Dear esteemed members,
October is here–and you know what that means? National Chemistry Month! I am excited to announce some great opportunities and events to celebrate our discipline this month.
On Tuesday, October 18 at 7 PM, we are honored to host Professor John A. Rogers, Ph.D., for our Monthly Lecture Series over Zoom. Dr. Rogers is a member of the faculty at Northwestern University. He is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering and the Director of the Querrey-Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics. Dr. Rogers will deliver a fascinating presentation on wireless, bio-resorbable, electronic device technologies being developed in his lab. You won’t want to miss this lecture! Click here to register for the event.
For the first time since the pandemic, the Distinguished Scientist Award is back! On October 19, our Section will honor one of our most accomplished and decorated members, Dr. Ben Cravatt. Dr. Cravatt is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute. He is considered a co-inventor of activity-based proteomics and a substantial contributor to research on the endocannabinoid system. Dr. Cravatt became a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016. He is the Gilula Chair of Chemical Biology, a Cope Scholar, and a Searle Scholar. The Distinguished Scientist Award Dinner will be at The Butcher Shop. Reservations for the event will close on October 14. Click here to register for the event.
This year will also mark the first time since the pandemic that Chem Expo will return to Miramar College. This year’s theme is “Fabulous Fibers.” Chem Expo is a fantastic event for Student Affiliate Chapters to spread the good word of chemistry to the community. It is also a great event for kids of all ages to experience fun chemistry-themed hands-on activities. If you would like to become involved with Chem Expo as a volunteer, presenter, or sponsor, email our Chem Expo organizers, Linda Woods (lwoods@sdccd.edu) and Jackie Trishman (trischma@csusm.edu). Chem Expo will take place on Saturday, October 22 from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Lastly, we can’t forget about Mole Day, which we celebrate from 6:02 AM to 6:02 PM on October 23. Did you know that Avogadro did not discover the number that adorns his name? Although he hypothesized the existence of such a number, Avogadro is known for Avogadro’s Law, which states that equal volumes of gases contain an equal number of particles (at constant pressure and temperature). The mole was first described by Cannizzaro a few years after Avogadro’s death. Click here for an exceptional guacamole recipe to help you get into the Mole Day mood 
With gratitude,
Juan Gonzalez