To RSVP or for more information email Amanda Fuller at  executivedirecfor@kyscience.org


 

My name is Clair Ashley, and I just finished my first year of graduate school at the University of Kentucky in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences PhD program. My program started a short summer internship this year to give us the opportunity to be exposed to different career fields outside of academia, and I had the opportunity to work with the Science Policy Committee at KAS. Working with Amanda Fuller and Madison Flory, I was able to learn about how scientists can use our research and communication skills to help advise and inform our lawmakers when they are considering STEM-related legislation. I contacted state legislators with a STEM background to help build relationships and learn how KAS could be most helpful to them, and I have been working on a comprehensive policy brief about PFAS, or "forever chemicals", to be used as a resource when considering potential legislation regarding these chemicals in Kentucky. As a Kentucky native, I have really enjoyed getting to apply the skills I've learned as a scientist in a different way that could benefit the state as a whole. It has been a fantastic learning experience to get to interact with legislators and scientists across various fields, and I look forward to continue being involved with the KAS policy group throughout my graduate school career and beyond.

 

The KAS Excellence in Science Education & Outreach Award provides recognition for unique activities, educational programs, or approaches that have increased the involvement, engagement, and sustainability of science in the Commonwealth. The annual award is open to individual KAS members or groups of KAS members

Criteria
We define “outreach” activities as those geared to presenting science to lay audiences, rather than scientific professionals. We consider: 1) the nominee’s personal advocacy and involvement in public outreach initiatives and events, 2) overall impact on the public. Qualifying activities include lectures, presentations, demonstrations, hands-on-activities, seminars, symposia, exhibits, magazine articles, and radio and television appearances. Outreach venues should be in public venues such as schools, libraries, malls, museums, churches, shopping malls, parks, and other public locations.

Eligibility
Any KAS member or group of members is eligible for nomination. Nominations must be made by a KAS member other than the nominee.
Find additional details and nominate someone at our website
 

This month's Sharing Your Science feature comes from Murray State University.

Jonathan Lyon is an Assistant Professor in Murray State's Department of Chemistry where his research group utilizes experimental and computational methods to assess the reactivity of metal and semiconducting molecules with applications in alternative energy. 

Chemistry major, Camryn Newland, is an undergraduate researcher who began working with Lyon at Murray State University this past year. Newland was funded by the NSF-sponsored ACCESS MATCH program. Lyon shares, "ACCESS (which recently replaced its predecessor XSEDE program) in part strives to make high performance computing and cyberinfrastructure broadly available.  A part of ACCESS is dedicated to support, and one of the programs through the support section is the MATCH program.  In this MATCH program, a primary investigator submits a proposal for a project they would like to investigate using high performance computing.  If awarded, the project is then matched with a student who performs the work and an additional mentor to help with training and answer questions.  The MATCH team then works together, meeting frequently throughout the project duration to complete the proposed project."

While at Murray State, Newland also served as a teaching assistant in some chemistry courses. She graduated this spring and plans to participate in a Master's program here in Kentucky. Lyon was proud to share that "this was one of only seven programs offered so far nationwide, and the only one in the state of Kentucky." The team is working on a manuscript for publication and plans to attend KAS to present the work this fall. 

Click to read the full ACCESS article about the project and MATCH program.  

Want to shine a light on your work? Email scicomm@kyscience.org to get the conversation started. 

FREE Registration, agenda, hotel information, and directions:

https://kyclimate.org/events/2024/07/Kentucky-Climate-Services-Summit
 
Tuesday, July 16th – Ballroom B

7:30                Breakfast and Registration
8:30                Welcome, Summit Goals and Logistics
Jerry Brotzge – Director, Kentucky Climate Center, Western KY University
9:00                KY Climate 101: An Introduction to KY Climate & Climate Resources
10:30             Breakout Session 1: Address two questions: (1) What weather/climate influenced decisions do you try to make?  (2) What data/information/services do you need to make those decisions?
 
11:00             Federal Climate Tools and Resources for the Commonwealth
12:00             Lunch
1:00                New State EPSCoR Grant: Climate Mitigation
1:10                Upcoming Kentucky Climate Symposium, Sep. 26, 2024
1:20                Panel Discussion 1: Energy & Transportation
2:00                Panel Discussion 2: Water & Agriculture
3:15                Panel Discussion 3: Environment & Conservation (Environmental Resources,
4:00                Breakout Session 2: Revisit statewide needs for climate data and services.  
                 
5:00                Adjourn for the day. 
 
Resume at The Brown Barrel & Blind Harry’s for dinner (Frankfort, KY).
 
Wednesday, July 17th – Ballroom B
 
7:30                Breakfast
8:45                Panel Discussion 4: Industry & Commerce
9:30                Panel Discussion 5: Dissemination Partners
10:45             Panel Discussion 6: Hazard Mitigation & Emergency Management
11:30             Group Discussion: What’s missing?  Next steps?
12:15             Final Observations & Adjourn
12:30             Lunch
 

Julia E. H. Carter, Ph.D., 80, of Ft. Mitchell, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on May 24, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, KY.
After growing up in New Jersey and Connecticut, Julia studied at Wellesley College, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Chemistry. Her interest in cancer research began with summer research internships at the Cancer Research Institute of New England Deaconess Hospital. For three years after graduation, she worked full time at the Cancer Research Institute, under the direction of two Harvard professors. Dr. Carter later earned her Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Physiology at Rutgers University, and then completed post-doctoral training at Rutgers under the Director of The Bureau of Biological Research. In the late 1970s, the Carter Family moved from New Jersey to Cleveland, Ohio. It was there that Dr. Julia Carter, Dr. Harry Carter, Dr. Larry Douglass and Mr. Sidney Wood founded the Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory in 1981 as a not-for-profit laboratory dedicated to cancer research. In 1984 the Lab moved to Covington, KY, and then in 1990 to Newport, KY, where it has thrived and continues today. Dr. Carter has served as Principal Investigator on five U.S. EPA funded cooperative research agreements as well as on research agreements with five pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Dr. Carter has also served as a board member for the Kentucky Academy of Science.
Julia was a longtime member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ft. Thomas, and played an active role in the life of the parish. Julia was also a devoted mother and grandmother, who always made time to celebrate special occasions and holidays with her family. With her grandchildren, she enjoyed playing a variety of board games and card games, and was a spirited, if understated, competitor.
Julia was preceded in death by her parents, Percy W. Hudson and Julia E. Wood Hudson, and her husband of 32 years, Harry W. Carter, M.D. Julia is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Percy (Laura) Carter and Sidney (Zoe) Carter; and her grandchildren, Harry, Isabelle, Samuel, Caleb and Jasper.
Visitation and Funeral Ceremony were held on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Thomas, KY. 
Memorials are suggested to support the ongoing 2024 Undergraduate Research Education Program at Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory, 931 Isabella Street Newport, KY 41071.