The Midwest American Chemical Society Meeting was in Ames, Iowa, Oct. 21-23. 

Several Missouri State Students presented at this meeting, including four graduate students and one undergraduate.    

• Michael Bakker, graduate advised by Dr. Matthew Siebert 
• Ben Boyd, graduate advised by Dr. Gary Meints 
• Allison Freese, graduate advised by Dr. Adam Wanekaya 
• Oluwasegun “Michael” Abolade, graduate advised by Dr. Cyren Rico.   
• Megan Prado, undergraduate advised by Wanekaya 

About the conference 

Bakker presented in the organic chemistry section with his presentation “Pyrolysis of biodiesel: Density functional theory investigations into thermal decomposition of methyl linoleate.” 

“The chemistry education project that is trying to get high school students interested in complex chemistry concepts through the introduction of graphene and graphene related products was really interesting to me,” Bakker said.  

Freese presented her research, “Synthesis, stabilization, modification and activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles for biological application.” 

“I liked talking to the professors and chemists from all over the Midwest,” Freese said. 

Abolade presented his research, “Cerium oxide nanoparticles and soil nitrogen level modified phosphorus and phytate-phosphorus in second generation seeds but not in first generation seeds of wheat and barley.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to be exposed to different research in the field of chemistry,” Abolade said.  

Boyd presented his research during the Scimixer and the general physical section, “Study of the effects of dihydrouracil lesion in DNA on non-exchangeable 1H and 31P chemical shifts and NOE intensities using two-dimensional NMR Spectroscopy.” 

Boyd also found someone who was doing research with an NMR Spectroscopy and enjoyed sharing knowledge together.  

Prado presented her research, “Quantum yield comparison of doped carbon dots and fluorescence dependence on pH.” 

She enjoyed hearing about new research and future plans of other students.