The Santa Clara University Chemistry Club is an integral component of the local chemistry community.  The “Chem Club” strives to balance social events with participation in career-relevant activities and community service projects.  In the past the group has regularly partnered with the Silicon Valley Section of the American Chemical Society to provide support for community events including a variety of National Chemistry Week activities and those that support educational goals of both groups.  With the current COVID crisis in full swing, face-to-face activities were temporarily prohibited causing the club to shift quickly to a virtual format.  The club focused on attending local section monthly “Zoom-based” seminars on topics ranging from the chemistry of building stringed instruments to applications of analytical chemistry to authenticating art.  The group participated in its first diversity/inclusion event by viewing the documentary “Picture a Scientist” and discussing the film in small group sessions.  Social functions were also presented in a virtual format employing a variety of on-line games and activities such as Kahoot! quiz bowls, Scribble IO games, and pre-webinar mixers followed by screenings from the ACS Webinar Archive.  With a rich diversity of virtual activities the group was able to maintain its momentum, providing students with opportunities to interact in a relaxed environment and make new connections in a year where that was arguable more difficult than most.  The key elements to our success are a dedicated group of Chem Club officers, members, faculty and staff who work as a team to build a slate of events that provides a solid framework for student involvement in chemistry-relevant activities during the academic year.

Santa Clara University chemistry club: Maintaining momentum using virtual tools

ACS Spring 2022

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