Local Section DEIR Grant Past Recipients
2023
California
Diversity in Science: Bridging Communities through the History of AIDS Research
In June, ACS California and AWIS East Bay host a Pride Month D&I event featuring the documentary *Surviving Voices* about the AIDS epidemic, alongside a Gilead scientist discussing AIDS-related research. The event includes networking, food, travel aid, and encourages donations to the National AIDS Memorial.
Central New Mexico
Lab Safety Ambassadors
The University of New Mexico's Chemistry Department welcomed around 900 new students to its General Chemistry I & II Labs. The Central New Mexico Local Section introduced a monetary incentive to encourage students to deepen their interest in chemistry.
Detroit
DEIR Symposium and All-Section Undergraduate Poster Session
A half-day DEIR symposium featured a keynote from a nationally recognized expert, a panel of local experts, and was followed by a full-section undergraduate poster session. The event became an annual event, funded by the section and grants.
Indiana
Chemistry of Fireworks-Juneteenth Celebration
The Chemistry of Fireworks event was a collaboration between the Indiana Local Section Committee on Minority Affairs and local fire response teams, educating on the chemistry, firework safety, and celebrating Juneteenth.
Indiana-Kentucky Border
Black History and Women's History Months Discussion Panel
During Black History Month (February 2024) and Women's History Month (March 2024), panels of three regionally known African American chemists and women in chemistry were invited to discuss the obstacles they encountered and how they overcame them to achieve their career goals.
Puget Sound
Scholarship for Historically Underrepresented Students in Chemistry
The grant provided funding for three $2,000 scholarships to underrepresented minority students in chemistry and related fields, matched by the Puget Sound Section through its annual budget to enhance its existing scholarship program.
Philadelphia
Buckets and Beakers
Buckets & Beakers was an informal science outreach program aimed at engaging young Black and Brown students in STEM by connecting scientific materials with their existing interests, particularly in athletics and sports.
Richland
La Quimica Detras De La Ceramic/The Chemistry Behind Pottery
Participants had the opportunity to learn about the chemistry behind pottery and glazes through a show and tell of a pottery piece being brought to life. The hands-on activity involved glaze painting a piece of their own.
Southeastern Pennsylvania
STEAM Sneakerheadz: STEAM Sneaker Art Workshop with Science Communicator "Ky the Chemist" for York C
The program aimed to inspire students from underrepresented and marginalized communities to pursue STEM studies, integrating their passions, interests, and culture into their future goals and careers.
Southern Indiana
2nd Annual Summer 2024 STEAM Sneaker Art Workshop Speaker Series: Ky the Chemist
Encouraging students to pursue STEAM, this project supported the 2nd annual STEAM Sneaker Art event. Hosted by "Ky the Chemist," the event featured a STEAM Sneaker Art workshop for the Bloomington community during the summer of 2024.
Hawaii
Unity in Diversity: Bridging Science and Culture in Hawaii
The event series explored the chemistry of Hawaiian traditional cultural practices through interactive workshops on flavor chemistry, local ingredients, sustainable agriculture, and medicinal chemistry. ACS members and the community learned and celebrated inclusivity in the heart of Hawaii.
Southern California
Celebrating Black & Hispanic Heritage and African International Day in the Perspective of DEIR
The SCALACS and NYACS local sections, in collaboration with the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, celebrated Black and Hispanic Heritage Months and African International Day. They held a seminar series that highlighted progress in DEIR (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect) in science and efforts to combat climate change.
Central Texas
Research and Outreach Enrichment Program for Students of Huston-Tillotson University
The Central Texas ACS Local Section collaborated with Huston-Tillotson University, a private historically Black university, to provide research and outreach resources and opportunities to underrepresented students in the chemistry program.
San Diego
Queer in STEM: A Historical Quandary
The San Diego Local Section created a presentation and panel event highlighting historical barriers and overlooked contributions of the queer community in STEM, focusing on chemistry professionals. This project upheld the ACS vision that all demographics deserved a place in the chemistry enterprise.
Chattanooga
Including High School Students in Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
The ACS Project SEED site at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga aimed to increase diversity in the STEM workforce by providing a paid summer research internship for five local high school students.
New York
Distribution of Electronic Resources for Chemistry High Teachers in NYC to Diversify
The New York Local Section distributed two videos to encourage high school students to study chemistry, along with a lesson on Dr. Daly designed to diversify the curriculum and a step-by-step video of the laboratory procedure.
2022
Auburn
Undergraduate students utilizing innovative research to developing a structure activity relationship
Students will synthesize benzothiazole salts and test agaisnt cell lines with overexpressed TDP-43 aggregrates to determine the efficacy of alternative therapeutics for treating ALS.
Binghamton
Building Inclusivity and Representation in STEM Education Through Community Outreach and Engagement
To enable continuity of DEIR initiatives to be implemented within the Binghamton local section by collaborating with the chemistry department at Binghamton University to support and foster the inclusion of marginalized populations in STEM education.
California Los Padres
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Workshops
California Polytechnic State University committee of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the Deaprtment of Chemistry & Biochemistry will host a series of monthly professional development meetings aimed at increasing awarness of issues related to student success with a focus on classroom diersity and equity.
Central Arkansas
Providing support to underrepresented high school students for science fair projects.
This project will provide mentorship and financial support to students in underserved and underperforming high schools in Arkansas who are underrepreseted in STEM and lack resources, to conduct and present science fair projects in the chemical sciences.
Chattanooga
Including High School Students in Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Support for the ACS Project SEED site at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to increase diversity in STEMP workforce by providing a paid summer research internship for five local high school students.
Detroit
Analytical Undergraduate Research: Analyzing Efficacy of Lead Reducation Efforts
A research stipend of $3000 will assist one undergraduate student to perofrm lead wipe analysis of samples acquired from Detroit Homes.
Indiana
PREDICT (PRomoting Equity and Diversity in ChemisTry) Etiquette Dinner and Networking Event
Indiana Local Section we continue the PREDICT Profesional Development series which the goal is to empower Indiana local section members providing a safe learning space to discuss freely and to build meaningful connections.
Memphis
2023 Project SEED at Rhodes College
Project SEED at Rhodes College is an immersive experience designed to give economically disadvantaged high school students an opportunity to conduct research alongside accomplished scientists, while also participating in seminars on college preparation, academic success, and careers in science.
Nashville
2023 National Women's Histroy Month Speaker Series: Dr. Natalie LaFranzo
To advance the ACS core value of DEIR to the Nashville local section by invited Dr. Natalie LaFranzo, Director-at-Large and member of PROF to present a talk on DEIR and career path.
New York
Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities
To hold a day-long symposium on adapting lectures, laboratory experiences, and assessment for students with disabilities. The target audience includes high school and college science faculty, graduate teaching assistant, disability services adminstrators, and counseling staff.
North Carolina
Gathering of HBCU Students at SERMACS 2023
To expand the attendance/participation of students who attend HBCU's to give students an opportunity to gather in a community of scholarship and present their research at SERMACS Fall 2023.
Ole Miss
Ole Miss Summer REU DEIR Worship
To promote a DEIR emphasis worhsip during the formative summer REU programs at the University of Mississippi. Ole Miss Chemistry, Nanoengineering, and STEMS REU program will be combined for this event to offer an expert speaker from an underrepresented background in STEM.
Portland
Scholarship Matching Funds for the Dunne-Currie Scholarship
In 2020, the Portland Section started the Dunne-Currie Scholarship to encourage college sophomores of underrepresented minority status to cotinue their progress in chemistry.
Puerto Rico
ARRIBA: Advancing Respect & Retention in Bilingual Areas
Advancing Respect & Retention in Bilingual Areas (ARRIBA) aims at providing a safe splace for Spanish speaking chemists where they can interact with peers and develop themselves professionally. Events directed at networking, professional development, and a research symposium will be implemented.
Puget Sound
Scholarships for Historically Underrepresented Students in Chemistry
To provide funding for scholarship to underrepresented minority students majoring in chemistry and related fields.
Richland
Exploring the Five Senses
Exploring the Five Senses is a one-day event where families will engage in hands-on activities while learning about the science behind the five main senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste).
Southwest Georgia
Stipend for Attending South Georgia High School Chemistry Summer Camp
To conduct a chemistry summer for camp for South Georgia High School Students. Funding to be used to provide a stipend to underrepresented, minority, and female high school students to cover registration fees and lunch.
Wisconsin
Inclusive mentoring program aimed to increase student engagement & persistence in Chemistry
Undergraduate students will be paired with chemistry grad students based on interests and self-disclosed identities to foster authentic conversations regarding experiences and careers in STEM.
2021
Georgia
Increasing a Diverse ACS Membership through Local Section Efforts: Chemistry Pipeline Retention (CPR)
A 6-week summer industrial internship combined with a community service project to engage, retain, and develop identity and belonging for traditionally marginalized undergraduate students in chemistry (within the local section).
Northern New York
Chemistry in the Movies: Supporting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect
In-person film screening of Flint (2018) to university and high school students, faculty, and Local Section members in chemical science fields followed by an open discussion on issues dealt with in the movie with 5-person panel that have varying and relevant expertise and the rest of the audience.
Southern California
Advancing SCALACS 's Vsion of DEIR in Southern California Educational Institutions
SCALACS will seek relationships with high school and 2-year college science teachers to identify and sponsor activities that motivate underprivileged students, enable them to build self-confidence, and to raise their educational level to the top.
Northeastern
STEM Journey Speaker Series Expansion Project
In 2022, STEM Journey (an annual Cape Cod STEM education outreach event since 2014, founded and organized by members of the NESACS PR Committee) seeks to expand its reach by launching a Speaker Series which will bring the essence of STEM Journey to various underserved populations.
Indiana
PRomoting Diversity and Equity In ChemisTry (PREDICT)
Empowering our members while providing a safe learning space to discuss topics freely and build meaningful connections by restructuring our 2021 PREDICT Program from a two-day symposium to a 3-part initiative with more focused objectives.
Binghamton
Recruitment and Retention of Underrepresented/Underserved Students in STEM Education
Actively recruiting, supporting, and retaining students from underrepresented and underserved populations to enable growth and improvement in diversity, inclusion, equity, and mutual respect in STEM education.
California
CalACS Student Engagement, Diversity, and Awards Program Proposal
The CalACS New Student Award Program provides aspiring high school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students in the chemistry field who come from underrepresented backgrounds an opportunity to engage with their local ACS sections to build their industry network and receive mentorship.
San Diego
Summer Program Application Mentorship
The Summer Program Application Mentorship (SPAM) program will help underrepresented and underprivileged community college students apply for summer research fellowships (SURFs) by pairing each mentee with a mentor from a pool of grad student, postdoc, staff, and faculty volunteers.
Ole Miss
Ole Miss Local Section Student Awards Banquet DEIR Emphasis
Promoting a DEIR emphasis by inviting an expert speaker to a section-wide banquet in April 2022, allowing award winners to attend the banquet for free, and engaging historically black colleges and community colleges in the local section as active participants.
Richland
Química Bajo el Sol / Chemistry Under the Sun
Bilingual activities taking place at the Mid-Columbia libraries in the Tri-cities, such as students and parents having the opportunity to design a sharpie tie-die t-shirt, making thermochromic color-changing slime, and enjoying ice cream while learning about Chemistry in everyday life.
Midland
Day in the life of an industrial scientist
Aiming to give the opportunity to college students in underrepresented areas to interact with industrial scientists by having a real science problem to solve as well as professional development activities such as mentoring discussion, guided group discussion, panel and poster session.
Idaho
Increasing number of Project SEED participants from diverse backgrounds in Idaho
Supporting at least two ACS Project SEED participants ($3200/student) who are from underrepresented demographics (first-generation college goer, female, LGBTQ, Hispanic, African American, and/or Native American HS students) by requesting $3000 from the Local Section DEIR Grant and matching $3400 from Idaho State University (ISU.)
2020
Detroit
Advancing Diversity, Inclusivity and Respect for individuals among STEM professionals in training
Developing a speaker/webinar series focused on advancing both the knowledge and awareness of diversity, inclusion and professional equity in STEM by Wayne State University NOBCChE chapter during the winter semester of 2021.
Georgia
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conversations
Three hour-long conversations and informal trainings to foster the section's equity and inclusion guided by trained DEI facilitator.
Chemical Society of Washington
Seminar Series for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
Monthly seminars with a rotating focus, alternating between exposure to chemistry careers at the high school, undergraduate and Early Career level and also hosting book authors to discuss diversity, racial justice, or chemistry focus and mentorship/networking.
New York
Embracing Our Diversity
Producing a video series and organizing movie, book, and group discussions to promote the contributions of our diverse membership to chemistry and support the New York ACS Section’s goal of better serving all our members by fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion and respect..
Silicon Valley
Paving the Path
A mentoring program for students transferring from community colleges to 4-year institutions by pairing mentees with university student mentors to have the pairs meet 1-on-1 and join workshops on career planning, resumes, leadership, personal growth..
Orange County
STEM Family Night for Disadvantaged Communities and Foster Homes to Improve Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect
Launching a STEM family night that teaches chemistry to disadvantaged children ages 5-10 through fun and exciting toy sets and to youths who are at an age when they can see possibilities for their future engagements in STEM and are least likely to get access to it.
Northeastern
Tools to Empower Women, Minority, and Underrepresented Chemists to Achieve Their Full Potential
Supporting tickets for students to attend Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, a lecture by Valerie Young (https://impostorsyndrome.com/valerie-young) and Combatting Implicit Bias, an education session by Project Implicit (https://www.projectimplicit.net).
Indiana
PRomoting Equity and Diversity In ChemisTry (PREDICT)
Hosting a two-day symposium to facilitate career building discussions from the perspectives of various minority groups followed by an outreach event supporting the e-learning needs of underserved youths to promote diversity and inclusivity within the Indianapolis community.
Brazosport
Girls in STEM
A one-day event intended to engage over 600 people in the community to encourage 6th grade girls to pursue education and careers related to STEM by having the girls and their chaperones rotating through modules of discussion and science demos related to various fields of science and engineering.
Huron Valley
Michigan Chemistry Demonstration Education, Mentoring, and Outreach (MC-DEMO)
Developing a sustainable partnership with local schools and the broader Washtenaw County community to provide hands-on science experiences for students who may not have access to these resources with hopes of expanding this program to communities outside of Washtenaw County.
Lehigh Valley
LVACS After School Chemistry Partnership
Enabling our members to partner with the community to provide an interactive, virtual after-school chemistry extension program via Zoom taking place a day/week over three months.
Rochester
Better Together: Improving Diversity in the Rochester Section
Promoting representation and opportunities to local minorities, deaf and hard of hearing, and international student communities via a networking platform of academic/industrial underrepresented speaker series, diversity in Chemistry debriefs and online outreach events.
San Diego
Chem's for Me
A seminar series of six plus talks established to encourage both women and students from under-represented groups in the chemical sciences to pursue careers in chemistry and give greater visibility to the research efforts of women and individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. .
Portland
Rosemary Anderson Schools Exploring Community Based Science Projects
Supporting underserved students at the Rosemary Anderson Schools to learn new STEM skills by hands on education program for 500 alternative students, meeting with mentors, and development professionals to investigate career opportunities for 2020-2021 school year..
Hawaii
Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect in Chemistry Classrooms and Research Labs in Hawaii
Promoting diversity, inclusion, and respect (DI&R) in chemistry classrooms and research labs in Hawaii and help increase the overall awareness of DI&R in the local chemistry community via three activities (speaker series, outreach program, and professional development workshops.)
Richland
Explore COVID-19 | Explorando COVID-19
A one-day virtual outreach event to give the opportunity for enthusiastic young students to take part in fun, practical chemistry activities by providing the kits to the 7th grade students of the Stevens Middle School at Pasco.
Idaho
Working Together to Support Undergraduate Research
Providing meaningful undergraduate research opportunities for a diverse set of students at two locations: Idaho State University and Brigham Young University-Idaho.
California
High School Career Skills Mentoring Program
Pairing underserved high schoolers with mentors in the community for a semester long skills-based program by having the group meet 8 times over Zoom to learn and practice topics (resume writing, networking, college applications) and also includes a minimum of 3 one-on-one meetings with mentors.
Puget Sound
Engaging K-8 Under-Representated Students in Chemistry
Through the recently formed ACS PSS Section DI&R Committee engaging K-8 schools in the chemical sciences by virtual and, when possible, in-person classroom visits and demonstrations conducted in schools with a high population of under-represented students in chemistry.
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