American Chemical Society meeting features hands-on family event, energy symposia

A special hands-on outreach program for children and their families exploring everyday chemistry and two symposia on energy (one on hydraulic fracturing and one on solar fuels) are among the presidential events at the American Chemical Society's (ACS') 248th National Meeting & Exposition next month. The gathering of the world's largest scientific society will be held in San Francisco August 10-14.

The outreach program, "Exploring Our World Through Chemistry," will be held at the Children's Creativity Museum on Saturday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hands-on, age-appropriate science activities will be featured at the event.

ACS President Tom Barton's presidential symposium, "Fracking – Where We Are and Where

We Are Going," will take place on Monday, August 11, Moscone Center, North Building, Room 134, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It will cover the environmental implications and the science behind hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," as well as potential impacts on drinking water and results of methane emissions during the process.

The other presidential symposium, "Photocatalytic Conversion of Water to Hydrogen and Oxygen," is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, Moscone Center, South Building, Esplanade Ballroom 310, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This three-part symposium will cover solar photovoltaics and solar storage. It will include presentations by emerging energy scholars. Renowned chemist Daniel G. Nocera, Ph.D., organized this program.

Provided by American Chemical Society