Dear members,

As we close out another remarkable year, December offers us a moment to reflect on the accomplishments, connections, and growth that have defined 2025 for the ACS San Diego Local Section. This year has been filled with inspiring science, meaningful service, and a strong sense of community—from technical seminars and professional development workshops to outreach events, banquets, and social gatherings that brought our members together.

We are deeply grateful to the volunteers, speakers, sponsors, and members whose dedication made this year’s programming possible. Your time, energy, and passion for chemistry have helped strengthen our section and expand our impact across academia, industry, and education across the San Diego region.

One of the greatest strengths of our section is its leadership, and we are excited to look ahead to 2026 with a renewed sense of momentum. I am pleased to share that Dr. Jiyue Chen will be serving as Chair for 2026, bringing fresh vision and leadership to our section. We are also delighted to welcome Dr. Nik Chekshin as our new Chair-Elect. Together, they represent an outstanding leadership team that will continue to elevate and expand our community.

Looking ahead, we have several exciting events coming soon, with more details to be shared in the coming weeks. These include an upcoming talk with BlueNalu on the future of cultivated seafood, a SABPA community hike focused on wellness and connection, and additional food chemistry–focused seminars. These programs reflect our continued commitment to offering diverse, engaging, and timely content for our members.

As we celebrate the season and prepare for the year ahead, we encourage you to stay engaged—by attending events, volunteering, mentoring, and considering future leadership opportunities. Our section thrives because of your involvement.

Thank you for an incredible year of collaboration, curiosity, and connection. We look forward to seeing you in 2026 and starting this next chapter together. We also want to say that we truly enjoyed our time as co-chairs and the trust that the local ACS section put in us this year. We will carry this experience with us as we move on and continue to serve our local section in new ways for the coming year.

Warmest wishes for a safe, joyful holiday season and a bright New Year.

Sincerely,

Max Mahler and Jackie Trischman,

San Diego ACS Local Section Co-Chairs