Linfield College chemistry students were recognized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) with two awards at a national conference in San Francisco, Calif., March 21-25.
The Linfield Society of Undergraduate Chemists (LSUC) was presented with a third consecutive Commendable Award and a Green Chemistry Student Chapter Award. Linfield juniors Michelle Wong, Yuhong Cao, Chris Jennes and senior Dylan Sorber attended the conference with chemistry professors Brian Gilbert, Jim Diamond and Liz Atkinson.
ACS recognizes officially chartered student chapters with one of three honors — Outstanding, Commendable or Honorable Mention. For the 2008-09 academic year, Linfield was one of 55 student affiliates recognized by ACS with Green Chemistry Student Chapter awards. The award requires students to participate in three green activities during the year, such as promoting awareness, increasing community outreach and providing student programs.
“LSUC has focused on outreach to elementary schools, including three visits to Newby Elementary School this semester where we provided science demonstrations and activities to first and third grade classes,” said senior Katie Sours, a senior majoring in chemistry and LSUC school visit coordinator. “We made liquid nitrogen ice cream and set up demos that focused on density, volume, gases and other chemical properties.”
LSUC promotes interconnectedness between Linfield students and organizations by providing non-chemistry majors with the opportunity to participate. Ten Linfield students participate regularly in the club and provide an annual report to ACS outlining activities to be considered for upcoming awards. The goal of LSUC is to encourage chemistry awareness at Linfield through education and interactive events facilitated by students.
