SERMACS The Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Inc.

Welcome!

This web page serves as a resource for the American Chemical Society Southeastern Regional Meeting Board (SERMACS, Inc.). Formerly known as the Steering Committee, the Board selects the location of the Southeastern Regional Meetings, administers regional ACS awards, and provides guidance to meeting planners. Here you will find links to documents, meetings, and other SERMACS information. Please contact Herman Holt (SERMACS Secretary) with your comments, corrections, or questions.

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Jordan Poler

Jordan Poler

SERMACS Inc. Chair 2019

Next Meeting

index

https://www.sermacs2019.org/

Check the website often for updated information.

Recognition

SERMACS, Inc. would like to thank Augusta, GA (Savannah River) for hosting SERMACS 2018. Thank you Christopher Bannochie and your team of organizers for a great meeting. We now look forward to SERMACS 2019 in Savannah, GA October 20-23. Check out sermacs2019.org for more information. Congratulations to Christopher again, as he becomes SERMACS Inc. Chair Elect for 2019 (Chair 2020). Thank you Marc Ter Horst (North Carolina) for serving as Chair for 2018.

About Our Chair

Jordan Poler

Jordan Poler, PhD is a materials chemist at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is a member of the Carolina Piedmont Local Section of the ACS. The Poler Research Group consists of students from the Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program, the Optical Science and Engineering Ph.D. program, the Master’s of Science program in Chemistry, undergraduates from various disciplines (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Engineering, and Math), and high school students from around the state. We pursue fundamental studies of molecular and nanoscale systems to understand directed and self-assembly processes. We aim to understand directed and self-assembly processes. We aim to design new particles and materials with higher functionality and effectiveness. Our long-term interests are toward: novel mechanisms for mechanical transducers and sensors in NEMS, energy storage in supercapacitors, catalytic solar fuel production, water purification, and optical metamaterials.

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Christopher Bannochie is the Chair Elect and incoming Chair

Christopher Bannochie

Chris Bannochie is currently a Senior Fellow and Manager of the Procedures & Training Department for the Savannah River National Laboratory. He received a B.A. degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from St. John’s University and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Texas A&M University under the Distinguished Professor Arthur E. Martell. He was a post-doctoral fellow under Professor Michael J. Welch at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. In 1991, he joined the Savannah River National Laboratory. From 1998 – 2001, he was a Visiting Scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. His research area involves process development and analytical characterization, particularly the speciation of mercury in high- and low-level nuclear waste streams, in support of vitrification and cementitious stabilization.

Dr. Bannochie is a fellow of the American Chemical Society (2009) and an inductee of Sigma Xi and Phi Lambda Upsilon. and has won numerous awards including the ACS Division of Professional Relations Louis J. Sacco Award (2014), the ACS E. Ann Nalley Southeastern Regional Award for Volunteer Service (2012), the NOGSLTP Walt Westman Award (2007), the ACS Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Promoting Diversity in the Chemical Sciences (2005), and a George Westinghouse Signature Award (1992).

Dr. Bannochie serves or has served on several boards including those for Leadership Augusta, the Morris Museum of Art, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals, Augusta Pride, Georgia Equality, the NSF Open Chemistry Collaborative in Diversity Equity (OXIDE), and the Malta Conferences Foundation.

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SERMACS Inc.

Officers

  • Past Chair: Marc Ter Horst, North Carolina Section, (presided over 2018 meeting)
  • Chair Jordan Poler, Jordan Poler, (presides over 2019 meeting)
  • Chair-Elect: Chris Bannochie, Savannah River Local Section (becomes chair after 2019 meeting)
  • Treasurer: Tad Whiteside, Savannah River Section (3-year term 2017-2020)
  • Secretary: Herman Holt, Western Carolinas Section (3-year term 2017-2020)
  • Awards Committee Chair: Linette Watkins, Virginia Section
SERMACS Inc.

General Chairs

  • Most Recent Completed (2018 Augusta, GA) - Chris Bannochie, Savannah River Local Section
  • Next Future (2019 Savannah, GA) - Will Lynch, Coastal Georgia Local Section
  • Next Future (2020 New Orleans, LA) - Sean Hickey, New Orleans Local Section

    The SERMACS Executive Committee, which is empowered by the Bylaws to act on behalf of the Board (Steering Committee) between its annual meetings, comprises the five officers and the three general chairs (of the just completed, current, and nearest future meetings). The Board Chair also chairs the Executive Committee.