Minutes

PolyEd Committee Meeting

April 14, 2017

  • Attendance

NameE-mail

Erik

Charles

John

Sherri

Mark

Reddy

Julie

Kevin

Bob

Dan

Jane

Philip

Diana

Melissa

Christopher

Warren

  • PolyEd Co-Chair

Philip Costanzo (Cal Polytechnic) has been appointed co-chair representing the Polymer Division. He is passionate about polymer science in the undergraduate chemistry curriculum and will spearhead the effort to get a requirement for Polymer Chemistry as a foundational course included in the next revision (2020) of the Committee on Professional Training (CPT) guidelines.

  • Pre-college (Sherri Rukes)

A new website for Polymer Ambassadors has been constructed. The group has participated in several symposia over the past year. It sponsored a symposium for teachers on Monday evening, 5-9 p.m., at this meeting with about 40 teachers participating. It sponsored “Polymer Science of Everyday Things” at the last national meeting. Again, 40-50 teachers attended.

Several suggestions for ways that PolyEd might provide assistance to K-12 teachers have been identified.

Student competitions

  • create simulations that teach people about polymer concepts
  • create podcasts about different uses of polymers and how they are made.
  • video competition about polymers – you tube number of likes?
  • many others

Ask a polymer expert – establish a group of 10 or so experts in the different areas of polymer science that could answer questions that teachers could ask about polymers.

  • College/University (Erik Berda)

A new PolyEd website is functional.

Nominations for the outstanding student in the sophomore organic course at all U.S. institutions are being collected. These students are recognized with a certificate and letter. This provides positive exposure for PolyEd and the sponsoring divisions.

The nature of the undergraduate research award is currently under revision. It will likely take the form of travel support to present a poster/presentation in the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Symposium held at each spring meeting. Selection will be on the basis of the quality of abstracts submitted in response to an announcement from PolyEd. Erik Berda will provide a detailed description of the award and associated mechanics.

The PolyEd award for outstanding graduate research in Polymer Chemistry is currently sponsored by the Henkel Corporation. Warren Ford has been the individual responsible for securing a sponsor and organizing the symposium associated with the award. He has done this for many years but would like to find a successor relatively soon. There is no long-term contract for support of the award (the cost is about $5000/award) and this must be renegotiated for each granting of the award. It is probably desirable to try to lock-in a sponsor that would provide regular, on-going support for the award.

The PolyEd student award in applied polymer science (currently sponsored by Eastman Chemical) is subject to the same concerns noted above for the graduate research award.

  • Polymer Volunteers for CPT Service

Mark Hillmeyer and Chris Soles will contact division members to urge them to indicate a willingness to serve on the committee on Professional Training. It is important that the committee have, at least, one or two members to represent the polymer area. They will encourage Councilors and committee members to submit the Yellow Book form listing CPT as their first choice for committee assignment. Both POLY and PMSE (as well as Rubber and CELL) need to continuously make their presence felt with CONC and ACS officers. This will need to build to a major effort at the time of the next CPT guideline revision (2020). The goal will be to get Polymer Chemistry included as a required foundational course.

  • Industrial/Government Professionals Representative

A representative from the industrial group is needed to replace Bob Moore who is no longer able to continue.

  • Special Issue of the Journal of Chemical Education

A special issue of the Journal of Chemical Education focused on the incorporation of polymeric materials into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum is being assembled. Warren Ford provided an update. Approximately 40 manuscripts have been received and are in various stages of review. It is anticipated that about 30 papers will be published in the special edition. An August, 2017, publication date is anticipated.

  • Treasurer’s Report

Reddy Venumbaka presented a report of finances (attached). Support of $5000 has been received from PMSE. The current balance is $12,288.30 which should cover expenses for this year.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob A. Howell