Taking ACS national meetings to the next level

Abstract

Remember your first ACS national meeting? Remember the crowds and the amazing diversity of the technical program? Possibly you remember it as a transformative experience, or possibly you remember it as overwhelming. Our ACS national meetings are in many ways the jewel in the crown of the society. They bring members together to talk and learn about all aspects of the central science and to hear some of the best chemists in the world expound on the transforming power of chemistry. They present a diverse smorgasbord of science, provide opportunities to network and socialize, and can strengthen our sense of community in an increasingly impersonal world. Why do our national meetings need to be better? Every organization and every event has its strengths and weaknesses. The strengths of ACS meetings include their sheer size and scope, the wonderful organizing ability of ACS staff, and the brilliance of leaders from all