ACESS-Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies

ORG - Fall Technical Meeting
2024-09-24 17:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Garden Inn Twinsburg, 8971 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg, OH, 44078, United States
Ohio Rubber Group Fall Technical Meeting
Agenda:
4:00 – Dinner Ticket / Membership Sales
4:30 – Technical Presentations
6:00 – Social Hour
7:00 – Dinner
Buy tickets at link below. Advanced Reservations: $35 each ***Without prior reservation: $40 each (limited number available)
For more information contact Denise Kotz at denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting OR by mail to Ohio Rubber Group, PO Box 553, Hudson, OH 44236.

ACS - Joint Meeting of Akron and Cleveland Sections
2024-09-18 17:30 - 20:30 | Baker Electric Buildong, 7100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44103, United States
Eric Rivet
Western Reserve Historical Society Curator of Collections and Exhibits

“Baker Electric Motor Car”
Location
Baker Electric Building, 7100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland OH 441034410344103
Schedule
5:30 pm Networking
6:30 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Speaker Presentation
Registration: RSVP to https://www.acscleveland.org/event/2024-akron-cleveland-acs-joint-meeting/ by Sept 3.
Menu: Chicken marsala and Stuffed Shells, Red-skinned potatoes, Green beans with French-fried onions, Salad and rolls, Desert of associated pastries, Iced tea, coffee, water, and soda.
The Baker Electric Motor Car: In 1909, the Baker Electric was the best selling electric vehicle in the world. The car was lighter than other electric cars and used twelve lead acid batteries designed by Thomas Edison who famously drove a Baker. In New York City, there were 15,000 on the streets and charging stations scattered throughout the area. Cleveland architect Frank B Meade designed the Baker Electric Building for Walter C Baker as his car showroom in 1910. Rohrheimer-Brooks, Cleveland’s top interior design studio, designed and decorated the showrooms and associated spaces. Faced with competition from gasoline-powered automobiles production ceased in 1919. The building was listed on the National Register for Historic Places in 2007 and was redeveloped into a LEED Silver certified tech incubator providing 52,000 square feet of office and wet/dry laboratory space for emerging local companies. In 2010, the City of Cleveland installed the city’s first public electric vehicle recharging station in front of Baker Electric.
Biography: Eric Rivet has been a Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the WRHS since 2015. His responsibilities include planning and installing exhibitions that highlight the rich and diverse history of the region. Previously, he was a Curator at The National WWIl Museum in New Orleans and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Louisiana State University.

ORG - Late Sumer Golf Outing
2024-08-26 08:00 - 19:30 | Silver Lake Country Club, 1325 Graham Rd, Stow, OH, 44224, United States
Ohio Rubber Group – Late Summer Golf Outing
Event Information
Call for Sponsors
Registration Form
There will be two shotgun starts: AM group – 8:00 AM (Play Your Own Ball) and PM group – 1:30 PM (Scramble)
Any morning player will have the opportunity to play an additional round in the afternoon for an additional $75.
Entry Fee of $165 includes golf, lunch and dinner.
Entry form must be received with payment by August 19, 2024.
Schedule of Activities:
7:00 AM Bag Drop – Morning Shotgun Registration Opens
7:15 AM Driving Range Opens
8:00 AM MORNING SHOTGUN
9:30 AM Bag Drop – Afternoon Shotgun
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM AFTERNOON SHOTGUN
6:00 PM Cocktails! (Cash Bar)
7:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Prize Awards

MSA - X94: STEM Roundtable: Building Skills for the Future
2024-07-30 08:30 - 10:00 | Huntington Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44114, United States
X94: STEM Roundtable: Building Skills for the Future
Tuesday, July 30 | 8:30 am – 10:00 am | Room 26B
The Microscopy and Microanalysis (M&M) annual conference this year will take in Cleveland at the Huntington Convention Center (https://mm2024.eventscribe.net/index.asp). The M&M conference is sponsored by the Microscopy Society of America, of which the Microscopy Society of Northeast Ohio (MSNO) is our local chapter. The MSA Education Outreach Committee organizing the X90-X94 Symposium focused on enhancing STEM education. Link: https://mmconference.microscopy.org/microscopy-outreach

Organizers:
Lori Harvey, Hitachi High Technologies America
Summer Hamilton, Hitachi High Technologies America
Troy Hall, Hitachi High Technologies America
We will explore how to integrate varied resources to have broader, sustainable impacts in STEM education, including bridging K-12 outreach with undergraduate and graduate education, and emphasizing the importance of diversity and inclusion which will lead to a stronger workforce for everyone. In response to education changes in 2020 & 2021, The HTA Inspire STEM Education Outreach Program has put forth a plan to provide an opportunity to make quality in-person and virtual experiences easily accessible to teachers as they create the classrooms of tomorrow now. The program is continuing its work with local, national, and international partners to provide flexible access to easy-to-use content and technology that can be used in the following learning scenarios.
For Free Registration or for more information on this X94: STEM Roundtable, contact silverstein.joshua.nano@gmail.com.

Challenge Island STEAM Events
2024-06-24 | OH
The following STEAM camps are offered on June 24, 2024 and others are offered though the spring and summer.

STEAM-Warts Camp of Wizards, Spells at Shaw JCC, Akron, OH
CI Road Trip USA© at Western Reserve Academy, Husdon, OH
Slimetopia® 3: Slime Chefs on Deck™ at Western Reserve Academy, Husdon, OH

Select and register for Challenge Island camps at https://login.challenge-island.com/events.php?pid=5&location=115

ORG - Early Summer Golf Outing
2024-06-19 | Brookledge Golf Club, 1621 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44221, United States
Ohio Rubber Group
Shotgun Start – 8:00 am
4 Golfer Scramble
Cost: $140 per person including golf with cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, door prize, raffle ticket, skill awards and prizes.
Mulligan cards are available for an additional $5 each.
Registration Form deadline: May 29, 2024.
Buy tickets at the link below or at https://www.ohiorubbergroup.org/event/early-summer-golf-outing-2024/
For questions contact Denise Kotz: denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting ; 330-697-6871.

ADSPE - Chapter Officer Installation Dinner
2024-05-28 17:30 - 19:30 | OH
Joint ADSPE/CRSPE/MVSPE Chapter Officer Installation Dinner at La Pizzeria
Speaker:Dennis Irwin, current President, Ohio Society of Professional Engieers (OSPE).

MSNO - 66th Annual May Conference
2024-05-22 | John Carroll University, Dolan Science Center, 1 John Carroll Blvd, University Heights, OH, 44118
Call for Papers!
Topics include Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Analytical Chemistry in the Biological and Physical Scienses. Submit your abstract before April 19, 2024.
For details go to https://www.msneo.org/2024-may-conference-by-sasmsnoacsacess.html

Double click on the above poster to enlarge the image.

SPE - Awards Night
2024-05-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Raintree Golf and Event Center, 4350 Mayfair Rd, Uniontown, OH, 44685, United States
Monday, May 20, 2024

Gathering: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Program 7:00 PM

Raintree Golf and Event Center (map)

Please join us for the last Akron SPE meeting of the season as we present various awards and scholarships. Use the link below for registration and payment. Reserve by May 17. Dinner tickets $35; honorees, scholarship winners (plus one additional guest) are free.
Speaker for the Evening – Brian Anderson, Vice President, Polymer Industry Cluster at the Greater Akron Chamber
A Transformational Economy through Polymer Industry Innovation
Abstract: This talk delves into the inception and impact of the Polymer Industry Cluster initiative, aimed at harnessing the robust assets and capabilities within the northeast Ohio’s polymer industry to propel innovation and steer the economy towards unprecedented growth. Through a collaborative effort spanning industry, higher education, government, and non-profit sectors, a series of development projects have been designed to ignite substantial and enduring economic expansion. The discussion explores how strategic partnerships, thoughtful planning, and collaboration have led to the designation of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area as the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub of the United States. The Polymer Industry Cluster is working to leverage funding opportunities such as the Ohio Innovation Hub and EDA Tech Hubs programs, potentially injecting over $100 million into the economy to fuel transformative growth. Attendees will gain insights into the blueprint for catalyzing innovation, driving growth, and positioning the region at the forefront of the polymer industry’s evolution.

ACESS Board Meeting
2024-05-15 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-02-21 17:30 - 19:00 | ACS Rubber Division office, 306 N. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Akron, OH, 44333, United States
ACS Rubber Division office 306 N. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Akron, OH
This will be a hybrid, in-person and virtual, meeting with a Zoom link to be sent to Board members. All members of ACESS member societies are welcome to attend.

Goodyear STEM Career Day - Middle School
2024-04-27 08:00 - 14:30 | Firestone CLC, 470 Castle Blvd, Akron, OH, 44313, United States
Middle School
STEM Career Day 2024
Grades 6-8
REGISTER NOW
Registration Closes 3/31/2024

ACESS Presidents and Advisors Meeting
2024-04-17 17:00 - 20:00 | Holiday Inn Express Fairlawn, 3150 West Market Street, Fairlawn, OH, 44333, United States
This is a meeting of the presidents of ACESS member societies and of the ACESS Advisors. All ACESS officers and delegates are also invited.
Keynote: Brian Anderson
Vice-President Polymer Industry Cluster, Greater Akron Chamber
‘ ACESS Advisor

April 17 at the Holiday Inn Express, 3150 West Market St , Fairlawn OH 44333
5:00 PM Cash bar and Networking in the Aspen-West Room
6:00 PM Dinner
6:45 PM Program
Cost: $32 including buffet, drinks and cash bar. Buy tickets online at the link below.

“A Transformational Economy through Polymer Industry Innovation”
This talk delves into the inception and impact of the Polymer Industry Cluster initiative, aimed at harnessing the robust assets and capabilities within the northeast Ohio’s polymer industry to propel innovation and steer the economy towards unprecedented growth. Through a collaborative effort spanning industry, higher education, government, and non-profit sectors, a series of development projects have been designed to ignite substantial and enduring economic expansion. The discussion explores how strategic partnerships, thoughtful planning, and collaboration have led to the designation of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area as the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub of the United States. The Polymer Industry Cluster is working to leverage funding opportunities such as the Ohio Innovation Hub and EDA Tech Hubs programs, potentially injecting over $100 million into the economy to fuel transformative growth. Attendees will gain insights into the blueprint for catalyzing innovation, driving growth, and positioning the region at the forefront of the polymer industry’s evolution.
Bio: Brian Anderson is the Vice President of the Polymer Industry Cluster for the Greater Akron Chamber. Brian leads the Polymer Industry Cluster Initiative of Northeast Ohio, as well as the data and regional economic analysis functions of the organization. Prior to the Chamber, Brian worked at a wearable technology start-up and a regional bank. He decided to make a move because he wanted to contribute to an organization that he felt could improve the region and the lives of its residents. Brian received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Emmanuel College in Boston where he was also a three-sport collegiate athlete. From there, he attended The University of Akron for his MBA, and University of Texas – San Antonio for his master’s degree in finance. Brian and his wife Casey like to travel, cook, and are dedicated fans and season ticket holders of the University of Akron men’s soccer team.
Polymer Cluster and Tech Hub up-dates

ACS - 2024 Crano Memorial Lecture
2024-04-16 17:30 - 20:00 | Missing Falls Brewery, 540 S. Main St. Suite 112, Akron, OH, 44311, United States
DR. EMILY DERBYSHIRE
Professor of Chemistry at Duke University
“Unraveling the Mysteries of Parasites”

The Crano Lecture: April 16 at 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Missing Falls Brewery
Morning technical lecture: 9:00 AM, University of Akron, Auburn Science and Engineering Center 122
The Crano Memorial Lecture Series honors Dr. John Crano, a chemist at PPG who had been instrumental in developing the photochromic materials for PPG’s polycarbonate eyeglass lenses. This technology has become the basis for Transitions® eyeglasses. Dr. Crano was a previous Chair of the Akron Section and an active ACS member for many years.
Bio. Emily Derbyshire is an Associate Professor of chemistry at Duke University. She is also an Associate Professor of cell biology, and Assistant Professor in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. She earned her doctoral degree (2008) in chemistry from the UC Berkley. The Derbyshire Lab uses both chemical tools and biological methods to uncover novel aspects of malaria parasite biology with the ultimate aim of identifying druggable targets. Projects range from developing assays for phenotypic and target-based screens to exploring biological pathways and identifying small molecules with potential therapeutic value. Their interdisciplinary collaborative program integrates chemical biology, molecular biology and biochemistry to globally interrogate parasite biology.
The morning technical lecture will be held at the University of Akron, Auburn Science and Engineering Center 122, 9:00 AM on April 16, 2024 “Chemical biology approaches to reveal parasite vulnerabilities”
Abstract: Parasites have evolved to manipulate their host cells to survive, but many mysteries remain about this intricate process. Within a single liver cell, the Plasmodium parasite undergoes a transformation and then expands into a cohort of thousands that assaults our red blood cells and causes disease. To uncover molecular events that drive this elusive developmental stage of the parasite, the Derbyshire lab employs chemical biology, biochemistry and genomics. Through an integrative approach, we develop and utilize small molecule probes, gene sequencing technologies and forward genetic screens in liver cells to discover parasite and host processes critical to Plasmodium parasite infection. Our findings highlight the dependence of Plasmodium on host factors and reveal parasite vulnerabilities that may be exploited for future disease control efforts.
The Crano Lecture (evening) is entitled “Unraveling the Mysteries of Parasites”.
Missing Falls Brewery
‘ 540 S. Main St. Suite 112
‘ Akron, OH 44311
Schedule
5:30 pm Social-Networking
‘ 6:15 pm Dinner
‘ 6:45 pm Speaker Presentation
Dinner Sandwiches, Pasta, and Salad Buffet with a Cash Bar
Registration: Buy tickets online at the link below.
Please include comment in registration or e-mail chair@akronacs.org to alert us of any dietary restrictions.
Cost for Dinner (Speaker Presentation is Free to the Public)
– $15 for Employed Members and the General Public (increases to $20 if register after 4/8)
‘ – $5 for Students, Retirees, and Unemployed (increases to $10 if register after 4/8)
‘ – Free for Junior Award Member (+1 Guest) and Members being recognized for 50, 60, and 70 years of ACS membership

ORG - Spring Technical Meeting 2024
2024-04-16 16:00 - 21:00 | Goodyear Ppolymer Center – The University of Akron, Akron, 44325, United States
Ohio Rubber Group Spring Technical Meeting 2024
April 16, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Changed Venue: Goodyear Polymer Center, The University of Akron
Agenda:
5:00 – Dinner Ticket / Membership Sales – 3rd Floor Atrium
5:30 – Technical Presentations – Goodyear Auditorium
7:00 – Social Hour, Hors D’oeuvres, and Student Poster Session – 3rd Floor Atrium
Advanced Reservations: $35 each (Without prior reservation: $40 each – limited number available).
Students are free, but must register at the link below.
Buy tickets or register at the link below )preferred), OR email reservations to Denise Kotz at denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting OR mail to Ohio Rubber Group, PO Box 553, Hudson, OH 44236.
Technical Presentations
“A Supramolecular Voyage on Elastomers”
Li Jia, Professor of Polymer Science and Chemistry, The University of Akron
B-Alanine oligomers with a precise length possess an extraordinary propensity to form B-sheets, and the B-sheets stack to form three-dimensional crystals. In this presentation, B-alanine as a highly effective reinforcing element of thermoplastic elastomers will be first discussed. The reinforcement is attributable to the hierarchically assembled supramolecular structure composed of the B-sheet crystal and a brush layer of hydrocarbon polymer covalently connected be the surface of the B-sheet crystal. The morphology of the B-sheet-based supramolecular assembly can be tailored to range from fibrous with the longest dimension on the order of hundreds of nanometers to particulate with all three dimensions within twenty nanometers. The fibrous and particulate assemblies reinforce the elastomer in similar manners and only differ in small details. Application of the supramolecular reinforcement strategy to thermoset rubbers has also been explored and will be discussed. Next, an application of B-alanine additives for recycling of ground rubber particles will be presented. The B-alanine additive engenders surface devulcanization of ground rubber particles (GRPs) and a spatially resolved acceleration of vulcanization of GRP-virgin rubber blends. The combination of such surface activity and reactivity improves the adhesion and eliminates the modulus contrast between GRPs and virgin rubber while keeping the necessary scorch time of vulcanization. The toughness of the resultant GRP-virgin rubber blend is significantly improved by a very small amount of the reactive B-alanine additive.
“Very High Structure Carbon Blacks to Address Challenges in Tire Compound Performance”
Lewis B. Tunnicliffe, Rubber Carbon Black R&D Director, Birla Carbon
One of the fundamental properties of carbon black is its degree of structure. Structure of carbon black plays an important role in controlling many rubber compound properties by screening or occluding significant amounts of rubber matrix. These structure-property relationships will be briefly reviewed along with their implications for rubber compound design. Birla Carbon’s range of very high structure (VHS) carbon blacks will be discussed, and their in-rubber performance in model truck tread formulations will be reviewed with a focus on improved abrasion resistance and hysteresis versus conventional carbon blacks. Benefits in terms of hysteresis and total tire rolling resistance are explored further using finite element analyses of truck tires at steady rolling conditions.
PANEL DISCUSSION “Career Pathways”
Masoud Rasavi, Senior Materials Scientist, Bridgestone Americas
Jacob Spoolstra, Manufacturing Process Engineer, The Kong Company
MD Bhuiyan, Sr. Principal Engineer – Research, Collins Aerospace
Lewis B. Tunnicliffe, Rubber Carbon Black R&D Director, Birla Carbon
The panel will be focused on Career Pathways. They will discuss how they ended up in their current roles and the paths they took to get there. There will be tips for the students trying to enter the industry as well as for industry professionals looking to advance or change roles. The panelists may also touch on some hurdles they’ve faced and how they overcame them.

ACS Student Affiliates - KSU Honors Week Poster Session
2024-04-15 17:30 - 20:00 | Kent State University – Integrated Science Esplanade Commons, 1175 University Esplanade, Kent, Ohio, OH, 44242, United States
Kent State University Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society present:
Honors Week Poster Session
April 15, 2024
Integrated Science Building Lobby, Kent State University
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Both undergraduate and graduate students in STEM discipline from Kent State and area institutions will be presenting their research. Awards will be given for best undergraduate and best graduate student posters, and there will be refreshments and a raffle. This event is open to all who would like to attend, and for any students who wish to register, registration will be open until 5pm Wednesday, April 3 at https://kentsaacs.com/2024-poster-session.

AIA - Archaeology Lecture at UA
2024-04-03 17:15 - 18:30 | Leigh Hall 214, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, United States
On Wednesday, April 3rd at 5:15 pm, Prof. Tara Prakash will deliver a talk “The Representation of Ramses II’s Enemies on the Battle of Kadesh Reliefs.” The speaker will be joining us remotely to deliver the talk, but we will gather in person in Leigh Hall 214 so that we can use that classroom’s technology to have a robust Q&A with Dr. Prakash. Leigh Hall stands opposite Bierce Library in the heart of campus; the closest parking areas are the North Campus Parking Deck and Lot 14:https://maps.uakron.edu/ . If you have not visited UA recently, you’ll see that the parking garages are now under private corporate management. Please be certain to follow any posted signage regarding parking restrictions or costs. Street parking is also available nearby.
Whether you are a member of the AIA or not and would like to listen in over Zoom, please email Elisha Ann Dumser at (edumser@uakron.edu) so that she can send you the Zoom link.

ACESS Joint Societies Meeting - cosponsored by ACS and SPE
2024-03-13 17:15 - 20:30 | Brighten Brewing, 1374 S Cleve-Mass Rd, Copley, 44321, United States
NOTE CHANGED VENUE.
Dr. Emmanuel Pitia
Lead, Staff Research Scientist at Parker Hannifin: Adhesives & Coatings
Solving EV Application Challenges: Innovations in Coatings and Adhesive Materials
Abstract
As electric vehicles (EVs) advance in technology, the spotlight is on battery pack technologies. EV manufacturers are fervently optimizing designs for lighter, more compact solutions, aiming to boost energy density and reduce costs. Within the intricate assembly of battery pack systems, two critical requisites emerge: electrical insulation and thermal management. The former involves the strategic application of dielectric materials to ensure safety, while the latter relies on integrating high thermally conductive materials—potting material, adhesives, gap fillers, or gels—to enhance performance and safety. Parker Lord takes a pivotal role, developing cutting-edge thermal management materials and dielectric coatings. This presentation unveils key challenges in the EV industry, spotlighting innovative solutions within dielectric coatings and thermal management adhesives.
Dr. Emmanuel Pitia Bio: Emmanuel Pitia, PhD, is a lead staff scientist at Parker Lord with expertise in product development and application of UV coatings, fire retardant coatings, and rubber to substrate adhesives for the automotive and industrial market. Emmanuel currently is working on the development and commercialization of UV coatings for the automotive market. Emmanuel completed his PhD in polymer engineering from University of Akron in 2012.
NEW VENUE: Brighten Brewing
1374 S Cleve-Mass Rd
Copley, Ohio 44321
NEW SCHEDULE:
5:30 pm. Social- Networking time
6:15 pm. Dinner
6:45 pm. Speaker Presentation
Pizza Buffet, Cash Bar
Cost: $20 Employed Members, Guests and General Public
$10 Students, Retirees, or Unemployed

ACESS - Celebration of STEM
2024-03-12 03:00 - 19:00 | OH

SPE Cleveland
2024-03-11 17:30 - 20:00 | Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub, 8870 Darrow Rd, Twinsburg, OH, 44087, United States
SPEAKER: DOMENIC DECARIA
“VINYL PERSPECTIVES ON THE ANTI-PLASTICS MOVEMENT”
Joining the Vinyl Institute in 2019, Domenic is currently serving as Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs. A chemical engineer by education, Domenic is currently helping the Vinyl Institute to navigate the EPA TSCA process, as well as the United Nations negotiations to establish an international treaty to end plastic waste. He also serves on various committees developing board member of a Cleveland-based water stewardship organization, Drink Local – Drink Tap.”
Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub Dinner Choices (choose one):
8870 Darrow Road
Twinsburg, OH 44087
Stuffed Cabbage, Corned Beef Boxty, Fish and Chips, or Shepherd’s Pie
Dinner includes entrée, salad and bread, non- alcoholic beverages and dessert.
Dinner: 5:30PM
Program: 6:30PM
$35 per person; cash Bar
Please email Dennis Meade at: speclecomm@gmail.com with your meal selection by March 4th.
To Register and Pay in advance, click below.
Register Early since seating is limited! You can pay in advance below or pay at arrival.
For Ticket Purchase Click Here

CJEC - Engineers Week
2024-02-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Tozzi’s on 12th, 4210 12th Street NW, Canton, OH, 44708, United States
Canton Joint Engineering Council 2024
National Engineer’s Week Banquet
Wednesday February 21, 2024
Tozzi’s on 12th 4210 12th Street NW Canton, OH 44708
NASA’s Artemis Missions
Jeffrey Woytach, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Cost: $40 per person ($50 after February 5, 2024) Last day for reservations; Friday, February 16, 2024 Reservation will not be confirmed until payment is received, unless other arrangements have been made Menu: Choice of Chicken, Fish, Steak or Vegetarian Meal includes: bread, dinner salad, penne, peppers & onions, dessert and beverage Online Registration/Payment: http://www.cjecnet.com/eweek/banquet.htm
For Questions Contact: Mr. Scott Dilling, P.E.
Phone: 330-354-9241,
Email: tickets@cjecnet.com
1 CPD Hour Available1
Times: Cash Bar: 6:00 PM Dinner: 7:00 PM Program: 8:00 PMTimes

SPE - Cleveland Section Virtual Meeting
2024-02-13 17:00 - 18:30 | OH
Grey is the New Green: Nuances at the Nexus of Plastics and Sustainability
Conor Carlin, Managing Director of ILLIG North America LP
Plastics and sustainability: is this a contradiction in terms? Plastics are either the devil incarnate, the source of humanity’s woes, an environmental scourge… or they are miracle materials, life-saving materials, inert, GHG-saving materials. We will explore this debate and attempt to find some common ground across competing narratives, impersonal algorithms, impending legislation and material science.
Conor Carlin – Bio: Conor Carlin is the Managing Director of ILLIG North America LP, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ILLIG Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG., a Germany-based designer and manufacturer of thermoforming, tooling, and packaging systems. Carlin has 20 years of international experience in packaging machinery, tooling, and advanced materials. Carlin also serves as President of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and is a contributing member of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP). In 2020 he was elected as the first VP of Sustainability for SPE and edits publications for their Thermoforming and Recycling Divisions. Carlin has delivered papers and contributed articles on plastics and sustainability for international industry press in the US, Europe, and Asia. He is the co-author of “Plastics & Sustainability: Grey is the New Green” published by Scrivener/Wiley. Carlin holds a BA from Boston University (Boston, MA) and an MBA from the FW Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College (Wellesley, MA). He lives in the Greater Boston area with his wife and three children.
For Online Ticket Purchase use the link below.

AIChE (Cleveland) - Chemical Process Safety Analysis
2024-01-29 18:00 - 20:00 | The Independence Public Library, 6361 Selig Drive,, Independence, OH, 44131, United States
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Cleveland Section
Monday, January 29, 2024, 6:00 PM
“Chemical Process Safety Analysis”
Gurmukh Bhatia, CPSA, Certified Process Safety Auditor, Risk & Process Safety Consulting
(RPSC, LLC), CLE AIChE Risk & Process Safety Director. Email address: gbhatia.rpsc@gmail.com
Abstract: Chemical Process Safety as a field and as a discipline has gained wide acceptance as a vital and significant part of an overall Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management System for chemical operations. After a brief look at some recent process safety incidents, we will examine the history and the origins of chemical process safety and its components as valuable and necessary tools in preventing process safety incidents. We will also lay the groundwork for a more detailed study of the individual components in the coming weeks.
Biography: Mr. Gurmukh Bhatia is President of RPSC, LLC a Risk & Process Safety Consulting services company. He retired as the Corporate Process Safety Director from The Sherwin-Williams Company, with over 45 years of work experience in the chemical industry. Mr. Bhatia is certified by the Board of EHS Auditor Certification (BEAC) as a Certified Process Safety Auditor (CPSA) with 15 years of auditing experience at PSM regulated facilities. He graduated from the Case Western Reserve University School of Engineering with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.

Akron Public Schools: STEM Expo
2024-01-27 07:30 - 13:30 | Ellet Community Learning Center, 309 Woolf Ave., Akron, OH, 44312, United States
Akron Public Schools (APS) hosts a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) EXPO. This year is the 68th ANNUAL STEM EXPO! Anyone with a background in a STEM field, and a desire to inspire and encourage the next generation of STEM scholars are encouraged to participate as a judge!

Judges are required to be at Ellet CLC on January 27th around 7:30 a.m. and will be leaving after lunch around 1:30 p.m
Judges Sign-up form 2024

Is judging not your thing? We have interactive booths for the participants and attendees to explore during the EXPO. If you are a University, industry, K-12 organization, or a vendor and would like to bring an interactive booth to the STEM EXPO, register at the link below.

Booths are required to be at Ellet CLC on January 27th at 7:30 a.m. and will be leaving after lunch around 1:30 p.m
Booth Sign-up form 2024

Judging or Exhibitor, not your thing? We have volunteer opportunities to enhance the smooth operation and experiences for our budding STEM Scholars at STEM EXPO, register at the link below.

Volunteers are required to be at Ellet CLC on January 26th and/or 27th around for at least 2hr shifts!
Volunteer Sign-up form 2024

Judging or Exhibitor or Volunteering, is it not your thing? Instead, you are part of a STEM organization, STEM industry, and/or a STEM Society with financial awards for our STEM Scholars at STEM EXPO, register at the link below.

Sponsored Award Judges are required to be at Ellet CLC on January 27th around 7:30 a.m. and will be leaving after lunch around 1:30 p.m
Sponsored Award Sign-up form 2024
Sponsored Award Judges, please also notify Dan Jones (daniel.h.jones@sbcglobal.net) of your intent and award(s).

You can participate as both a subject judge and a sponsored award judge, but you must have past experience and work quickly.

ACESS Joint Societies Meeting Cosponsored by ACS and SPE
2024-01-23 17:15 - 20:30 | R. Shea Brewing – Canal Place, 540 South Main St., Akron, OH, 44311, United States
Jing Lyon, Entrepreneur Programs Director, Brite Energy Solutions
“Empowering Tomorrow: Navigating the Battery Future”
VENUE: R. Shea Brewery Canal Place
504 S. Main Street, Suite 214
Akron, Ohio 44311
Tuesday, Jan 23, 2024
5:15 pm. Social- Networking time
6:30 pm. Dinner
7:15 pm. Speaker Presentation
Pizza Buffet, Cash Bar. Cost: $20 Employed Members and Guests; $10 Students, Retirees, or Unemployed. Buy tickets online at the link below.
ABSTRACT: In our pursuit of a sustainable and electrified future, the significance of batteries is undeniable. This presentation, titled “Empowering Tomorrow: Navigating the Battery Future,” explores pivotal aspects of the battery landscape. Commencing with an examination of battery types driving energy storage innovation, we traverse from traditional lithium-ion to emerging technologies, delving into their unique characteristics and applications. Specifically, we dissect the two major applications of EV vs Stationary to understand these distinct markets. A broad landscape overview follows, offering a macroscopic view of the battery market, and shedding light on challenges and opportunities within the space. The discussion extends to the impact of federal funding and incentives, concluding with an insightful overview of what is happening in our region.

ORG - Winter Technical Meeting 2024
2024-01-23 16:00 - 21:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Twinsburg, 8971 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg, OH, 44078, United States
Ohio Rubber Group Winter Technical Meeting 2024
January 23, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Twinsburg Hilton Garden Inn
Agenda:
4:00 – Dinner Ticket / Membership Sales
4:30 – Technical Presentations
6:00 – Social Hour
7:00 – Dinner
Advanced Reservations: $35 each ***Without prior reservation: $40 each (limited number available). Tickets are available from this event page; click on “Get Tickets” below.
Technical Presentations:
“Bio-Sourced Rubber Curing Ultra-Accelerator For Tire & Technical Rubber Good Applications”
John Kounavis, Sr. Technical Service Manager, SI Group
The tires and the technical rubber goods (TRG) industry is progressing rapidly towards sustainable and bio-sourced solutions. This automotive megatrend is primarily driven by regulatory pressure, environmental concerns, rubber industry needs as well as consumer perception. SI Group has been promoting sustainable as well as bio-sourced solutions for the rubber industry, in particular, rubber tackifiers and bonding agents. With this paper, we would like to present an experimental rubber curing ultra-accelerator with sustainable & bio-sourced product attributes. The product benefits to the tires & TRG market will be discussed along with some case studies.
“Therban HT: Compounding with a New Heat Resistant HNBR Elastomer”
Victor Nasreddine, NA Technical Manager, Arlanxeo
Therban® HNBR, Arlanxeo’s hydrogenated nitrile rubber, is a specialty elastomer with excellent mechanical, dynamic, and sealing properties combined with resistance to tear, abrasion, and aging. It is used in demanding automotive, industrial, and oil and gas applications. Under the hood automotive operating temperatures continue to increase as airflow is reduced around components due to aerodynamic engineering and space saving designs. Therefore, there is always a need for elastomers with improved heat resistance including HNBR. This paper presents the compounding and properties of Therban HT, a polyamide reinforced HNBR elastomer with improved heat resistance, in HNBR formulations.
“Investigating the Dependence of Elastomeric Fracture on Temperature and Rate”
Zehao Fan, Grad. Student in Polymer Science, The University of Akron, and 2024 Scholarship Winner
Decades of elastomeric fracture phenomenology due to Thomas and Smith demonstrated a remarkable fact that rubbers are stronger and tougher at lower temperatures. The prevailing explanation relates the fracture behavior to polymer viscoelasticity. Given the recent insight and evidence that toughness is determined by strength, we examine elastomeric fracture with a different perspective and conclude that chain scission dictates fracture characteristics including its temperature dependence. Working within a selected temperature range, stretching is shown to be entirely elastic at stretching rate below 0.17 s -1 , we demonstrate that the same temperature and rate dependencies of strength and toughness, observed by Thomas and Smith, still occur in our crosslinked polybutadiene (BR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). The temperature effects on rate dependence of strength and toughness are found to be much stronger than that prescribed by the WLF shift factor aT. Moreover, crack propagates, upon either stepwise stretching or during creep, at a much lower speed at lower temperature that cannot be rationalized with polymer relaxation dynamics. Our new interpretation is that a carbon-carbon bond is stronger at a lower temperature, equivalently, it takes a longer time for a covalent bond to undergo dissociation in tension because available thermal energy is proportional to temperature T.

ACESS Board Meeting
2024-01-17 17:30 - 18:30, 2023-11-15 17:30 - 18:30 | ACS Rubber Division office, 306 N. Cleveland Massillon Rd., Akron, OH, 44333, United States
This will be a hybrid, in-person and virtual, meeting with a Zoom link to be sent to Board members. All members of ACESS member societies are welcome to attend.

ACS - Akron Section Award
2023-11-14 17:30 - 20:30 | Kent State University – Integrated Science Esplanade Commons, 1175 University Esplanade, Kent, Ohio, OH, 44242, United States
Dr. Prashant K. Jain, G.L. Clark Professor of Physical Chemistry
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Afternoon – Technical Lecture
Catalysts Dressed in Light
3:00 PM at The University of Akron, Mary Gladwin Hall 111
Evening Program – Akron Section Award Lecture
Kent State University, Integrated Science Esplanade Commons
5:30 PM Networking
6:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Lecture (open to the public)
Dinner Reservations: RSVP at akronacs.org
$30 for members / public and $10 for students
Dr. Prashant K. Jain Bio: Prashant K. Jain grew up in Bombay, where he completed his undergraduate education. He obtained his PhD working with M. A. El-Sayed at Georgia Tech, following which he was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University. After a Miller Fellowship at UC Berkeley, he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he is the G. L. Clark Professor of Physical Chemistry and a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and the Materials Research Laboratory. He is also a University Scholar and an Affiliate Faculty Member of Physics and the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology (IQUIST). Prof Jain’s lab specializes in nanoscale light–matter interactions and nanoscale chemical imaging. His research website is found at https://nanogold.org.
Afternoon Abstract: Catalysts Dressed in Light. The interaction of light with molecules can be used to access new modes of chemical reactivity; however, this interaction is often difficult to exploit in a universal manner. I will describe how plasmonics is proving to be a general strategy for interfacing photons with molecules and activating chemical transformations. This strategy involves heterogeneous catalysts comprised of plasmonic nanoparticles. Plasmonic excitation of the catalyst generates electronically and vibrationally excited states, which modify chemical activity at the interface and even induce emergent activity. I will describe how catalysts based on plasmonic nanoparticles are allowing light to be used as a redox equivalent in chemical reactions, for driving non-equilibrium chemical processes, for modifying product selectivity, for photosynthesizing fuels, and for boosting electrochemical conversions. The ultimate vision is a future where plasmonic excitations can be used to power chemical transformations or direct them with bond-level precision.
Updates will be posted on akronacs.org.

ACESS Joint Societies Event - Sponsored by 3 ACS Sections
2023-11-02 18:00 - 22:30 | OH
Cleveland Poison Symposia – The Dark Side of Chemistry
Nickname: Arsenic Bar Crawl
Location 1: “Spirits of Willoughby” 6:00 PM (Spirits has a huge parking lot)
Speaker 1: Mike Fricke, Akron ACS “Introduction to Arsenic”
Speaker 2: Mike Kenney Contact, Cleveland ACS “Arsenic Poisoning”
Location 2: “Nora’s Public House” 7:30 PM (0.2 mile walk from Spirits)
Speaker 3: Kevin Kubachka, US FDA “Arsenic in Foods”
Speaker 4: Abe Gutierrez, Agilent “Arsenic Analysis by ICP-MS”
Location 3: “The Wild Goose” 9:00 PM (0.1 mile walk from Nora’s)
(Invited) Speaker 5: Reid Kirby, Z-Day Center “Before Manhattan: The Dew of Death”
(Invited) Speaker 6, Melissa Tedone, U of Delaware “The Poison Book Project”
http://wiki.winterthur.org/wiki/Poison_Book_Project
Notes from Mike Fricke: A little more about Reid Kirby, who’s abstract is in this chain. I gave a presentation to the Cleveland ACS Section in Jan 2020 about the Cleveland Mousetrap (just before the pandemic started). This is America’s 1918 chemical weapons facility that was built in Willoughby and likely the first WMD factory in the world. Here’s a good primer on the site:
https://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2014/01/17/conants-war-inside-mouse-trap/.
Our current bar crawl event will roughly follow the route that the Mousetrap soldiers took three times a day as they walked into Willoughby for their meals. For this event, I wanted to find an authority to speak about the Mousetrap. This proved difficult as local historians: John Grabowski and Alan Rocke were unfamiliar with the story. I contacted authors who have written about the Mousetrap and came up empty. Finally, I contacted the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) which won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. Eventually, I made contact with Alastair Hay with Physicians for Human Rights (2105 Hague Award and Order of the British Empire). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alastair_Hay. Alastair Hay put me in touch with Reid Kirby who is very familiar with our Willoughby site and has even held in his hands the infamous black book of notes that Jim Conant kept while building the site.
More details to be announced
