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The Puget Sound Chemist
Please read below for the most recent news and events of the ACS Puget Sound Section.
Please see our PS Chemist Blog page for these and previous posts in The Puget Sound Chemist.
Last Call: Undergraduate Research Symposium Registration and Abstracts
Don’t miss the chance to attend or present your research at the 2026 ACS Puget Sound Section Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS)! The symposium will be held on April 25th at Pacific Lutheran University. Go to the URS web page to register and for other information. Oral presentations are especially encouraged! This is an outstanding chance to give a brief oral presentation about your research in a small and informal symposium format. It’s a great way to gain experience before giving a presentation at a regional or national meeting. Whether you give an oral presentation, present a poster, or just attend…
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ACS 150th Anniversary Kickoff – April 6th Online
Chemistry is Everything Join the ACS 150th Anniversary Founding Day Virtual Celebration on April 6th at 10 a.m. PDT. Register here to get the link and mark your calendars. An anniversary-cake cutting by Al Horwath (ACS CEO), Wayne Jones (ACS Board Chair), Jennifer Doudna (2020 Chemistry Nobel Prize Recipient), and Rigoberto Hernandez (ACS President) primed the pumps at the March Atlanta ACS meeting. The origin of the American Chemical Society was described in Chemical and Engineering News as follows. “On April 6, 1867, 35 chemists gathered in the Lecture Room in the University Building of the College of Pharmacy of the City…
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Submit a poem for the Illustrated Poem Contest – Chemists Celebrate Earth Week 2026
The Puget Sound Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is sponsoring an illustrated poem contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade in celebration of Earth Week through April. This year’s theme is: Into the Woods with Chemistry. To enter the illustrated poem contest, students must submit their illustrated poem directly to the ACS Puget Sound Section using this form by Sunday, April 26, 2026 by 11:59 PM PT. Please look at the flyer for submission information. Please contact Dr. Garima Thakur, garimasimply@gmail.com if you have any questions!
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Upcoming Book Discussions
The Book Group is planning the following two book discussions. All are welcome to join. Details about how to attend are available from Despina Strong. Volunteer moderators for the discussions are also needed. April 14th at 7 p.m. The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins and the Fight for Women in Science: Zernike, Kate: 9781982131845: Amazon.com: Books June 9th (time TBD) Up Against the Ivory Tower: a Memoir: Shyamala Rajender: 9781664128675: Amazon.com: Books
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2026 Linus Pauling Medal: Submit Nominations by the May 1 Deadline
The American Chemical Society Portland, Puget Sound, and Oregon Local Sections together are accepting nominations for the 2026 Linus Pauling Medal Award until May 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (PDT). These local sections jointly present the award annually to acknowledge outstanding contributions to chemistry that merit national and international recognition—in the spirit of and in honor of Linus Pauling, who grew up in the Pacific Northwest. They will present the medal at a symposium in the fall of 2026 in the Portland area. Nominations of women and other people from historically marginalized groups are especially welcome. Submit nominations as PDF…
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ACS Puget Sound Section 2026 Call for Nominations
The ACS Puget Sound Section seeks nominations and self-nominations for several Executive Committee positions open for election in 2026. Eligible members are encouraged to participate and consider serving in a leadership role within the Section. Nomination materials should include a brief biographical sketch and may include an optional photograph. Nominees must be members of the American Chemical Society and the Puget Sound Local Section. Nominations will be accepted through August 31, 2026. The election will be conducted by electronic ballot of the membership in October 2026. Newly elected officers will begin their terms on January 1, 2027, and will serve…
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NORM 2026 is Coming in June!
The 79th ACS Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM) in Boise, Idaho is just around the corner (June 28-July 1). Be sure to register make your arrangements to attend soon. Early Bird registration pricing ends May 28. Information about keynote speakers and the program are available at the NORM 2026 web page. Thanks to the Snake River Section of the ACS for hosting this meeting. Register Here Embracing the theme “Chemistry in the City of Trees,” NORM 2026 will serve as a welcoming and vibrant gathering place for chemists across the Northwest. This theme echoes the experience of 19th-century travelers who found respite…
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Women Chemists Committee Luncheon on June 30th at NORM 2026
If you’re planning to attend the ACS Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM) in Boise, June 28 – July 1, don’t forget to sign up for the Women Chemists Committee Luncheon on June 30 when you register. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Mary “Nora” Disis (UW Cancer Vaccine Institute), ACS 2024 Award for Creative Invention recipient, speaking on “The Long and Winding Road to Cancer Vaccines.” Click on the image or here to download a flyer.
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ACS Catalyst Undergraduate Scholarships
The ACS Catalyst Scholarship is an education initiative at the national level designed to support undergraduate students pursuing chemistry or chemistry-related fields. This scholarship offers support to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need or hardship. This program provides $10,000 in funding, with the possibility of renewal in future years, to help students continue their academic journey. The application cycle for spring 2026 closed on March 1, but stay tuned to the ACS Catalyst Scholarship website for information about the 2027 cycle. The 2026 cycle had the following criteria. The 2027 criteria and deadline will presumably be similar. Eligibility (2026) To…
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From Alchemy to Innovation: Chemistry’s Evolving Story – ACS Chain Reaction Podcasts
ACS’ new podcast Chain Reaction explores how chemistry shapes the world around us, from the materials we use every day to the environment that we depend on. Each episode brings fresh perspectives and personal stories from chemists, engineers, and other scientists, as well as historians who guide us through pivotal moments in chemistry’s history. ACS has several other podcasts that may also be of interest to members. Click on the image below to go to the ACS page with more information.
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ACS Names 2025 Outreach Volunteer of the Year Recipients
The ACS has announced the list of 2025 Outreach Volunteer of the Year Award recipients. The purpose of the award is to recognize the efforts made by ACS local section and international chapter volunteers who conduct outreach and teach the public about chemistry. The list of local section and international chapter recipients and information about their contributions can be found here. Among many deserving members of the Puget Sound Section, the 2025 ACS PSS recipient is Craig Fryhle, ACS PSS Councilor, ACS PSS Website and Email List Manager, and Communications Committee Chair. Congratulations! The deadline to nominate a colleague for…
Read the full post with active links here.Postings of Chemistry-Related Employment and Internships
Please see our Employment page for chemistry-related employment or internships. Please use this form to submit information that you would like us to consider for posting. The ACS PSS will post the title of the position and the organization’s URL at which an applicant can find further information. We will endeavor to update this page near the beginning of each month, using information that we have received during that month or the month prior. Information will remain posted for about two months from the date of submission. This is a volunteer service and we will do our best to maintain it.
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Deadlines for Scholarship and Grant Applications from the Education Committee
Please visit the Education Committee page for information about upcoming deadlines for scholarship and grant applications. Several competitive scholarships are awarded to students at two- and four-year institutions within the ACS Puget Sound Section. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 1. Grants are available for programming and travel by student chemistry club programs in the Puget Sound Section. Grant applications are accepted throughout the year until funding runs out. Details and application materials for all of these funding opportunities are provided at the Education Committee web page. The ACS PSS is pleased to help catalyze the chemical studies and…
Read the full post with active links here.You Can Help Create Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Over the past 11 years, the Puget Sound Section has awarded fifty scholarships to students interested in chemistry. The funds come from the annual section budget, and we now hope to expand our scholarships to award additional scholarships to diverse students. We have received a $850 challenge grant from the ACS, and Executive Committee members have pledged $850 in matching funds. If we can raise $2150, we can award two additional scholarships to help historically underrepresented minority chemistry students*pursue undergraduate degrees. For each $1500 received, we will award an additional scholarship! Students may use the funds for tuition, lab fees,…
Read the full post with active links here.Scholarship, Grant, and Award Opportunities for Students
The Education Committee of the ACS Puget Sound Section is pleased to manage a number of scholarship, grant, and award opportunities for students in our section, including a new scholarship available for historically underrepresented students. Detailed information is at the Education Committee website, including the application forms, deadlines, and answers to FAQs. Student applicants must be enrolled in an institution within the ACS Puget Sound Section (please see this link for a list). Please feel free to distribute this information far and wide. For any questions, please contact:Jennie MayerACS Puget Sound SectionEducation Committee Chairjmayer@bellevuecollege.edu
Read the full post with active links here.Our PS Chemist Blog page carries an ongoing record of Puget Sound Chemist postings, including those that are currently featured on our homepage.
Archived issues of the Puget Sound Chemist from January 2014 through May 2022 can be found here.
An historical archive of The Puget Sound Chemist dating back to the 1940s can be accessed through the University of Washington Library at this link. Many thanks to our UW library colleagues for preparing the historical archive.
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ACS Spring 2026
Atlanta, GA
March 22-26
ACS Fall 2026
Chicago, IL
August 23-27
More Information about our scholarships is at our Education Committee Page and here.
ACS Fall 2026
Chicago, IL
August 23-27
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Past Events
Professor Princess Imoukhuede, Hunter and Dorothy Simpson Endowed Professor and Chair of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, presented Shaping the Future Through Science: A Personal Story of Innovation, Education, and Community Building
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