The CALPACS Fall Luncheon will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the Firestone Walker Taproom Restaurant in Buellton. We will recognize section members who have passed the 50-year and 60-year milestones as members of the ACS, and we will be regaled by Professor Jeffrey Zink of the UCLA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on the application of nanomachines to biomedical targeting, imaging and drug delivery. Please join us for an afternoon of chemistry, food and Firestone’s very special brews (more chemistry). Continue reading “2015 Fall Luncheon”
Summer 2015 Announcement
Summer is upon us, and we would like to make a few announcements before we wish you a fun-filled and productive summer. We need candidates for our annual elections, and there are three chemistry meetings coming up in late summer and early fall.
Elections: Our annual elections for members of the Executive Committee of CALPACS are coming up in the fall season. We need candidates Continue reading “Summer 2015 Announcement”
Sandra Lamb Sanford, 1931-2015
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our founding member, Dr. Sandra Lamb.
Dr. Sandra Lamb Sanford passed Wednesday April 
29th , 2015 in Santa Rosa, California a week after her 84th birthday. Sandra was born April 20th, 1931 to Gertude and Philip Katzen in Manhattan, New York. The Katzen family, including younger brother Howard, lived in Brooklyn, until moving to Miami when Sandra was a teenager. Sandra graduated from Miami Beach High School in 1948. She attended University of Miami where she met her first husband John Lamb. They eloped and married in 1950 and moved to Greenwich Village in New York for John to start his first accountant role at a major accounting firm. The next year they moved to Los Angeles. Sandra continued her education at UCLA where she received a Bachelors degree with highest honors in 1954 and a PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry in 1959. This was an exceptional achievement for a woman with a child at the time. While raising four children, she had a distinguished teaching career at several California Universities including UCLA and UCSB. She was Chair of the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics at Mt. St. Mary’s College in Brentwood. In addition she worked at Global Geochemistry Corporation in Los Angeles and earned a MS degree, in Engineering Management at UCLA in 1983.
Dr. Lamb was a member of the American Chemical Society since 1954, and was elected chair of the Southern California Section in 1988. She also assisted with the founding of the California Los Padres Section in 1994 where they named an award in her honor. Sandra was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Alpha Chi Sigma, Sigma Xi, and Phi Beta Kappa.
In 1976 the Lamb family moved to a small Avocado ranch in Carpinteria, California. John and Sandra divorced in 1980. Sandra then moved to Sherman Oaks, California where she met and married David Sanford in 1990. Interestingly Dave was also an accountant working for a toy manufacturing company. When Sandra took early retirement from UCLA she and Dave moved to Port Hueneme. However Sandra couldn’t stop teaching, and took a part time position at UCSB. In 2002 Sandra and Dave moved to Sebastopol, California to be near family. Always active, Sandy volunteered at the Sonoma County Library literacy Program, was a member of TOPS, and active in Autumn Leaves seniors group. Sandra loved reading, sewing, crocheting, knitting and quilting. When her grandchildren were small she delighted in making Halloween costumes for them. She loved to travel and visited many foreign countries including Panama, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Canada, Greece, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan.
Sandra’s greatest love and legacy was her family, who will miss her dearly. Her passion for academics was inherited by her children who all hold either Bachelor or Masters degrees. She is survived by her husband David Sanford, her four children, Beth Lamb, Megan Timpany (Donald), Brian Lamb (Wendy), Amy Hartman (Philip). She was Grandma Tutu to her 8 Grandchildren, Jamie (Francesca), Jessica (Danny), Alexis, Amber, Dawson, Hana, Jordan and Aaron. She has three great grandchildren Miles, Aria and Jordan.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday May 9th 2015 at Wischemann Hall , 465 Morris Street in Sebastopol, California.
Local Section Student Meeting and Lecture on 19th Century Photography
You are cordially to join our local students at Westmont College on Saturday April 18th for the award ceremony for US National Chemistry Olympiad Participants. The event is organized by the Westmont College Chemistry Club. Luther Gerlach, local artist and conservator of historical methods of photography, will deliver a lecture on the evolution of 19th century photography as part of the proceedings. Please come to encourage our local high school students and to connect with local educators.
Click here to download the event flyer.
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2015
Time: Noon
Place: Winter Hall, Westmont College.
Cost: Free
Directions from the South
Take 101 north and exit at Olive Mill Road. Turn right onto Olive Mill and then left onto Hot Springs Road. Turn right onto Sycamore Canyon Road and then right at Cold Spring Road. You may use the lower entrance on Cold Spring Road or continue up Cold Spring Road, turn left on La Paz Road and drive through Westmont’s main entrance.
Directions from the North
Take 101 south and exit at #94B (Coast Village Road Exit – left exit). Turn left onto East Cabrillo Road, go through the roundabout and continue north on Hot Springs Road. Turn left onto Sycamore Canyon Road and right onto Cold Spring Road. You may use the lower entrance on Cold Spring Road or continue up Cold Spring Road, turn left on La Paz Road and drive through Westmont’s main entrance.
2015 PI DAY PRESENTATION ON SCIENCE AND POLICY
Money is policy, or how new research initiatives are born
Speaker: Katy Christiansen, Ph.D.
Join us on Saturday, March 14 (Pi Day) for our annual presentation on science policy. Dr. Katy Christiansen, our speaker, is a strategic analyst at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she works on strategic planning and implementation for the LBNL Biosciences Area, which consists of three and a half scientific divisions and over 800 staff. Katy will discuss her career transition from research scientist to AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the Department of Energy in the Bioenergy Technologies Office, and then to the LBNL. She will discuss why the Federal government funds research initiatives, what happens when Congress appropriates funds to agencies, and how policy is implemented at the ground level. Alternative career paths such as Katy’s provide opportunities for scientists to use their unique combination of skills and expertise to develop funding opportunities for new research initiatives, to implement programs and to advance research projects.
Click here to download the event flier. Date: Saturday, March 14, 2014 Time: 7-9 PM Place: Building 180, Room 114,Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (maps & directions) Cost: Free A complimentary assortment of pies will be served in observance of pi day.
RSVP is requested, but not required.
Abstract
Have you ever asked, “Why did the Federal government fund this research?” Do you wonder what happens to scientists who leave traditional research careers? Is life in Washington, DC as glamorous as it seems? Science policy has the answers to these questions and more! Dr. Christiansen will talk about her transition from the bench to the Department of Energy and how scientists in “alternative” careers can contribute to the U.S. research enterprise. She will also provide insights into what happens once Congress appropriates funds to agencies and how policy is implemented at the ground level. Finally, she will discuss how she is using this experience to help scientists build programs at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and how others can do the same.
Lecture on Pediatric AIDS at CSUCI
Optimizing Potency for Nevirapine: The Drug that Saved Children from AIDS
Please join us on Saturday February 28, 2014, at the California State Channel Islands Boating Center for a lecture on the treatment of pediatric AIDS. A pasta buffet dinner will be served before the lecture. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to make your reservation. Seating is limited. Feel free to arrive early and to explore Channel Islands Harbor or to walk along the beautiful beaches nearby.
Dr. Rebecca Anderson will present the scientific and medical breakthroughs that were responsible for conquering pediatric AIDS, as well as some of the technical and feasibility issues that investigators faced while implementing HIV prevention programs. Pharmaceutical properties linked to the protective effect of antiviral HIV drugs, and modifications of drugs to optimize antiviral potency will be discussed. Copies of Dr. Anderson’s books will be available for purchase.
Dr. Rebecca Anderson is a freelance medical writer and the author of two books, including Nevirapine and the Quest to End Pediatric AIDS. Prior to her writing career, Dr. Anderson managed research and development projects for twenty five years in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry. She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Georgetown University.
Time: February 28, 2014 Dinner at
Date: Dinner at 6:30 PM followed by Dr. Anderson’s presentation
Place: CSU Channel Islands Boating Center
3880 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard, CA 93035 (Google Map)
Cost: $15 regular members, $5 Students
Please make your reservation by 10 AM Wednesday, February 25, 2015.
Registration for this event is now closed. Please click on the “contact” link above to inquire. We may be able to accommodate you.
Driving from north of Oxnard, CA
- Merge onto US-101 S. to Los Angeles
- Take the exit toward Victoria Ave./ Channel Islands Harbor 0.2 mi.
- Turn left at Valentine Rd. 0.1 mi.
- Turn right at S. Victoria Ave. 5.4 mi.
- Turn right at W. Channel Islands Blvd. 0.5 mi.
- Turn left to stay on W. Channel Islands Blvd. 417 ft.
- Slight left at Harbor Blvd. 0.5 mi.
- Turn left into the Channel Islands Boating Center Parking Lot
- If you have passed the Whale’s tail restaurant you have gone past our location.
Driving from south of Oxnard, CA
- Merge onto US-101 N toward Ventura
- Take the Victoria Ave. exit toward Channel Island Harbor 0.2 mi.
- Turn left at S. Victoria Ave. 5.5 mi.
- Turn right at W. Channel Islands Blvd. 0.5 mi.
- Turn left to stay on W. Channel Islands Blvd. 417 ft.
- Slight left at Harbor Blvd. 0.5 mi.
- Turn left into the Channel Islands Boating Center Parking Lot
- If you have passed the Whale’s tail restaurant you have gone past our location.
2014 Wine Tasting: Jalama Wines
Amazingly, 2014 is nearly over, and it is time once again for our fall wine tasting event. Join us for a relaxing afternoon of wine tasting at Jalama Wines, a boutique winery in the wine “ghetto” of Lompoc. Jalama’s prize winning wines will be paired with the fabulous cooking of section officers, all chemists, of course. Network with other members of the section, speak to your section officers and get acquainted with the up and coming wine makers of Lompoc. Continue reading “2014 Wine Tasting: Jalama Wines”
Candidate Statements for the 2014 Elections
The statements for the candidates in the 2014 CALPACS elections appear below. You will receive your ballot via email. Thank you for voting!
Chair-Elect:
Continue reading “Candidate Statements for the 2014 Elections”
CALPACS 2014 Fall Luncheon
You are cordially invited to attend the California Los Padres Section of the American Chemical Society’s Fall Luncheon on Saturday, September 27, 2014. We will be honoring local section members who have been members of the ACS for over 50 years, and we will have the pleasure of learning about on-demand drug delivery from Professor Javier Read de Alaniz of UCSB’s chemistry department.
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2014
Time: 11:45 AM to 2:30 PM
Place: Firestone Walker Tap Room
620 McMurray Road
Buellton, CA 93427 (805) 686-1557 (Google Map)
This event is now closed for registration. Please use the contact link above to inquire.
Lunch will be served at approximately 12:20, and lecture at approximately 12:45. Firestone Walker beers will be available to purchase. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to reserve your place. We look forward to your company.
Abstract: The discovery and development of novel transformations for the synthesis of molecular building blocks is a major focus of my research group. Our studies seek to accelerate drug discovery and material synthesis by developing practical and efficient methods, while incorporating renewable resources and environmentally benign protocols. We have also recently become involved in the design and synthesis of a novel photochromic material that enable the use of visible light to control the properties of micelles, polymer surfaces and small organic molecules. A main object of this research is in the areas of drug delivery and using visible light to control catalytic transformations.
Prof. Javier Read de Alaniz received his B.S. degree from Fort Lewis College in 1999 where he conducted undergraduate research under the direction of Professor William R. Bartlett. He obtained his Ph.D. under the supervision of Professor Tomislav Rovis at Colorado State University in 2006 with a research focus on asymmetric catalysis. Javier then moved to California, where he worked in the area of total synthesis with Professor Larry E. Overman at the University of California, Irvine. Since 2009, he has been an Assistant Professor in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC-Santa Barbara.
More on the Mole and Standards
CALPACS Councillor’s symposium on the mole at the ACS meeting will be followed by an opinion piece in Chemical & Engineering News. Look for, or read the advanced copy here as a pdf file. Match wits with Al Censullo, if you are, but it is important to give some thought to the standards that underpin our analyses, especially given the rapid pace of technology and innovation.