Show Notes
In the first episode of our series on pollution, we’re turning to the very thing necessary for human life: air. Environmental engineer Pete DeCarlo introduces us first to the tools chemists use to study the air, including the early innovations by chemist Arnold Beckman. These tools alarmed us to the problem of air pollution and its impact on human health, from the smog derived from cars in Los Angeles to the gases escaping from factories in Louisiana, the home of Cancer Alley, an 85-mile indu...
More from Chain Reaction by ACS
“Sustainability” has become quite the buzzword, but what does it mean in the world of chemistry? In this episode of Chain Reaction, we explore ACS’ core value of sustainability through two conversations that reveal how chemistry can help solve some of society’s biggest challenges while keeping people and the planet safe. First, we hear from Amy Cannon, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Benign and the recipient of the first degree in green chemistry. Amy shares her unexpected path in...
This episode explores lifelong learning, one of ACS’s core values, through conversations with two educators whose careers have been shaped by curiosity and growth. High school chemistry teacher Amiee Modic reflects on 40-plus years in the classroom, sharing how hobbies like baking, sailboat racing, and reading continue to teach her new skills and inform her teaching. ACS education professional Karen Trimmer then discusses returning to school mid-career, finding purpose in mission-driven work,...
This episode kicks off a special Chain Reaction miniseries exploring the American Chemical Society’s core values, beginning with a deep dive into “passion for science.” Miniseries co-host Shane Hanlon interviews former ACS President Judy Giordan, who shares how childhood curiosity about how things work took her from chemistry research to leading innovation teams at companies including Polaroid and PepsiCo. The episode also features chemist Annabelle Lolinco, a AAAS Science and Technology Poli...
What do passion for science, lifelong learning, sustainability, and inclusion and belonging look like in action? The latest miniseries focuses on people who exemplify some of the values that are most important to the American Chemical Society. From one person’s childhood science aspirations being shaped by the Cold War to another’s pioneering work in green chemistry, these episodes will provide a window into the ideas and lives of people molding chemistry’s future. Transcripts and episode sou...
On this bonus episode we answer a listener's question about antibiotic resistance arising from agriculture by diving into the story of colistin, an antibiotic that is used as a last resort treatment. When colistin resistance was first reported in animals and humans, the public health community was understandably panicked, prompting governments to take action to regulate its use. Transcripts and episode sources at acs.org/chainreaction