The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced Lydia E. M. Hines, Ph.D., as the recipient of the 2020 Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach.
This award is presented annually by the ACS Committee on Public Relations and Communications (CPRC) to an ACS member whose outstanding achievements have improved public recognition and appreciation for the field of chemistry.
Hines has been an ACS member for over 50 years and recently retired as a chemistry lecturer from Western Michigan University.
According to ACS, she is known as the “face of chemistry” in her home of Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she has spent decades engaging the community with science through her many volunteer efforts. In particular, she is the founder and organiser of an annual Chemistry Day event at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, held in conjunction with ACS’ National Chemistry Week. This event draws around 1,000 people each year and features hands-on activities that engage children and adults alike with chemistry.
Hines also brings these interactive science experiments to classrooms around her community and has been an active mentor to college chemistry clubs.
Hines earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has held numerous leadership positions within ACS membership over the years, including serving as chair of the Kalamazoo local section and the Great Lakes Region Board, general chair of two regional meetings and an ACS Councilor for 36 years.
In addition to this latest award, Hines has been honored by the ACS Committee on Community Activities as the 2014 volunteer of the year for her involvement with the Kalamazoo Section. She also received the ACS E. Ann Nalley Great Lakes Region Award for Volunteer Service in 2011.
Established in 1995, the Helen M. Free Award is a ChemLuminary Award that recognises outstanding achievements in public outreach.
“Sharing chemistry, both formally and informally, to audiences from the very young to the young-at-heart has been part of my life for so long that it is both humbling and affirming to be the recipient of this award,” says Hines. “This honour holds special significance for me, as I have had the privilege of collaborating with Helen Free over the years and have long admired her passion for outreach.”
