BY CLAIRE PATTERSON / VN NEWS EDITOR
One of Detroit Mercy’s most active student groups aim to spread the joy of chemistry.
Chem Club is a student-run organization with a diverse group of students who come together to talk about chemistry and engage in community outreach.
The organization visits Detroit-area high schools and middle schools throughout the semester to teach about chemistry.
It is currently trying to branch out to more public schools.
“We did an event with the Girl Scouts and helped them earn their science badges,” said Hayden Cunningham, vice president of speakers and tours.
President Emily Forth used sugar cubes to show the girls how molecules are put together.
Chem Club is overseen by professor Matthew Mio and assistant professor Mara Livezey.
For senate members, there are no real requirements for membership.
However, if you want to be in an officer or e-board member, you are required to attend all meetings and have an American Chemical Society (ACS) membership, which is paid for by the chemistry department. There are no club dues to pay.
Not everyone in the group is studying chemistry.
Anyone can join. The group encourages students of different majors to belong and learn about chemistry.
“You can be any major and be in Chem Club,” said Forth. “I’m a bio major and I’m the president.”
The club is also involved within the Detroit Mercy campus, as well.
“Our club has the most outreach events out of all the clubs on campus,” said Kunal Desai, vice president of events. “We do a lot of stuff.”
Chem Club recently hosted an event with the Pre-Dental Student Association featuring a guest speaker.
The club also participates in Safety Street, a Halloween activity.
The student organization is involved with the community and spreading the word to promote chemistry to young kids.
Chem Club meets every Tuesday at dead hour.
At the end of every meeting, members do a demonstration.
The demonstrations are important to the meetings. Throughout the year the club attends different schools and performs the mini experiments.
“We need to practice the demos here and go over the safety precautions in order to perform them at schools,” said Forth.
Forth said the organization also partners with students in the Women’s and Gender Studies program.
“We have two Women in Science days where we have speakers come in and talk about what they do,” said Forth.
At the end of every year, the club has to write an extensive report of about 200 pages, detailing every meeting with photos.
