Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee
The Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee (GSSPC) was created in 2005 to facilitate ongoing involvement among graduate students in planning symposia at ACS national meetings. Student groups are chosen from a university to produce quality symposia, co-sponsored by the ACS Division of Chemical Education (CHED), of interest to the chemical community.
According to the project charter, the GSSPC Project provides:
- a national forum for graduate students to make their own views known
- an outlet for graduate students to develop a professional network and leadership skills
- a sustainable source of quality programming for CHED
What’s Involved?
GSSPC groups are given full autonomy in planning an ACS national meeting symposium. This includes, but is not limited to topic selection, fundraising, speaker recruitment, and logistical arrangements.
In addition to planning national meeting symposia, teams must also commit to ensuring the continuation of the program by recruiting future GSSPC groups, mentoring successive groups, and updating the GSSPC handbook.
For more information, see the GSSPC Project Charter.
How are GSSPC Groups Selected?
Interested student groups send in applications to and are selected by active GSSPC Groups. See the "GSSPC Participants" below to see their websites and call for applications.
Types of Symposium
- Technical (e.g. nanotechnology, sustainable energy)
- “Soft” Programming (e.g. careers, work-life balance)
- Symposia that address larger ACS national meeting themes (e.g. natural disaster)
Support Resources
GSSPC Participants
- Texas A&M University (Spring 2025)
Bonds That Matter: Soft Materials for a Sustainable World - University at Buffalo (Fall 2024)
Breaking the Mold: Building Communication to Promote Green and Sustainable Practices - NSF Center for Single-Entity Nanochemistry and Nanocrystal Design (CSENND) (Spring 2024)
Nanoparticle Heterongeneity: Realizing Strengths by Embracing Differences - Carnegie Mellon University (Fall 2023)
Bridging the Gap Between Machine Learning, Computational Modeling, and Experimental Chemistry for Catalyst Design - Department of Energy Solar Innovation Hub (Spring 2023)
A Solar Fuels Nexus: Molecules and Materials for Light-Driven Catalysis - University of Rochester (Fall 2022)
Achieving Scientific Excellence through Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Research - Purdue University (Spring 2022)
Mother Nature Knows Best: Bonding with Nature's Proteins - Florida State University (Spring 2022) rescheduled from Fall 2021
Illuminating the Field of Photophysics: 100 Years of Michael Kasha - Carnegie Mellon - University of Pittsburgh (Spring 2021)
Bridging Disciplines to Build Better Materials - Wayne State University (Fall 2020)
Pushing the Boundaries: Women Scientists Catalyzing Change - University of Michigan (Spring 2020)
Smart Materials: From Stimuli to Response - Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment (Fall 2019)
From Oceans to Clouds: The Environmental Chemistry of Water - Louisiana State University (Spring 2019)
Artificial Molecular Machines and the Next Generation of Molecular Control - Duquesne University (Fall 2018)
Frontiers in Computational Chemistry: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Experiment, A Symposium in Memory of Dr. Jeffry D. Madura - University of Florida (Spring 2018)
Finding our Place at the Bottom: A Symposium in Memory of Richard Feynman - Virginia Tech (Fall 2017)
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Developing Chemistries for Improved Global Health - Georgetown University (Spring 2017)
Chemistry for Global Change
- University of Pennsylvania (Fall 2016)
From Bench-to-Bench and Beyond: Engaging People with High Impact Chemistry
- Purdue University (Spring 2016)
Resolving the Big Picture; Bringing Molecules into Focus
- University of Minnesota (Fall 2015)
Academic Innovations for Tomorrow's Industries - University of Notre Dame (Spring 2015)
Designed by Nature, Developed by Science: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biocatalysis
- University of Washington (Fall 2014)
International Collaborations with International Impact: Chemistry for Global Change
- University at Austin Texas (Spring 2014)
Elements in Transition: Is Chemistry Facing a Revolution or a Recession? - University of Cincinnati (Fall 2013)
The Chemistry of Energy: Minimizing its Input, Maximizing its Output - University of California Irvine (Spring 2013)
Benchtop to Business: Energy Solutions for a Green Future - Binghamton University (Fall 2012)
The Power of Chemistry in Public Health: Drug Development from the Lab Bench to the Consumer - California Institute of Technology (Spring 2012)
Chemical Biology: When two heads are better than one - Southern Methodist University (Fall 2011)
Chemistry by Design - University of Texas at Austin (Spring 2011)
Unleashing Electrochemistry’s Potential: Resistance is Futile - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Fall 2010)
Chemistry and Policy: Solving Problems at the Interface - University of California, Santa Barbara (Spring 2010)
Chemistry and the Developing World - George Washington University (Spring 2009)
Naturally Nano - University of Connecticut (Fall 2008)
Transitioning into Green Chemistry - University of California, Los Angeles (Spring 2008)
Nanopower ― Creating Energy for the Future - Purdue University (Fall 2007)
Finding Your Catalyst: Lower the Barrier from the Graduate School to Industry - Ohio State University (Spring 2007)
Exploring and Exploiting Nature with Biomimetics
Balancing the Equation: Finding a Personal-Professional Equilibrium
Contact Us
For more information, email the ACS Graduate & Postdoctoral Scholars Office or call (202) 872-4588.
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