NYU opened the first university chapter of the Chemists’ Club this fall.
The Chemists’ Club, which was formed in November 1898 in New York City by 154 chemists, was an organization to help chemists with networking opportunities and provide a forum for scientific discussion. For the last century, it has served as a meeting place for chemistry buffs. This year it has opened up to universities in New York City. NYU was the first, followed by the City College of New York, Cooper Union and
Columbia University.
The student chapter of the Chemists’ Club is designed to familiarize students who study in science-related fields with the chemical industry. Its goal is to expand students’ knowledge of available careers within their majors. The club also hopes to provide a resource for career planning and development.
More than 100 students from NYU and the Polytechnic Institute of NYU attended the inaugural meeting of the Chemists’ Club in October.
Rachel Ness, the student chapter president and a CAS senior, expressed her excitement for the club’s beginning and shared the next steps she plans to take to solidify the new club.
“I am working now to set in place the politics of the club, such as setting up an executive board and getting together students who want to play a larger role in the club,” Ness said.
Ness said last spring, her chemistry professor Paramjit Arora recommended her to serve on the board of trustees for the Chemists’ Club, who then asked her to start a club at NYU last spring.
“I am hoping to gain networking skills through coordinating and establishing the student chapter here at NYU,” Ness said. “I am hoping that others will also develop similar networking skills, but furthermore learn about the vast variety of careers available to those interested in the sciences and what it takes to obtain those careers.”
Lewis Boxenbaum, a trustee of the Chemists’ Club, said the club is a unique networking opportunity for students because it offers to give students contacts and advice from diverse fields.
“[The Chemists’ Club] is a building bridge between education and industry,” Boxenbaum said.
In addition to its focus on career development, the NYU Chemists’ Club can also be a place where students with similar interests in science can meet and discuss their passions.
Soobia Hashmi, a College of Nursing freshman and a club member, said she joined the Chemists’ Club this year because of her academic interest in chemistry.
“I have always had a great passion for chemistry and find its course material to be very intriguing,” she said. “The chemistry of life fascinates me, and attempting to understand it all is quite challenging but enthralling. Hopefully, I can find more reasons to expand my love for chemistry by being a member of this club.”
A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Nov. 12 print edition. Su Sie Park is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].