Celebrating National Chemistry Week

Abstract

This year’s National Chemistry Week tapped into the public’s curiosity and stretched its imagination through the theme, “Solving Mysteries through Chemistry.” NCW is the American Chemical Society’s largest annual outreach event, and on Oct. 16–22, volunteers from nearly all of ACS’s 185 local sections around the U.S. led hands-on activities and demonstrations at elementary schools, museums, shopping malls, and other public venues. “Chemists are involved in solving mysteries all the time, and this really brings out the importance of chemistry in all of these activities,” says Michael McGinnis, chair of the ACS Committee on Community Activities, which organizes NCW with the help of the ACS Office of Volunteer Support. “NCW would not be possible without the involvement of our local sections,” says ACS executive director and chief executive officer Thomas Connelly. “It’s really gratifying to see how many of our members are willing to devote their time not just on