The newly established student chapter of the Electrochemical Society had its kick-off meeting at Florida Polytechnic University on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Pictured from left are Dr. Devin Stephenson, University president; Andrew Graham, ECS secretary; Justin Sanchez-Almirola, ECS chair; Riley Orr, ECS vice chair; Andrea Lee; ECS treasurer; Mustapha Achoubane, Florida Poly’s senior advisor for international relationships; and Dr. Ajeet Kaushik, assistant professor of chemistry and ECS faculty advisor.
Florida Polytechnic University launched a new Electrochemical Society (ECS) student chapter, empowering aspiring researchers with new opportunities to make a global impact.
“Initiatives like this really solidify this institution, this university, as a catalyst for academic excellence and progress,” Dr. Devin Stephenson, Florida Poly’s president, said to the new organization’s members. “I encourage all of you to seize the moment, to do something different, and to think like scientists, act like engineers, and explore the ideas that will lead us to a bright tomorrow.”
The ECS chapter had its kick-off meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, outlining plans to manage several technical and scientific events each semester.
“Our objective is to create a supportive community around electrochemistry, where students can engage in research, connect with others, and feel more at home on campus,” said junior mechanical engineering major Andrea Lee, the group’s treasurer. “Together we will develop the skills we need for both engineering and research.”
The University’s commitment to innovation and academic growth goes hand-in-hand with the goals of ECS.
“Florida Poly’s mission and vision align very much with the Electrochemical Society’s mission of bringing different disciplines into this field,” said senior Justin Sanchez-Almirola, the chapter’s chair. “For instance, I’m a mechanical engineer, my vice chair is an electrical engineer, and we’re trying to bring business majors, math majors and computer engineers into this.”
ECS has a long history of scientific and discipline diversity. It counts prolific inventor Thomas Edison among its earliest and most famous members. Bill Nye the “Science Guy,” Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, and several Nobel laureates are also among its ranks.
“The goal of the society is to promote each and every aspect of research to make a better world,” said Dr. Ajeet Kaushik, assistant professor of chemistry and the organization’s faculty advisor. “If students have experience doing research as undergraduates like our students do here at Florida Poly, they will grow as scientists, have better employment opportunities, and feel motivated for their particular fields.”
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