ACESS-Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies

Polymer Palooza 2026
2026-06-06 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for Polymer Palooza on June 6th from 1 PM to 5 PM at the Akron Children’s Museum and Lock3 Park. This exciting, free event is brought to you by Akron Children’s Museum, Greater Akron Chamber, Polymer Industry Cluster, The City of Akron and Lock3! Get ready for a day filled with fun, education, and community engagement!
Event Highlights

Explore the World of Polymers: Discover fascinating exhibits and activities focused on polymers and their role in our daily lives.
Meet Our Experts and Vendors: Stay tuned for a list of our amazing polymer experts and vendors who will be showcasing their knowledge and products.

Delicious Downtown Dining
While you’re here, make sure to enjoy the diverse array of downtown Akron restaurants! Check out the options here and treat yourself to a delicious meal!
Parking Information
Parking is a breeze with free parking available at the 51 S. State Street Parking Deck.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn, have fun, and connect with the community at Polymer Palooza! We can’t wait to see you there!

ORG - Early Summer Golf Outing 2026
2026-06-17 07:00 - 16:00 | Brookledge Golf Club, 1621 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, 44221, United States
Schedule:
Registration: 7:00 – 7:45 am
Shotgun Start: 8:00 am
4 Golfer Scramble
Dinner: 2:00 pm – Brookledge Pavilion
Cost and Ticketing:
Cost: $150.00, includes golf with cart, lunch, dinner, beverages, door prize, raffle ticket, skill awards and prizes.
Mulligan cards are available for an additional $5 each.
Dinner only: $40
Registration deadline: June 8, 2026
Online ticketing (preferred): Buy tickets using the links below.

ACESS - Summer Picnic and Social Gathering
2026-08-02 12:00 - 15:00 | Cascade Park – Holden Pavillion, 130 Lynn Dr., Hudson, OH, 44236, United States
Planned meal: Hamburgers/ Hot dogs /Sausage plus sides, desserts supplied by attendees plus coffee, and soft drinks.
More information will be posted here as the time approaches.

MSNO - Microscopy Summer School
2026-08-12 - 2026-08-14
2026 MSNO MICROSCOPY SUMMER SCHOOL
August 13, 2026 (Thursday)
​Online lecturesAugust 12 and 14, 2026 (Friday)
In-person lab demonstration and hands-on experiences at AMLCI/Kent State and Swagelok Center at Case Western Reserve.
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REGISTRATION LINK: THE EVENT IS FREE, BUT PLEASE REGISTER EARLY IF YOU WANT TO SECURE A SPOT FOR IN-PERSON DEMOS.
An important reminder: ​If you have registered for the Summer School but have not received an email confirmation from Min Gao in a few hours, your registration may not have gone through successfully. Please contact mgao@kent.edu directly.

Free Registration

ONLINE LECTURES: SCHEDULE, TITLES, AND SPEAKERS
We have four experienced electron microscopists with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Each lecture will include approximately 15 minutes of dedicated Q&A time, so please feel free to bring your questions—we’d love to hear them!
August 13 (online, link will be sent to you before the event)

9:30 – 11:00: “Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and its Applications” Dr. Kai Sun, University of Michigan
This talk will cover TEM basic optics (CTEM, STEM and EFTEM), conepts, techniques and their applications in a broad range of science and engineering research. Some recent developments in TEM (like 4D-STEM, UEM and ETEM) will also be addressed.
11:15 – 12:15: “Basics of Image Processing in Electron Microscopy”, Dr. Kimberly Fraser née Gliebe, The Lubrizol Corporation
We will be looking at different ways image analysis can be applied to microscopy images. There will be focused demonstrations using ImageJ and Python for segmentation techniques. and discussions regarding when different image analysis techniques are most beneficial.
​13:30 – 14:30: “TEM Sample Preparation Using a Focused Ion Beam (FIB): From Bulk Material to an Electron-Transparent Lamella“, Dr. Tugce Karakulak Uz, Case Western Reserve University
This talk provides an introduction to TEM sample preparation using a Focused Ion Beam (FIB). It explores why TEM requires electron-transparent specimens, how a DualBeam FIB-SEM enables site-specific sample preparation, and the essential workflow from region selection to a TEM-ready lamella. Common preparation artifacts, practical considerations, and representative applications are also discussed.
14:45 – 16:15: ​”Basics of TEM specimen preparation with a focus on cryo-based techniques”, Dr. Min Gao, Kent State University
We will cover basic sample preparation methods for a variety of hard materials (metals, ceramics, semiconductors, etc.) and soft materials (polymers, liquid crystals, biological materials, etc.). Cryogenic techniques, including plunge freezing, high-pressure freezing, freeze-fracture, cryo-ultramicrotomy, etc. will also be discussed.

August 12 and 14 (In-Person Demonstration)
Demonstration schedule will be determined based on registration. Schedule and parking information will be sent to you before your visit.
TEM/SEM Labs at Kent State University (Dr. Min Gao)
FIB/SEM labs at Case Western Reserve University (Dr. Tugce Karakulak Uz)
Contact Min (mgao@kent.edu) and Tugce (txk472@case.edu) for questions.

ORG - Late Summer Golf Outing 2026
2026-08-31 07:00 - 20:00 | Silver Lake Country Club, 1325 Graham Rd, Stow, OH, 44224, United States
Event Information:
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.
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
Register and pay by August 24, 2026.
Cost and Ticketing:
Entry Fee of $165 includes golf, lunch and dinner. Additional round $75. Dinner only $45.
Online ticketing (preferred): Use the links below.

ORG, ACS, SPE - Fall Technical Meeting 2026
2026-09-15 16:00 - 21:00 | Hilton Garden Inn Twinsburg, 8971 Wilcox Dr., Twinsburg, OH, 44078, United States
Agenda:
4:00 – Dinner Ticket / Membership Sales
4:30 – Technical Presentations
6:00 – Social Hour
7:00 – Dinner
Tickets:
Advanced Reservations: Members and general public $35 each (Without prior reservation: $40 each, limited number available). Students $10.
Buy tickets online (preferred): Links for purchasing tickets will be available on this web page a month before the event.
Alternatively, email reservations to Denise Kotz at denisekotz@strategicrealm.consulting OR mail to Ohio Rubber Group, PO Box 553, Hudson, OH 44236.
Technical Presentations:
To be announced.
