The ACU Chemistry Club is anticipating several changes this year. Soon to be renamed the American Chemical Society Student Chapter, the club expects to be certified as an ACS Student Chapter before the end of November.

Jade Jung, senior chemistry major from Busan, South Korea, is enthusiastic about the club’s growth and success.

“I thought it was time for the ACU Chemistry and Biochemistry Department to have our own ACS student chapter,” Jung said. “In this way, we can be sponsored by the national organization as well as nationally recognized. My friends and I decided to start this project because it is one of the little things we can do for ACU before we graduate.”

Jung said the club aims to increase interest and foster a greater sense of community among chemistry majors. Activities in the past have included the Chemistry Circus for Homecoming, a spring field trip and departmental Chapels. Jung said the club is open to anyone interested – not just chemistry majors.

“Anyone who is willing to reach out to our community through various methods involving chemistry can join,” Jung said.

As part of this weekend’s Homecoming events, the club will feature a Chemistry Circus at Friday’s carnival and a float in Saturday’s Homecoming Parade. Acts in the Homecoming Chemistry Circus will include a flaming gummy bear, colored fire, non-burning money and a flame tornado.

The Homecoming Chemistry Circus will be the first of a series of chemistry circuses the club is planning this year for organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and local elementary schools. Jung encouraged other Abilene organizations interested in having a chemistry circus to contact the club.

Club members also are preparing for their upcoming field trip on Oct. 26.

“A group of students is going to UT Southwestern Graduate School in order to see what it is like to be pursuing a masters or Ph.D. in chemistry-related fields,” Jung said.

Next semester, the club plans to host a science fair for elementary school students to encourage a greater interest in science.

“You have no idea how scared I was when I found out that I had to take general chemistry my freshman year,” Jung said. “However, at the end, I ended up enjoying that class a lot and changed my major to chemistry.  I think that fear came from not being exposed to much chemistry when I was young.”

Rachel Whittaker, senior biochemistry major from Cartersville, Ga., added her excitement about the direction the club is taking.

“The Chemistry Club is really excited to be getting off the ground this year and we can’t wait to get everything going,” Whittaker said. “We really want to positively impact campus with science.”