlines have been established or are anticipated. Advanced Technology Education (ATE) Preliminary Proposals (2006) April 25, 2006 Full Proposals October 12, 2006 Course, Curriculum and Lab Improvement (CCLI) Full Proposals, Phase 2 and 3 January 24, 2006 Instructional Materials Development (IMD) Full Proposals March 13, 2006 Research on Gender in Science & Engineering (GSE) Prelim. Proposals (Extension Serv.) January 6, 2006 Full Proposals (Research) February 24, 2006 Full Proposals (Dissemination) April 24, 2006 Full Proposals (Extension Serv.) April 24, 2006 Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Full Proposals February 24, 2006 Research on Disabilities Education (RDE) Letter of Intent January 16, 2006 Full Proposals February 13, 2006 Centers for Teaching and Learning (CLT) Full Proposals December 12, 2005 Full Proposals August 21, 2006 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) Letter of Intent (Type 1) January 5, 2006 Full Proposals (Type 1) February 9, 2006 Letter of Intent (Type 1 and 2) August 15, 2006 Full Proposals (Type 1 and 2) September 26, 2006 Official deadline dates for proposals will be specified in the new program solicitation for each program, to be published at least three months before the relevant deadline date. Consult NSF Education and Human Resources (EHR), Division of Undergraduate Education for the most up-to-date listings and guidelines; phone: 703/292-8670; email. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc. Camille Dreyfus Teacher–Scholar Awards Program: November 9, 2006 Faculty Start-Up Award Program: May 11, 2006 Henry Dreyfus Teacher–Scholar Awards Program: June 29, 2006 New Faculty Awards Program: May 11, 2006 Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry: May 25, 2006 Senior Scientist Mentor Program: Completed Proposals: October 5, 2006 Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences: Preliminary Proposals: June 1, 2006 Completed Proposals: August 24, 2006 Further information and confirmation of the above deadlines may be obtained from The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc., 555 Madison Avenue, Suite 1305, New York, NY 10022-3301; phone: 212/753-1760; email. Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Awards: May 15 and November 15 Cottrell Scholar Awards: September 1 Research Innovation Awards: suspended 2004-2005 Research Opportunity Awards: May 1 and October 1 Special opportunities in Science Awards: prospective applicants should submit a preliminary letter. Further information may be obtained from Research Corporation, 4703 East Camp Lowell Drive, Suite 201, Tucson, AZ 85712; phone: 520/571-1111; fax: 520/571-1119; email.