The Westchester Chemical Society had a series of very interesting and exciting presentations for 2005.

We began the year with a presentation on March 2, 2005 at the Westchester Community College in Valhalla on Nanotechnology by Dr. Rolande Hodel.  Rolande had just received her doctorate from CUNY, Queens College, with her specialty in Nanotechnology.    Nanotechnology has become a buzzword .  With increasing government funding for nano research and venture capitalists hoping that this tiny technology will be the next big thing, the question arises "What is Nanotechnology and what is it not?"  To answer this question, the presentation started with an historical overview and then in greater detail the unique physical properties of nano material using cadmium selenide quantum dots.  Cadmium selenide is a semiconductor widely used in computer chips and light emitting diode manufacturing.  However, synthesized in size ranging from 2 - 10 nanometers (10-50 atoms) in diameter, they are also referred to as quantum dots.  At these small sizes, materials behave differently giving quantum dots unprecedented turnability  and enabling never before seen applications to science and technology.  Rolande Hodel is also the treasurer of the Westchester Chemical Society.

Our next meeting on May 4, 2005 was our Distinguished Scientist Award.  At this meeting, we invited the Chemistry Chair and a student from the colleges in the area and the high schools in the upper Bronx, Westchester and Rockland Counties.  We believe that students should be exposed to the accomplishments of a chemist. This year our distinguished scientist was Dr. Gary Williams, MD, Professor of Pathology and Director of  EnvironmentalPathology and Toxicology at the New York Medical College in Valhalla.  Dr. Williams' presentation was "Chemical Design for Improved Safety of Medicines."   In the development of medicines, new chemical entities are designed and selected primarily on anticipated therapeutic effects.  Frequently, however, issues arise in the plethora of preclinical safety assessment studies that precede the clinical studies of safety and efficacy.  Examples were presented with chemical structures that convey specific preclinical toxicities and of the application of chemical design.  This meeting and the dinner that followed took place at the Medical College with over 100 attendees.

We were privileged to present the Salute to Excellence Award to Dr. Joseph A. Skrivanek of the Division of Natural Sciences, SUNY-Purchase College, Purchase, NY.   Dr. Skrivanek has for the past 15 years organized the College Chemistry Achievement Awards for each of the Affiliates.  Each student received an ACS certificate and a CD Rom of the "Encyclopedia of Science and Technology."
 
 

Our next meeting occurred on September 27 at Westchester Community College in Valhalla.  The presentation on "Emulsion Chemistry & Chemical Engineering - Application to the Consumer Product Industry" was given by Craig Zoltowski, Manager of Beiersdorf, Inc. of Norwalk, CT.   Emulsion chemistry and Chemical Engineering, both play a critical role in developing and producing consumer products, such as creams and lotions.  Although the field is highly empirical, knowledge of fundamental theoretical principles is important for product development and production trouble-shooting.  This very interesting topic brought so many members to the college that we had to move to a larger room.  Also, one of the attendees volunteered to give a presentation in December.
 
 

November brings National Chemistry Week.   Westchester used the theme "The Joy of Toys" for its meeting.   We brought in David Katz of Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ, who is noted for his presentations on this topic.  The Westchester Chemical Society presented a program for the students in the Westchester-Bronx-Rockland area on Friday, November 18 at SUNY-Purchase, Purchase, NY.   The students filled the Music Hall at the College.  David Katz used students to illustrate his presentation.   On Saturday, November 19, again at SUNY-Purchase, David Katz did another presentation, this time for area teachers.   He explained in detail the chemistry behind each demonstration.  What a pleasure to have such an excellent demonstrator.

Our last program for 2005, was on December 12 at Polytechnic University, Westchester Graduate Center in Hawthorne, NY.   Dr. Mary K. Cowman, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Othmer Department of Chemical and Biological Science and Engineering , presented a most interesting and informative lecture on "Applications of Atomic Force Microscopy to Macromolecular Structure Analysis."   She also had available materials to illustrate her presentation.   Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows 3-dimensional imaging of single molecules and assemblies on surfaces.  Both covalent and conformational aspects of the structures can be investigated.  She described imaging studies of polysaccharides, nanoparticles and liposomes with medical and food applications.  Experimental considerations such a choice of surface, control of surface hydration and exploitation of ionic effects were discussed.

Westchester had  six very exciting meetings

Submitted by Joan Laredo-Liddell
Co-Chair of teh westchester Chemical Society
 
 

Nanotechnology has become a buzzword.  With increasing government funding for nano research and venture capitalists hoping that this tiny technology will be the next big thing.  The question arises: "What is Nanotechnology and what is it not?"  To answer this question, the presentation will first give an historical overview and then explain in more detail the unique physical properties of nano material using cadmium selenide quantum dots as an example.  Cadmium selenide is a semiconductor widely used in computer chip and light emitting diode manufacturing.  However, synthesized in size ranging from 2-10 nanometers (10-50 atoms) in diameter, they are also referred to as quantum dots.  At these small sizes, materials behave differently giving quantum dots unprecedented turnability and enabling never before seen applications to science and technology.

Presentation"Chemical Design for Improved Safety of Medicines".  In the development of medicines, new chemical entities are designed and selected primarily on anticipated therapeutic effects.  Frequently, however, issues arise in the plethora of preclinical safety assessment studies that precede the clinical studies of safety and efficacy.  Examples were presented of chemical structures that convey specific preclinical toxicities and of the application of chemical design to address such safety concerns.

Emulsion chemistry and chemical engineering, both play a critical role in developing and producing consumer products, such as creams and lotions.  Although the field is highly empirical, knowledge of fundamental theoretical principles is important for product development and production trouble-shooting.

This topic brought a number of members of the Tappan Zee Section of American Chemical Engineers.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows 3-dimensional imaging of single molecules and assemblies on surfaces.  Both covalent and conformational aspects of the structures can be investigated.    This lecture described imaging studies of polysaccharides, nanoparticles, and liposomes with medical and food applications.  Experimental considerations such as choice of surface, control of surface hydration, and exploitation of ionic effects were discussed.