National Chemistry Week

2014 National Chemistry Week

Theme: The Sweet Side of Chemistry—Candy
October 19–25, 2014

2013 National Chemistry Week

Theme: Energy: Now and Forever!
October 20 – 26, 2013

2012 National Chemistry Week

Theme: Nanotechnology: The Smallest BIG Idea in Science!

National Chemistry Week 2012 focused on the nanoscience contributions to the environment, energy, materials, and health.

2011 National Chemistry Week

Theme: Chemistry—Our Health, Our Future
October 16–22, 2011

Explore the positive impacts of chemistry as it relates to nutrition, hygiene, and medicine.

National Chemistry Week (NCW) is a community-based annual event that unites ACS local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life.

2010 National Chemistry Week

Theme: “Behind the Scenes with Chemistry!” October 17–23, 2010

"Chemistry is everywhere, whether prominent as a science fair project or tucked behind the scenes of a movie set or book. Explore the special effects in movies to appreciate that it is not magic, but rather common chemical concepts which explain the mystery behind the “magic” that is shown."

2009 National Chemistry Week (NCW) Writing Contest

Since 1987, each October has been the time for a national celebration of chemistry. This year National Chemistry Week’s theme is the elements of the periodic table, recognizing the 140th anniversary of Mendeleev’s periodic table (more info: www.acs.org/ncw)

Our department invited the entire community to take part in the celebration in a most unusual way. Using only the symbols of the 112 named elements of the periodic table, plus D (deuterium) and T (tritium), authors wrote something entertaining, artistic, amusing, profound or otherwise creative! All element symbols needed to be typed in their proper case based on the periodic table. Uh, excuse us, we mean their PrOPEr CaSe.

The winner was Rachel Otto with her contribution "Alas The Choice".  She received a Period Table throw for winning.

A portion is below, but you can see the full submission by using the link at the end.

AlAs THe CHOICe

TO AtTeND VS. NOT TO AtTeND CLaSS; THAt IS THe CHOICe:
WHeThEr 'TiS WISEr OF THe PErSON TO SUFFEr
THe RaNTS, NO RaVEs, OF OUTRaGeOUS TeAcHErS,
'GaINST WHeThEr 'TiS BeTTEr TO STaY IN BeD TO DReAm,
THeReFORe OPPOSe THe NeFArIOUS BUReAuCRaCY. TO DReAm; TO ReST;
NO MoRe STReSS; TO SINK INTO THe PaRaDISe OF OBLiVION.
TiS NArCOSIS DOUBTlEsS TO Be WISH'D. TO ReST;
BUT TO ReST IS TO EsCHeW ONe'S DUTY TO GaIN WIT:
OIY, THeRe'S THe RuB! ...

Alas The Choice - NCW 2009 Winner (PDF)

2009 National Chemistry Week - "Chemistry - It's Elemental"

This year a group of 15 students (along with faculty) were at Boston's Museum of Science helping the visitors celebrate chemistry. Many had fun learning through hands-on experiments centered around this year's theme.

2008 National Chemistry Week - "Having a Ball with Chemistry"
Students and faculty headed off to the Boston Children's Museum to greet everyone with science activities. Fun was had by all.

2007 National Chemistry Week - "The Many Faces of Chemistry"
The chemistry department sponsored a poster contest at a local elementary school. Many posters were created and then displayed in Gordon's Jenks Library as part of the celebration.