First Annual ACS Florida Chemistry Conclave

The American Chemical Society (ACS) student chapters at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Rollins College, Stetson University, and the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) hosted the first-annual Florida Chemistry Conclave at the UCF main campus on Saturday April 2, 2016.

The Conclave is a professional-development workshop that brought 75 chemistry undergraduates together from across Florida for a day filled with research, networking, volunteering, and fun.

ACS Florida Chemistry Conclave 2016.

The workshop included free lunch and refreshments, student-research presentations, networking with professional chemists, information about graduate studies in chemistry, a Family-Feud style chemistry competition, and a fun paper-recycling outreach event. A closing address on professional development was delivered by Dr. Bob Rolle, a member of the Orlando Section of ACS (OS-ACS) with over 30 years of experience in industry.

The first Conclave was attended by students from Florida State University, Florida Southern College, the University of Florida, Stetson University, Rollins College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State College, FIT, and UCF.

The event was organized by student-leaders Lauren Gandy (UCF), Brian Letang (UCF), Jennifer Lear (UCF), Alice Ma (Stetson), and Jaime Fields (Stetson) and by OS-ACS members Dr. Stephen M. Kuebler (UCF), Dr. Harry Price (Stetson), Dr. Rudi Wehmschulte (FIT), Dr. Yi Liao (FIT), and Dr. James Patrone (Rollins).

The Conclave was co-sponsored by the Orlando Section of ACS, Stetson University, and UCF's Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Graduate College, College of Engineering, and CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics.

The Conclave was also supported by an "Inter-Chapter Relations Grant" awarded by the national ACS and prepared by UCF students Lauren Gandy and Oscar Tarano and Dr. Stephen Kuebler (UCF). The proposal was jointly submitted by the student-ACS clubs at UCF, FIT, Rollins, and Stetson. Letters of support and guidance in the preparation of the proposal was kindly provided by the OS-ACS Executive Board, Dr. Darlene Slattery (OS-ACS), Dr. Harry Price (Stetson), Dr. James Patrone (Rollins), Dr. Yi Liao (FIT), Dr. Rudi Wehmschulte (FIT), ACS@UF, Dr. John Reilly (Florida Gulf Coast University), Dr. Uma Swamy (FIU), and Dr. Mark Kearley (FSU).

If you would like to become involved or help support next year's Conclave, please contact Dr. Stephen Kuebler at kuebler@ucf.edu.

Attendees arrive and check in for the First-Annual ACS Florida Chemistry Conclave 2016.

Guest Speaker Dr. Bob Rolle tells Conclave attendees about his distinguished career in industry and explains how they can position themselves for success in the chemistry profession.

Conclave attendees compete in a Family-Feud-style chemistry competition.

(Left) Attendees enjoy the Chemistry Family Feud. (Right) OS-ACS member Dr. James Patrone (back-row at left) and Section Chair-Elect Dr. Luke Roberson (back-row at right) watch student-attendees compete in the Chemistry Family Feud.

Dr. Jana Jasinksi, Associate Dean of the UCF College of Graduate Studies tells students about how to pursue graduate studies.

Attendees enjoying lunch and good conversation.

(Left-image, from left to right) OS-ACS Chair Dr. Rudi Wehmschulte, OS-ACS Chair-Elect Dr. Luke Roberson, and ACS@UCF President Miss Bailey Mourant. (Right-image) Student-attendees conversing with Distinguished Guest Speaker and OS-ACS member Dr. Bob Rolle.

Student-attendees participating in the green-chemistry outreach activity. Participants used recycled materials to make biodegradable pots. The flower pots were filled with flowers and distributed as gifts to elderly shut-ins across Central Florida.

Student-attendees exchange ideas and learn about professional-development opportunities at the Networking Session.

Students learn about chemistry-teaching resources at the Networking Session from chemistry-text author Dr. Jason Overby (seated at left) and Pearson Publishers representative Ms. Evelyn Nehme (seated at right).

OS-ACS Outreach Chair Dr. Harry Price (Stetson University, at left) and OS-ACS Past-Chair Dr. Mary Roslonowski (Florida Eastern State College, at right) enjoy refreshments and good conversation.

Organizers of the First-Annual Florida Chemistry Conclave 2016. (From left to right) Dr. Stephen M. Kuebler (Faculty Advisor of ACS@UCF), Lauren Gandy (VP of ACS@UCF), Jennifer Lear (ACS@UCF), Brian Letang (ACS@UCF), Alice Ma (President of ACS@Stetson), and Jaime Fields (Past-President of ACS@Stetson).