The American Chemical Society (ACS) St. Louis Section has named Kirstin Blase, a faculty member at Villa Duchesne, as the recipient of the 2026 High School Chemistry Teacher Award. Since joining the Villa Duchesne faculty in 2016, Blase has become a cornerstone of the school’s STEM program, recognized for her ability to transform rigorous scientific […]
From Elizabeth Bergman, Immediate Past ACS Chair, St. Louis Section: First, let me offer a hearty congratulations to high school participants and winners of the Chemistry Olympiad at UMSL, as well as those college students nominated by their professors as exemplary. Congratulations are also in order for our High School Teacher of the Year and Chemical Technology Award
Three Iranian alumnae of SIU–Edwardsville will return on March 3rd, 11 am to 12:15 pm, as a panel relating Iran’s history and the experiences of Iranian students in the USA. The panelists are Forough Doustkhahvajari, Hadis Ghasemi, and Sanaz Salarvand. The event is sponsored by the Women Chemists Committee of the St Louis Section–ACS in
Your assistance in identifying candidates for the 2026 American Chemical Society (ACS) Midwest Award is solicited. In 1944, the St Louis Section of the ACS established, and since then has sponsored and funded the ACS Midwest Award to recognize “those who have made meritorious contributions to the advancement of pure or applied chemistry or chemical
On Friday, December 5, Dr. Benjamin Garcia was honored with a symposium and banquet celebrating his receipt of the 2025 St. Louis Section American Chemical Society Award. The award is given annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the profession of chemistry and shown strong potential to further advance the field. The
Yes, Tuesday, December 9th, in fact. Our traditional end-of-year celebration, including very brief business meeting, passing of the gavel to the new slate of officers, preview of the Distinguished Service Award (conferred in the spring), and the Henry Godt Memorial Lecture (a light-hearted look back at the year past). If you’re not a regular ACS
The St. Louis Section of the American Chemical Society is seeking nominations for the 2026 High School Chemistry Teaching Award. This award is given to recognize and encourage outstanding teachers of high school chemistry within the St. Louis Section. The award winner will receive a $900 check and a plaque, presented at an awards dinner
From Jim Bashkin: On September 7, our section held its annual picnic at Shaw Park in Clayton. Twenty people attended, including 15 section members. After a long, hot summer, the weather was perfect. It was wonderful to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. We’re already looking forward to next year.
Dr. Mikhail Berezin, Chair of this year’s award jury, announced Dr. Benjamin Garcia as the winner of the 2025 St. Louis Section ACS Award.
Michael Harmata was born in 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, and spent his first 20 years in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. He graduated as valedictorian from St. Michael the Archangel elementary school in 1973 and from Thomas Kelly High School in 1977. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois–Chicago in 1980
