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Most of the section’s members reside in the Northeastern states, however the demographics and diversity of their membership have grown following the COVID-19 pandemic. Many more members were able to join the meetings remotely from as far as California, Chicago and Hawaii. The hybrid format of these events has engaged a greater number of college-level students, varying in age and background, as well as those with limited mobility.

The section’s engagement with the wider community continues to be strong: sometimes, around half of its event attendees have a non-chemistry or science background. Its event programme is diverse and includes scientific presentations as well as creative activities, like tea-tasting, making lip balm with older adults at senior centres, historic garden parties, and ‘speak to a chemist’ book-signing events at bookstores.

Since 2009, the section has held nearly 42 meetings, engaged around a thousand attendees, and impacted over 300 students and around 400 non-scientists. It continues to attract high school to graduate-level educators, industrial scientists, consultants and governmental scientists to its meetings.

The RSC USA East Coast Section represents the RSC in the United States and around 2,000 RSC members. The committee includes two educators, one pharmaceutical scientist, and one well-published author/consultant chemist, along with occasional support from past presidents. They are passionate about chemistry and engaging the wider community through a diverse programme of activities.