The New York Section, in conjunction with the New Rochelle Community, created a new community outreach program for National Chemistry Week using funding obtained through Local Section Innovative Grants Program.

Dr. Joe Schwarcz, who is one of North America’s foremost educator’s and Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, was invited to present several fun and informative talks in the New York area. Dr. Schwarcz is dedicated to demystifying science for the public, media and students and he is well known for his informative and entertaining public lectures on various topics.

Dr. Schwarz’s itinerary included two presentations at New Rochelle High School for teachers and students from the Bronx, Connecticut and Westchester County. Over 1600 guests attended the two presentations. Dr. Joe Schwarcz’s rhetorical approach captivated the audience. He sparked curiosity by posing questions the students could relate to such as “Have you ever wondered why for years there were no red M&M’s?”, “Why does popcorn pop?”, “Why are there holes in Swiss cheese?” and “Can chocolate really make you fall in love?” . Each question began with a story building suspense until the answer was revealed.

Dr. Schwarcz also addressed over 75 members of the High School Teachers Topical Group and the Chemistry Teachers Club of New York. In this presentation, Dr. Schwarcz and his intern, Melodie Ko, addressed scientific illiteracy focusing on misconceptions about the universal safety of “natural” substances and fear of “chemicals” in the foods and products encountered every day. Humor was injected with descriptions of bogus products like the Danish Water Revitalizer, a curved water pipe designed to restore “dead” water molecules whose bond angle had been reduced to 101 degrees by L-shaped pipes.

Communicating to the public about scientific issues is vitally important and this program achieved this goal by bringing so many people together to hear Dr. Schwarz, a highly effective communicator who is masterful at making chemistry relevant through real life examples and entertainment. In addition, this program strengthened the New York Sections relationship area high schools and communities.