2012 CAG Annual Report

Mission

The mission of the Chemistry Advisory Group (CAG) is to recruit and retain chemists to SETAC, and to promote professional and social activities to emphasize chemistry--the "C" in SETAC.

Scope/Vision

The Chemistry Advisory Group (CAG) strives to improve and sustain the inherent interdisciplinary nature of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry organization in members and expertise. We increase awareness of and relevance for environmental chemistry through scientific, education and communication opportunities for chemists in the environmental field.

Objectives

• Increase the awareness of the SETAC in the chemistry community, and the awareness of chemistry in the SETAC community.
• Increase active membership, participation, and engagement in SETAC by chemists involved in all aspects of environmental chemistry.
• Create an improved atmosphere and potential for interactions for chemists with other disciplines within SETAC and between other chemistry organizations.

Organization

Membership in the Chemistry Advisory Group is open to all SETAC members, and to all professionals and students interested in the topics addressed by the CAG. Members must have a commitment to the purpose, goals, and operating guidelines of the Chemistry Advisory Group and commit to supporting the CAG.

The Chemistry Steering Committee (CSC), the leadership of the advisory group, guides the CAG’s activities. The CSC may be composed of advisory group members and the larger pool of people attending sessions, meetings, or otherwise contributing to the CAG’s goals. Any SETAC member may participate in activities organized by the CAG.

Announcements of openings for new Steering Committee members will be circulated via SETAC email notifications, with nominations sent to the Steering Committee for review and confirmation of willingness to serve. Balance of sectors (government, industry, and academia) and geographic location (Canada, United States, and Mexico) will be maintained.

Steering Committee

Sascha Usenko, CSC Chair, 2013, Baylor University

Jonathan Benskin, AXYS Analytical Services Ltd.

Xuedong Chen, University of Lethbridge

P. Lee Ferguson, Duke Univeristy

Windy Hillwalker, Exponent, Inc.

Alan Jones, Clemson University

John Kucklick, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Jonathan Martin, University of Alberta

Pamela Rice, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Colleen Rostad, US Geological Survey

Daniel Snow, 2013 Chair-Elect, University of Nebraska

Ping Sun, Proctor and Gamble

Angela Perez, ChemRisk, LLC

Elin Ulrich,Past Chair, 2013, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Charles Wong, University of Winnipeg

How To Become a Member of the AG

SETAC members can become a member of the AG by expressing their interest in their SETAC profile. This will enable access to the forum for the AG on the SETAC Communities site. All persons with an interest in chemistry are encouraged to participate.
Non-SETAC members can contact the SETAC office in Pensacola (FL) at +1-850-469-1500 to request access to the SETAC Communities site.

Activities

The Chemistry Advisory Group currently supports several chemistry related sessions at the SETAC North America annual meeting as well as a travel award for non-SETAC members to present at the conference. The CAG is engaged in an effort to develop joint activities on a regional basis with other chemistry related organizations (such as the ACS) to further our outreach within the chemistry community.

Student Exchange Award
The Student Exchange Award is presented to one student each year at the SETAC North America meeting. This award is based on the student’s presentation at the meeting and an application submitted to the CAG. The student is then invited to present the same research at the following American Chemical Society meeting and awarded a travel stipend to cover meeting expenses. Requests for applications will be sent out mid August and applications are due September 15th each year.

Previous winners:
2012 - Eleanor Robinson
2011 – Chelsae Bachman
2010 – Dianna Delach
2009 – Jiafan Wang and Zhe Lu

SETAC Chemist Travel Award
The Chemistry Advisory Group sponsors an individual who excels in the field of environmental chemistry and is currently not a member of SETAC to attend the SETAC North America meeting. The award includes hotel and meeting registration for the nominee and up to three accompanying students. Nominations are accepted until April 15th for the November meeting each year.

Previous Winners:
2012 - Cora Young
2011 – Yo Chin
2010 – David Atwood
2009 – Jon Chorover and John Rimoldi

Chemistry Advisory Group File Archives

Steering Committee Minutes