Chandler Society
The Chandler Society for Undergraduate Chemistry is a club run by undergraduates for the purpose of promoting enjoyment and knowledge of science, particularly chemistry. The club is involved in a variety of activities, from teaching young students about STEM and organizing talks with professors to performing fun chemistry experiments during weekly meetings and giving club members advice. Every year, we try to expand our scope of activities, so we’re always happy to have new members with fresh ideas and an interest in science!
The Grandpierre Memorial Lecture
The Grandpierre Lecture is an annual colloquium organized by the Chandler Society in which a professor from a top research institution is invited to Columbia to give a talk about their work. The lecture series is held in honor of Paul Grandpierre, a Chemistry major and 1987 graduate of Columbia College who passed away in the summer of 1991 during his graduate studies at Cambridge University. Speakers are chosen by the Chandler Society based the strength of their contribution to undergraduate science education and the strength and interest of their research. As part of the lecture students have the opportunity to meet with the speaker, allowing undergraduate students the chance to get to know an eminent research scientist. Past speakers have included Professor William Jorgensen from Yale University, Professor Moungi Bawendi from MIT, Professor Michael Hecht from Princeton University, among many others.
2020-2021 Speaker: Mei Hong, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Girls' Science Day
Every semester, the Chandler Society designs and leads an experiment for Girls’ Science Day. Girls’ Science Day is a STEM outreach event intended to teach middle school girls about science. Through this event, we encourage girls to pursue STEM and empower them with scientific knowledge. The Chandler Society is particularly famous for their Strawberry DNA Extraction experiment, which is always a blast for the girls and club members alike.
National Chemistry Week
Hosted by the American Chemical Society (ACS), National Chemistry Week (NCW) celebrates chemistry and creates awareness surrounding the value of chemistry in everyday life. One week each fall, ACS organizes events of a specific chemistry theme, including a day for the general public to partake in chemistry demonstrations and experiments planned by volunteers. As a club whose values align with NCW and the ACS, every year, the Chandler Society volunteers to showcase an experiment during NCW to spread our passion for chemistry.
Meetings: Wednesdays, 7:45pm, in 711 Havemeyer Hall
If you have questions or would like to be added to our email list, email us at [email protected]. The email list is updated on events and meetings, so if you can’t make it on Wednesdays you can still be involved in our activities!
Follow us on Instagram @chandler_society and Facebook @The Chandler Society for Undergraduate Chemistry