Abstract:     Should we promote the chemical sciences? Do we have a responsibility? Should we share our enthusiasm for the chemical sciences and their value with the public sector? What do we gain? As individuals? For our profession?

In the presentation, Inara will describe her experiences using chemistry outside the industrial laboratory.  Her intent is to encourage you to seek similar interesting, stimulating and beneficial activities that use your training in chemistry.

For example, using her projects as an ACS Chemistry and Public Affairs Fellow, Inara participated at career conferences for high school and university students and acquainted ACS membership, at section meetings throughout the country, with the opportunities for and needs by Congress and the public sector for chemical scientists.

The fellowship led to projects with the ACS Task Force on Occupational Health and Safety:   to provide input to OSHA to develop a toxic chemical policy for laboratories separate from policy for industry, including presenting testimony on behalf of the ACS at a Department of Labor hearing; to lead the publication of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and Understanding Chemical Hazards:  A Guide for Students.

Biography:     Inara Brubaker retired in 2002, after 28 years at the UOP/AlliedSignal (now Honeywell International) Research Center.  From 1996-2002 she was a Senior Research Associate with UOP; from 1988 to 1996 she was a project leader and research manager at AlliedSignal.  Her work was in applied research in analytical chemistry and separations ranging from feed to effluent treatment and purification and in materials properties and recycling.  She is the co-author of over a dozen publications on separations, separation processes and analytical methodologies and co-inventor of three U.S. patents.

In 1977, Inara was the ACS Chemistry and Public Affairs Fellow.  She has been an invited lecturer at ACS section meetings and an ACS Tour Speaker to present her work with the Congress on the PBB contamination incident in Michigan, materials policy and environmental monitoring, and has participated in many career guidance meetings and conferences at universities and colleges.  She has served on the ACS Committee on Chemical Safety and the Task Force on Occupational Health and Safety.  Her service to her community includes trustee for the Des Plaines Public Library and the Des Plaines Environmental Control Commission.  In 2001, Inara received the Mayoral Award for some of her contributions to the City of Des Plaines at the Northwest Cook County Unity Dinner.

Inara received a Ph.D. and M. Sc. in Analytical Chemistry from The Ohio State University and the B.S. in chemistry and mathematics from the Ohio Northern University.