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Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @acspressroom for live tweeting of press conferences and other events during the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Press Center Highlightsfrom“The World Series of Science”
August 20, 2012
244th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, world’s largest scientific societyAugust 19-23, 2012 in Philadelphia, PA
August 20, 20126:00 a.m. ACS Press Center opens, Room 304, Pennsylvania Convention Center
7:00 a.m. Complimentary continental breakfast
8:30 a.m. EMBARGO LIFTS:Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Celebrating the golden anniversary of a remarkable science agency
Today scientists are gathering for a special symposium honoring the 50th anniversary of an agency that has improved the health and well-being of millions of people over the last half-century. The event, marking the golden anniversary of the National Institute of General Medical Science, is part of the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.
9:00 a.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE:Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time
Cleaner fuel for cruise ships and other big vessels from ingredients in detergents, medicines
Scientists today described development of a new fuel mixture to ease the major air pollution and cost problems facing cruise ships, oil tankers and container ships. These vessels tend to burn the cheapest and most highly polluting form of diesel fuel. Their report was part of the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, being held here this week.
George N. Harakas, Ph.D.Maine Maritime Academy
10:00 a.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time
First identification of a strong oral carcinogen in smokeless tobacco
Scientists today reported identification of the first substance in smokeless tobacco that is a strong oral carcinogen ― a health risk for the 9 million users of chewing tobacco, snuff and related products in the U.S. ― and called upon the federal government to regulate or ban the substance.
Stephen Hecht, Ph.D.Masonic Cancer Center, University of MinnesotaSilvia Balbo, Ph.D.Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
11:30 a.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE:Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 9 a.m. Eastern Time
New biorefinery finds treasure in Starbucks’ spent coffee grounds and stale bakery goods
With 1.3 billion tons of food trashed, dumped in landfills and otherwise wasted around the world every year, scientists today described development and successful laboratory testing of a new “biorefinery” intended to change food waste into a key ingredient for making plastics, laundry detergents and scores of other everyday products.
Carol S. K. Lin, Ph.D.City University of Hong Kong
11:30 a.m. EMBARGO LIFTS:Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Fueling the future with renewable gasoline and diesel
A new process for converting municipal waste, algae, corn stalks and similar material to gasoline, diesel and jet fuel is showing the same promise in larger plants as it did in laboratory-scale devices, the developers reported here today. It was part of the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, which continues through Thursday.
Martin Linck, Ph.D.Gas Technology Institute
Noon –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time
The Innocence Project: Science helping innocent people proven guilty
An unusual symposium showcasing chemistry’s role in righting some of the highest-profile cases of innocent people proven guilty unfolds today at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society. It features presentations by forensic scientists, attorneys and others who used science to right wrongs, freeing innocent people and saving the lives of prisoners on death row.
Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Ph.D.,President, American Chemical Society, Professor of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonJustin McShane, J.D.The McShane FirmFrederic Whitehurst, Ph.D.Former FBI Supervisory Agent John J. LentiniScientific Fire AnalysisGreg Hampikian, Ph.D.Boise State UniversityMarissa Boyers Bluestine, J.D.Pennsylvania Innocence ProjectBarry Scheck, J.D.The Innocence Project, New York, N.Y. Ray KroneThe Innocence Project, New York, N.Y.Raymond SantanaThe Innocence Project, New York, N.Y. Steven BarnesThe Innocence Project. New York, N.Y.
1:00 p.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Evidence that new biomimetic controlled-release capsules may help in gum disease
Scientists are trying to open a new front in the battle against gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults and sometimes termed the most serious oral health problem of the 21st century. They described another treatment approach for the condition in a report here today at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.
Steven Little, Ph.D.University of Pittsburgh
1:30 p.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Celebrating the Silver Anniversary of National Chemistry Week
The event that has introduced hundreds of thousands of young people to the wonders of science ― and helped launch careers in science, technology, engineering, medicine and other fields ― is being honored at a special symposium here today. The observance of the 25th anniversary of National Chemistry Week (NCW) takes place during the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society.
Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Ph.D.President, American Chemical Society, Professor of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-MadisonAlan Leshner, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer and Executive Publisher, Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science Ira Flatow Executive Producer/Host, Science Friday®, National Public Radio (tentative)Theodore Gray Wolfram Research, Inc./Touch Press/Element Collection (tentative)
1:30 p.m. –– Snacks and beverages
2:00 p.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE:Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 11 a.m. Eastern Time
Nobel prize-winning scientist cites evidence of link between extreme weather, global warming
New scientific analysis strengthens the view that record-breaking summer heat, crop-withering drought and other extreme weather events in recent years do, indeed, result from human activity and global warming, Nobel Laureate Mario J. Molina, Ph.D., said here today. Molina, who shared the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for helping save the world from the consequences of ozone depletion, presented the keynote address at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.
Mario Molina, Ph.D.University of California, San Diego Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, Ph.D.President, American Chemical Society, Professor of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2:30 p.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 11 a.m. Eastern Time
New oil spill dispersant made from ingredients in peanut butter, chocolate, ice cream
With concerns about the possible health and environmental effects of oil dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon disaster still fresh in mind, scientists today described a new dispersant made from edible ingredients that both breaks up oil slicks and keeps oil from sticking to the feathers of birds.
Lisa K. Kemp, Ph.D.The University of Southern MississippiRobert Lochhead, Ph.DThe University of Southern MississippiSarah Morgan, Ph.D.The University of Southern Mississippi
3:00 p.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time
A material to rejuvenate aging and diseased human vocal cords
A new made-in-the-lab material designed to rejuvenate the human voice, restoring the flexibility that vocal cords lose with age and disease, is emerging from a collaboration between scientists and physicians, a scientist heading the development team said here today. That’s just one of several innovations that Robert Langer, Sc.D., discussed in delivering the latest Kavli Foundation Innovations in Chemistry Lecture at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Robert Langer, Sc.D.Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4:00 p.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE:Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time
Women could play key role in correcting crisis in clean drinking water and sanitation crisis
People in ancient Rome 2,000 years ago had better access to clean water and sanitation that keeps disease-causing human excrement out of contact with people than many residents of the 21st century, a scientist said here today. Women in developing countries could play a major role in remedying the situation, if given the chance, he added.
Barry Liner, Ph.D.Water Environment Federation
4:30 p.m. –– Online Press ConferenceEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, 8 a.m. Eastern Time
The focus of nutrition for good health is quietly shifting to include consumption of food ingredients specifically designed to nourish the non-human cells that comprise 80 percent of the cells in the typical person, an authority on the topic said here today. He cited several factors driving these so-called “prebiotic” ingredients toward more foods.
Robert A. Rastall, Ph.D.University of ReadingArland Hotchkiss, Ph.D.U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
5:00 p.m. –– Press Center closes
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