Help Send UMD Students to the American Chemical Society Nat'l Meeting!

Story courtesy of Abby V. Robinson, Director of Communications, CMNS.

Undergraduate students at the University of Maryland have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $6,000 toward the travel expenses for up to 10 students to attend the 250th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting and Exposition in Boston, Mass., in August 2015. The funds raised through the crowdfunding campaign will be spent on conference registration fees and travel expenses for the students.

The students running the campaign are members of the ACS UMD Student Affiliates Chapter, and most are majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical and biomolecular engineering at the university.

“We want to attend the conference to hear about new scientific discoveries, present and discuss our own research findings, and network with other scientists in the field,” said Christopher Ma, a chemistry major and president of the ACS UMD Student Affiliates Chapter.

The five-day ACS meeting attracts over 11,000 chemistry professionals and features more than 7,000 presentations organized into technical symposia that highlight important research advances.

The ACS UMD Student Affiliates Chapter facilitates networking among students, faculty, and professionals in chemistry and related applied sciences. The group exposes students to professional opportunities, instills a professional pride in the chemical sciences, and fosters awareness of the responsibilities and challenges of the modern chemist.

“Attending the ACS National Meeting will introduce our undergraduate students to the wider chemistry community, which includes individuals who work in academia, industry and national laboratories. They will meet students from other chapters, hear new ideas on outreach projects, share their accomplishments, and listen to talks on the most cutting-edge research. Their attendance also significantly raises the profile of Maryland by conveying the message that we care about the education and training of undergraduates beyond their four years here,” said Efrain E. Rodriguez, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and one of the chapter’s advisors. Philip DeShong, chemistry and biochemistry professor, is also an advisor to the group.

Your donation can help kick start the careers of the students who attend this conference. Attendees often walk away with job and internship offers, scholarships, networking contacts, and most importantly, a renewed drive and spirit to succeed.

The team’s crowdfunding campaign runs through April 7. You can support the team at any time by visiting www.launch.umd.edu/help-acs.

For More Information:

Watch a video and learn more about ACS at the student chapter's crowdfunding page
Visit ACS UMD Student Affiliates Chapter web site

Published March 25, 2015