CINTACS is published eight times a year (October through May) by the Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society in cooperation with the Oesper Collection in the History of Chemistry of the University of Cincinnati. All changes of address should be sent to Emel Yakali at Raymond Walters College, 9555 Plainfield Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236; 745-5686 or 745-5767 (FAX).

Every member is urged to send in their e-mail address. The message should consist of the e-mail address in the "From" area and the full name of the member in the "Subject" area of the message format. Send this information via e-mail to: acs@ucrwcu.rwc.uc.edu

SUBMISSION DEADLINES

The submission deadline for the next Newsletter is tentatively set for Monday, October 26, 1998.

All materials should be sent to:
Dr. Edward Burton
E-mail: burton.de@pg.com

Peter B. Dervan (born June 28, 1945) received his early education in Boston, Massachusetts (B. S., Boston College, 1967). He began research in physical organic chemistry working with Professor Jerome A. Berson at Yale University. After earning his Ph. D. in 1972, he spent a year at Stanford University as an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow (1973). From Stanford University he went to Pasadena, California to take up a faculty appointment at the California Institute of Technology where he is now the Bren Professor of Chemistry and Chairman of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

Peter Dervan has created a new field of bioorganic chemistry with studies directed toward understanding the chemical principles for the sequence specific recognition of the genetic material, DNA. Dervan has combined the art of synthesis, physical chemistry, and biology to create novel synthetic molecules with affinities and sequence specificities comparable to Nature's proteins for any predetermined DNA sequence. This non-biological approach to DNA recognition underpins the design of cell-permeable molecules for the regulation of gene expression in vivo. The approach could have profound implications for human medicine.

Dervan is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. His awards include the Harrison Howe Award (1988), Arthur C. Cope Award (1993), Willard Gibbs Medal (1993), Maison de la Chimie Foundation Prize (1996), Kirkwood Medal (1998), and the Alfred Bader Award (1999).

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Once again we embark upon perhaps the busiest month for the Section. November 1-7 marks National Chemistry week (NCW). As in the past the Section will focus its efforts on NCW activities at various libraries, schools and the Museum Center. This year’s co-chairs for NCW are Ed and Stephanie Fenlon of Xavier University and they are coordinating demonstrations at the Museum Center and visits by Section members at over 30 libraries in the area. It is not too late to volunteer for a NCW activity. Check the Section web page for dates, times and locations for the demonstrations and let Ed or Stephanie know (513-745-3361; 606-331-3564; fenlon@xavier.xu.edu) you are ready, willing and able to help out. Rick Sunberg will also be organizing the NCW contest for the elementary school students.

This month also includes the annual Oesper Symposium and Oesper Award dinner held at the University of Cincinnati. This year’s Oesper awardee is Professor Jerome A. Berson from Yale University. Professor Berson will receive his award at the Section’s November 5th meeting. Due to the University of Cincinnati also scheduling a home football game that evening, please pay close attention to the directions in this month’s CINTACS pertaining to parking.

In closing I ask you to please peruse the advertisements in each issue of CINTACS. If you utilize any of the products or services offered by our advertisers, please let them know where you saw their ad. These advertisements provide a substantial amount of support to the Section and deserve your attention.

Sincerely,

Jim Knittel, Chair
james.knittel@uc.edu

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Dinner reservations: Call the section answering line at 558-1224 or email cintacs@uc.edu. Include your name with correct spelling, affiliation, and menu choice. Reservations must be received by Monday, November 2. If you have any difficulties, please call Donna Taylor at 558-0979. As a reminder, if you decide you must miss a meeting after you have made reservations, please call to cancel. If not, the section will have to charge you for the dinner because it will be charged for the dinner.

Directions: If you approach by I-75, take the Hopple Street exit and turn left at the light. You will pass over the highway. At the next light go "straight" (straight here is really about a 45 degree turn to the left). You are now on Martin Luther King Drive. Continue up King to the third traffic light, you will reach the first light rather quickly, the second one about a quarter to half mile after that, and the third after going up a long hill. At the third light, take a right turn onto Clifton Avenue and the University is on your left. Take the first left into campus, you will be on College Court; follow this road directly to the garage

If you approach Cincinnati from I-71S, get off at the Taft Street exit, exit 3. At the light at the end of the exit go straight. It is a rather winding street, but continue "straight" for about 1.3 miles. At this time, Hughes High School is directly in front of you and you must turn; take a right turn onto Clifton Ave. from the far right lane. The University is now on you right side, the University driveway you want is College Court which is about 0.3 miles from the last turn. Follow College Court to the garage at the end.

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The Section Awards Committee requests nominations for the 1999 Cincinnati Chemist of the Year. This award, given annually since 1950, recognizes professional accomplishments of a member. The 1999 Chemist of the Year will be the featured speaker at the February meeting.

Deadline for nominations is November 18, 1998.

The Section Awards Committee requests nominations for the 1999 Cincinnati Research Assistant/Chemical Technician of the Year. This award, given annually, recognizes job skills, safety, teamwork, leadership, publications and presentations, reliability, communications skills, and additional professional and community activities. A Chemical Technician/Research Assistant is defined as a person whose training includes successful completion of a two year post-high school chemistry curriculum or equivalent work in a Baccalaureate program, or equivalent knowledge gained by experience. The 1999 award will be presented at the February meeting. The winner will be the section’s candidate for the National award.

Deadline for nominations is November 18, 1998.

Do you know a teacher who inspires his/her students? Fills them with a curiosity about the world of science and chemistry? The Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society is looking for these people - and honors three each year.

The High School Chemistry Teacher of the year is awarded annually, to recognize accomplishments of those of us who teach chemistry at the secondary school level.

The Middle School/Junior High School Science Teacher of the Year is awarded annually to honor science teaching at this level.

The Elementary School Science Teacher of the Year is awarded for excellence in elementary teaching.

All three awards recognize teaching ability, enthusiasm, mentoring skills, and other leadership activities. Nominees need not be members of the American Chemical Society. Generally speaking, anyone teaching in these capacities within 35 mile radius of downtown Cincinnati is eligible.

Deadline for nominations is January 15, 1999.

Nomination forms for each award may be requested from, and returned to:

Henry R. Greeb
Awards Committee Chair
e-Mail: 72277.706@compuserve.com

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November 1-7, 1998 marks the 11th anniversary of National Chemistry Week (NCW), and the local section plans on celebrating by continuing our library and museum demonstrations. Last year we had demonstrations in over 25 libraries, and the museum center. This year we are starting NCW early with the first demonstrations scheduled for October 27th.

We are looking for newcomers as well as seasoned demonstrators. The demonstrations are easy and fun. Janice Kagermeier, program coordinator of the Hamilton County public libraries, has said that NCW demonstrations are the most popular children's activity the libraries do each year.

Volunteers can get more information on times and locations of the demonstrations by calling Ed and Stephanie Fenlon, email: fenlon@admin.xu.edu or on the section's website: http://www.che.uc.edu/acs/ncw/ncw_cin.html. We plan to have a demonstrator workshop in early October.

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I would like to apologize for the lateness of and the mistakes in the October issue of Cintacs. Due to a family crisis at the time Cintacs was to be sent to the printer, the newsletter had less than my full attention. I understand the hardships that this causes on the Section membership and, for that, I sincerely apologize. I will endeavor to eliminate these occurances in the future.

As always, all comments and concerns (both positive and negative) are welcome. That has always been a part of the editor's job. At the same time, any and all help with this sometimes onerous task will gladly be accepted. All contributions will eagerly be considered for publication in Cintacs, when appropriate.

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Grant criteria: Funds are to be used to improve chemical education in the area served by the Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society.

Grant Proposal: The proposal should contain 300-500 words, double-spaced on official letterhead. It should describe the objective(s) of the project, how the project will be carried out, how the project would improve chemical education, how the program fits into the education program (if the applicant is from a school) and whom would benefit. Also, the proposal should contain a detailed budget which outlines expenditures, the amount being requested from the Educational Grant and the amount being requested from other sources.

Send five (5) copies of the application and the proposal to: Ginger Tannenbaum, Fairfield High School, 8800 Holden Blvd. Fairfield, OH 45014

Reports: Grant recipients are required to submit a report to the Committee within one year from the time of notification of the award. The report will include an outline of how the funds were used, what had been purchased, if anything, with the funds and what benefits have been derived thus far from the use of the funds.

Acknowledgment: It is requested that the major instruments purchased with the use of these funds be tagged with the following acknowledgment: "This equipment was purchased (in part) with an Educational Grant from the Cincinnati Section of the American Chemical Society."

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Updated 20 October 1998 by cinacs@www.che.uc.edu