2009-10-28:
October Dinner Meeting Celebrating National Chemistry Week

In celebration of National Chemistry Week, our dinner presentation will include a couple of fun activities. Dress up as your favorite element and win a prize! Bring a can of food to be donated to a local food bank (cans are elemental!) and win a prize.

Abstract: Have you ever wondered why the periodic table is often presented in several different configurations? Which elements comprise the d-block versus the f-block? Laurence Lavelle of UCLA will discuss his preference for the standard periodic table as discussed in his recent publications on this topic (J.Chem.Educ., 2008, 85, 1482-83; J. Chem. Educ., 2008, 85, 1491; J.Chem.Educ., 2009 Oct. In press). This presentation is part of the ACS National Chemistry week theme of “Chemistry–It’s Elemental!” Come and discover more about one of the most famous scientific tables that continually grows – the Periodic Table!

Biography: Laurence Lavelle earned his B.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. degrees in Chemistry from the University of Cape Town. His M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in molecular biophysics are from Princeton University, and he is currently a University Distinguished Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA. His popular Chemistry classes are filled to capacity with over 2000 enrolled undergraduate students per year and he supervises over 30 teaching assistants and tutors. Laurence is also active in research and has published in the areas of host-guest chemistry, DNA and RNA stability and structure, and virus stability and self-assembly. He has earned numerous awards for his research and teaching including the coveted 2009 UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award!

Cost: There is a choice of Coq au Vin (chicken cooked in red wine sauce with mushrooms and pearl onions) or Beef Bourguignon (tender pieces of beef in burgundy wine mushroom sauce). Vegetarian entrees available upon request. The cost of the luncheon is $31 per person including tax, tip, and wine with dinner; cash or check at the door. There is a $2.50 charge to park in the lot or there is meter parking on the street.

Reservations: Please call Nancy Paradiso in the Section Office at 310 327-1216 or email office-at-scalacs-dot-org by Monday, October 26, 2009 for reservations. Note: Please honor your reservation. If you make a reservation and do not attend, you will be liable for the cost of the dinner.

Directions: From the 101 Freeway Northbound: Exit Alvarado, right on Alvarado, right on Sunset. From the 101 Southbound: Exit Alvarado, left on Alvarado, right on Sunset.