Many professional chemists (certainly almost all of your chemistry professors) are members of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. The ACS holds national and regional chemistry conventions, publishes a wide range of chemical journals and other materials, and provides many other services for its members. You can become a member of the ACS after you graduate with a B.S. degree in chemistry or biochemistry, but you can join as a student affiliate for a small cost and receive a subscription to the weekly news publication of the ACS, Chemical and Engineering News.
The local chapter of the ACS, the Northeastern Section, is one of the largest of the approximately 190 sections in the U.S., with about 5000 members. The Northeastern Section holds monthly meetings featuring speakers or symposia on topics of current interest to chemists; sometimes the meetings are held at BC. The meetings are preceded by dinner. Students are welcome; the cost for students is nominal. Watch for posters advertising the meetings.
