Outreach Activities

Dr. Goldsmith talking to kindergarten students from Cary Woods Elementary School about atoms and molecules in March 2017.

The Goldsmith group has participated in a wide range of activities run by the Outreach office of the College of Science and Mathematics and the American Chemical Society. Sample activities are listed below:

Science Olympiad

Every year, Auburn University hosts a regional Science Olympiad, in which K-8 students compete in various academic events. The winning teams subsequently enter state-wide and/or national Science Olympiad competitions. Dr. Goldsmith designed and ran the Experimental Design event for the 2008 Science Olympiad and ran the Academic Pentathalon for the 2009 competition. He designed and ran the Can't Judge a Powder event for both the 2014 and 2015 Olympiads.

AU Explore

Each year, Auburn University hosts a science and math open house day called AU Explore. Middle and high school students from east Alabama visit Auburn's campus to participate in a wide range of activities. In 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015, Dr. Goldsmith ran a demonstration on liquid nitrogen in the Science Exposition.

Greater East Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair

The first round of a state-wide science and engineering competition for middle and high school students. In 2010, 2017, 2020, and 2022, Dr. Goldsmith served as a judge for the chemistry-related entries.

American Chemical Society (ACS)

From January, 2012 to December, 2014, Dr. Goldsmith served as the Secretary for the Auburn Local Section of the ACS. He was elected to serve as the Councilor for the Local Section for a three-year term starting in January 2016 and was re-elected for two subsequent three-year terms, with the latest starting in January 2022. As a member of the Local Section's executive board, he has selected over 110 graduate and undergraduate students from the East Alabama area to receive travel awards and present their research at regional and national conferences. Dr. Goldsmith was previously the lead organizer for the annual Kosolapoff Award ceremonies and has also presided over sessions organized by the Inorganic and Organic Divisions at several National ACS Conferences. Two recent grants from the NSF also allow students from primarily undergraduate institutions in East Alabama and West Georgia to perform summer research in Dr. Goldsmith's laboratory. In summer 2018, the Goldsmith Lab hosted students from Troy University and Huntingdon College. In summer 2019, the lab hosted students from Columbus State University and Huntingdon College. Regrettably, the lab wasn't able to host anyone in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak but was able to host students from Columbus State University and Troy University in 2021 and 2022. The lab looks forward to hosting more in the future!

Ansley Scott (Columbus State) and Jordan McElroy (Huntingdon) presenting their research at the 2019 CASE REU Symposium.

Undergraduate students from the East Alabama/West Georgia area who are interested in doing summer research in the Goldsmith lab should feel free to contact Dr. Goldsmith. We typically select our summer students in March.