Academia
Education. Discovery. Inspiring the next generation.
Steel City Chemistry
Past, Present, and Future
Bridging Academia, Industry, and Community in Pittsburgh
Open to the public · Free to attend Registration and poster abstracts closed Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Skyline photograph courtesy of Samuel Leung
Three Rivers. Three Pillars. One Mission: Advancing Chemistry for a Better World.
About the event
Celebrate Pittsburgh chemistry — and help shape what comes next.
A one-day ACS150 anniversary celebration convening leaders from academia, industry, education, and community organizations to honor Pittsburgh’s chemistry legacy and shape its future.
Community
Impact. Partnership. Building a stronger, sustainable future.
Industry
Innovation. Technology. Turning chemistry into solutions.
Event experience
Why attend
Hear from ACS national leadership and leading Pittsburgh voices; connect across industry, academia, education, and community; view student research; and celebrate 150 years of ACS.
Audience
Who should attend
Chemical professionals, students, faculty, educators, industry leaders, innovators, community partners, government representatives, and anyone interested in Pittsburgh’s chemistry story.
Organizers
Built by Pittsburgh’s chemistry community.
Presented by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society, hosted at the University of Pittsburgh, with participation from chemistry leaders across Pittsburgh universities, industry, education, and community organizations.
Event Co-Chairs
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Ronghong Lin, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Chair, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
Director, Aquatech -
Haitao Liu, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
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Bruce A. Armitage, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Department Head, Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
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Mihaela-Rita Mihailescu, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Department Chair, Chemistry, Duquesne University
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Tracy Lunt, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Global Technical Director, PPG
Organizing Committee
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Niharika Botcha, PhD
Registration & Program Co-Chair
Chair-Elect, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
Special Lecturer, Carnegie Mellon University -
Kristin Nuzzio, PhD
Registration & Program Co-Chair
Secretary, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
Business Analysis Expert, PPG -
David Heisler, PhD
Student Poster & Awards Chair
Assistant Professor, Duquesne University
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Samuel Leung, PhD
Communications, Technology & AV Chair
Immediate Past Chair, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
Research Engineer, Braskem America -
Max Langhorst
Webmaster & Digital Communications Chair
Undergraduate Student, Carnegie Mellon University
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Evonne Baldauff, PhD
Logistics & Venue Chair
Director, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
Assistant Provost, Waynesburg University -
Medha Gangopadhyay
Volunteer & Event Support Chair
Chair, WCC Pittsburgh Chapter
PhD Student, Carnegie Mellon University
Program
A full day organized around Pittsburgh chemistry.
Legacy, leadership, innovation, and the next generation — four sessions from breakfast to closing remarks.
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Registration, Breakfast & Networking
Arrival
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Session I — Celebrating Pittsburgh Chemistry
Opening & ACS150
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Morning Coffee Break & Networking
Break
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Session II — Pittsburgh’s Industrial Chemistry Legacy and Future
Industry
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Lunch, Networking & Poster Viewing
Posters
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Session III — Research Innovation and Workforce Development
Academia & Education
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Afternoon Coffee Break & Poster Viewing
Break
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Session IV — Student Posters and Awards: The Next Generation of Chemistry
Students
Detailed agenda
Session I Opening Session — Celebrating Pittsburgh Chemistry
Host: Ronghong Lin, PhD — Chair, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
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Welcome and Opening Remarks Ronghong Lin, PhD — Chair, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
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Host Institution Welcome Joseph J. McCarthy, PhD — Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh
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Legacy Partner Remarks Brian Strohmeier, PhD — President, Pittcon 2027
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Special ACS National Remarks Al Horvath — CEO, American Chemical Society
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Pittsburgh Chemistry Legacy: Where Rivers Meet — How Pittsburgh Turned Chemistry into Community Denise Callihan — Manager, R&D Library Shared Services, PPG
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Opening Keynote: Chemistry is Everywhere — ACS Together Rigoberto Hernandez, PhD — President, American Chemical Society
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Group Photo, Transition, and Announcements
Session II Industry Session — Pittsburgh’s Industrial Chemistry Legacy and Future
Host: Tracy Lunt, PhD — Global Technical Director, PPG
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Session Welcome and Introduction Tracy Lunt, PhD — Global Technical Director, PPG
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Industry Keynote: Chemistry Fuels Change — From Industrial Legacy to Sustainable Innovation Leroy M. Ball — CEO and Board Chair, Koppers
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Industry Panel Tracy Lunt, PhD, PPG (Moderator) · Ning Li, PhD, NovoLINC Inc. · Jenalle Brewer, Calgon Carbon Corp. · Adam Polcyn, PhD, Vitro · Arash Parsi, PhD, Westinghouse Electric Co.
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Session Wrap-Up and Transition to Lunch
Session III Academia and Education — Research Innovation and Workforce Development
Host: Bruce Armitage, PhD — Department Head, Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
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Session Welcome and Introduction Bruce Armitage, PhD — Department Head, Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
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Academic Keynote: Macromolecular Engineering via ATRP — Synthesis and Applications Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, PhD — Carnegie Mellon University, Member of NAE and NAS
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Academic, Education, Innovation, and Workforce Panel Kim Woznack, PhD, PennWest University (Moderator) · Dave Yaron, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University · Nathaniel Rosi, PhD, University of Pittsburgh · Kevin L. Jenkins, Manchester Bidwell Corporation · Melanie Manes, EdD, North Allegheny Intermediate High School
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Session Wrap-Up and Transition
Session IV Student Posters and Awards — The Next Generation of Chemistry
Host: Haitao Liu, PhD — Professor, University of Pittsburgh
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Poster Viewing and Judging
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Session Welcome and Introduction Haitao Liu, PhD — Professor, University of Pittsburgh
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Featured Talk Christina Bodurow, PhD — President-Elect, American Chemical Society
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Poster Award Ceremony David Heisler, PhD — Assistant Professor, Duquesne University
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Closing Remarks Niharika Botcha, PhD — Chair-Elect, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
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Adjourn
Confirmed speakers
National ACS leadership and Pittsburgh voices.
Across academia, industry, education, and community.
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Opening Keynote
Rigoberto Hernandez, PhD
President
American Chemical Society
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Academic Keynote
Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, PhD
Professor; Member of NAE and NAS
Carnegie Mellon University
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Industry Keynote
Leroy Ball
CEO and Board Chair
Koppers
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ACS National Remarks
Albert G. Horvath
Chief Executive Officer
American Chemical Society
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Featured Speaker
Christina Bodurow, PhD
President-Elect
American Chemical Society
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Program Speaker
Denise Callihan
Manager, R&D Library Shared Services
PPG
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Host Institution Welcome
Joseph J. McCarthy, PhD
Provost & Senior Vice Chancellor
University of Pittsburgh
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Legacy Partner
Brian R. Strohmeier, PhD
President
Pittcon 2027
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Industry Panel Moderator
Tracy Lunt, PhD
Global Technical Director
PPG
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Industry Panel
Ning Li, PhD
CEO
NovoLINC Inc.
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Industry Panel
Jenalle Brewer
Senior Vice President & Assistant General Manager
Calgon Carbon
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Industry Panel
Adam Polcyn, PhD
Senior Vice President, Research & Development
Vitro
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Industry Panel
Arash Parsi, PhD
Fellow Scientist
Westinghouse Electric Co.
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Education Panel Moderator
Kim Woznack, PhD
Professor
PennWest University
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Education Panel
Dave Yaron, PhD
Professor
Carnegie Mellon University
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Education Panel
Nathaniel Rosi, PhD
Department Chair, Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
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Education Panel
Kevin L. Jenkins
President & CEO
Manchester Bidwell Corporation
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Education Panel
Melanie Manes, EdD
Assistant Principal
North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Student posters
Showcase the next generation of chemistry.
Graduate, undergraduate, and high school students are invited to present their research during the poster sessions.
The poster sessions
- Poster viewing during lunch and the afternoon break
- Dedicated judging period: 3:30 – 4:30 PM
- Awards announced before closing remarks
- ACS membership reimbursement for presenters who join or renew
The call for abstracts closed September 16, 2026. Accepted presenters will hear from us by email.
Poster categories
- Organic & Medicinal Chemistry
- Inorganic, Materials & Polymer Chemistry
- Physical & Computational Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry & Chemical Biology
- Environmental, Sustainable & Applied Chemistry
Information for poster presenters
Poster categories
Because of the number and distribution of submissions received, some of the originally planned subject categories have been consolidated so that each category is a meaningful competition. Check the Poster Abstract Book for your final assigned category and Poster ID.
Poster size
Please prepare your poster at 36 inches high × 48 inches wide.
Arrival and setup
Poster boards will be set up in advance, each labeled with a Poster ID.
- Check in at the registration desk first and collect your name badge.
- Find the board showing your Poster ID and mount your poster there.
- Be set up and ready for viewing before 12:20 PM if you can, and no later than 3:30 PM.
- Stay near your poster during the 3:30 – 4:30 PM judging period.
Cash awards
- Overall awards: two graduate, one undergraduate, and one high school.
- Subject category awards: one award in each subject category, for both the graduate and the undergraduate divisions.
ACS membership reimbursement
Poster presenters who buy a new ACS membership or renew an existing one are eligible for reimbursement. Keep your payment receipt and submit it after the event.
Sponsorship
Put your organization in front of Pittsburgh’s chemistry community.
Sponsorship supports scientific exchange, student development, workforce connection, and the ACS150 celebration.
Platinum
$10,000
Top billing across the event, with the largest logo placement throughout.
Gold
$5,000
Prominent recognition across event materials and the sponsor wall.
Silver
$2,500
Logo placement and recognition throughout the day.
Bronze
$1,000
Named recognition in the program and on the sponsor wall.
Or email Ronghong Lin directly at dr.ronghong.lin@gmail.com.
Confirmed sponsors
Thank you to the organizations helping make Steel City Chemistry possible.
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Special thanks to
Venue & logistics
William Pitt Union
William Pitt Union
University of Pittsburgh
3959 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
University of Pittsburgh
3959 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Parking
Self-parking is available at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Parking Garage, near the William Pitt Union. The weekend flat rate is $5 per day. Please note there are no in-and-out privileges.
Accessibility & dietary needs
For accessibility requests or dietary accommodations, email steelcitychemistryacs@gmail.com. Please get in touch as soon as you can so we can plan for it.