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Click HERE to download the PDF of the December 2018 Chemical Bulletin

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ABSTRACT

Many of today’s prevalent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, are inherently intermittent. Energy generation ceases when the sun goes down or when the wind stops blowing. Reliance on such irregularity and unpredictability is not practical in today’s digital, electrified world. Thus, energy storage is a critical piece to deeper penetration and adoption of alternative energy. Solar fuels can be broadly defined as technologies that harness the sun’s energy and store that energy in the form of chemical bonds (fuels). Liquid solar fuels technology has enormous potential to supply carbon-neutral energy to satisfy the expected growth of global demand over the next decades. It can provide near-term fungible fuels that will enable industry to take full economic advantage of existing infrastructure, while delivering a clear path toward new fuels for the future. Researchers from around the globe are actively pursuing research in this field, but a chasm exists between academic research and the realization of an economically viable device that generates fuel directly from solar energy. In this talk, I will highlight solar fuels, state of the art technologies, and present a strategy that hones in on the very definition of “innovation” to commercialize solar fuels technologies. I will also present a simple educational outreach activity (ages 9-99) that illustrates first-hand how light energy from the sun is captured and converted into another form of energy (electricity).

PROGRAM

• 5:30 - 6:30 Registration and Social Hour
• 6:30 - 7:30 Dinner
• 7:30 - 7:35 Introductory remarks by Ken Fivizzani, Chicago Section Chair
• 7:35 - 7:50 Iota Sigma Pi raffle results and distribution of Chicago ACS door prizes
• 7:50 - 7:55 Presentation of the chair's gavel to Tim Marin, incoming 2019 Chicago ACS Chair
• 7:55 - 9:00 Program by Prof. Co

LOCATIONS:

DINNER:

RESERVATIONS:

Dinner Registration Deadline: 12:00 Noon on Monday, December 10
Lecture-only Registration Deadline: 12:00 noon Thursday, December 13

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QUESTIONS OR NON-WEB RESERVATIONS?  Please contact the Section Office via phone (847-391-9091) or email ([email protected]).

IOTA SIGMA PI RAFFLE

The Aurum Iodide (Chicago) chapter of the honors society for women chemists is raffling four gorgeous chemistry-themed cutting boards. (You should be familiar with this sweet structure!) Tickets are $5 for one, $20 for five, and you may purchase them when registering for the meeting.

FOOD AND TOY DRIVE

We will be collecting nonperishable food items on behalf of the local Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry (a non-profit organization established to provide food and personal care essentials to residents in need.) CHECKS ARE WELCOME TOO! Please do not donate food in glass containers.

We will also continue our drive to collect toys for toddlers to 12 year olds. The toys will be donated to the Adoption Center of Illinois at Family Resource Center in Chicago, which provides services for couples seeking to adopt children in the US or overseas, birth parents, and foster children. Please do not donate clothing.

DONATIONS & SPONSORSHIP

Thank you to Netzsch Analysis & Testing for helping to sponsor us this year!
If you would like your company to sponsor Chicago ACS, simply add a Sponsorship contribution when you register. It's easy!

Further, consider donating to Chicago ACS to support our programs in the last meeting of 2018. We're a 501c(3) nonprofit, and donations are 100% tax-deductible. Your contributions do wonders for programs like Project SEED (providing paid summer research jobs for economically disadvantaged high schoolers), high school scholarships, and activities of our Younger Chemists, Minority Chemists, and Women Chemists committees. Simply add a donation to your cart when you register, and specify the amount you want to give. Easy-peasy!

DOOR PRIZES

Per tradition, Chicago ACS Hospitality Chair Richard Cornell has assembled a vast panoply of door prizes for everyone in attendance. Come find out what curiosities are in store!

BREAKING OUT THE PHOTO ALBUMS - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Section Historian will bring out newly-organized photo albums with pictures from the Section archive. Please help identify the people, places, dates, and events depicted! Results will be recorded in photo captions, and credit will be given to those who provide information. See recent "Who Is This?" articles in the Chemical Bulletin for examples: NOV, OCT, JUNE
 

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA - C-H-I-C-Ag-O T-shirt

The chemists in your life would all love to proclaim their dual identification with Chicago and chemistry with our signature "Chicago Elements" t-shirt. Pay for it when you register, and pick it up at the meeting! Just specify the size when you order. No muss, no fuss.

BIOGRAPHY

MAIN LOCATION - DIRECTIONS and PARKING:

LIVE LECTURE:

North Central College
Wentz Science Center, Ratio Hall (2nd floor)
131 S. Loomis St.
Naperville, IL  60540

Map: http://chicagoacs.org/images/downloads/Maps_of_venues/ncc_sciencecenter.pdf

PARKING: free

STREAMING LOCATION:

Purdue University Northwest
Gyte Building, Room 240
2200 169th St.
Hammond, IN  46323

Map: http://chicagoacs.org/images/downloads/Maps_of_venues/purduenw_map.pdf

PARKING: Free

Tickets

$20.00 MAIN SITE - Member
$20.00 MAIN SITE - AIChE Member
$22.00 MAIN SITE - Non-member
$0.00 MAIN SITE - Lecture only
$0.00 REMOTE SITE #1, Purdue NW - Lecture-only

DONATIONS & MERCHANDISE:
$any-amount   Individual Donation
$any-amount   Company Sponsorship
$any-amount   Donation to Project SEED
$15.00 T-shirt: CHICAgO Elements
$10.00 Tote bag: CHICAgO elements - blue

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We Heard You!

Insights from the 2018 Election

The 2018 Chicago ACS election enabled members to voice their opinions with their ballot choices, but some also provided useful feedback via the new comment section and in other ways. They covered candidate information on the ballots, gender representation in certain races, and a desire for help in figuring out how to participate in our activities.

First, one person commented that they found it difficult to decide between candidates based on “CVs” alone – the summaries of ACS participation, education, and employment. For this voter, most candidates appeared equivalent, and suggested it would be better if candidates wrote short personal statements to provide meaningful distinctions between them. We will be sure to keep this in mind when designing next year’s ballot.

Second, one person wrote in for the offices of Chair-Elect and Vice Chair, “Where are the women? They are more than secretaries!” Establishing gender balance on the board is very important, and we strive for parity. This year the nominating committee happened to select men to run in both of those races. However, please note that we had female chairs from 2015 through 2017, and seven of our 19 chairs since 2000 have been women. Seven of our 14 current Directors are female, as are four of our ten Councilors, and six of our ten Alternate Councilors. See https://chicagoacs.org/board.php and https://chicagoacs.org/Committees for our full board’s composition. It is encouraging that someone cared enough to voice their opinion on this important matter, and we appreciate this attention. Next year’s nominating committee will be mindful of this factor. If you are interested in serving on next year’s Nominating Committee, contact Rebecca Weiner, the 2019 Secretary ([email protected]). The nominating process begins in the spring and proceeds through the summer, but it would help to contact her right away if you would like to help out.

If you would like to get more involved with professional women’s issues and advocate for greater representation on the board, you are strongly encouraged to volunteer on our Women Chemists Committee, chaired by Rebecca Weiner ([email protected]). That is where your own journey to becoming Section Chair may start.

Third, we noticed some people wrote in names not listed on the ballot in some races. We suspect that these individuals wrote in their own names, perhaps to express interest in participating in Section activities. We encourage everyone who wants to get involved to contact our committee chairs and officers directly. Alternatively, come to one of our regular meetings to talk with us and see what might be a good fit for you. We have updated the contact information on our website, so please navigate to https://chicagoacs.org/Committees. You are most welcome to join us!

If you would like to express any thoughts to the Chicago ACS, please feel free to…

• write to the chair at [email protected]

• write a letter to the editor of the Chemical Bulletin via [email protected]

• start a discussion on our social media outlets:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1854603/,
https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoACS,
https://twitter.com/ChicagoACS

• attend a board meeting either in person or at our Park Ridge office or by teleconference. Find out when they are held on our Google calendar (to which you can subscribe so you’ll always be up to date with our meeting information). http://tinyurl.com/7zadvx5 Questions? Contact the office at [email protected] or 847-391-9091

We would love to hear from you!

- Josh Kurutz and Becca Weiner

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Holiday Party, Food and Toy Drive

2018 FOOD AND TOY DRIVE

We will be collecting nonperishable food items (no glass containers) for charity at the December Holiday Party again. The food will be donated to the local Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry for distribution. Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry is a community-based, non-profit organization established to provide food and personal care essentials to residents in need. CHECKS ARE WELCOME TOO!

We will also continue our toy drive to collect children’s toys for toddlers to 12 year olds. The toys will be donated to the Adoption Center of Illinois at Family Resource Center in Chicago, an adoption agency providing services for couples seeking to adopt children in the US or overseas. They also provide services for birth parents and foster children. The toys are used for birth mothers who have placed children for adoption or who are considering a placement and are often raising other children. These toys provide joy to children whose birth parents are struggling and do not have extra money for the holidays.

Please open your heart to these two programs and bring a nonperishable food item and a new toy to the holiday party. Please, do NOT donate any clothing. Thank you.

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Obituary

Claude Lucchesi (1929 - 2018)

Claude graduated with a chemistry major and chemical engineering minor (1950) from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. (1955) in Analytical Chemistry from Northwestern University. He worked as a research chemist at Shell Development Company (1954-1956) in Houston, Texas and then to Sherwin Williams Company (1956-1961) in Chicago and finally at Mobil (1961-1968) in Edison, New Jersey. In 1968 he joined Northwestern. Claude’s vision for the technical and managerial education required for superior laboratory management resulted in his co-founding the University Laboratory Managers Organization in 1980, now expanded to the Analytical Laboratory Managers Association (ALMA). ALMA remains strong today with continued growth of the organization. He also created a new program in the School of Continuing Studies, Masters in Regulatory Compliance, and gave presentations on lab management at ACS meetings and around the world. He was a contributing editor to the journal Analytical Chemistry.

Teri Odom, the Department Chair at Northwestern states,

“Claude Lucchesi, a pioneer with tremendous foresight, established the Analytical Services Laboratory at Northwestern University, whose mission was to combine education with centralized laboratory services. This facility, now named the Integrated Molecular Structure Education and Research Center (IMSERC), continues to set the standard for other shared facilities on campus. We as a department are grateful for what Claude started and aim to continue to build on his vision.”

Claude passed away on Thursday, October 25, the day after he and Ruth, his beloved wife, celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

True to his passion for science, Claude chose to donate his remains to scientific discovery. As such, no memorial service is scheduled.

- Paul Brandt and Teri Odom

For more on Dr. Lucchesi, see the obituary posted on our website:
https://chicagoacs.org/announcements.php?id=108

There is also a "Someone You Should Know" article about him planned for January.

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Who Is This?

Unknown Holiday Party

by Josh Kurutz, Section Historian

Santa came to visit at least one Chicago ACS holiday party years ago, and he even gave presents to chemists’ kids. But when? And who else was there? We have a bunch of photos from the event, but we don’t know who the subjects are. If you know anything about these people, when this event might be, or where it might be, please drop a note to [email protected].

Clues and Comments:

• This event appears to have included at least one kids’ table. The December meeting subject is always a bit lighter than other months’, and our 2018 party was originally scheduled to be "Chemistry is for the Birds". However, our speaker had to cancel, and so we are excited to have Dr. Dick Co from Northwestern speaking on the engaging topic of "Solar Fuels: Turning Thin Air into Gasoline" that is sure to entertain old and young alike.

• All these photos were taken in black-and-white (B/W). Most prints were overexposed, so some effort was made to adjust them after scanning.

• No dates are recorded on either the front or back of any photos in this set, but judging by the use of B/W and apparent fashions, the event may have been held in the 1980’s, perhaps the 1990’s.

• The location is not recorded, but certain features of the background in the photos of the chemistry demonstration resemble those of Flanner Hall at Loyola University. Do you agree?

• It is not entirely certain that the pictured dinner and chemistry demonstrations were parts of the same event. But preponderance of evidence suggests they were connected. The B/W photos of each were the same size simply grouped next to one another in the Section’s box of photos. Further, one person (“S.R.?”) appears in same clothing at both the dinner and the demo audience.

• One photo (not shown) indicated there was a main speaker for the event, and he is identified as “Speaker” in the audience photo. If anyone recognizes him, please speak up! If we know the speaker, we can probably identify the event and date.

• We have guesses for two subjects: “Z.L.?” may be Zafra Lerman, and “R.S.?” may be Rajashree Sen. Do you think these are correct or incorrect?

• “Robert @Kraft” could be partially identified by his name tag, but his last name is obscured. We’d like to know his last name.

FOLLOWUP FROM NOVEMBER: Thank you to Margaret Schott (Northwestern U.), Steve Cohen (Elevance), Doug Meier (McCrone Laboratories), Herb Golinkin (ITW, retired), and Dolores Kenney (Olson & Cepuritis Ltd.) for identifying several people in November’s Who is This? column. The photo gallery has been posted as https://chicagoacs.org/gallery.php?id=67 , and captions have been updated. The ID’s are almost complete, we’d be grateful to anyone who could help finish up identifying the last few people (B, D, E, J, K, T, V); please write [email protected] with information. Thank you for your help!

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Recent Meeting

Highlights of the October Meeting:
Basolo Lecture & Ceremony, Prof. Edward Solomon

Our annual October get-together with Northwestern University was fun and full of chemistry. Stanford Professor Edward Solomon was awarded the 2018 Basolo Medal, and he delivered an information-rich lecture entitled, “Activating Metal Sites for Biological Electron Transfer”. Solomon’s work combines sophisticated spectroscopy, structural biology, and computational modeling of electronic structure to deliver insights into important biological processes. Fred Basolo, former ACS President and beloved Northwestern professor and department chair, would have enjoyed the lecture and peppered Solomon with incisive questions.

The event kicked off with a one-slide safety presentation, “First Aid for Burns” (photo 1). Northwestern has developed a strong safety culture, and appears to start every seminar with a safety message. Kudos for taking the lead, NU!

Prof. Tom O’Halloran, per tradition, briefly described the history of the Basolo Medal and shared insights into Basolo’s life, including an inspirational trip to Italy and anecdotes about his early professorhood. You can read more about Basolo in his memoirs, available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/yal5qood . (Don’t forget to use Amazon Smiles to benefit the Chicago ACS! http://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2287522 )

Prof. Tom Meade introduced Solomon’s technical achievements, noting that the medalist delivers some of the most information-packed talks in the chemical enterprise. Solomon’s wealth of chemical knowledge is vast, and one would benefit by preparing for his talks with a little homework! O’Halloran then joined Meade to present Solomon with the 2018 Basolo Medal and commemorative plaque. (photo 2)

Prof. Solomon delivered a fine lecture. One can see from his slides that Tom Meade wasn’t kidding about his information density! (photo 3)

After the lecture, members of the Chicago ACS board gathered for a photo in the Technological Institute hallway (photo 4).

Several dozen attendees walked to the reception at the Hilton Orrington hotel in downtown Evanston, where we enjoyed a social hour, dinner, and some brief remarks by Prof. Meade and Chicago ACS Chair-Elect Tim Marin (photos 5 and 6). Per tradition, Marin announced the results of the 2018 Chicago Election to the audience, and gave the Basolo Medalist a C-H-I-C-Ag-O elements T-shirt and periodic table tote bag. Definitely a fun evening of bonding with one of Chicago’s premier chemistry communities!

- Josh Kurutz

1: Northwestern’s chemistry talks now start with a one-slide “safety minute” to strengthen their safety culture. Great idea!

2: Northwestern Profs. Tom O’Halloran (L) and Tom Meade (R) present the 2018 Basolo Medal and plaque to Stanford Professor Edward Solomon. Photo courtesy of Northwestern University.

3: Basolo medalist Edward Solomon delivers the 2018 Basolo Lecture at the Technological Institute, Northwestern University.

4: Members of the Chicago ACS board after the 2018 Basolo lecture. L-R: Bill Hayward, Milt Levenberg, Margy Levenberg, Ilana Lemberger, Bob Chapman, Avrom Litin, Raj Govindarajan, David Crumrine, Barb Moriarty, Mike Koehler, and (photoshopped in) Josh Kurutz.

5: Northwestern faculty at the 2018 Basolo reception. L-R: Todd Gingrich (Asst. Prof., George C. Schatz (Morrison Prof.), Tom Meade (E.M. Foell Prof.), Lin X. Chen (Prof.), Julia Kalow (Asst. Prof.), and Franz Geiger (Prof.).

6: Chicago ACS Chair-Elect Tim Marin announces the 2018 election results to the Basolo reception audience.

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Help the Chicago Section

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Calendar of Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 14: Chicago Section Dinner Meeting; Dick Co, "Solar Fuels - Turning Thin Air into gasoline", North Central College.

January 29: The Annual IIT Bridge Competition at IIT’s Main Campus (Herman Hall). You can find information on the Bridge Competition at http://bridgecontest.phys.iit.edu/public/chicago/index

February 10: Family Open House at the Lederman Science Center from 1-5 pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult (There’s plenty for the grown-ups too). Most appropriate for children in grades 3 and up. http://ed.fnal.gov/events/openhouse/

February 23: DuPage Area STEM Expo at the Illinois Institute of Technology - Rice Campus at 201 East Loop Drive, Wheaton (10:30 – 3:30) “Engineering New Horizons”. https://appliedtech.iit.edu/stemexpo

March 17 – 21: Pittcon 2018 will be in Philadelphia, PA. http://pittcon.org/

March 31 – April 4: 255^th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition “Chemistry for New Frontiers”, Orlando, FL. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/meetings/national-meeting.html

April 11 – 14: 67^th Annual NSTA’s National Conference on Science Education, St. Louis, MO. http://s6.goeshow.com/nsta/national/2019/overview.cfm

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