The spring meeting of the ACS met in our own backyard on March 26-30 with some 12,600+ participants registered. You certainly have seen report of the meeting, but here are some impressions you may not have seen.
ACS conferees were invited to spend an evening at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields where local section volunteers and museum staff scientists offered Chemistry of Art programming throughout the night. While all galleries were open to guests, including the immersive projection gallery The LUME Indianapolis featuring Monet & Friends Alive, special chemistry programming included a pop-up art analysis laboratory in the galleries featuring x-ray fluorescence and infrared spectroscopy analysis of paintings, pigment synthesis didactics, artwork restoration demonstrations by the conservation staff, and a Chemistry of Color Treasure Hunt through the collections. The latter presented a featured artwork and pigment for each spectral color (ROYGBIV) where ACS volunteers dressed in appropriately colored lab coats shared intriguing chemical stories about the artworks they were presenting along with related show-and-tell didactics. All guests who filled their treasure hunt passport by visiting each station were entered into a drawing for Apple iPads, watches, and earbuds sponsored by Bruker Instruments. The social event also featured a signature periodic table cocktail and catered food. Roundtrip transportation between the museum and the conference center was available all night long for guests to come and go as they pleased.
A special session was held to honor Rudy M. Baum who worked at ACS for some 40 years, and for 8.5 years was editor in chief of C&EN. Rudy died about a year ago.
People read his editorials and Rudy’s writing highlighted the connection between chemistry and society. Not afraid of tackling controversial issues and the resulting letters to the editor, he courageously wrote about atmospheric chemistry, HIV/AIDS, evolution, surging human population, open access in scientific publishing, and global warming.
He transitioned C&EN into the digital environment, was an inspirational mentor, and always showed courage to speak out even if his sometimes strong opinions brought about a lively debate. He has been labeled “the most influential of C&EN’s 11 editors in its 100 years.”