IWU’s science students, along with the help of assistant professor of chemistry, Dr. Stephen Leonard, successfully started IWU’s first accredited ACS chapter, receiving an ACS grant to further propel the start of this new IWU student organization.
“I am very excited about the work the ACS science club is doing,” Leonard said. “Officers and members have fun, develop their leadership skills and perform valuable science outreach to the community through events on campus, at the local public library and at homecoming.”
And despite being one of IWU’s newer student organizations, the IWU ACS chapter is gaining attention both on and off campus.
Chapter president, Ashley Springer, was featured in inChemistry: The ACS Student Magazine in late August. The article explored the process Springer experienced initiating the chapter at IWU.
In her interview with inChemistry, Springer said, “I was inspired to start a chapter because I thought it was important to become part of something bigger and be involved on a bigger scale. I also thought it would be a good inspiration for our school and other clubs.”
The chapter is focused on inspiring students to remain engaged in science by allowing chapter members, officers and faculty advisors to expose students to varying scientific practices.
Springer said she hoped this club would not only allow IWU science students to share knowledge about scientific practices with fellow students, but she wanted the chapter to be a means of allowing the IWU scientific community to connect with and learn from other schools. Springer is joined by students Rebekah Hoffmann (co-vice president), Megan Ferris (co-vice president), Megan Bernth (marketing) and Kyle Pessefall (secretary) as fellow chapter officers.
“Science club members get to share what they are passionate about with others and build their resume while developing a strong sense of community in the division,” Leonard said.
For more information on the Division of Natural Sciences, visit indwes.edu/undergraduate/division-of-natural-sciences/.
To read more about Springer’s conversation with inChemistry, visit https://inchemistry.acs.org/content/inchemistry/en/student-chapters/how-i-started-a-student-chapter.html