Academia
Education. Discovery. Inspiring the next generation.
Steel City Chemistry
Past, Present, and Future
Bridging Academia, Industry, and Community in Pittsburgh
Open to the public · Free to attend · Registration required Registration and poster abstracts close Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Skyline photograph courtesy of Samuel Leung
Three Rivers. Three Pillars. One Mission: Advancing Chemistry for a Better World.
About the event
Celebrate Pittsburgh chemistry — and help shape what comes next.
A one-day ACS150 anniversary celebration convening leaders from academia, industry, education, and community organizations to honor Pittsburgh’s chemistry legacy and shape its future.
Community
Impact. Partnership. Building a stronger, sustainable future.
Industry
Innovation. Technology. Turning chemistry into solutions.
Event experience
Why attend
Hear from ACS national leadership and leading Pittsburgh voices; connect across industry, academia, education, and community; view student research; and celebrate 150 years of ACS.
Audience
Who should attend
Chemical professionals, students, faculty, educators, industry leaders, innovators, community partners, government representatives, and anyone interested in Pittsburgh’s chemistry story.
Organizers
Built by Pittsburgh’s chemistry community.
Presented by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society, hosted at the University of Pittsburgh, with participation from chemistry leaders across Pittsburgh universities, industry, education, and community organizations.
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Ronghong Lin, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Chair, ACS Pittsburgh Local Section
Director, Aquatech -
Haitao Liu, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
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Bruce A. Armitage, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Department Head, Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
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Mihaela-Rita Mihailescu, PhD
Event Co-Chair
Department Chair, Chemistry, Duquesne University
Program
A full day organized around Pittsburgh chemistry.
Legacy, leadership, innovation, and the next generation — four sessions from breakfast to closing remarks.
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Registration, Breakfast & Networking
Arrival
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Session I — Celebrating Pittsburgh Chemistry
Opening & ACS150
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Morning Coffee Break & Networking
Break
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Session II — Pittsburgh’s Industrial Chemistry Legacy and Future
Industry
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Lunch, Networking & Poster Viewing
Posters
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Session III — Research Innovation and Workforce Development
Academia & Education
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Afternoon Coffee Break & Poster Viewing
Break
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Session IV — Student Posters and Awards: The Next Generation of Chemistry
Students
Program highlights
9:45 – 10:25 AM
Opening keynote
Rigoberto Hernandez, PhD — President, American Chemical Society
10:50 AM – 12:20 PM
Industry session
Keynote by Leroy Ball, CEO and Board Chair of Koppers, followed by a moderated panel of regional leaders.
1:45 – 2:15 PM
Academic keynote
Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, PhD — Carnegie Mellon University, member of NAE and NAS
3:30 – 5:00 PM
Student posters & awards
Poster viewing and judging, ACS President-Elect featured remarks, awards, and closing.
Confirmed speakers
National ACS leadership and Pittsburgh voices.
Across academia, industry, education, and community.
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Opening Keynote
Rigoberto Hernandez, PhD
President
American Chemical Society
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Academic Keynote
Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, PhD
Professor; Member of NAE and NAS
Carnegie Mellon University
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Industry Keynote
Leroy Ball
CEO and Board Chair
Koppers
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ACS National Remarks
Albert G. Horvath
Chief Executive Officer
American Chemical Society
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Featured Speaker
Christina Bodurow, PhD
President-Elect
American Chemical Society
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Host Institution Welcome
Joseph J. McCarthy, PhD
Provost & Senior Vice Chancellor
University of Pittsburgh
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Legacy Partner
Brian R. Strohmeier, PhD
President
Pittcon 2027
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Program Speaker
Bruce A. Armitage, PhD
Department Head, Chemistry
Carnegie Mellon University
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Industry Panel Moderator
Lan Deng, PhD
Senior Global Director
Lubrizol Corporation
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Industry Panel
Ning Li, PhD
CEO
NovoLINC Inc.
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Industry Panel
Jenalle Brewer
Senior Vice President & Assistant General Manager
Calgon Carbon
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Education Panel Moderator
Kim Woznack, PhD
Professor
PennWest University
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Education Panel
Dave Yaron, PhD
Professor
Carnegie Mellon University
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Education Panel
Nathaniel Rosi, PhD
Department Chair, Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
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Education Panel
Kevin L. Jenkins
President & CEO
Manchester Bidwell Corporation
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Education Panel
Melanie Manes, EdD
Assistant Principal
North Allegheny Intermediate High School
Student posters
Showcase the next generation of chemistry.
Graduate, undergraduate, and high school students are invited to present their research during the poster sessions.
Call for abstracts
- Poster viewing during lunch and the afternoon break
- Dedicated judging period: 3:30 – 4:30 PM
- Awards announced before closing remarks
- First 50 accepted presenters receive a one-year ACS membership
Poster categories
- Organic & Medicinal Chemistry
- Inorganic, Materials & Polymer Chemistry
- Physical & Computational Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry & Chemical Biology
- Environmental, Sustainable & Applied Chemistry
Poster awards
Cash prizes will be awarded across graduate, undergraduate, and high school categories. Award details coming soon.
Abstract deadline: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Poster size and format, check-in procedure, and judging criteria will be posted here.
Sponsorship
Put your organization in front of Pittsburgh’s chemistry community.
Sponsorship supports scientific exchange, student development, workforce connection, and the ACS150 celebration.
Platinum
$10,000
Top billing across the event, with the largest logo placement throughout.
Gold
$5,000
Prominent recognition across event materials and the sponsor wall.
Silver
$2,500
Logo placement and recognition throughout the day.
Bronze
$1,000
Named recognition in the program and on the sponsor wall.
Or email Ronghong Lin directly at [email protected].
Confirmed sponsors
Thank you to the organizations helping make Steel City Chemistry possible.
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
- Your organization here
Special thanks to
Venue & logistics
William Pitt Union
William Pitt Union
University of Pittsburgh
3959 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
University of Pittsburgh
3959 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Getting here
Parking, transit, and accessible-entrance details will be posted here before the event.
Accessibility & dietary needs
For accessibility requests or dietary accommodations, email [email protected]. Please get in touch by September 16 so we can plan for it.
Don’t miss it