Dear valued members,

The month of October is a busy time for the chemistry community! This month, we look forward to celebrating National Chemistry Week (NCW), from October 20–26, 2024, with the theme "Picture Perfect Chemistry". This theme focuses on the exciting topics of photography and imaging in chemistry. If you haven’t checked out the official ACS website, I encourage you to do so! ACS National has loads of fun activities and resources to celebrate this year.

This month, we have also planned an enlightening discussion on queer history in science. If you identify as a queer person or are an ally of queer empowerment, please consider joining us at our Queer in STEM: A Historical Quandary event on Thursday evening, October 10th, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at HomeLab UCSD! This event, funded by a National ACS DEIR grant, will include dinner, a keynote presentation from a local historian, and a panel session that will aim to give a platform for queer voices in STEM. Spread the word to friends, and I hope to see you there! Click here

The following week, on Wednesday evening, October 16th, from 6:00 - 8:30 PM, we will also be hosting our annual Distinguished Scientists Award Dinner, held at The Butchershop restaurant. This year’s Distinguished Scientist, Dr. Liangfang Zhang, will accept his award and be recognized for his outstanding contributions and achievements in biomimetic nanotechnology. Come on out to join us for an evening of dinner, connections, and a peek into Dr. Zhang’s work! Click here

Switching gears, I’d like to thank those who attended our recent events in September. Our "Chemistry of Art Conservation" event was a true highlight. Learning how chemistry plays a vital role in preserving cultural heritage through the intersection of science and the arts is always a wonderful application to admire. A huge thank you to our speakers for their insightful presentations and to all who participated in the discussions. We look forward to more events that bridge these fascinating fields!

We also had a fantastic time at our annual picnic last month! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces enjoying the beautiful weather, delicious food, and engaging conversations. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the day a success—your enthusiasm is what makes our community so special.

Best,

Christina Vialva