The 2011 Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that Pittcon will be celebrating the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) with programs such as Science Week, which will serve the city of Atlanta and surrounding communities, and on a more global level, the Technical Program, which will include sessions on how chemical research is critical for solving our most vexing global problems involving food, water, health, energy, and transportation. These activities will take place during Pittcon 2011, from March 13-18, at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

One of the goals of the IYC is to encourage interest in chemistry among young people and to generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry.  Science Week will support this effort by offering Student Workshops for elementary and middle school students, Teacher Workshops for continuing education, and, for high school students, a lecture/demo presented by Lee Marek-all at no charge to those who sign up to participate. In addition, faculty who attend a Teacher Workshop will qualify for a $1,000 grant to buy science equipment for their school.    

About IYC
The United Nations, in conjunction with the Executive Board of UNESCO, has proclaimed 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry (IYC).  The goals of IYC 2011 are to increase the public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs, to encourage interest in chemistry among young people, and to generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry. For more information, visit chemistry2011.org 
 
About Pittcon
Pittcon® is a registered trademark of The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, a Pennsylvania non-profit organization. Co-sponsored by the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh and the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, Pittcon is the premier annual conference and exposition on laboratory science. Proceeds from Pittcon fund science education and outreach at all levels, kindergarten through adult. Pittcon donates nearly a million dollars each year in the form of science equipment grants, research grants, scholarships and internships for students, awards to teachers and professors, and grants to public science centers, libraries and museums. Visit www.pittcon.org for more information.