UCLA SMACS receives an outstanding performance rating from the ACS, as well as a 2020-21 Green Chemistry Student Chapter Award.
The Student Members of the American Chemical Society (SMACS) at UCLA received the award from the American Chemical Society (ACS) Green Chemistry Institute (GCI), which is given to student groups which promote green chemistry on campus. Over the past year, SMACS provided many creative ways to engage members in green chemistry, including hosting a presentation and scavenger hunt which revolved around the principles of green chemistry both in the laboratory and at home, reading green chemistry research articles in their journal club, and playing Jeopardy! styled quiz games with their members.
SMACS received their outstanding performance rating from the ACS for their efforts in community service, professional development, and chapter development. SMACS holds weekly meetings during which they regularly invite faculty and industry speakers to introduce research projects and job opportunities in chemistry and related fields. In addition, they volunteer at university events and K-12 science fairs to encourage children in the Los Angeles county to pursue STEM professions.
UCLA’s award-winning SMACS chapter discusses green chemistry in fun and interesting ways. Here they are playing a green chemistry themed Jeopardy! game during this fall quarter.
The award-winning chapters will also be honored at the 2021 ACS National Meeting. UCLA SMACS received Green Chemistry Student Chapter Awards in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019. They received their first outstanding performance rating in 2019.
Follow SMACS Bruins at UCLA on Facebook for more information on event updates. Weekly meetings are held Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Young Hall 2033 or online via Zoom. The SMACS 2021 Fall Schedule can be viewed below. SMACS members are deciding on a weekly basis whether certain meetings will be held online or in Young Hall 2033. Anyone interested in attending the meetings should check SMACS social media pages before each meeting to see how the meeting will be organized.
SMACS is hoping to attract new members this year in order to continue their mission of fostering a supportive community of undergraduates who are interested in chemistry and related fields.
Many thanks to SMACS Publicity Chair Roxana Ramos for providing the images and information for this article.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penny@chem.ucla.edu.
