IMS to Host STEM Event
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowCelebrate Science Indiana and the local chapter of the American Chemical Society will host an event this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The daylong festival includes interactive exhibits and demonstrations designed to spark students' interest in science, technology, engineering and math-related activities.
September 5, 2013
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Crowds will gather at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Sunday, September 8th. Professional race car drivers will rev the engines of high-performance cars. The words of M.C. Michael Young, the “Voice of Indianapolis Racing” will ripple through the air.
But a race this is not!!! Rather, a free public event to be one of the nation's largest celebrations of science and chemistry. It is the annual Celebrate Science Indiana (CSI) science fair, a collaboration this year between CSI and the Indiana Local Section of American Chemical Society (ACS) the world's largest scientific society. It coincides with the ACS’s 246th National Meeting & Exposition, which will be held Sept. 8-12 in the Indiana Convention Center and downtown hotels. Thousands of scientists and other are expected for the meeting, which features almost 7,000 reports on new discoveries in chemistry and other topics.
“Celebrate Science Indiana is a public event that demonstrates the importance of studying science and the joy of discovery, the economic value of science, and its significance to society,” said Executive Director Robert Yost.
A free public event with free parking and free transportation from the Indianapolis Convention Center, this year’s collaborative event features many free activities including interactive science activities and booths, face painting, use of race simulators, show cars for photos, Firestone tire testing demonstrations, and more. Sarah Fisher will be available for a duration of the day (expected time around noon).
Attendees 18 years of age will have two additional track opportunities for a small fee. One is in an Indy 500 pace car on the Indy 500 track with a professional race car driver. The other is the “Miles Ahead” experience, on the Road Course section in a Mini-Cooper, also driven by a professional race car driver. Tickets for both are limited and are available in advance at http://www.acsindy.com/acs/indianapolis-motor-speedway/ .
The ACS Indiana Local Section is also sponsoring a scholarship raffle. Prizes include 2 suite tickets to the 2014 Indy 500, a 2-seater Indy car ride, iPads, memorabilia autographed by race car driver Danica Patrick, event tickets and other items.
“We are thrilled to be hosting this Community Outreach Event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and strive to give all in attendance a very fun and educational experience at one of America’s most iconic sports venues,” said Sibel Selcuk, Ph.D., chair of the ACS Indiana Local Section. “We are thankful to all of our volunteers who are the essential catalysts for the success of this event. As the event approaches, we hope all can join us in Celebrating Science and witnessing some exciting Chemistry in Motion! Remember chemistry and science is everywhere, even at the places we never thought about before.”
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its national headquarters is in Washington, D.C. This is the first time Indianapolis has held an ACS National Meeting which has hosted up to 18,000 chemical scientists.
Source: American Chemical Society
September 5, 2013
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — Faculty and students in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at IUPUI will serve as key presenters at the upcoming national conference in Indianapolis of the American Chemists Society (ACS), highlighting ongoing research collaborations and significant opportunities created through Indiana’s growing life and health science industries
The fall ACS conference, “Chemistry in Motion,” will bring more than 12,000 chemists to Indianapolis for the first time on Sept. 8-12. The event will serve as a showcase for research advancements taking place in Indiana, especially in the School of Science at IUPUI. More than 60 presentations from faculty and students are planned during the four-day conference.
Full schedule of School of Science presentations at ACS
“The annual ACS conference allows leading chemists from across the country to visit with their colleagues and discuss matters of national scientific significance,” said Nigel Richards, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at IUPUI.
“We have an opportunity to highlight the advanced research taking place across the state and especially in downtown Indianapolis, where collaborative efforts with area hospitals and professional schools allow us to be a leader in areas like chemical biology, biophysics, biomedical research and innovative teaching practices. We want to remind people we are an increasingly significant player in these areas,” he added.
The ACS conference also will allow faculty to highlight some of their teaching practices, including those that are becoming national models at universities across the country. For example, the Distributed Drug Discovery (D3) Program, a student-led drug discovery and synthesis program, has developed more than 800 compounds since its inception and many have led to the development of drugs to treat neglected diseases.
Other universities have adopted the D3 program principles because it allows undergraduate students to learn and utilize research skills on projects with global implications. IUPUI recently hosted a D3 conference on campus, and several domestic and international scientists participated.
“The ACS conference will allow our state's best scientists to remind their colleagues that Indiana is investing in the talent, technology and intellectual infrastructure needed to move the field forward,” Richards said.
The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology also serves as a major sponsor for the Celebrate Science Indiana event planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Indianapolis will see a significant economic benefit from the ACS conference and even more of an impact if they choose to return regularly to Indianapolis for their meetings. Richards predicts the conference facilities, the walkability of the downtown area and its proximity to research areas such as IUPUI and nearby hospitals will be attractive for conference organizers looking for a longtime home for the event.
About the School of Science at IUPUI
The School of Science is committed to excellence in teaching, research and service in the biological, physical, behavioral and mathematical sciences. The School is dedicated to being a leading resource for interdisciplinary research and science education in support of Indiana's effort to expand and diversify its economy. For more information, visit www.science.iupui.edu
Source: IUPUI
September 4, 2013
News Release
West Lafayette, Ind. — Purdue University on Sunday (Sept. 8) will participate in Celebrate Science Indiana 2013, a daylong festival for P-12 students to showcase the joy of discovery and the wonder of science.
The free event, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is designed for students in preschool and older to highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education as well as research and careers in those fields.
Celebrate Science Indiana is collaborating with the American Chemical Society for this year's event in Indianapolis.
“Celebrate Science is a fun-fil