FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 15, 2014

American Idol meets science communications in the #ChemChamps contest (video)

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2014 â€� In an effort to find and train promising science communicators â€� perhaps even find the "Carl Sagan of chemistry" â€� the American Chemical Öйú365betÖÐÎĹÙÍø (ACS) is launching the Chemistry Champions contest. Semifinalists in the contest will be flown to the ACS National Meeting in San Francisco for communications training and finalists will compete in front of a live audience. Contest details are available at http://www.acs.org/chemchamps.

The first round of the contest asks scientists to explain their research to the general public in a fun, two- to three-minute video. A sample video for the contest, available at , tells the story of William Henry Perkin, whose communications skills helped him parlay his accidental discovery of mauve dye into a fashion craze, ushering in the lucrative synthetic dye market and other science-based industries.

Youtube ID: JO7X1FsANqY

For more communications best practices, view the #chemchamps live video stream on science communication on Friday, May 16 at 1:30pm EST, featuring ChemChamps' Darcy Gentleman, Ph.D. Viewers can watch and ask questions at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive.

Contest submissions are due by June 6.

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The American Chemical Öйú365betÖÐÎĹÙÍø (ACS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community and champion scientific integrity, and its vision is a world built on science. The Öйú365betÖÐÎĹÙÍø is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACSâ€� main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

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Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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