Intercollegiate Student Chemists Convention

Welcome to the 88th Intercollegiate Student Chemists Convention (ISCC), March 29th 2025 at Muhlenberg College

The ISCC is among the oldest annual conventions of its kind. The inaugural Intercollegiate Student Chemists Convention was held on April 18, 1936. Its purpose is to celebrate and honor undergraduate research in the chemical sciences, offering students a platform to present their research and findings through oral presentations. Contributions from all areas of chemistry are encouraged and welcomed.

REGISTRATION

Please register for the conference using this link

GENERAL INFORMATION

PRESENTATIONS SCHEDULE

COMING SOON

JUDGING INFORMATION

Student presentations will be judged by two judges. First and second place award winners will be selected from each division. Judging guidelines for the presentations are as follows:

Maximum points	Evaluation Category
30	Presentation: Judges will evaluate organization, quality of oral delivery, poise, clarity of explanations, and appropriate use of visual aids. If time runs out on a speaker before the completion of the presentation, there will be a deduction. *
15	Research Project: Judges will evaluate the relevance of the project, including the case that is made for carrying out the work, and the potential contribution of the project to the field of chemistry.
15	Design of the Investigation: Judges will evaluate overall experimental design, including the appropriate use of experimental techniques, the creativity of the approach taken, and the completeness of the experimental investigation.
20	Interpretation of Data and Conclusions: Judges will assess the efficiency and clarity of the presentation of the experimental data, the accuracy and completeness of the data analysis, and the strengths of the conclusions drawn.
20	Response to Questions: Consideration will be given to the student's ability to answer questions correctly and concisely. Each student will be asked questions.

*The time limit for all presentations is 12 minutes, and each speaker will be alerted when two minutes remain in their talk. A question period of 3 minutes will follow each presentation. Any remaining time can be used for changing rooms to hear other talks.

PARKING INFORMATION

Address: 2400 W Chew St, Allentown, PA 18104

Parking: ISCC guests are welcome to park in any space marked for faculty and/or students. The lot behind Trumbower Hall (building 5 on the map) will be most convenient. Guests should walk around the building and enter through the front door, facing Chew St. and the campus green.

TENTATIVE AGENDA

TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
8:00	Registration and Continental Breakfast	Trumbower Hall Foyer
8:45	Opening Remarks	Trumbower Hall 130
9:00-12:00	Student Research Presentations	Trumbower Hall 140, 149, 305, 311, 347,348 Shankweiler Hall 340s, 440s
12:00	Judges Meeting	Trumbower Hall 331
12:00-1:00	Lunch and Socializing	Wood Dinning Commons, Seegers Student Union
1:00-3:00	Business Meeting Keynote address from Dr. Karen Goldberg, the University of Pennsylvania Awards Ceremony Closing Remarks	Trumbower Hall 130

MEET THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Title of Presentation
Developing Alternatives to Oil as Feedstocks for our Chemicals and Liquid Fuels

We are honored to introduce Dr. Karen Goldberg as the 2025 ISCC keynote speaker. Dr. Goldberg's academic journey began at Barnard College of Columbia University, where she earned her B.A. degree, followed by her Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley. After completing postdoctoral research at The Ohio State University and teaching at Illinois State University, she moved to the University of Washington (UW) where she was awarded tenure. Dr. Goldberg was appointed as the inaugural Raymon E. and Rosellen M. Lawton Distinguished Scholar in Chemistry in 2007, and later became the first Nicole A. Boand Endowed Professor of Chemistry in 2010. A testament to her leadership in the field, she directed the Center for Enabling New Technologies through Catalysis (CENTC) for a decade, a pioneering Phase II Center for Chemical Innovation funded by the National Science Foundation. Learn more about Dr. Goldberg and the Goldberg research group!