5:30 p.m. - mingle

6:00 p.m. - Dinner

7:00 pm - Lecture

Dr. Stephen Cartier, Warren Wilson College. Full of Hot Air? A New (Microscopic) Approach to Old (Macroscopic) Ideas


Executive Committee meeting immediately after the presentation.


Reservations: Please contact Brenda Henderson by email (bhenders@unca.edu) or by phone (828 251 6443) with your dinner reservations. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, November 11. We welcome attendance for the presentation if you are unable to join us for dinner!

Too often, thermodynamics is perceived as an incoherent jumble of mathematical relationships with little molecular significance. Yet, although it is a course required of all chemistry majors, it continues to be presented in such a limiting manner in most undergraduate texts. In fact, all observable, macroscopic phenomena have a basis in atomic/molecular behavior. Whether it is climatic effects resulting from atmospheric cooling, the variable performance of internal combustion engines, cell membrane potentials or protein folding, all of these phenomena can be understood from a microscopic perspective. Integrating concepts across the disciplines of physical chemistry is the challenge which must be met in order to develop an understanding of the microscopic basis for such behaviors. To meet this challenge, a model has been developed in which statistical mechanics is applied to quantum mechanics in order to predict and interpret thermodynamic processes typically presented from the macroscopic, classical perspective. In particular, students are encouraged to integrate a variety of concepts and apply critical reasoning skills in analyzing classical gas heating and expansion processes from a microscopic perspective. By extension, the microscopic basis for a wide variety of phenomena can then be understood and appreciated. Whether used as a tool in lecture or as a hands-on computational exercise, this model is a powerful quantitative and visual tool that enables students to more readily grasp the microscopic basis for macroscopic events.

Dr. Stephen Cartier joined the Warren Wilson College faculty in the fall of 2008. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Boston College and his Ph.D. from Penn State. Despite swearing off chemistry upon graduation from college, he has now taught chemistry for 15 years at the college level and is still having fun. His career as an educator began as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa teaching high school physics and chemistry. Before arriving at Warren Wilson, he taught chemistry at liberal arts colleges in NY, CO and PA, and also physics and chemistry at Asheville High. His primary teaching responsibilities now include general chemistry, quantum, thermodynamics and inorganic chemistry and he is passionate about helping students visualize and understand chemical processes and principles on a molecular level. Dr. Cartier applies the same philosophy to his research and has recently worked with undergraduates on projects that have included such diverse topics as cluster synthesis and characterization, tropospheric sea-salt chemistry, ion-ion reaction kinetics, spectrochemical investigations of novel fullerene systems, dendroecology, quantum dot sensitization of photovoltaics and invasive species patterns along topographic gradients in the Rocky Mountains. .

Megan Fresia: Megan Fresia is originally from Clearwater, FL. In 2008, she graduated from Furman University with a BS in Chemistry and a BA in History. After graduating, she decided to stay at Furman and get her Masters degree under the research direction of Dr. Karen Buchmueller. When she finished her Masters, she went to work for Milliken& Company as a Technical Associate at their research headquarters in Spartanburg. This is her second year as a member of the WCACS section, and she was a member of the student ACS for three years at Furman. As a student ACS member, she served as Social Chair (2007-2008) and Computer Information Officer (2007-2008). If elected, Megan hopes to encourage more student involvement in our chapter meetings. She believes the students can benefit immensely from seeing: a) the many directions in which chemistry can take them and b) just how helpful networking with people at the local meetings can be in finding those directions.

Nina Veas: Nina Veas is an engineer at Michelin Americas Research Company. She has been a member of ACS since 1989 and has participated in the Western Carolina Section since 1992, though this is the first time she has looked to taking on a major leadership role. Nina is convinced that every member of the Section should be an active participant and serve at the best of her/his capacity, and she felt it necessary to participate in the Section governance after seeing the results of the 2009 membership survey. Among the findings was the fact that participation in section activities by members of the sector is significantly less than that of the academic community, despite the fact that there are large numbers of industrially-affiliated members. Many companies and industries in the area participate in different programs with local schools and in the past they have sponsored some of the Section?s activities, indicating that there is interest by these members in playing a more active role in the Section given the appropriate opportunities. As Chair of the Section, Nina intends to develop activities focused in increasing the participation of industrial scientists and engineers in the Section from all areas. A strong synergy between industry and academia is essential to provide the Section members, especially students at the high school and college level, with opportunities for their formation that will enrich their options when they must decide on the next step in their education or career path.

Lucy Pryde Eubanks: Lucy Pryde Eubanks was elected Chair of the Western Carolinas Local Section of ACS (WCACS) in 2001 and elected Alternate Councilor from 2002-2007. She was appointed Councilor in 2008, and elected Councilor for 2009 – 2011. She serves on the Local Section Activities Committee (LSAC), an ACS Society Committee that works with all local sections to enhance their success. She represents LSAC on the ACS Leadership Advisory Board (LAB), recently being reappointed to that position for 2011-2014. Serving a second full term as Councilor for 2012-2014 will assure continuity in all these activities, contributing to the continued success of our Section.

Eubanks is retired from her position as Lecturer in Chemistry at Clemson University. She was Associate Director of the ACS DivCHED Examinations Institute from 1991-2002. She was senior author and editor-in-chief for both the fifth (2006) and sixth (2009) editions of the ACS text for non-science majors, Chemistry in Context. She has also contributed to other ACS Curriculum Projects, including Chemistry in the Community and Chemistry: A Project of the American Chemical Society.

Eubanks did her undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Her master's degree is from Seattle University. Prior to coming to Clemson in 1992, she taught for many years at Southwestern College (CA). While at Southwestern, she received a national Catalyst Award for teaching excellence. When not involved in professional activities, Eubanks may be found enjoying flying, sailing, cooking, playing the violin or piano, or indulging her love of travel.

Tim Hanks: Tim Hanks is a Professor of Chemistry at Furman University. He has been a member of the ACS (and the POLY and PMSE technical divisions) for 30 years and a member of the Western Carolinas Section for more than 20. Tim has served the Section in several capacities. For many years he has been the Chair of the Awards Committee, organizing the fall recognition of 50/60-year members and the spring celebration of outstanding chemistry majors. He also developed the electronic mailing list that is used by the Section to communicate with its members and continues to maintain it. In 1996, he was the Program Chair for the Southeast Regional Meeting of the ACS (SERMACS) when it was held in Greenville and he was the General Chair in 2007 when the meeting returned. Tim has long served as the Section?s representative on the SERMACS Board of Directors and has held a number of positions within that organization, including Chair. He served on the REACT Committee, which developed materials and strategies for overhauling the governance structure and policies of the ACS Regions. In 2010, his contributions to the Society were recognized by the Southeast Region with the Ann Nalley Award for Volunteer Service. Tim is now looking to represent the Section?s interests at the national level of the ACS by running for the position of Alternate Councilor.

• The meeting will feature an outstanding technical program featuring symposia from many divisions of the ACS and programming that shows connections with Chemistry. Information on symposia can be found on the program tab at http://sermacs2011.org/
  
  In addition to the outstanding and diverse technical program, our meeting will include an exposition, and graduate fair. We have also planned various workshops, career programming, educational programming and social events.
  
  We will have an opening reception with a Sci-Mix poster session on Wednesday night and an Awards Banquet on Thursday at the Science Museum of Virginia. All information on these and other events can be found on the event tab at our website.
  
  Rich in History, Rich in Science, Rich in Chemistry, Richmond, Virginia
  

Dr. David Butcher - Chair 2011, david.butcher@analytchem.org.
Blaine Childress - Chair-Elect 2012
Sid Parrish - Past Chair 2010
Alice Claggett - Secretary 2011 - 2013
Julia Brumaghim – Treasurer 2009 - 2011
Lucy Pryde Eubanks - Councilor 2009 - 2011.
Dr. George Heard – Councilor 2011 - 2013
Dr. John Kaup - Alternate Councilor 2011 - 2013.
Dr. Laura Wright - Alternate Councilor 2011, Awards Chair.

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