The U.S. National Committee (USNC) for the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is hosting a virtual networking event for early-career chemists as part of the 2022 IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast. This will feature a keynote address from Dr. Laura McConnell, Bayer CropScience, former chair of the USNC/IUPAC and current IUPAC Bureau and Executive Committee member. Following Dr. McConnell’s remarks, participants will have the opportunity to meet each other in smaller breakout sessions to engage in a virtual chemistry scavenger hunt and discuss challenges and inspiration for women and diversity in chemistry, and learn about resources available at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the U.S. National Adhering Organization for IUPAC.
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 16, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET via Zoom.
Agenda:
10:00am-10:05am Welcoming Remarks
10:05am-10:30am Keynote: Laura McConnell, Bayer CropScience
10:30am-11:00am Breakout for Periodic Table Challenge scavenger hunt
11:00am-11:10am Periodic Table Challenge answers
11:10am-11:40am Breakout discussions
11:40am-11:55am Information on National Academies resources and activities
11:55am-12:00pm Closing Remarks
Registration for this networking event is free. To register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/global-womens-breakfast-tickets-229031628767
Speaker Information:
Dr. Laura McConnell is an analytical chemist experienced in environmental science research with a focus on agricultural topics. She currently serves as a Science Fellow in the Regulatory Scientific Affairs department of Bayer CropScience in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Previously, she was a lead scientist in the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service where she specialized in the investigation of the chemical and physical processes controlling the environmental fate of agriculturally-relevant pollutants. A primary focus of her research was the development of improved conservation practices to mitigate pollutant transport and to provide ecosystem services; innovative approaches to assess and reduce the bioavailability of pollutants in soil and water; development of sustainable farming systems to address challenges at the agriculture-urban interface.
Dr. McConnell served as President of the Chemistry and the Environment Division of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and she has served as Chair of the AGRO Division of the American Chemical Society. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and mentored many undergraduate and graduate students. She has served on science-related advisory panels for the US EPA, European Food Safety Authority, and the American Chemical Society. She has received awards for her research including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and was appointed Fellow of the American Chemical Society.
