Public
Outreach
The Lehigh Valley Section strives to make "Chemistry for Life" a part of the experience of every one of our neighbors within our 7 county area. From school Science Fairs to our ongoing partnerships with The Da Vinci Science Center and The Reading Science Center, we offer Informal Science Education opportunities to kids of all ages, 8-80!
Demonstrate Science
LVACS chemists make science come alive with demonstration tables at schools and civic institutions. It's also a great way for young chemists such as college students to 'give back' what they have already learned and help the community to understand how chemistry impacts their daily lives. Would you like to be the chemist for fascinated kids and their parents? Extract DNA from strawberries? Make edible waterpods? It's fun and mind-opening.
Are you a community member in the PA counties of Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe or Warren NJ looking for a chemical professional to demonstrate science for your group and talk about the chemical profession? Please contact us!
Here's an example of a recent science fair we attended.
ACS CHEMLUMINARY AWARD WINNER!!
"Chemistry Fun with the Berks Chem Society" on BCTV aired its pilot filmed Feb. 26, 2021 with host Greglynn Gibbs, featuring different ways and different things to use to "make a home-made battery" with special guest, battery expert Robert Coller from Enersys, Reading, PA. Take a look at this show: https://youtu.be/CiChpnzWsZY and two subsequent episodes...
The Chemistry of No-Pop Bubbles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFYi7XaHo0&t=2s.
"Reduce Your Footprint with Shrinky Dinks!": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut7DdsL3p5M.
Da Vinci Science Center
VISIT THE NEW DA VINCI SCIENCE CENTER AT PPL CENTER IN ALLENTOWN!Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion, 815 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101
The Lehigh Valley section is an active partner with our local science museum, Da Vinci Science Center of Allentown, in "Bringing Science to Life and Lives to Science." Da Vinci's mission meshes splendidly with ACS' mission of "Chemistry for Life" thus making our collaboration truly synergistic. You'll find LVACS chemists celebrating National Chemistry Week (NCW) and Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) here every year! In 2020, LVACS was honored by Da Vinci with its Grand Maestro Award in recognition of its substantial contributions to the scientific community and the Center. Here's what we did for: "Marvelous Metals" (NCW 2019) "Sticking with Chemistry" (NCW 2020) "Take Note: The Chemistry of Paper" (CCEW 2019) “FAST/OR SLOW…Chemistry Makes It GO!” (NCW 2021) "The Buzz about Bugs: insect chemistry" (CCEW 2022) "The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae" (CCEW 2023) - seaweed was everywhere! "The Healing Power of Chemistry" (NCW 2023). "Picture Perfect Chemistry!" (NCW 2024) "The Hidden Life of Spices" (NCW 2025) "Into the Woods with Chemistry" (CCEW 2026)
RED = ACS CHEMLUMINARY AWARD WINNERS
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NCW 2026
“Chemistry: UNDER CONSTRUCTION”
National Chemistry Week is celebrated this year during the week of October 18-24, with the theme “Chemistry Under Construction.”
Chemistry plays a critical role in the strength, safety, and durability of the structures we use every day. Even small changes in a material’s chemical composition can significantly affect its properties. For example, adjusting the ratio of ingredients in concrete can change its strength, curing time, and resistance to weathering. These chemical differences determine how materials perform under stress and over time. Construction materials are made up of a variety of chemicals and compounds. Concrete, one of the most widely used building materials, is a mixture of cement, water, sand, and aggregates. Steel, another essential construction material, is primarily composed of iron combined with carbon and other elements to improve strength and flexibility. Chemists and engineers work together to develop innovative materials that make buildings safer, stronger, and more sustainable.
Fun Fact: Did you know that concrete is the second most consumed substance on Earth after water?
CCEW 2026
“Into the Woods with Chemistry”
LVACS celebrated CCEW, April 19-25, 2026 with the theme, “Into the Woods with Chemistry” at Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown on Sunday, April 19th from 12 until 2 pm. Contact Philip Elias, philipjelias@gmail.com
Join the fun!
We're always looking for volunteers for a wide variety of outreach events...and each year we award a worthy Volunteer of the Year. Just give us a shout and we'll give you your chemistry magic wand!
Sherri Young, 2025 Outreach VOTY
Sherri Young of Muhlenberg College is recognized for outreach work to strengthen the section.
LVACS congratulates Dr. Sherri Young of Muhlenberg College on being named our Outreach Volunteer of the Year for 2025. Sherri has been a great resource for the Lehigh Valley local section over the past decade. Last year alone, Dr. Young planned and led at least two major initiatives: a career-focused event in collaboration with the Muhlenberg College chemistry club and Women in STEM club, featuring ACS President Dr. Dorothy Phillips, and an annual memorial event honoring the late Dr. Ned Heindel of Lehigh University, complete with an award for excellence in chemistry. Her innovative approaches and consistent participation have set a high standard for outreach, inspiring others and significantly advancing the section's mission and vision.
