The American Chemical Society is a self-governed individual membership organization that consists of more than 163,000 members at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry. The organization provides a broad range of opportunities for peer interaction and career development, regardless of professional or scientific interests. The programs and activities conducted by ACS today are the products of a tradition of excellence in meeting member needs that dates from the Society's founding in 1876.

The Student Affiliates program gives undergraduate students studying the chemical sciences the opportunity to participate in the ACS. The Student Affiliates program gives you the professional edge, lets you network with top professionals, and provides you with scientific meetings and direct access to research. Joining ACS entitles student affiliates to substantial discounts on ACS journals, 17 issues of Chemical & Engineering News, four issues of the undergraduate career magazine in Chemistry, career and employment services, and the Directory of Experience Opportunities listing co-ops, internships, and summer jobs for undergraduate chemical science students. There are ACS Student Affiliates chapters at over 900 colleges and universities in the United States. However, nearly 600 of these chapters have become inactive.

The Wake Forest University American Chemical Society Student Affiliates (WFU ACS SA) became reactivated during the 2000-2001 school year. The small group of enthusiastic and motivated students organized a wide variety of activities during the year. The chapter was awarded an Honorable Mention by the ACS for their efforts. The continued increase in membership has allowed the students to become even more active. The students meet biweekly to coordinate projects, socialize, and participate in discussions with faculty. Because of their participation in this organization, the students are able to develop closer relationships with the chemistry faculty and with each other.

Annual activities of the WFU ACS SA include:

Community outreach during National Chemistry Week - A one-day event is held on a Saturday to provide hands-on activities for children using the theme provided by the ACS. This helps introduce students in grades K - 5 to chemistry. In 2001, the chapter was awarded a grant by the ACS to support this project.

Participation in Project Pumpkin - Underprivileged children are brought to the Wake Forest campus prior to Halloween for a day of fun, including a Mad Scientist Show co-sponsored by the ACS SA and the Physics Department.

Community interaction at a local elementary school - The WFU ACS SA are developing a mentoring relationship with a local elementary school. Each year, the students will select a topic to introduce to students who are underrepresented in the sciences (specifically minorities). The student affiliates will travel to the school every few weeks to work on an on-going project that relates chemistry to everyday activities. In 2001, the chapter was awarded a grant by the ACS to begin this project.

Meeting in Miniature - The WFU ACS SA host a research conference specifically for undergraduates. Students from colleges and universities in central and western North Carolina present their research orally or as posters.

For more information, please contact Dr. Nanette Stevens (stevenna@wfu.edu) or Dr. Paul Jones (jonespb@wfu.edu).