TUESDAY October 27, 2026 at University of North Carolina – Asheville
Mountain Suites, Highsmith Student Union (Rooms 225/226/227)
Our October meeting is an exciting blend of history and chemistry:
“Chemistry in the American Civil War:
A Heterogeneous Mixture of People, Places, and Things”
Dr. Greg Grant, Professor Emeritus
Department of Chemistry and Physics
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Abstract:
The American Civil War is often described as the first modern war because a number of technologies, such as railroads and telegraphy, which emerged during the Industrial Revolution, were employed on a large military scale. In this talk, I will describe how several chemical materials were modified and developed, and subsequently used in the fighting during the Civil War. Some of these materials include copper, iron, potassium nitrate, the Daniell cell, and mercury fulminate. The innovative and novel wartime roles of famous chemists like Eli Lilly and George Washington Rains will also be highlighted.
Speaker Biography:
Greg Grant was a member of the Chemistry Faculty at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) for 32 years, serving the last 20 years as Irvine Grote Professor of Chemistry. A native of Atlanta, he received both his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry at Georgia Tech and began his academic career at Spelman College. His research interests focused on the coordination chemistry of macrocyclic thioethers. During his time at UTC, he worked with 68 undergraduate research students as well as four postdoctoral associates, all of whom went on to subsequent careers at academic institutions. In 2011, he received the ACS National Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution. Since retiring from UTC in 2012, he has volunteered for the National Park Service at Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Park, assisting park rangers with programs as well as leading hikes and paddling programs that focus on the rich history of the area. Grant and his wife, Paula Haynes, along with their cats, live in Chattanooga
The cost of dinner is $10 per person ($5 for students/teachers). WCACS will cover the cost of dinner for each awardee and one accompanying guest.
Order of Events
5:00-6:00 pm: Arrival/social
6:00 – 7:00 pm: Dinner
7:00 – 8:00 pm: Lecture
Dinner Menu:
Soft taco buffet with: grilled adobo chicken, spicy black beans salsa, Spanish rice, flour tortillas, corn tortillas, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, fresh baked cookies. With lemonade and iced tea to drink.
Location:
The event is in the Mountain Suites on the second floor of Highsmith Student Union (Rooms 225/226/227). UNC Asheville map: Campus Map | UNC Asheville
Parking:
All visitors should have a parking pass to park on campus. If arriving after 5:00pm, there is no charge to park on campus, but prior registration is required.
Register for a free parking permit here: https://unca.aimsparking.com/permits/?cmd=new_non_auth Visitors may park in Visitor, Non-Resident, Faculty/Staff, or All Permit lots. The closest parking to Highsmith will be P18 and P19. There is a campus map here: https://www.unca.edu/campus-map/
Please RSVP here no later than Tuesday, October 20
