Chemical Bond, October 2026

Vol. 77, No. 7, October 2026

• Save the Date: St. Louis Award and Gateway Award Celebrations are January 22 29 September 2026

  Save the Date!  On Friday, January 22, 2027, we will honor the winners the St. Louis and Gateway Awards.

  The symposium will be from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at Washington University featuring talks by our award winners and invited guests from academia and industry.

  The banquet will be from 6:00 – 10:00 PM

  

  Dr. Feng Jiao of Washington University has won the 2026 St. Louis Section ACS Award for outstanding contributions to chemistry. Internationally recognized for electrochemical research, he advances carbon utilization, sustainable chemical production, energy storage, and food security.

  

  Dr. Bobby Trawick, Executive Director of Global Technical Operations & Development at Keenova Therapeutics, has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the Gateway Award.  He will be honored for his career as a senior pharmaceutical R&D leader in research, process development, and manufacturing operations.

• Hey, look, we won! … 30 September 2026

  … says Lisa Balbes, the St Louis Section’s perennial liaison to all things Scouting.

  In particular, Lisa is “thrilled to announce that the Chemistry Merit Badge event won the PPP [Partners for Progress and Prosperity] award, which will be presented at the Midwest Regional Meeting next month. I think it’s a big deal. :-)”

  Here is what the citation had to say:

  It is with great pleasure that we inform you that the collaboration between Jost Chemical, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, and the St Louis local ACS section has been chosen to receive the 2026 ACS Midwest Regional Partners for Progress and Prosperity (P3) Award.

  Acknowledged for their participation: Joe Hardimon (Jost Chemical, hosting venue), Eden Tesfu (St Louis Local Section Chair), and Debanjana Ghosh (Southern Illinois, Edwardsville, organization and staffing). And further,

  The committee especially commends the many outreach activities that this collaboration has enabled throughout the area, and hopes that your partnership will continue to thrive in the coming years. Dr Balbes, thank you for finding the time to nominate such a deserving group of like-minded chemists.

  We think it’s a big deal, too, which is why we’re giving you this you-saw-it-here-first preview of the award.

  

  

• Calling All Outstanding High School Chemistry Teachers! 30 September 2026

  The St. Louis Section of the American Chemical Society is seeking nominations for the 2027 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 and program in Spring.

  Please consider nominating a teacher in the Greater St. Louis Area who exemplifies excellence in the teaching of high school chemistry.

  The nomination must include the following items:

  1) The Nominee Information Form should be completed.

  2) A curriculum vitae or résumé that includes a list of the nominee’s
  honors, professional activities, and additional evidence of service to the
  profession must be sent to acsawardstl@gmail.com

  At least one recommendation must be from the nominee’s current principal or supervisor. Additional recommendations may be completed by colleagues,
  members of the American Chemical Society who are familiar with the nominee’s achievements, former students, or parents of former students.

  All materials must be submitted by January 30, 2027.

  Please address any questions to Rob Lamb at acsawardstl@gmail.com