Chicago to host Annual Scientific Seminar June 4-5.

* The Society of Cosmetic Chemists' Annual Scientific Seminar will return to Chicago on June 4-5 at the Chicago Hilton. The Windy City, which is the home base for SCC's third largest chapter, last hosted the seminar in 1999.

The Technical Program has been arranged by the Committee on Scientific Affairs, which is currently chaired by Mindy Goldstein of Estee Lauder Companies. There are several sessions planned, covering a range of issues and subjects. Here is a preview:

Session A (Anti-Aging), which will be moderated by Dr. Goldstein, will open with a keynote presentation by Gall Civille of Sensory Spectrum, Inc. Other featured presentations include: Smitha Rao (Arch Personal Care), "Phytochemical Fermentation: A Natural Way to Fuse Plant Chemistry and Microbiology to Potentiate Skin Care Activity;" Carla Perez (Seppic), "Novel High Performance Wrinkle Corrector Capable of Gene Expression Modification Related to the Causes of Cell Aging;" and Howard Epstein (EMD Chemicals, Inc.) "Bioflavonoids: Benefits for Skin and Formulating Green."

Session B (Analytical) will be moderated by Martha Tate of Kimberly-Clark Corp. It will include the following presentations: Michael Tallon (International Specialty Products), "13C NMR Analytical Study to Determine Free Formaldehyde Availability on Two Formaldehyde Donors, Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea;" Christopher Palazzolo (Chemir Analytical Services), "Techniques of Deformation (Reverse Engineering);" Ingo Schellenberg (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences), "Improved HPTLC Separation of Lipids and Phospholipids in Cosmetics by Using Automated Multiple Development (AMD);" and Gerardo Callegari (TRI/ Princeton), "Thickness of the Liquid Film Left Behind a Moving Wet Wipe: Theoretical and Experimental Study."

Jim Vlasic of Greenway Research Labs will moderate Session C (Formulations). Presentations will include: Eric Abrutyn (TPC2 Advisors Ltd., Inc.), "Boosting of Glycerin Hydration and Desquamometry in the Stratum Corneum;" Joanna Newton (Dow Coming Corp.), "New Formulation Capabilities Using Water in Silicone Emulsifiers;" Stacy Mundschau (Kimberly-Clark Corp.), "SPF Retention via Silicone Derivatives;" and Alicia Roso (Seppic), "A Better Understanding of Structure-Properties Connections of Thickening-Stabilizing Polymers."

Moderated by Robert Lochhead of the University of Southern Mississippi, Session D (Hair: New Methodologies) will include: Yan Zhou (International Specialty Products), "Characterization of Hair Damage and its Effect on Hair Color Fading and the Routes for Color Protection from Shampoo Stripping;" Renee Bolden, (Procter & Gamble), "Flow Cell Microscopy: A Novel Method to Visualize Product Deposition on Hair;" Susan Daly (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products), "Physical and Chemical Effects of Natural Proteins and Hydrolyzates on Hair: Electro-kinetics and Wettability Prop-erties, Part II;" and Ray Rigoletto (International Specialty Products), "Quantification of Fiber Fragmentation of Hair through Combing as a Measure of Thermal Protection."

The final session, Session E (Multicultural Hair Care), will be moderated by Colleen Rocafort of Ciba Corp. Presentations will include: Dr. Guive Balooch (L'Oreal Institute for Ethnic Hair and Skin), "Synchrotron X-Ray Tomography of African-American Hair Reveals a Reduction in Fiber Density as a Result of 2.5% NaOH Relaxer Treatment;" Bradford Pistorio, Ph.D. (L'Oreal), "Hair Breakage for the African-American Consumer: Causes and Consumer Perception;" and Trefor Evans (TRY Princeton), "Quantifying Differences in Propensity for Breakage in Afro and Caucasian Hair."

There are also four mini breakfast seminars planned. Two will be held each morning from 7:30-8:45 a.m. The informal nature of these mini-breakfasts, which are limited to 30 participants, will allow for questions and answers, according to the Chapter. Scheduled topics include "Aging Skin" presented by Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos, "Natural Chemistry: The Green Jungle" presented by Dr. Karl Lintner (Sederma), "Ethnic Hair Care" presented by Patrick Obukowho and "Strategies for High Throughput Formulations" presented by Dr. Lochhead.

The SCC's Continuing Education Program will feature "Scale Up" instructed by David Yacko and "Ethnic Hair Care" instructed by Patrick Obukowho. Both programs will be held on Wednesday, June 3.

There are separate registration fees for the mini breakfast seminars and the education courses.

The Annual Scientific Seminar will also feature the Student Poster Exhibit, with D-D ChemCo sponsoring the awards for Best Student Posters. The first place prize is $800, second place is $600, third place is $400 and fourth place is $200. Awards will be presented at the Friday Business Luncheon on June 5.

The Suppliers' Cocktail Reception will be held on Thursday evening, June 4. If your company is interested in being a sponsor of this event, contact the SCC National Office.

Registration fees are $600 for members registering by May 8 or $650 after May 8. Fees for non-members are $720 before May 8 and $770 after. Split registration will be $700 for members, $800 for non-members before May 8 and $750 for members and $850 for non-members after May 8. There will be no one-day registration fees.

More info: www.scconline.org