Category: Announcements

Announcement of upcoming opportunities with the American Chemical Society and CALPAC and events.

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Advanced Power Generation and Storage at NASA JPL

Of necessity, NASA has pioneered numerous modes of electricity generation and storage in order to power space missions with unique power requirements. Thermoelectric generation, solar generation and electrochemical systems have been perfected in order to power missions that have lasted from days to decades. On Saturday, November 12, we have the privilege of hearing Dr. Rao Surampudi (bio)of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory speak on NASA’s latest power generation systems. Dr. Surampudi will provide a glimpse into the cutting edge technologies that may transition to the commercial and consumer markets in order to satisfy the world’s growing appetite for energy.

Refreshments and light snacks will be served.

Speaker: Dr. Rao Surampudi
Title: Advanced Power Generation and Storage at NASA JPL
Date: Saturday, November 12, 2016
Time: 12:00 – 2:00 PM
Location: CSU Channel Islands Boating Center
3880 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard, CA 93035 (Google Map, driving directions below)
Cost: Free. Your RSVP via the form below is kindly requested.

Continue reading “Advanced Power Generation and Storage at NASA JPL”

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20th Anniversary Banquet

Speaker: Donna Nelson, Ph.D.
President, American Chemical Society

You are cordially invited to CALPACS’s 20th anniversary celebration and banquet! In addition to honoring the 50- and 60-year members of our section, we will be celebrating the passage of this important milestone for our section, your section, the California Los Padres Section of the American Chemical Society.

We are honored to have the President of the American Chemical Society, Professor Donna Nelson, as our speaker on this very special occasion. Dr. Nelson will address the role of the local section in the ACS, the challenges facing the chemical enterprise, the future of chemistry and the future of the ACS.

Date: Saturday, October 8, 2016
Time: Reception at 5:00 PM, Dinner at 6, proceedings and lecture at 6:30
Place:  UCSB Mosher Alumni House (Google map)
Cost:  $25 regular members, $15 students
Please use the form below to reserve by Wednesday October 5.
Wine and beer will be available.

Complimentary parking is available. Please refer to the UCSB Parking Map and park in Lot 12, adjacent to the Mosher Alumni House. As you enter the lot there an attendant will provide a parking pass and direct guests to the designated parking area.

Donna J. Nelson, Ph.D., is Professor of Chemistry at the University of ACS President Donna NelsonOklahoma. Dr. Nelson specializes in organic chemistry, which she both researches and teaches. Nelson’s career has focused on five primary topics of research generally categorized in two areas, Scientific Research and America’s Scientific Readiness. Within Scientific Research, Nelson’s topics have been: mechanistic patterns in alkene addition reactions and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT) functionalization and analysis. Under America’s Scientific Readiness, she focuses on science education, which includes classroom innovations and correcting organic chemistry textbook inaccuracies, ethnic and gender diversity among highly ranked science departments of research universities, and improving the presentation of science and images of scientists to the public, such as serving as a science advisor to the AMC television show Breaking Bad. In November, 2014, she was elected President-Elect of the American Chemical Society.


Reservation Type
Entree Choice
Name(s) of Attendee(s)
Special Requests?




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2015 Wine Tasting at Castoro Cellars

December is almost here, and it is time once again for our fall wine tasting event. Join us for a relaxing afternoon of wine tasting at Castoro Cellars, one of the best known wineries in Paso Robles. Castoro’s award winning wines will be paired with a selection of soups prepared by section officers and a large selection of cheeses. Start the holiday celebrations early and get an update on what is happening in chemistry in the tricounty area.

Please use the form below Continue reading “2015 Wine Tasting at Castoro Cellars”

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Free Lecture on Sustainable Agriculture Technology

Please join us on Saturday, November 14, 2015, for a free lecture on new technologies for sustainable agriculture. Dr. James Rogers, Science Director and CEO of Apeel Sciences, will speak about his company’s mission and progress in developing plant based technologies for pesticide free agriculture and food preservation.

Time: 2 pm, Saturday, November 14. 2015
Place: Channel Islands Boating Center
3880 Bluefin Cir Oxnard, CA (Google map, driving directions below)
Cost: Free

Light snacks and refreshments will be served. This event is open to the public.

Your reservation via the form below is kindly requested.

James Rogers, Ph. D.

Science Director and CEO
Apeel Sciences

James received dual undergraduate degrees from Carnegie Mellon University in Materials Science & Engineering and Biomedical Engineering and received his PhD in Materials from UCSB. For his PhD research, James was the recipient of the 2012 Frank J. Padden Jr. Award for polymer physics, the premier polymer physics prize in the United States. James is a graduate of the UC Santa Barbara Technology Management Program and also holds a Master’s degree in Economics.

Drawing from his research, James founded Apeel Sciences to help provide new organic technology solutions for sustainable agriculture. James guides corporate strategy and oversees the company’s research and development efforts.

Driving Directions:
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. 1.0 mi.
We are right next to the Maritime Museum and the Whale’s Tail restaurant.

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. 1.0 mi.
We are right next to the Maritime Museum and the Whale’s Tail restaurant.

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2015 Fall Luncheon

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”

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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”

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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 Dr. Sandra Lamb Sanford29th , 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.