National Chemistry Day at IIT

Chicago, IL — October 15, 2007 —

Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) will host the National Chemistry Day (NCD) program organized by the Chicago Section of the American Chemical Society, Saturday, October 20, 2007, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at IIT’s McCormick Tribune Campus Center at 33rd and State Streets in Chicago.

All junior and high school students in the Chicago area, as well as their parents and teachers, are invited to NCD at IIT. No pre-registration is required. Admission is free.

NCD at IIT’s theme is “The Many Faces of Chemistry”. The day will focus on having fun while exploring chemistry, learning why people decide to become chemists and about careers in science.

Now in its 20th year, more than 1000 students, parents and teachers are expected to attend this year’s program. Participants will be treated to poster, poetry and other contests, hands-on workshops and chemistry demonstrations. The finale will be “Chemistry Idol” where high school students will perform feats involving chemistry. Boy Scouts have the opportunity to fulfill the requirements to earn their chemistry merit badge. IIT will offer a tour of five of its Life Sciences research labs.

Exhibitors from industry, academia, and government agencies will include Abbott Labs, Argonne National Laboratory, Alberto Culver, Aerosol Industrial Development Assoc., BP, Blistex, Cargill, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Public Schools, DEA, Flinn Scientific, Illinois State Police, Illinois Poison Control, Illinois Water Environmental Association, Illinois Attorney General's Office, Kraft, Luster Hair Care, McCrone Research Institute, Nalco, Project Seed, Seibel, Sigma-Aldrich, Society for Cosmetic Chemists, University of Illinois-Chicago, U.S. Customs Service, Women Chemists Committee, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and more. Scientists and chemists from IIT, Columbia College, Honeywell International, Nalco, Northwestern University will present.

Notes to Reporters and Editors: Details about the acts scheduled for "Chemistry Idol" are not yet available, but rumor has it that dry ice and oozing pumpkins will be involved.

Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting university with more than 7,300 students in engineering, sciences, architecture, psychology, design, humanities, business and law. IIT’s interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum is designed to advance knowledge through research and scholarship, to cultivate invention improving the human condition, and to prepare students from throughout the world for a life of professional achievement, service to society, and individual fulfillment. Visit www.iit.edu.