December 7, 2018 at 8:39 am

Message from the Chair | Building the Future of Chemistry

Construction on the new chemistry building is in full swing! The surface of the parking lot is being removed in preparation for building.

Construction on the new chemistry building is in full swing! The surface of the parking lot is being removed in November in preparation for building.

December 2017

By Stephen C. Bergmeier
Professor and Chair of Chemistry & Biochemistry Department

Greetings to all of our friends and alumni.

These are exciting times in the department. Groundbreaking is done and construction for the new chemistry building is well under way, with the completion slated for August of 2020. This building will offer the department an exciting new home for discovery, innovation, and education. The next generation of students will begin to build their future paths to success here in connection with the department’s faculty and alumni.

This is an important time for the department, and gifts can be used to assist a variety of important needs for the department. Areas that we use your gifts for are to pilot innovative new directions in teaching or research. In addition, these funds help the department support our international exchange programs, instrumentation purchase and repair, and undergraduate summer research fellowships.

For more information on the significance of these funds in supporting the department’s mission, please see Giving Opportunities. In addition, there are multiple naming opportunities for the new chemistry building that range from a study area, to a conference room or a teaching laboratory. One alum asked if multiple people could get together to name a lab after a favorite professor – the answer is yes! A sincere thanks to all of our donors listed below. You help the department in so many ways.

Our current faculty continue to do an amazing job educating our students to help them be successful 21^st century scientists, professionals, educators and global citizens. Assistant Professor Corey Beck received the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Outstanding Teacher Award in recognition of his innovation and excellence in teaching. Associate Professor Lauren McMills received the College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Faculty Undergraduate Advisor Award. Professors Eric Masson, Jennifer Hines and I co-developed an innovative Global Opportunities course in Leipzig, Germany in collaboration with OHIO faculty from the Global Leadership Center, Journalism and Leipzig University faculty from Chemistry and American Studies. Students worked on common projects focused on communicating science in the policy and media arena on critical transatlantic issues. This year’s topic was the Opioid Crisis.

Department faculty also have been actively involved in professional development and continuing education for professionals and other non-traditional students. This spring, faculty presented a short course in chemistry to employees of a local specialty chemicals company. This year also marked the launch of our fully online M.S. in Chemistry program designed for teachers and professionals.

Faculty research continues at an excellent pace with multiple grants, presentations and publications. Many of their exciting research projects and achievements are highlighted in this newsletter as are some student and alumni accomplishments. A new faculty search is under way for an Analytical Chemist following the departure of Dr. Hao Chen this year. In addition, Professors Hines, Masson and I met with Dr. Henry Roenigk and the Roenigk Family Foundation to fill them in on the research of Masson, the current Roenigk Chair.

I hope you enjoy catching up with the department in this newsletter and reading about the opportunities to connect with current students and other alumni. Your engagement with and support of the department and students are greatly appreciated and help the department succeed in fulfilling its mission.

We would really enjoy having you visit and see what we are doing. I hope you consider joining fellow Chemistry & Biochemistry students, faculty, and alumni at the College of Arts & Sciences’ third-annual Alumni and Student Networking Reception on Jan. 31, 2019. Come back to Athens to help fellow Bobcats get a jump on their careers.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and let us know what you are doing. You can contact us at chemistry@ohio.edu, or Stephen Bergmeier.