The 18th BCCE, like all of its predecessors, is designed to provide you with opportunities for interacting with chemistry teachers of all levels in formal and informal settings. There will be a mixture of plenary lectures, symposia, workshops, chemical demonstrations, poster sessions, exhibits, tours of chemistry research areas, tours of high-tech companies, and social/family events.

This web page was up-dated May 26, 2004 by Thomas J. Greenbowe, Iowa State, University, Ames, Iowa

General Information About the 18th BCCE

The 18th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) is a national meeting sponsored by the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. The conference is designed for middle school science teachers, secondary school chemistry teachers, and college chemistry instructors. There will be an especially strong program for high school teachers for the 18th BCCE. The conference provides chemistry teachers with opportunities for interacting with colleagues at all levels in formal and informal settings. There will be a mixture of plenary lectures, symposia, workshops, chemical demonstrations, poster sessions, exhibits, tours of chemistry research areas, tours of high-tech companies, and social/family events. Teachers who are new to chemistry teaching or who have teaching experience, will find this conference to be an excellent source of materials, techniques, and chemistry content. The BCCE helps teachers make connections with colleagues and friends who are dedicated to teaching chemistry. Chemistry teachers are invited to share what works in their classrooms with their students by visiting the 18th BCCE web site at http://www.chem.iastate.edu/bcce/ and submitting a workshop proposal or abstract for a presentation. You do not have to be a member of the American Chemical Society or the ACS Division of Chemical Education to attend the 18th BCCE.

An Overview of the Program for the 18th BCCE

The 18th Biennial Conference on Chemical education will take place at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, from July 18 through July 22, 2004. You are invited to be one of over 1,500 attendees who are expected in Ames. Come to present a paper, participate in a workshop, do a poster presentation, or attend the sessions. If you have never seen the corn and soybean fields of Iowa, be prepared to view over fifteen shades of green!

For the past two years, we have been working diligently to develop a program that you will find interesting and useful. Our national committee has worked hard to make sure that all levels of chemistry teachers will have sessions and workshops that will help improve how chemistry is taught and how students learn. All of the information about the conference sessions, workshops, speakers, etc. can be found on our web site: http://www.chem.iastate.edu/bcce/

Plenary Speakers and Keynote Speakers

Firouz Naderi, Director of Solar System Exploration Programs and Manager of the Mars Exploration Program, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; John K. Gilbert, Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, United Kingdom – Great Britan, and editor of the International Journal of Science Education; Charles Casey, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison and President Elect American Chemical Society; Lillian McDermott, Department of Physics, University of Washington – Seattle; George Boggs, CEO and President of American Association of Community Colleges; Paula Heron, Department of Physics, University of Washington – Seattle; and Roy Tasker, School of Science, University of Western Sydney, NSW Australia, and Dr. Bassam Shakhashiri, Professor of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Symposia are organized around a variety of educational themes. Our symposium sessions start on Sunday at 1:00 PM and go through Thursday noon. Most symposia consists of a series of oral presentations accompanied by PowerPoint presentations to support visual presentation of data and ideas. Most presentations are allowed a maximum time length of 20 minutes, with 5 minutes for discussion. Other formats for symposia include panel discussion, demonstrations, and caucuses. All symposia sessions except for those that involve chemicals, will be in the Scheman Building.There will be symposia on green chemistry, nano-technology, teaching chemistry, the two-year college program, forensic chemistry, using computers to teach chemistry, assessing students’ understanding of chemistry, chemical education research, and many more. There are over 60 symposia scheduled with 725 individual presentations.

Workshops offer individuals the opportunity to learn about a topic in-depth from science experts and or award winning teachers. The program for the 18th BCCE includes over 60 workshops.Our workshop sessions start at 9:30 AM on Sunday and go through noon Thursday. Workshops focus on wet and dry chemistry topics, teaching and learning with technology, discussion sessions, chemical instrumentation, chemistry demonstrations, and variety of other themes. Most workshops have a fee to cover the costs of the materials, supplies, audio-visual equipment and service, computers and computer service, bus shuttle service for participants to and from Gilman Hall, chemicals, and chemical waste disposal associated with the workshop. For most workshops, a modest ISU administration and conference service fee is applied. When possible, some workshops are offered free of charge. These workshops are often sponsored by companies or the workshops are classified as ‘self-contained/low load”. You must pay an 18thBCCE conference registration fee to participate in a workshop. All workshops that involve chemicals or chemistry instrumentation will be in Gilman Hall. Workshops requiring participants to work on computers are scheduled in various buildings, in computer classrooms, on campus.

During poster presentations, a given poster presentation, covering a 4’x6’area, will be on view for at least two hours and will be attended by the author. Posters will be grouped by topics and displayed together. Our 18th BCCE poster sessions occur Monday afternoon, Monday evening between 7:00 PM –9:00 PM at our Sc-Mix session, and Tuesday morning from 9:45 AM–11:45 AM. All posters will be on the second floor of the Scheman Building.

Birds-of-a-Feather Sessions (BOAFS) are available for 18thBCCE participants to hold informal discussion of areas of interest. For example, at recent BCCEs participants have requested BOAFS on Chemistry in the Community, high school –college interface, computers in chemistry, advance placement chemistry, women in chemistry, favorite chemistry web sites, etc. Several of these sessions will be scheduled during the lunch hour or during the dinner hour in the Maple-Willow-Larch Dining Hall. It is up to the conference participants to suggest topics and to volunteer to be a Bird-of-a-Feather facilitator. No later than May 14, 2004, Contact Jodye Selco, Director, The Center for Education and Equity in Mathematics, Science, and Technology, California State Polytechnic University, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. Phone: 909 869-4552, jiselco@csupomona.edu to schedule a BOAFS at the 18thBCCE. While you are at the 18th BCCE, check your pocket program book and the 18th BCCE newsletter “The Daily Corn and Soybean Report” for BOAFS details.

A spacious exhibition area, on two floors of the Scheman building, will include 60 exhibition booths, as well as a hospitality center A list of the exhibitors is available on this web site. A list of Exhibitors and a map of the Exhibit Area will be included in the Program Book. The exhibition area will be open Monday - Wednesday, including Monday night during Sci-Mix..

While you are in the mid-west, you will want to take advantage of the opportunity for day trips and/or travel to some of our historic places. Information on tours and other travel information are included in the Registration Book. The following is a summary of the main events that are planned for the 18th BCCE.

Sunday, July 18, 2004
We will start our day with either an 7:00 AM 8.0K or 8:00 AM 4.0 K cross-county race and fun run at the ISU NCAA national championship cross-country course. Workshops begin at 9:30 AM. The 18th BCCE Golf Outing Tee Times at Veniker Golf course are from 11:30 AM –1:30 PM. Symposia sessions go from 1:00 PM–5:00 PM. The highlight of the program for Sunday evening will be the official opening ceremonies at C. Y. Stephens Auditorium. The first plenary speaker will be Dr. Firouz Naderi, Director of Solar System Exploration Programs and Manager of the Mars Exploration Program, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His lecture, "Six Intense Minutes and a Lifetime of Memories: The Landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers" will be followed by a social hour and reception, held in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium antechamber areas.There will be a cash bar.

Monday, July 19, 2004
Monday morning, 8:00 AM, we will begin with our second Plenary Lecture in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. The speaker will be Dr. John Gilbert, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, United Kingdom – Great Britan. John Gilbert is the current editor of the International Journal of Science Education. Symposia and workshops begin at 9:25 AM. Also, the 18th BCCE is host to the “Her Lab in Your Life: Women in Chemistry” exhibit sponsored by the Hach Scientific Foundation and the Chemical Heritage Foundation. This exhibit is located on the first floor of the Scheman Building. Monday afternoon will feature Dr. George Boggs as the Keynote Speaker. He is the current President of the Association of Community Colleges. He is a chemist. He will talk on the community college experience. Monday evening, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM is Hawaiian Island Night and the Sci-Mix poster session, sponsored by McGraw-Hill Publishers. The exhibits will be open. There will be a cash bar and there will be two live bands. A flowered or tropical themed shirt is one of your tickets to admission to this event.

Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Tuesday morning at 8:00 AM, we will begin with our third Plenary Lecture in Hilton Coliseum. The speaker will be Dr. Charles Casey, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Charles Casey is the current President of the American Chemical Society. Tuesday afternoon will feature Dr. Paula Heron, Department of Physics University of Washington - Seattle as the Keynote Speaker. Her talk on physics education research will show how this area can be used in chemistry instruction. Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM is the 18th BCCE Banquet held in Hilton Coliseum featuring traditional and regional Iowa cuisine. Following the banquet will be a chemistry demonstration extravaganza with Dr. John Fortman, retired, Department of Chemistry,Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, as the master of ceremonies (Email: john.fortman@wright.edu ).

Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Wednesday morning at 5:45 AM we will begin seating in the MWL Dining Commons for a special Mole Day Breakfast Celebration that starts at 6:02 AM. At 8:00 AM, our fourth Plenary Lecture in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. The speaker will be Dr. Lillian McDermott, Professor of Physics, University of Washington–Seattle. Dr. McDermott is the recipient of numerous awards . Her physics education research group has contributed towards changing the way introductory college physics is taught. Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Roy Tasker, Professor of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Western Sydney, NSW Australia will be our keynote speaker. Roy Tasker has developed highly successful and effective 3D computer simulations of chemical processes. The evening program begin at 7:00 p.m. in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, will feature a comedy/play by the Galileo Players from Chicago, followed by the official closing ceremonies and the passing of the torch to the 19th BCCE planning group. The evening will close with the traditional ice cream social, sponsored by 2YC3 and the Journal of Chemical Education. Officers and staff members from 2YC3 and the Journal of Chemical Education will be on-hand to scoop ice cream and add your favorite toppings.

Thursday, July 22, 2004
Dr. Bassam Shakhashiri, Professor of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison will our keynote speaker Thursday morning, 8:30 a.m.- 9:10 a.m. He will lead an interactive session titled "Chemistry in the Classroom and in the Community: The Challenge of Citizenship for the Teacher". There will be symposia (9:15 AM – noon).and workshops from 9:30 AM – noon. The conference closes at noon. We sincerely hope that the program, speakers, and the opportunities to meet with your colleagues and exchange ideas will make this conference a valuable and important event. The blue-collar climate, set against the backdrop of an astonishing flat landscape, should make this one conference to remember.

Shuttle Bus Service and Cy-Ride Bus Service for 18th BCCE Participants

Iowa State University has a large campus. It is a 15-18 minute walk from the Scheman Building, site of the symposia sessions, to Gilman Hall, site of the workshops. The 18th BCCE will have a campus shuttle bus system operating. The shuttle route will connect the Scheman Building (and CY Stephens Auditorium), Maple-Willow-Larch Dorm and Dining Hall, Frederiksen Court, and Gilman Hall. There will be morning, afternnoon and evening shuttle bus service. There will be a second buss shuttle route operating from the Hotel at Gateway Center, Baymont Inn, and Comfort Suites to C.Y. Stephens Auditorium/Scheman Building/Hilton Coliseum and return. You must show your conference badge to the bus driver to receive a ride.The shuttle schedule will be posted in the program book and in the "Daily Corn and Soybean Report". The shuttle bus service starts Sunday, July 18 at 6:00 AM and ends Thursday, July 22 at 2:00 PM. Click-here for a map of the 18th BCCE campus bus shuttle route. 18th BCCE participants have complimentary bus transportation service on the blue and orange Cy-Ride campus routes.Your conference badge will also allow you complimentary bus transportation service on all Cy-Ride city-wide bus routes. Click-here for information about the Cy-Ride summer bus schedules.

Parking on the ISU Campus During the 18th BCCE

There will be free/no pass parking in the lots south of Hilton and Scheman Building (refer to the campus map) - where the symposia sessions will be held. The Parking Division has agreed not to ticket cars parked in Yellow or Blue parking areas in Lot #24 across from Gilman Hall (refer to the campus map), where the workshops will be, during the days and nights of the conference.

If you receive a ticket from the ISU Parking Division or the City of Ames, the 18th BCCE and ISU will NOT refund your ticket. You are subject to towing, and towing charges, if you park illegally. The normal rules for parking apply. Do not park next to a fire hydrant. Do not park next to a curb painted yellow. Do not park in a parking place that has a sign posted near-by that states "Parking for Red or Brown Decals Only".

Suggested Business Casual Dress Code
The 18th Bienninal Conference on Chemical Education is a specialty meeting under the jurisdiction of the American Chemical Society. 90% of all of the symposia sessions are in one building, the Scheman Building. The Scheman Building is air-conditioned. It is rather cool in the Scheman Building during the summer. The 18th BCCE requests that participants and speakers at the 18th BCCE symposium sessions dress appropriately for this conference and for the type of day ahead of you. If you are going to give a presentation at a symposium or be a workshop presenter, we suggest that you follow a summer business casual dress code. If you are participating in a workshop and you are going to be working with equipment or crawling on the floor, jeans are appropriate. We are not going to have the apparel police patrolling the halls of the conference. We might have one of the “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” celebrities on hand to give advice about your clothing selection.
Here are some suggestions for men: Khaki trousers (the style, not the color – Dockers, Lees, Chinos, etc.) The shirt can be polo style, a button down short-sleeved shirt – no tie required. A jacket without a tie is acceptable.
Here are some suggestions for women: Khaki-style slacks and/or skirt. The top can be a short-sleeved shirt with or without a jacket.

What is not acceptable: cut-off jeans, micro-skirts, t-shirts with inapproapriate or offense messages or language, muscle shirts, sweatshirts, sweat suits, polyester leisure suits, etc.