For younger chemists, building a connection with a local ACS section is crucial for professional development. From the perspective of the Northeastern local section (NESACS), attracting and retaining younger chemists is a topic that can not be ignored and is vital to ensuring continued success. Despite the large population of young chemists in the Boston area, there has been only a small percentage active in the local chapter in the past years. In order to assure the next generation of members is engaged in our section, it is critical to attract and retain our youngest members while they are still undergraduate students. Additionally, exposing these very young chemists to chapter activities helps them in a tangential but valuable part of their chemical education, by teaching essential networking skills, job search strategies, and communication techniques.Participation of chemistry students can occur in many different ways. In addition to the local YCC, participation can occur through Student Affiliate Chapters (SAC) and Graduate Student Associations (GSA). The YCC is unique in that it is a home for younger chemists after graduation as they incorporate themselves into a professional career within the local ACS section. The NSYCC has worked closely with the SAC and GSA at Northeastern University and with the Boston University Younger Chemists Community to encourage attendance of their undergraduate and graduate students at local events in order to help them take advantage of the NSYCC's services. This participation has greatly helped in retaining NSYCC member participation and has facilitated many new relationships. To further interface this growing body of younger chemists with the larger local chapter, new formats are being explored for NESACS monthly meetings, including panel discussions and networking receptions, which have been popular with the younger community. Through multiple trials and efforts, NESACS and NSYCC have seen an increase in younger member participation. With new focus on the professional education of our undergraduate and graduate students, involvement this year by our youngest members has likewise increased.

Increased participation of younger chemists into YCC and Northeastern Section activities and the tangential opportunity for chemistry education

248th National Meeting (2014)

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