2006 was a year rich in activities at the HBCS. Beside the monthly meetings (6) featuring invited speakers and a career fair, one planning meeting of the Executive Board (in June) took place. Topics varied trying to attract a broad spectrum of participants from our area: students, chemists from companies and academia and chemical engineers. As a new approach interdisciplinary topics and contacts with scientists from other fields were sought. The members of the section participated in a series of lectures, part of different local and national programs, and an undergraduate poster session was organized.

The subsection continued its cooperation with the Sigma Xi chapter of Ramapo College, the Rockland Chemical Society, and the chemistry clubs of member colleges (Fairleigh Dickinson University - Teaneck Campus, Ramapo College, New Jersey City University, and Essex County College).

HBCS also brings chemistry and community together by organizing events where high schools from the area are invited and their students are introduced to chemistry and life beyond high school. During the National Chemistry Week they were invited at FDU where they were told about careers in chemistry and other sciences and hands-on activities were organized as well. Along the same lines, education of the public about chemistry, HBCS organized twice "The Magic of Chemistry" - two sessions each time. Over 600 high school students attended these events.

Student members of the subsection participated in the section's activities and in research related activities. The students' academic achievements and research were acknowledged at the Student Achievement Award Night, in April. Students involved in research presented their results in an Undergraduate Research Symposium held the same day. Some of the students involved in research presented their results at the Undergraduate Research Symposium organized by the ACS-NY section at St. John University.

Members of the section involved in research presented papers at regional, national and international meetings, some of them having students involved in that as well.

Subsection's Officers for 2006

Chair, Dr. Mihaela Leonida, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan Campus
Chair-elect, Dr. Hanae Haouari, New Jersey City University
Immediate Past-Chair, Dr. Stephen Anderson, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Secretary, Dr. Hanae Haouari, New Jersey City University
Treasurer, Dr. Thomas Dooley (June-April), Dr. Kenneth Yamaguchi

Board of Directors:
r. Robert Mentore
Dr. Kenneth Yamaguchi
Dr. Grace Borowitz
Dr. Irving Borowitz
Dr. Thomas Dooley
Prof. Rudolph Jones
Mr. Sorin Diaconesc

1. Topic: The Magic of Chemistry was held at Ramapo College, on February 10 - Two sessions. Presenter: Dr. Ariel Fenster - McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Attendance: ~ 300

2. The monthly meeting jointly with the Sigma Xi chapter of Ramapo College and with the Rockland Chemical Society, was held at Ramapo College of New Jersey on February 10, 2006.
Topic: The Chemistry of Wine
Speaker: Dr. Ariel Fenster, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Attendance: 60

3. Career and Pre-Professional Fair for undergraduate students, on February 22, 2006, at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Participants: professional and graduate schools and employers for science majors. Attendance: over 80 students.

4. Members of the section (including 6 students participated attended the Nichols Medal symposium and dinner.

5. Chemistry undergraduates presented posters at the New Jersey Academy Annual Symposium.

6. The monthly meeting jointly with the Sigma Xi chapter of Ramapo College and with Rockland Chemical Society, was held at Ramapo College of New Jersey on March 30, 2006.
Topic: In Search of the Magic Lasso: The Truth about the Polygraph
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Fienberg - Carnegie Mellon University.
Attendance: 35

7. Monthly meeting jointly with the School of Natural Sciences of Fairleigh Dickinson University, and 8th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and Student Award Night, Friday April 28, 2006, at Fairleigh - Teaneck.
Topic: Time Resolved Fluorescence Studies of U1A Protein Dynamics
Speaker Dr. Joseph Knee of Wesleyan University.
Attendance: 72. Certificates and books were presented to the awardees and to the student presenters. 30 posters were presented. Posters were also presented by students from Bergen Academies. Dr. Knee talked also about graduate school in chemistry.

8. On June 9 a Board meeting took place. The meeting began at 12 pm in the Dickinson Hall, FDU. The topics for the following monthly meetings were discussed as were proposals for officers for 2007. The following members will serve on the Board for 2007: Hanae Haouari - Chair, Kenneth Yamaguchi - Treasurer, Sorin Diaconescu - Secretary and Chair-elect for 2008. Board members: Stephen Anderson, Rudy Jones, Grace and Irving Borowitz, Mihaela Leonida, Rob Mentore, and Art Felix.

9. Monthly meeting, Friday, September 29, 2006, at New Jersey City University.
Topic: Hydrosilylation and hydrostannation of alkynes
Speaker: John Sheridan of Rutgers University
Attendance: 15 (lecture and dinner)

10. Celebrations of the National Chemistry Week in the HBCS subsection included a Discovery Day for Sciences held at FDU on October 20. Students from several high schools in the area participated. Dr. Mihaela Leonida talked about being a chemistry student and a major in other natural sciences as well. Then the students, with the help of graduate and undergraduate students from FDU, worked on experiments demonstrating the role of chemistry in forensics, chemistry in the help of the environment (Dr. Benzecry and McClary) and Prof. Peter Schaeffer demonstrated what are the laser beams and their use in medical diagnostic.

11. Monthly meeting jointly with the School of Natural Sciences of Fairleigh Dickinson University, November 3, 2006, at FDU.
Topic: Non-traditional Careers for Chemists
Panelists:Dr. Karin Bartels - patent law
Dr. Igor Goljer - instrumentation and training
Dr. Carolyn Merkel - consultant small businesses
Dr. Yizhe Wang - global commercial strategy
Attendees: 50

12. The monthly meeting jointly with the Sigma Xi chapter of Ramapo College and with the Rockland Chemical Society, was held at Ramapo College of New Jersey on December 1, 2006.
Topic: Miracle Materials
Speaker: Dr. Ariel Fenster, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.