Global Chemistry Enterprise Research Articles

Supporting ACS’s core value of diversity, inclusion, and respect

As American Chemical Society members, we are living through a time when acting on is critical to the current functioning and future direction of the society . These core values are the following: Passion for chemistry and the global chemistry enterprise Focus on members Professionalism, safety, and ethics Diversity, inclusion, and respect The more deeply we understand, embrace, and act on these core values, the stronger our highly regarded chemistry profession will become. ACS’s core value of focusing on members, for example, plays out in multiple ways as we expand our reach into the chemistry enterprise, advance key aspects of professionalism and best practices in chemistry and safety, and embrace chemists from all corners of the profession. Recent events in the US and around the world have focused our attention on the core value of diversity, inclusion, and respect, which states, “We believe in the strength of diversity in all

A monumental year for international activities

It’s a monumental year for the global chemistry enterprise. The United Nations designated 2019 as the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements (IYPT2019). This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC100). As chair of the American Chemical Society Committee on International Activities (IAC), I encourage members of ACS and our sister scientific societies to celebrate throughout 2019 and beyond. IAC is a joint board-council committee that assists scientists and engineers worldwide “to communicate and collaborate for the good of the chemical and chemically related sciences, chemical engineering, and their practitioners.” A key part of achieving this objective is to encourage ACS members to participate in events by our sister societies, as well as in activities of our international chapters and student chapters. This year, such activities include IYPT2019 and IUPAC100. In December 2017, the UN General Assembly approved

Global engagement: A competitive advantage in the practice of chemistry

A scaffold is defined as a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, bridges, and other structures. Scaffolds are rarely independent structures and have been used for a long time. So how does scaffolding relate to the American Chemical Society? ACS’s scaffolding is the 2017 Strategic Plan, a plan that calls for greater and more refined global engagement in several ways. First, we need to ask ourselves some key questions. These questions are our scaffold to a strong future: What capacities and networks does the Committee on International Activities (IAC) bring to ACS’s efforts to adapt to better serve chemistry communities and professionals worldwide? How is ACS positioned to recruit and retain members and help them be competitive in the global chemistry enterprise and advance professionally through ACS services, such as networking and training? For our chapters,

Reaction: Sustainable Catalysis without Metals

David J.C. Constable is the science director of the American Chemical Society's Green Chemistry Institute. In this role, he works to catalyze and enable the implementation of sustainable and green chemistry and engineering throughout the global chemistry enterprise.

Time To Partner And Speak Up For Science

The U.S. chemistry enterprise and broader science and technology sector are facing many challenges. A struggling economy, real-dollar decreases in funding for science, and globalization have all contributed to job losses and uncertainty within our community. However, I strongly believe that if we find ways to work with each other and with our fellow science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals, we can transform such challenges into opportunities. This conviction was the inspiration for my 2013 presidential theme, “Partners for Progress & Prosperity,” and for my presidential task force, “Vision 2025: Helping ACS Members Thrive in the Global Chemistry Enterprise.” My task force consists of two working groups, but here I will focus on the one called Jobs & Advocacy. It is more critical than ever to communicate to our elected officials the importance of funding scientific research and development and supporting business to help revive the U.S. economy. By ...

Helping Members Thrive In The Global Chemistry Enterprise

The 245th ACS National Meeting in New Orleans this April was a great success. With more than 7,000 oral presentations and 4,500 posters submitted, the total attendance of almost 16,000—including nearly 6,000 students—exceeded expectations. The meeting provided several opportunities to support our members in this time of employment challenges and globalization. I have set this goal as a presidential priority for ACS, as detailed in previous articles ( C&EN, Jan. 7, page 29, and March 11, page 33). Leaders from academia, industry, government, and small business, as well as presidents of chemical societies from around the world focused on common issues, including how to help chemistry professionals succeed in today’s global chemistry marketplace. During the national meeting, ACS launched a successful International Employment Initiative (IEI) with help from the society’s Department of Career Management & Development. Building upon the existing ACS Virtual Career Fair platform, we connected job seekers with ...

245th ACS National Meeting

Located near the French Quarter, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will host the 245th American Chemical Society National Meeting. Symposia supporting the meeting’s theme, “Chemistry of Energy & Food,” are organized by thematic program chair James N. Seiber, a professor emeritus at the University of California, Davis, and editor of the Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry. ACS President Marinda Li Wu will host 29 technical divisions and seven committees in original programming over 985 half-day oral sessions and 101 poster sessions that include Sci-Mix. Nearly 12,000 papers will be presented and more than 4,500 poster presentations will take place at the meeting. In addition to supporting the meeting theme, Wu has also set a presidential agenda, “Partners for Progress & Prosperity.” On Monday and Tuesday she will sponsor a symposium series, “Vision 2025: Helping ACS Members Thrive in the Global Chemistry Enterprise.” Chemists with experience in ...