The 2026 Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM 2026), hosted by the American Chemical Society Snake River Section, takes place June 28–July 1 at Boise Centre East in Boise, Idaho. The meeting offers programming for all professional levels, including a high school teacher program. More information is available on the meeting website at norm2026.org.
Technical program. The technical program begins Sunday, June 28, with a plenary lecture by Nobel laureate M. Stanley Whittingham, known for his pioneering development of the lithium-ion battery. On Monday morning, Geraldine “Geri” Richmond, former undersecretary for science and innovation at the US Department of Energy (2021–25), will deliver a keynote address on how curiosity has influenced her scientific career, followed by separate keynotes from Arthur C. Cope Scholars Michelle Arkin and John L. Wood highlighting advancements in organic synthesis, innovative therapies, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Helen Blackwell will present a keynote titled “Redirecting Bacterial Conversations with Synthetic Chemical Signals” during the Chemistry and Biology in the Microbial World technical session. Tuesday will feature keynote speakers Yury Gogotsi discussing the unique family of 2D materials known as MXenes and Mary “Nora” Disis presenting on the tortuous road to cancer vaccines at the Women Chemists Committee (WCC) luncheon.
Workshops. On Monday, Richmond will lead the “Art of Negotiation” workshop for graduate students and postdoc researchers and scholars. Résumé reviews will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Boise Centre East. Wednesday features a full lineup of sessions, including ACS career workshops (“Acing the Interview” and “Finding Yourself”) and educational workshops such as “Building Community in the Classroom,” “Python Training for Educators,” and “ADA (American with Disabilities Act) Title II Accessibility.” The only off-site programming is the Bruker AFM (atomic force microscope) workshops, which will be held throughout Wednesday on the Boise State University (BSU) campus.
Student programming. There will be a robust selection of undergraduate and graduate programming designed to provide networking, technical sessions, and professional development for chemistry students. A graduate student poster session will be held as part of the Nobel laureate opening reception Sunday. Monday will include an undergraduate-specific poster session, and dinner and a social gathering at Realms Arcade. Students can attend a breakfast panel and workshop on Tuesday to gain professional insights into careers within industry, academia, and national laboratories. The student programming concludes Wednesday morning with a tour of the Micron Technology facilities.
High school teacher program. The NORM 2026 High School Teacher Program offers a comprehensive professional development opportunity with 2 days of intensive workshops and laboratory experiments June 28–29. Participants will engage in nine workshops led by experts from academia, industry, and government who will discuss topics like electrochemistry, green chemistry, semiconductors, and chemistry in the pulp and paper industry. Other sessions will cover creating interactive science demonstrations, integrating smartphonebased experimentation into classrooms, and preparing for POGIL (process-oriented guided inquiry learning) and the AP (advanced placement) Chemistry Exam. Educators can earn up to two professional development credits through BSU’s Division of Extended Studies: one credit for the initial 2-day workshop series and a second for those who participate in technical and educational sessions through the end of the conference.
Awards. Several prestigious regional awards will be presented. They include the Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences, the Glen and Jane Crosby Northwest Region Award for Excellence in High School Teaching, and the E. Ann Nalley Northwest Region Award for Volunteer Service to ACS. Awardees will be honored at a reception Tuesday night; the event will be followed by a banquet featuring a unique cultural experience centered on Boise’s rich heritage.
Social events. Sunday will start with a walking tour of Boise’s historic district and be capped with the Opening Night Nobel laureate reception. Monday includes an ACS 150th anniversary reception for lunch, followed by a BS alumni reception and a student reception at Realms Arcade. Tuesday highlights networking opportunities, beginning with a student career panel breakfast and then the WCC Luncheon. The afternoon and evening celebrate local culture and excellence with, respectively, a tour of the Basque Museum of Idaho and the Governance Reception and Awards Banquet, followed by the Basque Community in Idaho Reception and Banquet. The conference concludes Wednesday with a Micron Technology and a final afternoon walking tour.
Exposition. The exposition is scheduled from Sunday evening through Wednesday. The hall will serve as a central hub, hosting all coffee breaks, receptions, multiple plenary lectures, and poster sessions. A visit to the expo is an opportunity to discover the latest products on the market and offers access to academic recruiters and program information.
Lodging and registration. Registration for NORM 2026 remains open for the duration of the meeting. A courtesy block of rooms has been secured at the Renegade Hotel; guests must complete their reservations via the travel link on the official NORM 2026 website by June 7 to take advantage of the reduced conference rates.
