Your voice in U.S. science policy

Abstract

Did your preferred candidates win your local, state, and national elections? No matter who won, it’s always challenging to communicate with lawmakers about science-related legislation, actions, and policies we care about. In C&EN, American Chemical Society President Allison A. Campbell ( Jan. 2, page 33) and Immediate Past-President Donna J. Nelson ( Jan. 9, page 34) have emphasized the critical role the society and our members play in advocacy. In fact, through its 1937 national charter, ACS is expected to advise policy-makers on a range of issues. So how does ACS make itself heard in Washington, D.C., and how can you participate? As individual members, some of us speak directly with government officials and our own representatives. We also speak with a collective voice through ACS government affairs, previously in the Office of Public Affairs and recently merged into the External Affairs & Communications unit of the Office of the