The Permian Basin Local Section members were invited to attend the 2022 talks sponsored by the California Local Section Woman Chemists Committee. The February 12, 2022, presentation “The Stories We Tell as Women in Chemistry” was the first one this year. As with previous sessions, during the time allotted preceding the talk, attendees had an opportunity to participate in breakout sessions for chatting/networking. The talk concluded with a Q&A with the speaker. All talks were via Zoom.
Dr. Fanny Frausto
Dr. Fanny Frausto is currently a Senior Scientist in Product Development at the Clorox Company. She works as a Product Developer and formulates cleaning products to meet the future needs of professional and healthcare spaces. Dr. Frausto is the WCC Co-Chair of the California Section of the ACS and the 2022 Chair for the Section. She is an ACS Scholars Alumna and credits the programs offered by the ACS for her success. Dr. Frausto earned her SB from MIT and her PhD in chemistry from Tufts University, studying fluorescent doped conjugated polymer nanoparticles to detect a reactive oxygen species called singlet oxygen.
“At times the world can seem incredibly frightening and unfathomably exciting.” This was a recurring theme of Dr. Frausto’s talk. Through storytelling, she shared her journey as a “pre”-scientist and formerly undocumented immigrant navigating the world to get through her early education to her current chosen field of formulation chemistry and data analytics. She shared with the audience how her use of such powerful tools as storytelling, mentorship, and service helped shape her world and got her through to the present. Dr. Frausto provided examples of hope, experience, and strength for those early career and mid-career scientists, or anyone who is asking what they truly want to do today.