Apr 26, 2014 – MARM Awards Dinner

MARM Awards Dinner

In conjunction with Middle Atlantic Regional Meeting (MARM), the South Jersey ACS Local Section is sponsoring the MARM Awards Dinner at the Courtyard Marriott, Glassboro on April 26, 2014.

• Poster Session presented by the Chemistry and Biochemistry Students of Rowan University and The Richard Stockton College.
• Poster Time: 2:30 pm-4:30 Located in the Science Hall Atrium, Rowan University
• Social Time: 5:00- 6:30 PM Marriot, Courtyard Hotel, Glassboro, NJ (walking distance of the Science Hall Atrium)
• Dinner to follow at the Marriot, Courtyard (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/phlgb-courtyard-glassboro-rowan-university/). Parking is available at the college and the hotel
• Buffet Dinner/Drinks: $25 per person, $10 per person if student presenting poster.
• RSVP by Wednesday, April 16th to Lei Yu, yu@rowan.edu
• Submit poster abstract to sjacs@gmail.com

Presentation of Awards: Representatives of Rowan University, Richard Stockton College and ACS, MARM/South Jersey ACS Section.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Pat N.Confalone

Bio:
Dr. Pat N.Confalone is a graduate of M.I.T. [1967]; he obtained a Ph.D. at Harvard [1970] with Nobel laureate Prof. R.B. Woodward. After a post doctoral stint [1971], also with Prof. R.B. Woodward, directed toward the total synthesis of Vitamin B12, he joined the Chemical Research Department of Hoffmann-La Roche [1972]. Moving to DuPont [1981], he contributed to the development of fluorescent DNA sequencing reagents employed in the human genome project, CozaarTM, a major anti-hypertensive based on angiotensin II antagonism and SustivaTM, a highly successful NNRTI used to treat AIDS. As Vice President, Global R&D, DuPont Crop Protection, he oversaw the successful development of Rynaxypyr™, the world’s safest insecticide and a huge blockbuster in agrichemicals. Total sales of these major life science products exceed $30 billion to-date. Dr. Confalone has presented >110 invited or plenary lectures worldwide, published >140 papers and obtained >50 U.S. Patents. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Harvard Graduate Society Prize, the Alpha Chi Sigma Award, and was nominated to the Harvard Society of Fellows. Dr. Confalone is on Editorial Advisory Boards of Current Drugs, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, The Journal of Organic Chemistry,
Synlett, Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Synthesis, Medicinal Chemistry Research, Medicinal Chemistry Letters, and Drug Design and Discovery. He was elected chair of the Organic Division of the ACS, chair of the ACS Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs, and was recently re-elected to the ACS Board of Directors. He is on the Board of Directors of the Council for Chemical Research, the Delaware Technology Park, the Green Chemistry Institute, the United States National Committee for IUPAC, and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Abstract:
R&D investment creates invention that drives innovation, leading to a vibrant economy, job creation, and immeasurable benefits to society. Invention is the conversion of cash into ideas and takes place in the laboratory. True innovation is the conversion of ideas into cash. This must occur in the marketplace. Innovation is driven by market insight, is data driven, fact based, stage gated, and these days, sustainability focused. It is not sufficient to simply “Do the work right.” We must also “Do the right work.” Market driven innovation begins with an unmet need in the marketplace, succeeds through intense collaboration, and really doesn’t count until you get paid! Hence, the entrepreneur must identify opportunities based on deep market knowledge, select the best opportunities for the business, integrate with both core and accessible competencies, and drive disruptive change, executing with the resources required to win. Throughout our economic history, the entrepreneur has played a critical role in commercializing inventions and creating jobs. In fact, across all US commerce, regardless of the industrial sector, about one million more jobs are created in small companies and start-ups than are lost in the large companies every year for the last quarter century. Focusing solely on the chemical sector, we’ve seen a steady decline in US based jobs over a twenty-year period from 1989- 2009, resulting in a loss of 300,000 total jobs. However, if we list the most significant challenges the planet faces going forward, be it heath care, alternative energy and its storage, food supply, abundant water, biofuels, biomaterials, and climate change, we also are pointing out the greatest opportunities for chemistry based start ups in decades. Fully 96% of all manufacturing processes have a chemistry component and are in need of process improvements and enhanced productivity. So this is how we will win: the US has the best research universities in the world. Vast sums of angel and venture capital are available [CA has more VC funds than any country, except, of course, the US]. We have a long tradition of science and technology driven innovation. Finally there are literally two centuries of entrepreneurship experience that has led to the great US based companies of today. The American Chemical Society has long focused on the large and mid-sized companies that had represented most of our industrial members. We are now turning the dial toward programs that will greatly assist our members who are interested in starting new companies to address the challenges I’ve outlined above and reap the rewards that true innovation promises. Our major initiative is the Entrepreneurial Resources Center, providing not only the necessary training for a budding entrepreneur, but also critical assistance and networking on key items such as fund raising, writing a business plan, patents, and regulatory matters, for example. In today’s world, the only real constant is change – change that occurs with greater frequency and increasing amplitude. The American Chemical Society is staying ahead of this curve, aiding and abetting our membership, because the one sure fact I can tell you the future is: it’s coming!!