FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | September 25, 2008

Climate Change, Alternative Fuels and ‘Weird Science’ for the Public are topics for ACS Southwest Regional Meeting in Little Rock, Oct. 1-4

More than 600 scientists will gather in Little Rock Oct. 1-4 to discuss such topics as atmospheric chemistry and climate change, alternatives to gasoline, space chemistry, and medicine from plants.

The Central Arkansas Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will host the ACS 64th Southwest Regional Meeting (SWRM) at the Peabody Hotel and Convention Center in Little Rock, Ark: http://www.swrm.org/2008.

The public is invited to a presentation called “Weird Science,” featuring Lee Marek, an award-winning chemistry teacher from Illinois who has entertained many thousands, from local audiences to late-night viewers of the David Letterman Show. The program is Saturday, Oct. 4, 9:50-10:50 am, at the Peabody Hotel. Tickets are $5 and will be sold at the door

Career counseling and resume review are part of the program, which will feature 466 technical presentations that highlight the wide variety of new chemical research in the region, ranging from going green to exploring the nano world. The Student Affiliates at the University of Central Arkansas have also planned a two-day undergraduate program including oral and poster presentations, a graduate school breakfast and fair, and a Careers in Chemistry lunch. Saturday’s sessions showcase secondary chemistry education including Best Practices, Lab Safety, AP Chemistry and Outstanding High School Teachers.

In addition to the technical program, attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in several workshops including the ACS Leadership Development System’s “Innovation” (Wednesday afternoon), the ACS Legislative Action Network (all day Thursday), Career Services (all day Thursday) and Laboratory Safety Institute (Thursday and Friday). (Saturday afternoon). The SWRM 2008 Exposition (held in Salons B&C and the Balcony) will promote industrial vendors, publishers, and many graduate schools. All poster sessions and coffee breaks will take place in Salons B&C.

Other special events include an Opening Mixer in the Exposition area on Wednesday from 5-7 p.m., and the annual Southwest Region Awards Banquet to be held at the nearby Clinton Presidential Center on Thursday evening. Included in the admission to the banquet is an exclusive after-hours tour of the Clinton Library & Museum. In addition to the traditional awards presented at the banquet, past ACS national presidents who call the southwest region home will also be recognized for their service to the Society.

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NOTE TO REPORTERS: Members of the press who wish to attend are welcome, and are asked to notify Robin Lasey at robin.lasey@atu.edu

Contact

Dr. Marty Perry

870- 245-5217

Dr. Howard Hendrickson

501-603-1547