Local Section DEIR Grant Past Recipients

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.