Pacifichem 2025

Compilation of 3 photos from convention center. Top showing large sign that people could stand behind for group photos, bottom left is a sign from outside our symposium, bottom right is the beautifully floral entrance to the main expo hall.

Every 5 years, chemists from around the Pacific Ocean basin gather in Honolulu to say nerdy things to each other. I first learned about this conference in grad school and it seems like a dream. It seemed impossible that my employer would pay for me to go to Hawaii in December. My first plan to go was in 2020, but COVID had other ideas. the conference was delayed till 2021 and then abruptly switched online, so I gave my talk from the kitchen table of our condo. After that amazing trip (which included a side visit to the big island where we saw a live volcano and snorkeled on Christmas day), I knew I wanted to go back. So I hatched a plan in 2022 to propose a symposium for Pacifichem 2025. I worked with 6 different chemists from around the world to propose, submit, and then organize a symposium. The conference finally came in December 2025 and our symposium "Bridging Research and Practice in Inorganic and General Chemistry Education" was a great success. But just so you don't think it was a vacation, it rained every day, I got blisters from my sandals, and it was tough going to work in paradise. I'm grateful for my dear colleagues Adam, Brett, and Justin for helping me run the sessions as well as all the amazing (and impressive!) chemistry educators and researchers who gave presentations. Especially glad I got to see my friend Kim who was also there for the conference.

At some point in the last 22 years, I became that professor who occasionally goes to exotic places to talk about work. I am not complaining.

Chip and Adam wear matching Joanne shirts in the ultimate inside joke.

Sign greeting us as we entered the tower for our session on Thursday morning.