The Michigan Senate today adopted SR 108, a resolution to officially commemorate October 18-24, 2015 as National Chemistry Week. The resolution, introduced by Senator Jim Stamas of Midland, recognizes the American Chemical Society’s annual celebration of chemistry in everyday life.

National Chemistry Week (NCW) brings together chemistry enthusiasts in education, business, and society, with a particular focus on outreach to the next generation of chemists. Michigan’s local sections of the ACS are marking National Chemistry Week with a number of different events across the state. The 2015 NCW theme is “Chemistry Colors Our World,” focusing on the chemistry of food colors and fireworks, rainbows, natural dyes and pigments, and more. 

The Michigan Chemistry Council (MCC) today urged Congressional action to keep critical rail shipments moving, and thanked U.S. Representatives Fred Upton, Candice Miller, Bill Huizenga, and Dan Benishek for sponsoring legislation to address this important issue.

“Freight rail service is essential for the safe transportation of many products vital to our everyday lives, including chlorine disinfectants that keep our water clean, fertilizers that help our farmers feed the world, and basic feedstocks for a wide range of manufactured goods,” said John Dulmes, MCC Executive Director. “Our members and their employees rely heavily upon freight rail to get their jobs done every day. Any disruption in this service will have cascading economic effects across Michigan and our nation.”