Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sara Cottle

@saralea.bsky.social

360 followers 270 following 160 posts

Sr. News Editor, @cenmag 🔭📷 Filmmaker, environmental storytelling, West Virginian, probably biking. Views posted here are my own.

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Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 12d

I’ve been on flashes for photosharing and forgot to share some peeks into a glorious WV weekend (and perpetual reminder what connecting with nature can do for your soul). 🥹

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 14d

It's that time of year #ChemSky. Make sure to register for a fun conversation.

Laura Howes @laurahowes.bsky.social · 14d

It gets earlier every year... Next Wednesday, join me and an expert panel to discuss who might win the 2025 #ChemNobel. Free to attend.

Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 2–3 PM ET

Register here: lnkd.in/eD8cdWRS

A web page asking who will win the #chemnobel?

Reposted by Sara Cottle

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 15d

Scientists recently analyzed the brightness of autumn leaf color across several mountain sites in Japan between 2011 and 2020, compared the results to climate data, and discovered that warmer temperatures and leaves opening earlier in spring led to less vibrant hues. cen.acs.org/biological-c...

Leaf peepers in Japan finding duller forests thanks to climate change

In Japan, warming temperatures may hamper an ancient tradition of leaf-peeping

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 26d

In early Dec., scientists will gather in Hawaii for what will be an international experience that combines beautiful scenery, cutting-edge science and research, and networking across the chemistry enterprise.

Laurel Schafer, the chair of #Pacifichem2025, has some tips: cen.acs.org/acs-news/mee...

Tips and tricks for attending Pacifichem 2025 from Laurel Schafer

The committee planning chair shares insights into ways to spend downtime on the island, as well as her approach to networking, and symposia and events she’s most looking forward to ahead of the confer...

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 27d

The 2025 fall-election candidates include those for president-elect, District II director, District IV director, and director-at-large. Ballots will be distributed starting Sept. 25, with a voting deadline of Oct. 10 at noon Central time.

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 27d

The @acs.org 2025 candidate election statements are now available on @cenmag.bsky.social (and will be available in the Sept. print issue): cen.acs.org/acs-news/ele...

2025 candidates’ election statements and backgrounds

The 2025 fall-election candidates include those for president-elect, District II director, District IV director, and director-at-large

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 28d

50 years of ACS policy fellowships, a little history on science in policymaking, and a look at how scientists can offer unique insights online on @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/acs-news/gov...

Scientists in Congress: 50 years of ACS Public Policy Fellowships

The scientific society has supported 100 fellows interested in policy over the last 50 years, with many going on to pursue high-level jobs in policy

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 28d

The challenge for policymakers is that they don’t always have a background in the topic that legislation is being made on—and they’re not expected to be experts in everything. “But they need to understand these issues to develop policies about them,” Lewis says.

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · 28d

While not all policies are directly related to science, Lewis makes the point that many policy issues today are scientific in nature, citing climate change, energy, public health, manufacturing, critical materials, and science, technology, engineering, and math education, to name a few.

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 20

ACS Council approved establishing the Committee on the Advancement of LGBTQ+ Chemists in their fall council meeting today + other actions: cen.acs.org/acs-news/acs...

#Chemsky

ACS Fall 2025 council meeting outcomes

The ACS Council approved establishing the Committee on the Advancement of LGBTQ+ Chemists and an international sciences chapter in Guatemala, and changing other committee names and duties

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 20

Read more about this character's personality in encouraging kids to get excited about science and what goes into being a mole handler (bet you never hear that one before) on @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/acs-news/acs...

Meg A. Mole teaches kids to get excited about chemistry at ACS Kids Zone in Washington, DC

The mascot encourages kids to get interested in chemistry at community-oriented events like ACS Kids Zone

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 20

This year, as part of #ACSFall2025, I looked at Kids Zone a little bit differently--through the role of the famous ACS mascot, Meg A. Mole.

Meg A. Mole teaches kids to get excited about chemistry at ACS Kids Zone in Washington, DC

The mascot encourages kids to get interested in chemistry at community-oriented events like ACS Kids Zone

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 14

"Volunteering also gives me moral and emotional satisfaction from contributing, even in small ways, to building a better society. Everyone should come forward to help create a better future."

Mohammad N. Siddiqui chats about chairing an international chapter: cen.acs.org/acs-news/Moh...

Mohammad N. Siddiqui chats about chairing an international chapter

The professor of chemistry shares his experience as an ACS member in Saudi Arabia

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 6

🔹 ACS revealed a new strategic plan at the start of this year, Mary highlights a sampling of initiatives that align with the society's core values, and lets you know about some upcoming petitions that will voted on by ACS Council at ACS Fall 2025: cen.acs.org/acs-news/com...

Comment: Amplifying initiatives aligned with the ACS core values

Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN): Keeping you up to date with the chemistry news that matters most. Published by the American Chemical Society.

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 6

🔹 Unprecedented challenges abound this year, John writes about supporting chemists in these times: cen.acs.org/acs-news/com...

Comment: Facing the fallout: Supporting chemists amid unprecedented policy shifts and job cuts

Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN): Keeping you up to date with the chemistry news that matters most. Published by the American Chemical Society.

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 6

🔹 Did you know ACS has a public policy fellowship program for scientists interested in policy? Ann shares details about the 50th anniversary and talks about how to get involved in policy as a scientist: cen.acs.org/acs-news/com...

Comment: 50 Years of leadership: Celebrating the ACS public policy fellows

Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN): Keeping you up to date with the chemistry news that matters most. Published by the American Chemical Society.

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Aug 6

Comment authors, Mary Carroll, John Gavenonis, and Ann Kimble-Hill, have been sharing some timely thoughts in the ACS News section these past few weeks:

#ChemSky #ScienceNews

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jul 14

Team USA brought home gold for the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad. They received their medals during a closing ceremony held on Sunday.

cen.acs.org/acs-news/pro...

@cenmag.bsky.social @acs.org

Team USA brings home gold at 57th International Chemistry Olympiad

All 4 team members received a gold medal during a closing ceremony on July 13

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jul 8

🔹 ACS designates 2 new National Historic Chemical Landmarks, Magnesium extraction from seawater and separating uranium isotopes join a list of achievements in chemistry history like discovering penicillin and developing Scotch tape: cen.acs.org/acs-news/pro...

ACS designates 2 new National Historic Chemical Landmarks

Magnesium extraction from seawater and separating uranium isotopes join a list of achievements in chemistry history like discovering penicillin and developing Scotch tape

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jul 8

🔹 Dean J. Tantillo named 2025 Leete Awardee (The professor is recognized for his outstanding contributions to teaching and research in organic chemistry): cen.acs.org/people/award...

Dean J. Tantillo named 2025 Leete Awardee

The professor is recognized for his outstanding contributions to teaching and research in organic chemistry

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jul 8

🔹 CAS and Cleveland Clinic band together to fight Alzheimer’s, the team uses world-class data curation and quantum computing in the fight against the disease: cen.acs.org/acs-news/CAS...

CAS and Cleveland Clinic band together to fight Alzheimer’s

The team uses world-class data curation and quantum computing in the fight against the disease

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jul 8

Catching up on some ACS News in @cenmag.bsky.social from the last couple of weeks (🧵):

🔹 ACS is seeking nominations for the 2027 American Chemical Society National Awards (the deadline for submitting materials is Nov. 1): cen.acs.org/people/award...

#ChemSky #ScienceNews

Nominations sought for 2027 American Chemical Society National Awards

The deadline to submit all nominating materials is Nov. 1

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jun 30

Congrats Wes! I only browsed the list but there was some very cool projects in there. Cant wait to hear about the research later on.

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jun 27

This week researchers, educators, industry professionals, and others interested in the chemistry enterprise gathered in Pittsburgh for the 29th annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference. 🧪

More on the programming + what attendees thought on @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/acs-news/mee...

Health and well-being take the stage at the 29th annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference

Workshops, technical symposia, and the American Chemical Society signing the Stockholm Declaration on Chemistry for the Future

Sara Cottle @saralea.bsky.social · Jun 27

One of those actions was approving a list of ACS PRF grantees, which totaled $8,630,000 in researcher investments: cen.acs.org/acs-news/ACS...

ACS Board approves 80 new American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund grants

The spring 2025 grants total $8,630,000 in researcher investments