WHAT: The American Chemical Society (ACS) will hold a press conference to discuss the National Science Foundation’s support of a major chemistry and climate initiative at the Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (CAICE), based at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD).

WHO: Vicki Grassian, CAICE Co-director and F. Wendell Miller Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa.

WHERE: Room 211, ACS Press Center, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, during the American Chemical Society's annual meeting. Reporters can attend in person or access live audio and video of the event and ask questions at this site.

WHEN: From 3:30 to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday, Sept. 9.

WHY: Vicki Grassian is known internationally for her distinguished contributions to the fields of surface and atmospheric chemistry, most notably for laboratory studies to elucidate complex, heterogeneous reactions involving mineral dust aerosols. Grassian's work has included designing and implementing new laboratory experiments to better understand the link between the chemistry of mineral dust, or soil particles, in the atmosphere and other global processes, including climate and biogeochemical cycles as well as human health.

As a professor of chemistry in the UI College of Liberal Arts with joint appointments in the College of Engineering and College of Public Health, Grassian has research interests involving how particulate matter, including nanoparticles, affect the chemistry of the environment as well as human health. She is also director of The Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute at the University of Iowa.

She may be contacted at: vicki-grassian@uiowa.edu.

Kim Prather and Tim Bertram, both of UCSD, will serve as CAICE director and assistant director, respectively. Read more about the ACS.