ACS will be the most trusted source for chemistry-related information by providing indispensable products and services. These include high-quality journals and periodicals, databases, and meetings that advance the practice of chemistry and related sciences. Through creative collaborations, transformative technologies, and best practices, ACS will ensure that its information products and services are the most authoritative and accessible.

Challenges & Opportunities

Ongoing Activities

Recent Progress

Objectives

Get Involved

• Challenges & Opportunities

  • Global economic and government budget constraints impact research output and demand.
  • Globalization of the chemistry enterprise continues with members, students, and chemistry-related professionals increasingly located in Asia.
  • Chemistry-related information sources, including free resources, are increasing.
  • The exponential growth of information is an opportunity for ACS to help chemistry-related professionals cope with information overload.
  • The growing global chemistry enterprise provides an opportunity to expand awareness of the ACS brand worldwide.

• Ongoing Activities

  • Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) REGISTRY℠ the gold standard for substance information, curated and quality-controlled by CAS scientists. The CAS REGISTRY keeps up with the growth of chemical research by registering its 70 millionth substance.
  • Access to cutting-edge research from ACS National Meetings is accessible online. The ACS Fall 2012 National Meeting in Philadelphia, August 19-23, brought together chemists worldwide with the theme "Materials for Health and Medicine."
  • Highly-rated ACS Webinars on the most important topics for chemists and chemistry, consistently draw hundreds of participants per webinar.
  • ACS Publications produces 47 of the most trusted, most cited, and most read journals in chemistry and related fields, consistently ranking as #1 in impact.

• Recent Progress

  • ACS Publications has launched the indispensable Chemical & Engineering News mobile app that gives ACS members free access to full issues.
  • CAS now offers ACS members complimentary access to SciFinder as a member benefit.
  • SciFinder Mobile provides scientists with access to the preferred research tool while on the move.
  • ACS on Campus is a cross-divisional campus outreach program that brings resources from ACS Publications, Chemical Abstracts Service, Membership & Scientific Advancement, Education and Careers to top universities in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN) adds to its available online information resources with the launch of Analytical, Biological, Environmental, and Materials SCENEs.

• Objectives

  1. Launch a new, member-only, on-demand experience for ACS Webinars, ACS Presentations on Demand, hybrid events, and other quality multimedia content to enhance member value and global access to scientific information.
  2. Increase use of, and satisfaction with, the ACS website and other online resources.
  3. Strengthen the ability of Chemical Abstracts Service and ACS Publications to provide unparalleled information for the global scientific community.

• Get Involved

  • Discover SciFinder from CAS, the world’s most complete source of chemistry information
  • Submit a manuscript to ACS Journals or an abstract for an ACS National or Regional meeting
  • Realize the excellence of ACS world-class Publications
  • Participate in an ACS Webinar
  • View ACS Presentations on Demand
  • Volunteer with your Technical Division

ACS will provide and develop resources to enable its members and other chemistry-related professionals to succeed in the global scientific enterprise at all stages of their careers. ACS will be a key resource for professional and career development and peer collaboration, and will encourage diversity in the chemical sciences. Through advocacy efforts, ACS will encourage the creation and retention of chemistry-related jobs within the U.S.

Challenges & Opportunities

Ongoing Activities

Recent Progress

Objectives

Get Involved

• Challenges & Opportunities

  • Many chemists, in the wake of regional and global economic crises, face challenges obtaining full employment.
  • The Society's ability to help support job creation and career growth in the U.S. provides an opportunity to attract members.
  • There is a need for increased awareness of the variety of career opportunities available to chemistry-educated professionals.
  • Scientific professionals are not always aware of the array of career-enhancing services provided by ACS.
  • Interactions and collaborations between industry and academia are increasing; however, big gaps remain.

• Ongoing Activities

  • The ACS Network user base continues to grow with nearly 173,000 users. The Network is the premier forum for chemists and other scientists to find, connect, and share ideas and content with colleagues across the globe.
  • ACS Meetings are the primary place for chemists, related scientists, and engineers to network, share their findings, and celebrate their accomplishments with their colleagues.
  • The electronic edition of C&EN is available as an option for ACS members to receive, replacing paper copies. The electronic edition is a complete, cover-to-cover facsimile of the print edition delivered over the web.
  • The ACS Careers site, www.acs.org/careers, is a "one-stop" shop for members' career management and development needs.
  • ACS International Activities work to connect scientists around the world in addressing global scientific challenges, to create value for members, and to build collaborative networks around the world through a variety of programs.

• Recent Progress

  • Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) SciFinder offers complimentary access under a special program. Chemistry professionals with access to SciFinder while employed can apply to receive complimentary SciFinder access if they become unemployed.
  • The ACS Entrepreneurship Initiative program seeks to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship through FastTrac courses designed to train ACS members in developing their ideas into business concepts.

• Objectives

  1. Continuously improve the value and increase the use of ACS professional development offerings to enhance the professional skills of a diverse community of members worldwide.
  2. Expand efforts to prepare members for traditional and non-traditional careers. Facilitate national meeting symposia on career opportunities and launch an international employment opportunities initiative.
  3. Develop the training program for budding chemical entrepreneurs on the basics of creating or growing a startup, as well as the resource center to support entrepreneurs with dedicated information, expertise, and services.

• Get Involved

  • Become an ACS Member
  • Reach out for career transition or job search consulting and resources
  • Enroll in an ACS Short Course or SciMind™
  • Attend an ACS National or Regional Meeting
  • Join the ACS Network
  • Attend a local section meeting and volunteer
  • Take on a short-term volunteer opportunity

ACS will promote the development and dissemination of best practices in chemistry education to ensure a scientifically literate citizenry and a highly qualified chemical workforce. High-quality, evidence-based approaches to chemistry education and advanced professional development for teachers will be fostered. ACS will support reforms and initiatives that result in safer laboratory practices and a pipeline of competent, ethical, and competitive U.S. chemists ready to address global challenges.

Challenges & Opportunities

Ongoing Activities

Recent Progress

Objectives

Get Involved

• Challenges & Opportunities

  • U.S. students will need to excel in STEM subjects to contribute to societal needs.
  • There is a national need to attract and strengthen the qualifications of chemistry teachers at all levels and to provide them with access to high quality professional development opportunities.
  • Recognition, rewards, and incentives for excellent teachers are needed.
  • Educators need an authoritative source for best practices in chemistry education.
  • Partnerships and collaborations to advocate for STEM education and reform can strengthen ACS efforts and elevate chemistry's prominence within the STEM disciplines.

• Ongoing Activities

  • Celebrating 16 years of service, the ACS Scholars Program supports underrepresented minority students who want to enter the chemistry and related practices fields.
  • The ACS Petroleum Research Fund provides in excess of $20 million annually in grants, awards, and research assistantship opportunities that support advanced scientific education and fundamental research in the petroleum field. Grants focus on proposals from undergraduate institutions, young faculty, and new directions in innovative research.
  • The Bytesize Science podcast is an all-ages trip to the frontiers of knowledge. Informative "bytesize" videos provide intriguing stories on the chemistry of food, energy, health, and much more.
  • The ACS-Hach High School Chemistry program supports innovative ideas that transform classrooms, enhance learning and foster the development of tomorrow's chemistry educators.
  • Since its establishment in 1968, ACS Project SEED has helped economically disadvantaged high school students expand their exposure to the field of science. The summer SEED programs offer these students the opportunity to intern at institutions and universities through its Summer Internships program.
  • ACS Short Courses offers a variety of resources that help professional chemists to continue their education.
  • ChemMatters is an award-winning magazine for high school chemistry, which demystifies chemistry at work in our everyday lives. Each issue includes a Teacher's Guide containing background information, follow-up hands-on activities, classroom demonstrations, and other resources to facilitate student comprehension.

• Recent Progress

  • ACS has partnered with the NSTA Learning Center to provide our members with informative chemistry related Web seminars that allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts.
  • ACS has launched the Chemistry Teacher Education Coalition. The Society recognizes the critical role of the chemistry community in preparing high school chemistry teachers of tomorrow. ACS in collaboration with the Society Committee on Education (SOCED) endorsed the CTEC statement to indicate its commitment to the critical issue of preparing high school chemistry teachers of tomorrow.

• Objectives

  1. Launch a comprehensive website that enables students to effectively explore career opportunities with a chemistry or chemistry-related degree.
  2. Encourage the implementation of the recommendations from the ACS Presidential Commission on Graduate Education in the Chemical Sciences.
  3. Increase the number of ACS partnerships with corporations, non-profits, and government agencies to advocate for STEM education and policies.

• Get Involved

  • Support ACS Scholars or Project SEED with a financial contribution
  • Mentor a Project SEED student or ACS Scholar
  • Become a Science Coach
  • Share middleschoolchemistry.com with your favorite middle school teacher
  • Encourage eduacators, parents, and children to visit www.acs.org/kids site
  • Share a Kids & Chemistry kit with a local school

ACS will lead in communicating the value of chemistry. Active participation of individual members in public outreach efforts will be encouraged and supported. ACS will be the premier advocacy organization to promote science, engineering, and innovation within the chemistry enterprise.

Challenges & Opportunities

Ongoing Activities

Recent Progress

Objectives

Get Involved

• Challenges & Opportunities

  • Accurately understanding the impacts of chemistry’s value on people’s lives can easily be misinterpreted by the public due to erroneous communications and sound bites.
  • Scientists need to be recruited and equipped to communicate with the public and policymakers about how chemistry improves people's lives.
  • Making a measurable impact on public science appreciation and literacy is difficult.
  • Expanding partnerships with other groups involved in improving public appreciation of science and engineering present an opportunity for greater impact.
  • ACS can help scientists and others to communicate how global challenges require chemistry as a part of their solution.

• Ongoing Activities

  • The Chemistry Ambassadors program, empowers a growing number of ACS members to actively engage with the public to spread the word on the nature and value of chemistry and chemists. Enrollment in the program presently exceeds 6,400 active members.
  • The ACS Act4Chemistry Network continues to grow at act4chemistry.org, which offers social networking and shares calls to action, blogs, and bookmarked news about the latest policy developments and how you can get involved.
  • The Society's tagline ACS: Chemistry for Life™ is part of a comprehensive communications strategy to unify ACS products and develop widespread recognition of the nature and value of chemistry.
  • The ACS National Historic Chemical Landmarks highlight monumental and key roles chemistry-related innovations play in our lives today, by advancing the frontiers of knowledge, expanding medicine and the chemical enterprise.

• Recent Progress

  • The ACS recently developed the, Innovation, Chemistry, and Jobs report, detailing the steps to create economic growth, generate revenue and add new jobs in the nation's scientific sectors. In addition to the report, the Society's position statement, A Competitive U.S. Business Climate: Innovation, Chemistry, and Jobs, has recently been updated.
  • ACS Science & the Congress has held more than 160 briefings on Capitol Hill to date. The recently held Critical Materials Shortages: Opportunity for Competitive Innovation was hosted by the honorary Senator Mark Udall (D-CO).
  • CAS launched a podcast series, SciFinder Science in the News, to help explore the important field of natural products and chemistry.
  • Watch Voices of Research and meet researchers working on today's most cutting-edge scientific challenges, and learn how their work makes a difference for you and future generations.
  • ACS continues as a leader in the use of digital technology to communicate science to the public, policymakers, and our members. This included the introduction of digital press conferences so that journalists worldwide can access live audio and video and the expanded use of blogs, podcasts (audio and video), web-based seminars, and web services like Twitter™ and Facebook™.

• Objectives

  1. Develop messages, presentations, and multimedia tools on national/global challenges related to chemistry. Assist and motivate Local Section PR chairs and other members to communicate with media, policymakers, community leaders, and the public.
  2. Train spokespersons, selected for their area of expertise and communication skills, to engage media and public audiences. Arrange for them to be interviewed in news outlets or to be part of public dialog with policymakers, civic groups, or other opinion-leaders.
  3. Empower ACS members and allied organizations to communicate key ACS policy priorities, highlighted in "Creating Opportunity through Scientific Innovation," with policymakers. Support the passage of legislative provisions that advance the ACS agenda.

• Get Involved

  • Contribute toward spreading the positive impacts of chemistry through Chemists Celebrate Earth Day and National Chemistry Week
  • Become a Chemistry Ambassador (and sub-activities)
  • Join the Act 4 Chemistry Network (and sub-activities)
  • Become an advocate for STEM education