The University of Utah ACS Student Chapter is a group dedicated to exciting and educating youth about science. Three chapter projects and activities will be highlighted: an environmental awareness campaign, a program at a local children’s hospital, and an event co-sponsored with the University of Utah School of Medicine. With the assistance of an Innovative Activities Grant from the National ACS, the chapter has partnered with local high schools with the goal of educating students about an environmental issue that is particularly important in our region, air pollution. We will present on our efforts to educate these students through Science Power. At Science Power, the chapter introduced demonstrations and hands-on activities in order to raise awareness of environmental issues. The group will also engage students in activities that explain the multi-faceted topics related to green and traditional energy sources. The group’s ultimate goal is aimed at helping children find passion and fun in science, while promoting the idea that their unique minds can influence the future of chemistry. This goal is accomplished by being very active in the community, participating in numerous outreach events throughout the Salt Lake Valley and the University of Utah Campus. At these events, such as the Science Power event, children are able to involve themselves in hands-on chemistry experiments as well as see more complex chemical reactions with demonstrations given by undergraduate students. Another program we wish to highlight a unique outreach program at Primary Children’s Hospital. Each week a group of students from our ACS group visits the hospital to participate in a weekly science show, which includes demonstrations and hands-on activities. Some of these include: culinary chemistry, acid/base food reactions, clothing dyes, polymers, and DNA extraction.

University of Utah American Chemical Society Student Chapter: Successful student chapter poster

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.