California’s Great Central Valley requires a continuous supply of young scientists. The influx of these scientists, and chemists in particular, are critical to retaining and enhancing the competitiveness of US Agriculture in the global marketplace. This perspective is based on my appointments and experiences with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center as well as the Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry Graduate Group, University of California at Davis. Dr. Yamaguchi has provided invaluable inspiration, and importantly, has road-mapped a course through ACS programmatic avenues – designed to encourage students into chemical careers, nowhere more important than in the Central Valley - the heart of California’s agricultural production and immigrant workforce. Through cooperation with Elaine and her “orchestration” of the SEED program, I can recollect the participation of at least 25 minority students, half of which were female. At least 8 SEED students of mine have received a BS in Chemistry, 5 have pursued graduate careers at UC Davis, and all have retained jobs in California’s Central Valley, satisfying the critical need for young chemical scientists. Research assignments and personalities associated with the SEED program will be briefly highlighted.

Encouraging young chemists into the Central Valley’s agriculture

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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