The Kennesaw State University (KSU) chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS) has developed and implemented a dynamic plan to enhance engagement in chemistry at various levels throughout the community. To improve professional development of KSU students, industry and faculty guest speakers are invited for monthly events focused on providing information on future careers as well as potential research, internship, and employment opportunities. The chapter incentivizes student membership by helping pay for ACS membership, distributing simple sign up forms and fliers, funding travel to research conferences, and offering free fun excursions for active members each semester. To give back to the local community, funds are raised through the sale of candles in beakers and donated to local STEM education charities. Furthermore, the chapter frequently organizes demonstrations of fun chemistry experiments such as elephant toothpaste, BOO bubbles, and grain elevator explosion around campus and at local festivals such as the Atlanta Science Fest. Through these endeavors, student ACS and chapter membership has increased dramatically, multiple students have been matched with research projects and been funded to present their projects at conferences, and charitable funds have been donated to improve STEM education at local schools. Future goals of the chapter are to continue expanding and strengthening current aims as well as sending student ambassadors to local schools to showcase chemistry experiments and connect KSU students with research opportunities at R1 research universities.

Enhancing community engagement in chemistry at Kennesaw State University

251st National Meeting (2016)

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