Research has shown that some of the most important discoveries have taken place by accident. For example, saccharine - the artificial sweetener in "Sweet'N Low" - was found by a Russian chemist who forgot to wash his hands after a day's work.
Another "accident" came in 1903 when Edouard Benedictus, a French scientist, dropped a glass flask that had been filled with a solution of cellulose nitrate, a sort of liquid plastic. It broke, and the liquid evaporated. While it didn't shatter, the pieces of glass were broken, but they stayed in place and maintained the shape of the container.
Upon investigation Benedictus realized that somehow, the plastic coating had helped the glass stay together. This was the first type of safety glass developed - a product which is now frequently used in car windshields, safety goggles, and much more.
A similar occurrence took place in 1980, when Ziana Wiemer (now Ziana Wiemer Clinton) was attending a college fair at Cumberland Mall in Marietta, Georgia. A feeling of dejection after visiting the college table of nearby Agnes Scott, she moved to the table of Salem College where she found out about then outstanding chemistry department at Salem.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1987. Moving into the workforce as a chemist that focused on plastics, she found that her chemistry professor, Dr. George McKnight, had "not be totally honest with me," said Clinton as she reflected on her career. "He didn't tell me what a chauvinist career path that I had picked because 'you would never had left if you had known that.'"
Clinton, who was used to being a pioneer, witnessed varying career transitions in field of chemistry that saw men dominate the field, then the rise of women in the profession back to chauvinistic men being back in charge. She was thrill to attend a conference in 2019 that had more female chemists than males.
She later played an integral role as a Salem Regional Alumnae Representative. Later she served on the Alumnae Board to help unify the Salem alumnae with the school's administration and students.
Her competitive nature in the career can be traced back to her time on the Salem Cross Country team, which she raced with between 1983 and 1987. Clinton spoke about her time at Salem as a student-athlete and made the following remarks:
Name (including maiden name): Ziana Lee Wiemer Clinton
Sport(s) played: Cross-Country
Year of Graduation: 1987
Degree(s) Earned: B.S.-Chemistry
What is your fondest sports moment during your career at Salem College? Getting lost with Sandra Moore Tucker on the Appalachian State University trail in the mountains.
Who was the teammate or coach that inspired you the most while playing at Salem? George McKnight
How has your degree from Salem helped you to achieve success in the business world? Female Chemist. Use to working with the "guys". Have mentored several young women along the way.
What team concept(s) have you applied in your business and personal life that have proven beneficial after competing at Salem? Focus on the goal. It is better to lose with integrity than win by cheating.
What advice would you give to student-athletes interested in playing at Salem? The comradery is AMAZING.
What moment did you share/experience with a teammate(s) at Salem that bonded the team forever that season? Road Trip race at Hilton Head. Food poisoning, sand fleas, sleeping next to one another … never truly know someone until you sleep with them.
What advice did you receive while playing at Salem that you apply to the course of your everyday life? George jumped me about not having patience with a particularly "flighty" member of the team. I learned that: "You cannot control the behavior of others. You can only control YOUR reaction to their behavior."
