DVC-NOBCChE Member Profiles

May 97: Ms. Esther Browne

Esther Browne Rohm and Haas Company Ms. Esther Browne Esther is a member of the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter, and for the past eight years, she has served as the Coordinator of the Northeast Regional Science Bowl Competition. She has been a member of NOBCChE since 1988. If you have attended a recent Regional Science Bowl Competition, then you can appreciate her efforts towards creating an exciting experience for 200 - 350 secondary school students. It's only natural that Esther works well with children, she is the second oldest of 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Professionally, Esther is a Research Scientist for Rohm and Haas Company at the Research Center in Spring House, PA. She is responsible for synthesizing noval oligomers for use as dispersants, adhesives, latexes and detergents in Exploratory Polymer Research. Esther started her career at Rohm and Haas in 1976 at the Research Center. Prior to her tenure at Rohm and Haas Company, Esther worked as a technician for the PQ Corporation. As the Science Bowl Coordinator, As the Science Bowl Coordinator, Esther corresponds and interacts with more than 100 local schools/organizations to recruit teams for the annual competition. Letters go out to schools from Delaware, North Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Schools are asked to register Teams for three levels of competition - Level I (7 and 8 grade), Level II (9 and 10 grade) and Level III (11 and 12 grade). Letters are sent to local companies soliciting funds to sponsor this event. The day of the Competition, Esther brings together over 50 DVC volunteers to serve as Judges, moderators, and other support groups. The all day Competition requires: registering the teams and assigning them a berth in the competition, tracking the competition, arranging lunches for the students, and distributing the prizes to the winners. First place winners in each level are awarded a trip to the National Competition.( DVC's team from East High School (in West Chester, PA) won First Place at the National Competition in Orlando, Florida). When it is all over, Esther composes a report that summerizes the year's events, captures in pictures the events of the day, documents the teams that participated, and identifies the companies that contributed support money (> $17,000 this year). The report is distributed to our sponsors and team members. Then, its time to start over again! ! Esther is a native Philadelphian, a graduate of West Philadelphia High School, Pennsylvania State University and Saint Joseph's University. She enjoys reading, sewing, and family meetings. She resides in Wynnewood, PA and became an Aunt for the 13th time of three beautiful baby girls, Laniece Valiant, Tierney Dorothy, and Valentyne Yvonne.

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