ACS NEWS
OFFICIAL REPORTS FROM THE ORLANDO MEETING The major actions taken by theACSBoardand Digital Library grant proposal. The comCouncil during the national meeting in San mittee reviewed the status of the SOCEDDiego were reportedin C&EN, May 6,page 62. based, National Science Foundation-funded technician education project, which includes the new online Voluntary Industry Standards database, as well as the recently released booklet titled "Guide to Classroom Instruction for Adjunct Faculty" Staff also reported on the progress of the WonBUDGET & FINANCE der and Explore project, which consists of The Society Committee on Budget & Finance electedjudith L. Benham as vice chair. an Internet course for elementary teachers, resource materials, and a book. The committee reviewed the budgetary performance report for the year 2001 and The chair of CPT updated SOCED on the financial impact statements for one pethe activities of this sister committee, intition for action and two petitions for concluding the results of the library survey and sideration. The society was in compliance CPPs re-evaluation of the chemistry/eduwith all board-established financial guidecation option requirements. The commitlines at year-end. After receiving a presen- tee was also briefed on the new Strategic tationfromstaffon the calculations and asExpense Management System and a recent sumptions used in deriving the escalated survey on the perceptions of the "Millennidues, the committee voted to recommend al Generation" on chemists and chemistry the council's approval of the 2003 fully esFinalry this meeting marked the 65th ancalated dues rate of $116. The committee niversary ofthe ACS Student Affiliates proendorsed the idea of establishing two new gram. Also, 2002 is the 10th anniversary subcommittees: Communications and New of national meeting programming for StuProgram Review-J AM ES D. BURKE, CHAIR dent Affiliates. SOCED held a reception to celebrate these anniversaries on Sunday evening after the Student Affiliates Award EDUCATION Ceremony-DARYLE H. BUSCH, CHAIR President Eli M. Pearce discussed his views with the committee (SOCED) on graduate education at ACS and challenged SOCED to consider what chemistry education, in particular at the undergraduate and graduate levels, would look like if we chose to develop it from scratch. A task force will STANDING COMMITTEES be formed to plan a SOCED invitational GRANTS & AWARDS conference to focus on this topic. Acting under delegated authority and As a result of a long-range planning ex- on the recommendation of the advisory ercise, SOCED identified a shortlist of ed- board ofthe ACS Petroleum Research Fund (ACS-PRF), the Board Committee on ucational programming ideas that would Grants & Awards (G&A) voted to approve complement existing programs and help 189 grants-in-aid and supplements to curus more effectively meet the ACS straterent grants totaling $7,212,255. These gic thrusts. In addition, SOCED will be grants are the second group awarded from collaborating with the National Science the 2002 ACS-PRF grant budget of $25 Teachers Association on the development million, which is an increase of 39% above of new standards for the preparation of the 2001 grant budget. high school chemistry teachers. The Committee on ProfessionalTraining (CPT) will Acting upon recommendation of G&A also be included in this effort. and the ACS Committee on Frasch Foundation Grants, the board of directors votSOCED considered the PetitionTo Ined to recommend to the trustee of the Hercrease the Size of Society Committees and man Frasch Foundation 17 grants-in-aid voted to support a deferral of action until for research in agricultural chemistry for the Committee on Committees Review the period of 2 0 0 2 - 0 7 Task Force completes its report. SOCED also voted to request that staff explore ways Acting upon recommendation of G&A, to support and cooperate with theJournal the board of directors approved a proposal of Chemical Education on its Chemistry from the ACS Division of Business Devel-
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opment & Management to sponsor the ACS Award in Industrial Chemistry for 2003-05. Acting upon recommendation of G&A, the board of directors approved a modification in the name of the ACS Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science & Technology to include the phrase "sponsored by Air Products and Chemicals Inc. in memory of Joseph J. Breen." Acting upon recommendation of G&A, the board of directors approved the establishment of a Pfizer Endowment Fund for an endowed award named the Elias J. Corey Award for Outstanding Original Contribution in Organic Synthesis by a Young Investigator. Contact Lawrence A. Funke at Liunke@ acs.org for more information about the ACS-PRF Program or K. Michael Shea at
[email protected] for more information concerning the ACS National Awards Program.-GLENN A. CROSBY, CHAIR PROFESSIONAL & MEMBER RELATIONS The committee (P&MR) reviewed its strategic plan and discussed potential interactions with other committees that have similar focus. The committee reviewed a variety of national meeting activities and programs that support the goal of P&MR and remains interested in strengthening partnerships with other like-minded groups within the society The committee reviewed a request from TRI/Princeton to sponsor a symposium in honor of Bernard Miller, a world-renowned expert in the fiber and textile fields and an ACS member. The committee agreed to list the symposium on the ACS website as a meeting of interest to the chemical enterprise. The committee received an update from the Chemistryorg team. Seven technical divisions participated in the launch of gated communities within the portal project. The Division of Chemical Information has developed an online opt-in membership directory as a part of the project. In 2002, Chemistryorg will make online separates available to all technical divisions. The committee remains very interested in Chemistryorg and views it as an important tool for members and other interested publics. The committee reviewed the most recent outcomes of the ACS Prospectives conferences that focus on cutting-edge research. This innovative and highly successful program series attracts younger industrial chemists who prefer smaller meetings with more opportunity for networking. The committee reviewed the newly developed online dues renewal application and will launch it with the 2003 renewal series. HTTP://PUBS.ACS.ORG/CEN
The system allows members to pay annual dues online in real time. In addition, mem bers will be able to add division member ships and publications, make contributions, and change their addresses. T h e system will automatically update amember's COSMOS record and Chemistryorg registration. The committee reviewed the 2 0 0 1 yearend membership statistics. At the end o f 2 0 0 1 , the total membership number was 163,503, which was only slightly ahead o f the 2 0 0 0 year-end number. Overall, the direct-mail efforts brought in 2 , 0 0 0 few er members in 2 0 0 1 than in 2 0 0 0 . T h e lower response rate can be attributed to the financial climate and the events of Sept. 11,2001.-E. ANN NALLEY, CHAIR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS & PUBLIC RELATIONS In response to a request by the National Sci ence Foundation (NSF), the c o m m i t t e e (PA&PR) identified and considered poten tial candidates to serve on the National Sci ence Board—NSF's prestigious policy-mak ing body T h e committee voted to recom m e n d candidates for the A C S Board t o consider for positions on the National Sci ence Board that will become vacant in 2 0 0 4 . The committee reviewed the positive re sults in ACS media coverage in 2001, which reached an estimated total audience o f nearly one-half billion. That includes about 124 million people reached lastyear through m e d i a coverage o f A C S p u b l i c a t i o n s alone—nearly quadruple over the past four years. Another highlight was the substantial increase in coverage of both the Chemistry Olympiad and the Nobel Prize last year. The committee recommended that a comment be written in C & E N o n this growing me dia coverage for the society T h e committee reviewed the results of a recent survey o f ACS Legislative Action Network members, which drew a notable 25% response rate. T h e responses demon strated very strong member satisfaction with the program. T h e Office o f Legisla tive & Government Affairs will use the re sults to strengthen the program and to help guide the prioritization o f ACS policy is sues overall. ACS government affairs activ ities related to post-Sept. 11,2001, science policy also were discussed, including a new W h i t e House policy restricting access to classified and sensitive government infor mation related to weapons o f mass de struction, improving scientific information at the Department o f Justice, and a new venture with other scientific and industry groups to organize a series of "Vulnerabili ty and Security" briefings on Capitol Hill. T h e committee also discussed plans for the board o f directors to join the A C S HTTP://PUBS.ACS.ORG/CEN
Committee o n Chemistry & Public Affairs for t h e A C S Legislative Summit, April 2 9 - 3 0 , to advance ACS positions before Congress o n federal R & D funding—par ticularly at N S F and the Department of Energy-MAUREEN G. CHAN, CHAIR
Other Committees CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS SERVICE (Joint with Council) T h e committee met in executive session o n April 5 and in open session jointly with the Joint Board-Council C o m m i t t e e o n P u b l i c a t i o n s and w i t h t h e D i v i s i o n o f Chemical Information o n April 8. T h e committee heard from CAS man agement on a range of issues including data base improvements, products and services news, and a general performance update. It was noted that CAS's performance in 2 0 0 1 was very positive, with CAS meeting all key objectives and exceeding all financial targets. T h e committee discussed the academ ic market, noting that about 550 schools have installed SciFinder Scholar through the first quarter o f 2 0 0 2 ; C A S continues to add n e w schools at a rate o f one each business day T h e CAS director reported on his meeting with the Committee o n Pro fessional Training, which resulted in open, positive dialog and continuing communi cation regarding academic issues. Products and services news was shared with committee members, including the fact that bibliographic and abstract infor mation from the entire Chemical Abstracts collection back to 1907 is n o w available for searching through S T N , SciFinder, and SciFinder Scholar research t o o l s . T h e added pre-1967 material brings the total number o f online records to more than 2 0 million from 1907 to the present. A "virtual tour" of the "digital research environment" was conducted for commit tee members and demonstrated, in partic ular, the number ofways that users can link to full text and other resources o n the\fteb while pursuing research in SciFinder and o n S T N . T h e meeting closed with mem bers engaging in a lively discussion and ex change of information o n the topic ' W h a t innovations are you seeing o n the entire in formation landscape that might be relevant toCAS?"-BARBARA J. PETERSON, CHAIR
CHEMICAL SAFETY (Joint with Council) T h e committee reviewed the final draft of the 7th e d i t i o n o f "Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories," and approval was given to proceed w i t h publication. T h e
n e w edition will consist o f a volume for students and a volume for faculty and ad ministrators. Publication is expected in late 2 0 0 2 . In addition, a quick-reference "pocket guide" for students will be pre pared. AWeb-only edition o f "Less is Bet ter" has been prepared and is available on the committee website (http://www.chem istryorg/committees/ccs).The committee is w o r k i n g w i t h t h e D i v i s i o n o f Small Chemical Businesses to prepare the third edition o f "Chemical Safety Manual for Small Businesses."The committee is work ing with the Task Force o n Laboratory En vironmental Health & Safety to prepare a booklet o n handling mercury spills. In ad dition, the c o m m i t t e e is working o n a statement of recommendations for solvent drying and purification techniques, con sidering both safety and economic issues. Following the Sept. 11, 2 0 0 1 , tragedy, o n behalf of the committee, the chair of fered the help and expertise o f the com mittee to the affected parties. This offer of assistance was included in letters from ACS Board Chair Nina I. McClelland and thenpresident Attila Ε. Pavlath to President Bush, then-mayor Giuliani, and other of ficials. C o n t i n u i n g along this line, the committee is a cosponsor, with the Divi sion of Chemical Toxicology, of the Chem ical & Biological Terrorism Symposium at the Boston ACS meeting. T h e committee's website has been up dated and expanded. Ordering informa tion and links to W e b versions o f c o m m i t t e e publications have b e e n added. Links to other safety-related websites and resources have also b e e n added. Please send items of interest for possible inclu sion o n the site to the website administra tor at
[email protected] P. FIVIZZANI, CHAIR
CORPORATION ASSOCIATES T h e chair of the Committee on Corpora tion Associates (CA), RobertJ. Coraor, pre sented CAs newly developed strategic plan to the ACS Board o f Directors. Also, spe cial emphasis was placed o n the CA-sponsored activities presented at the Industry Pavilion, including a presentation on CAs 5 0 t h anniversary. Through communications with organi zations such as the Council for Chemical Research and the Industrial Research In stitute, the Awards Subcommittee will con tinue its efforts to solicit industrial nomi nations for the ACS 2 0 0 4 national awards. The Education Subcommittee will strength en relations with the ACS Office of Gradu ate Education, the Society Committee on Education, and the Committee on ProfesC&EN
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ACS NEWS sional Training in an effort to support its strategic goal of enhancing connections between industry and academe. The Education Subcommittee will also reviewgraduate programs sponsored by Cornell University the University ofMassachusetts, and the University of Cincinnati that have succeeded in integrating topics into the classroom that are directly relevant to industry The information will be shared with all CA representatives and other groups within ACS. The Industrial Membership Subcommittee will continue to recruit newmembers through one-on-one personal contacts and target individuals interested in serving as CArepresentatives.The Programs Subcommittee will focus on developing activities to address the issue of diversity in the chemical industry It will continue to explore the value to CA ofexpert analyses ofniche markets that can impact and influence the chemical industry The Public Policy Subcommittee will work to identify public policy areas of potential interest to ACS divisions for programming purposes and will explore funding options to support such programming. Further, this subcommittee will promote participation of CA representatives in the ACS Legislative Action Network. The committee also received reports from the CAboard liaison, representatives from the Environmental Chemistry Division, and several ACS staff offices. Six ACS divisions received support for a total of eight symposia at Orlando through the CAindustrialprogramminggrants.This program continues to provide support to divisions developing symposia of interest to industrial chemists. The committee also approved funding for the conversion and print costs of the revised publication titled "What Every Chemist Should Know about Patents." Commonly known as the "patent primer," this publication is an introduction to the basics of applying for a patent.— ROBERT J. CORAOR, CHAIR
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT (Joint with Council) The committee (CEI) received reports from its subcommittees on sustainability and regulatory issues, and met as a whole to decide on priorities and activities for the next year. For the remainder of 2002, the committee will operate without subcommittees and will focus on a series of new and ongoing projects. Under this structure, CEI will do the following: • Continue leading the society's efforts to advocate sound science in the environmental arena through statements and activities on green chemistry, the precautionary principle, energy policy, environ50
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mental research funding, and global climate change. • Continue to provide technical expertise to decisionmakers in areas such as homeland security, MTBE, and energy • Begin a project on the environment in the undergraduate chemical curriculum that will survey departments for their current activities, establish a clearinghouse of resources, and eventually develop guidelines that departments may use to gauge whether their programs properly include environment and sustainability • Organize a series of select workshops to identify chemical research needs related to the environment. • Work with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers to develop a consensus position on the precautionary principle and communicate the result to decisionmakers and the public. • Become involved with other ACS units in organizing Earth Day activities in 2003. • Continue to explore opportunities to cosponsor programming at national and regional meetings in order to highlight policy-relevant science. • Continue supporting the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards and the Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference as the ACS Green Chemistry Institute accepts more management responsibility for these ongoing projects. The committee revised and strengthened a statement on global climate change. The draft document will now be shared with other interested committees and divisions in preparation for board consideration of the subject by the end of the year. The committee is organizing a workshop at the fall national meeting through the Division on Environmental Chemistry to explore changes in practice since the publication of "Principles of Environmental Sampling." Based on interest in the symposium, CEI may update the document, which first appeared 20 years ago.— JEFFREY I. STEINFELD. CHAIR
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES (Joint with Council) The committee received reports from its subcommittees on International Outreach/Developing Countries, Inter-Society Communications & Meetings, Scientific Freedom & Human Rights, and International Policy Issues. Those subcommittees presented proposals for new projects developed in light ofthe society's strategic plan. Projects included a special symposium, "Chemistry in the Middle East," a series of seminars overseas on environmental/green chemistry and enhanced educational con-
tacts with other countries. The International Initiatives Program continues to support highly effective exchanges of scientists with Latin America and Central Europe. The committee received a report, soon to be available on the Web, on chemically related activity in industry higher education, government, learned societies, trade/professional associations, and research institutes in Brazil. A fourth in the series of National Science Foundation-supported workshops on environmental chemistry was held in Kranskagora, Slovenia, in September 2001. The committee helped organize an environmental chemistry workshop in Mérida, \enezuela, in October 2001. Asecond German-American Symposium on the Frontiers of Chemistry is planned for Boston in August 2002. At the committee's request, letters of concern were sent by the president of the society to heads of state requesting just treatment of scientists prosecuted uniairly in Burma and Iran.—WIL LIA M F. CARROLL JR., CHAIR
MINORITY AFFAIRS (Joint with Council) The committee heard reports on the activities of the board task force charged to address the problems facing the chemical academic community with regard to the paucity ofunderrepresented minority faculty, and on the activities of the Presidential Working Group on Data Collection on Women and Minorities Employed in the Chemical Sciences. The committee also received a report on the newly created PROGRESS project and an update on the PercyJulian Biography Project. In addition to its luncheon event with speaker Mae C. Jemison, the committee presented a workshop on leveraging opportunities for leadership and a Presidential Event on strengthening the transition ofminority students from two-year to fouryear institutions. Continuing with the diversity theme under President EH M. Pearce, the committee's Boston programming will highlight successful models for faculty and student diversity in chemistry programs. Also at the Boston meeting, the committee will participate in the ChemLuminary celebration by presenting two awards: one for the best overall local section minority affairs committee and one for the outstanding ACS Scholars Program. The committee acknowledged and celebrated the awarding of more than 1,000 scholarships to underrepresented students. In addition, the committee also learned that the Scholars Program has surpassed $3 million in pledges from donors and the society's matching gift program. HTTP://PUBS.ACS.ORG/CEN
SCIENCE (Joint with Council) The Committee on Science (ComSci) organized three programs in Orlando: • Energy for the Future: This well-attended presidential event concluded with an address from John H. Marburger III, science adviser to President Bush. • National Security and Homeland Defense. • Challenges and Opportunities from Federal Sources of Funding in the Chemical Sciences. For the Boston national meeting, together with partnering committees and divisions, ComSci will organize apresidential event tided "Interdisciplinary Science and Education: Opportunities, Challenges, Policies, and Practices." In addition, the committee is planning a follow-up symposium to the National Research Council's materials and manufacturingworkshop held last year. For the 2003 New Orleans national CHAIR meeting, ComSci is considering holding a luncheon forum on federal funding for research projects related to homeland defense. PATENTS & RELATED MATTERS Apossible technical program for that meet(Joint with Council) ing would focus on technology's role in enThe committee (CPRM) is actively pro ergy development, joint with the American moting the updated version of its popu Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). lar publication, "What Every Chemist Should Know about Patents." The publi Long-term program plans call for a mulcation reflects comments made by the tidisciplinary look at the technical aspects \bunger Chemists Committee to make it and public policy implications of global a useful tool for newer chemists. The pub warming. Some other areas of interest are PUBLICATIONS lication is available online at http://www. the future stability of long-range research; (Joint with Council) chemistry org/government. Also, through the effect of the revolution in data storage In collaboration with the Journal of the a generous grant from Corporation Asso American Chemical Society, which will cel and access on the conduct of chemical ciates, the booklet will be available in hard business, research, and education; the ebrate its 125th volume in 2003, C&EN is copy by fall 2002. workplace experience in biotech start-up planning its 80th anniversary with a spe cial symposium and special issue at the New companies; and the communication of Work continues on education issues, leg chemistry to the public. %rk ACS meeting in September 2003. In islation issues, and nominations for the 2002, C&EN is developing a strategic plan National Inventors Hall of Fame and the ComSci is interested in improving unto open up new editorial and advertising National Medal of Technology. All ACS derstanding across ACS divisional lines members are encouraged to forward worthy arenas that will better serve its readers. about important developments and disnominations for these awards to CPRM for coveries in chemistry fields. ComSci will JobSpectrum.org launched Campus consideration.-ALAN M. EHRLICH, CHAIR contact divisional leaders about their inCenter on March 18. Campus Center is a terest in developing a program for excomprehensive career service for students, change of this type of information. their faculty, and campus recruiters. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING (Joint with Council) The Sales & Marketing Department pre ComSci supports the Committee on At its April meeting and its meeting inJan sented the committee with the latest as Meeting & Expositions' (M&E) efforts to uary 2002, the committee (CPT) reviewed pects of the ACSJournal Archives project. address concerns related to nondivisionfive-year and other reports from 127 ACS- This body of work includes more than 2.5 sponsored programs at national meetings. million pages oforiginal chemistry research, approved chemistry programs. Confer It urged M&E to preserve a way for groups ences were held with seven schools seek 500,000 articles, and 11,000 journal issues. to organize special events after the deading approval, and written updatesfromfive The Publications Division is on track for line for technical programming. applicants were reviewed. Probation re the launch of the Archives on May 1. ComSci continues to monitor the imports from six schools and four site visit Upon recommendation of the Environ pact of laws and guidelines regarding the reports were also discussed. Three schools mental Science &Technology (ESèT) Editor quality and integrity of data disseminated were added to the ACS-approved list, Search Committee, the ACS Board of by federal agencies. It remains concerned bringing the current total to 623 colleges Directors approved the appointment of that scientific research in support of leand universities with ACS approval of their Jerald L. Schnoor of the University of Iowa gitimate regulatory policy not be inhibitchemistry programs. to become the next editor of ES&T in ed and the peer review and publication of January 2003.-J0AN E. SHIELDS, CHAIR scientific work not be overly burdened. As part ofits review ofthe chemistry ed Interactions with minority advocacy or ganizations remain strong. The commit tee learned that Pearce was a luncheon speaker at the annual meeting of the Na tional Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers and that the society sponsored several other events at this 30thyear celebration. The society also plans to sponsor a symposium at the annual meet ing of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos & Native Americans in Science, and to present prizes for poster presenta tions at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. The committee voted to recommend to the board of directors several initiatives that address the underrepresentation of Amer ican Indians in the sciences. The committee also agreed to develop special programs for the New Orleans meeting that celebrate the committee's 10th anniversary.-SAUNDRA Y. MCGUIRE,
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ucation option, the committee sponsored a symposium at the Orlando ACS meeting to present the recommendations for changes to the option and a proposal for an ACS-approved minor in chemistry for the preparation of secondary school science teachers. The recommendations for the op tion and the details of the proposed minor were published in the spring 2002 edition of the CPTNewsletter, which is available on the Web. Also, CPT established a sub committee to consider ways to improve the education ofminorities in chemistry and to enhance the number of minorities in the undergraduate segment of the pipeline. The final report on the library survey, which was conducted at approved institu tions by CPT, was published this spring. The report was distributed to chemistry faculty at approved programs and is available on the CPT website. The committee will con tinue to work with other society units to en sure that cost decisions about chemical jour nal and database resources include consideration of the potential impact on the education of future chemists. Finally, the 2001 edition of the 'ACS Directory of Graduate Research" has been published in print and as a searchable database on the Web. This is thefirsttime all of the data in cluded in the DGR were captured elec tronically-J ΕΑΝ Ν Ε Ε. PEMBERT0N, CHAIR
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ACS NEWS ComSci invited three ACS staffmembers to discuss trends in chemical employment, business and technology, and public policy Their presentations helped provide a context for the committee's planning as a programming leader, a source ofthoughtful advice to the society, and a forum for open discussion of issues affecting all chemists. The committee voted to provide $2,000 in funding to support the Division of Analytical Chemistry's Boston symposium titled "Chemistry Science Using Synchrotron Radiation."-MARGARET A. CAVANAUGH, CHAIR
YOUNGER CHEMISTS (Joint with Council) The hunger Chemists Committee (YCC) continued to focus its energy on identifying initiatives that bolster the ACS strategic thrusts and on enhancing the committee's vision to lead younger chemists into successful careers and active roles in ACS and the profession. To enable young chemical professionals to develop leadership skills and prepare them for leadership roles in the society, YCC is developing a leadership workshop and award The workshop will focus on common behaviors of leaders and will raise participants' awareness ofthe leadership opportunities within the society The awards will cover the recipients' travel, accommodations, and workshop expenses. The YCC Leadership Development Workshop will be offered at select ACS regional meetings in 2003 and 2004. YCC continued its efforts to make ACS relevant to young chemical professionals by organizing and cosponsoring a number of interdisciplinary programs in Orlando. YCC successfully completed its first-ever 5KFun Run and 1.5-Mile Walk, bringing together more than 140 participants. YCC looks forward to offering the Second Annual Fun Run/Walk in New Orleans in 2003; a YCC-sponsored blood drive in Boston in 2002; and other relevant career, professional development, and graduate educational programming at future national and regional meetings. For more information on YCC and its activities, visit http://wwwchemistry.org/ycc or contact y c c @ a c s . o r g . - J 0 H N C CRAWFORD, CHAIR
Council Committee Reports ELECTED COMMITTEES COMMITTEES The committee (ConC) held its third annual New Committee Chair Training Program with a weekend event in February 52
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New chairs, with several ACS staff and key society leaders, including Board Chair Nina I. McClelland, participated in sessions on effective meetings, setting goals, succession planning, and developing new leaders. The response has been positive, and similar programs are planned. A five-year review for the Committee on Science was completed. The board of directors and the council endorsed the ConC recommendation for the continuation of the committee. At ConC's recommendation, the council approved a change in the status (and corresponding charge) for the Women Chemists Committee (WCC), from an "Other Committee" to a "Joint BoardCouncil Committee." Because of an ongoing ConC task force review of council-related committees, a ConC recommendation to postpone action on the Petition To Increase the Size of Society Committees until the Boston meeting was accepted by the council.— BARBARA A. SAWREY, CHAIR
NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS In support of its long-standing commitment to identify qualified female and minority candidates, the committee voted unanimously to support the recommendations of the Presidential-Board Task Force to Study and Make Recommendations on Issues Related to Women in the Chemical Profession to develop additional plans to increase the numbers ofwomen candidates for national office. This plan will be ready for committee review at its next meeting. The committee continues to study appropriate electronic balloting options for national elections. The committee will seek the support of the Committee on Constitution & Bylaws to extend the electronic balloting pilot program currently used and funded by the Division of Inorganic Chemistry The committee also discussed at length the results of a survey of over 35 past candidates for national office. The survey sought feedback from candidates on issues including, but not limited to, the current petition process, the adequacy ofcampaigningguidelines, the use of funds for campaigning purposes, and suggestions for providing fair and equitable opportunities and access for all candidates for national office. In light of these survey results, N&E has undertaken a comprehensive review of all national election processes and, through its subcommittee structure, will develop specific recommendations for improvement in these areas. The council can expect a report on these recommendations at the Boston meeting.
The committee also developed slates of potential candidates for election to the Council Policy Committee and the Committee on Committees for the years 2003-05. The pertinent biographical data for the candidates to be elected by the council will appear in the council agenda book for the fall meeting in Boston. At that time, the candidates will be introduced to council prior to casting of ballots.—PETER J. STANG, CHAIR
Standing Committees CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS The committee, acting for the council, approved amendments and issued new certified bylaws to the Greater Houston Local Section; the Division of Organic Chemistry; the Division of Physical Chemistry; and the Cellulose, Paper & Textile Division (name change to Cellulose & Renewable Materials Division approved by council April 10). Committees and council reviewed one petition for action: the Petition To Increase the Size of Society Committees. Council voted to postpone action on the petition until the national meeting in Boston. Committees and council were presented two petitions for consideration: the Petition for Approval of Non-U.S. Applicants as Society Affiliates and Petition for Local Section and Division Support. The Council Policy Committee (the committee with primary substantive responsibility for the Petition for Local Section and Division Support) reported the committee's vote to recommend withdrawal of the petition. The committee discussed one proposed housekeeping petition regarding bylaw councilor definitions. The deadline to receive petitions to amend the ACS Constitution & Bylaws for inclusion in the agenda of the fall 2002 meeting in Boston was May 1. New petitions for inclusion in the agenda for the spring 2003 meeting in New Orleans must be received in the executive director's office b y D e c . ll.-CHARLES E. THOMAS, CHAIR
DIVISIONAL ACTIVITIES The Committee on Divisional Activities (DAC) received all 33 division and two of the four secretariat annual reports for 2001. Voluntary division memberships for 2001 numbered just over 116,000, representing an increase from the previous year. The Division Leaders Conference was held Feb. 1-3, in Clearwater, Fla. Participation included chairs-elect, treasurers, HTTP://PUBS.ACS.ORG/CEN
as refresher course for leaders and poten tial leaders of local sections. An external consulting firm was hired to collect and analyze conference impact data. The Nashville conference attendees rated the conference a 4.63 on a 5.0 scale. Because the conference was an overwhelming suc cess, LSAC will host both spring and fall conferences annually, beginning in 2003. LSAC currently has four working sub committees. The Subcommittee on Fu ture Local Sections & Leaders is focusing on local section/division collaboration. In addition, the subcommittee supports local sections via the Local Section Officers Listserve and is enhancing the "Top Program Ideas" Web page. The Awards & Recognition Subcom mittee reviewed nominations and select ed winners for four LSAC awards to be giv en in Boston. The subcommittee reviewed survey results in an effort to better under stand the extent of recognition activities by local sections. Eighty-seven percent of the local section annual reports received to date were sub mitted through SOLAR, the Submit On line Annual Reports system. The Subcom mittee on Technology, Tools & Operations is LSACs focal point for SOLAR-related is sues. For the first time, the annual report re view process will be online this year as well. Also new this year, local sections were invited to file an EZ report form, provid COSt.-DENNIS CHAM0T, CHAIR ed they did not want to be considered for a Local Section Outstanding Performance Award. Of the annual reports received to LOCAL SECTION ACTIVITIES The Committee on Local Section Activi date, approximately 50% of the local sec ties (LSAC) is pleased to report that eight tions filed the EZ form. local sections are celebrating anniversaries The Local Section Assistance & Devel in 2002, as follows: Rock River (25 years); opment Subcommittee provides assistance Idaho, Inland Northwest, and North Al and support to local sections. LSAC mem abama (50 years); Kanawha Valley, Prince bers contact local sections through the ton, and South Carolina (75 years); and peer communication program to offer sup Cornell (100 years). port and discuss key issues. The National Chemistry Week Task LSAC hosts Leadership Conferences to provide training and support for incoming Force announced the theme for NCW local section officers. Last fall, LSAC host 2002 as "Chemistry Keeps Us Clean" for ed a pilot, two-day follow-up conference the week of Oct. 20-26. Activities and in Nashville for 57 new chairs to provide publications on the chemistry of soaps, de m a t i o n . - F R A N K D. BLUM, CHAIR these officers with additional strategies tergents, and other cleaning products will ECONOMIC & PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS and techniques. The conference was video be available at the Boston national meet In preparation for next year's scheduled taped, and an Ε-seminar was launched in ing. The theme for 2003 will be based on update, the Committee on Economic & March and is now available on chem the chemistry of the atmosphere. Professional Affairs (CEPA) has begun the istry org at http:/Avww.chemistry org/local LSAC and DAC met jointly to discuss task of reviewing the "Professional Em sections/eseminar.html. (Send an e-mail to the Petition for Local Section and Divi ployment Guidelines.wThe document may
[email protected] to obtain user name and sion Support. LSAC voted to support the need to be updated to reflect evolving ca password.) The seminar consists of 10 ses petition, provided petitioners amend the reer patterns for the growing number of sions delivered at the Nashville conference. petition to include placing a limit on the employees who have multiple employers Each session is presented in text format, range of distribution of funds. along with video clips of speakers and links and changing needs. At the Orlando meeting, LSAC and the The ACS Salary Comparator is a mem to related resources. This seminar is in council approved a petition for a Change ber-only benefit introduced by CEPA that tended to serve as an introductory as well in the Minnesota Local Section Territory
secretaries, and membership chairs; 95% of the attendees werefirst-timedivision officers. DAC distributed board-approved stop gap funding that was completed in No vember 2001. Eighteen divisions received funding, with all having reported to DAC on their use of these funds. DAC and the Committee on Local Section Activities met jointly to discuss the Petition for Lo cal Section and Division Support. The joint group would support the petition if a pro vision were included for niinimum support to either local sections or divisions. A joint DAC-Publications DivisionTask Force on Exploring Future Mechanisms for Dissemination of Materials Presented at Symposia met to explore more effective ways of information exchange and to ad dress concerns about declining division royalties from symposium-based books. ADACTask Force was formed to mon itor the status of the probationary Divi sion of Laboratory Automation (LABA). In response to a request by the coun cilors of a division, DAC advised the offi cers of the division by clarifying the dis tribution of authority as described in their division bylaws and on their individual re sponsibilities to their membership and the society. DAC will assist this division until its internal issues are settled. The name change of the Cellulose, Pa per & Textile Division (CELL) to the Cel lulose & Renewable Materials Division (CELL) was approved by DAC based on in put from divisions and approval by the CELL membership. Upon recommenda tion of DAC, the council voted to approve the name change. DAC congratulates the following divi sions on the anniversaries of their full di visional status: History of Chemistry, 80 years; Polymeric Materials: Science & En gineering, 75 years; Petroleum Chemistry, 80 years; and the division formerly known as Cellulose, Paper & Textile, 75 years. Contact K. Michael Shea, DAC staff li aison, at
[email protected] for more infor-
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continues to grow in popularity Launched last year, the comparator electronically al lows members to evaluate their salaries and examine any employment situation with in the scope of the ACS salary surveys, in cluding new graduates' starting salaries. CEPA continues to receive a steady flow of positive comments from members. The National Employment Clearing house (NECH) at the Boston national meet ing will be fully automated and entirely "pa perless" for the first time. Employers and job candidates will be able to access the data base from any computer, 24 hours a day Registration will stay open until just hours before the next meeting. No on-site regis tration will be allowed. At the Orlando meet ing, 131 employers posted 988 job openings at NECH; 867 job candidates were on-site, and 3,088 interviews were held. As one result ofthe tighter ACS budget, CEPA will not produce the publication "Current Trends" this year as originally planned. Instead of conducting approxi mately 100 interviews and synthesizing the information into a coherent picture of trends in chemical employment, the com mittee will organize a symposium at Boston and then post their papers, as well as other invited papers, on the Department of Ca reer Services website, along with an ex planatory preface. Thefinalproduct can be more flexible and timely than the publica tion it replaces, at a substantially lower
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ACS NEWS tional meeting be held in New Orleans on The Minnesota Section annexed two unassigned counties: Stevens and Pope.—YO R KE April 7-11, and that the 2013 fall meeting be held in Indianapolis on Sept. 8-12. The E. RHODES, CHAIR motion passed unanimously MEETINGS & EXPOSITIONS At the invitation of the ACS ^Younger Chemists Committee, M&E will send a The ACS spring national meeting in Orlanrepresentative to participate in their leaddo exceeded its budgeted attendance with ership development workshop, which will a total of 12,206 attendees. This included premier at the ACS 2 0 0 2 Boston meet9,972 meeting attendees and 2,234 exhibitors and exhibit-only attendees. The ACS ing.-GE0RGE E. HEINZE, CHAIR Orlando exposition was the second largest in ACS history, with a 25% growth over the MEMBERSHIP AFFAIRS 1996 Orlando national meeting.The Boston The committee reviewed the 2001 yearexhibit has completely sold out, and space end membership statistics. Fifty-three peris now being sold on the virtual exhibit. cent of 2001 year-end unpaid members Last year, ACS had eight successful re- hold B.S. degrees and have less than three gional meetings with a total attendance of years of membership. At the end of 2001, the total membership number was 163,503. 6,268. Each ofthe 2002 meetings received Overall, direct-mail efforts brought in a $2,500 prograrnming grant from ACS. In 2 , 0 0 0 fewer members in 2001 than in addition, a special Presidential Challenge 2000. The lower response rate can be atGrant of $1,000 was established by Presitributed to the financial climate and the dent Eli M. Pearce to promote division parevents of Sept. 11,2001. ticipation in the 2002 regional meetings. The Meetings & Expositions Committee The committee reviewed the newly de(M&E) is surveying session chairs to deter- veloped online dues renewal system that mine what should be included in the nawill be operational for the 2003 renewal tional meeting standard audiovisual set for series. The system allows members to pay the technical sessions. These surveys will annual dues online in real time. In addition, continue through the fall national meeting members will be able to add division memin Boston. Based on data from this inforberships and publications, make contribumation, a new audiovisual policy will be estions, and change their addresses. The systablished and implemented beginning in tem will automatically update a member's 2003. record and Chemistryorg registration. At this meeting, the committee reviewed Based on increased requests from comthree minigrant proposals for membership mittees and other ACS units to participate recruitment, retention, and recognition. The in technical programming at ACS national two proposals that were approved were for meetings, the committee reviewed ACS the Richland Section to receive $1,500 to bylaws and policies regarding national host a local section meeting of the Hanford meeting programming. The committee Department of Energy Laboratory to disbelieves that a unified process is necessary cuss the historical development of chemto regularize the overall programming process. As a result, the committee recom- istry and the ^Vifestern Carolinas Section to receive $1,000 for an undergraduate remends that a multifaceted task force be essearch poster presentation and senior awards tablished to address this issue and to formeeting. A third proposal was returned for mulate inclusive guidelines for all groups. revisions. To date, the committee has reThe committee discussed the increasing viewed more than 50 proposals and funded requests from groups to present posters in Sci-Mix and the associated challenge in space 38 local section and 19 division requests. requirements. Based on their discussion, the The committee reviewed and supportcommittee revised the Sci-Mix policy with ed the petitions to increase the size of sorespect to whichgroups may present posters ciety committees and to approve non-U.S. and how many posters will be allowed. applicants as society affiliates. The committee decided to await further informaThe committee is conducting a broad tion regarding the petition for local secoverview of all national meeting activities tion and division support prior to taking and the concomitant expenses and reva c t i o n . - R . GERALD BASS, CHAIR enue streams. At the Orlando meeting, the committee made an in-depth review of all financial aspects associated with the technical program with the objective of a preliminary report due for theJune ACS Board meeting. PROJECT SEED The committee made a motion before The Committee on Project SEED reportthe council that the 2013 ACS spring naed another successful year for the program.
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President George W Bush honored the society with a 2001 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics & Engineering Mentoring in recognition of Project SEED and the ACS Scholars Program. The society was one of 10 institutions receiving this prestigious award in 2001. Since 1968, Project SEED's summer research program has provided an opportunity for more than 6,000 high school students from economically disadvantaged families to work in chemistry-related research projects guided by scientist-mentors. The committee approved 348 students to be placed at 101 institutions for the first-year, Summer I program, and 115 students to be placed at 53 institutions for the second-year, Summer II program. In addition, 27 former Project SEED students were awarded college scholarships totaling $135,000 for the 2002-03 academic year. Special thanks are extended to ACS members, the ACS Petroleum Research Fund, the Bayer Foundation, Glenn and Barbara Ullyot, Alfred and Isabel Bader, the Burroughs^JCfellcome Fund, and other donors for their ongoing support of Project SEED The committee met in Orlando and approved its 2001-03 strategic plan. Also, the committee discussed an amendment to the program's financial guidelines, based on the annual revision of the Federal Poverty Level. A subcommittee on program growth discussed measurable goals for the Strategic Plan and, based on their findings, established a goal of a 10% annual increase of student participation. The subcommittee on awards and recognition proposed to establish a program to honor long-term SEED mentors and coordinators. The subcommittee on geographical growth, charged with identifying regions lacking Project SEED programs, reported that halfofthe states across the nation participate in the Project SEED program. The subcommittee proposed a mechanism to help establish new programs in those states without Project SEED The committee approved establishment of a mentoring component and retention mechanism for the Project SEED Scholarship Program. The committee also renewed its commitment to work with the "Younger Chemists and Local Section Activities Committees.-MI LAGR0S DELGAD0. CHAIR
TECHNICIAN ACTIVITIES The Committee on Technician Affairs (CTA) updated its subcommittee structure for 2002. It is through the efforts and suggestions of these subcommittees that a path forward is established for CTA. Two HTTP://PUB5.
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of the subcommittees are new as two older subcommittees were dropped. The executive committee of CTA is made up of the chair from each subcommittee along with the CTA chair and the ACS staff liaison. This executive committee has begun putting together a formal strategic plan for the committee. The whole committee has begun previewing a purpose statement for CTA, which will be our benchmark for all activities and proposals coming in the future and, along with our mission and vision, will be the foundation for the strategic plan. Here is what the four subcommittees are working on: • Communications—This subcommittee is developing updates for the CTA website, which has just been established. Appropriate links are being offered from the site to other ACS areas such as the Division of ChemicalTechnicians (TECH) and the ACS Chemical Technician Program Approval Service (CTPAS). In addition, subjects for our two 2002 C&EN ACS Comment articles have been decided. • Education—This subcommittee has collected a list of current NSF grants that address chemistry-based technician education. The anticipated output of the work will be to identify the status of each project. Likewise, it has collected a list of all current CTPAS-approved schools. Anew liaison to the ACS Society Committee on Education has been appointed for 2002. • Industry—This new subcommittee for 2002 has begun by approving set responsibilities and establishing liaison ties to the Committee on Corporation Associates. • Technician Needs & Professionalism—This new subcommittee for 2002 has begun by approving set responsibilities and looking for ways to help in the development of workshops, skill improvements, and leadership opportunities for working technicians while seeking ways to enhance technician membership numbers within the society-D. RICHARD COBB, CHAIR
Women in Industry Breakfast and the Wwnen Chemists Luncheon that featured Marion C. Thurnauer, the 2002 GarvanOlin Medalist, as the keynote speaker. Also at this event, a special tribute was given in honor of Nina M. Roscher. WCC hosted six Eli LillyTravel awardees in Orlando. These individuals, along with nine past recipients of this award, participated in a poster session, "Eli Lilly and WCC Travel Awards: Past and Present." WCC voted unanimously to accept four recommendations from the PresidentialBoard Task Force on Issues Related to W^men in the Chemical Sciences: sending a formal welcome letter to all new ACS members; sponsoring high-level speakers at national meetings; monitoring the follow-up of the report of the Committee on the Advancement of Women & Minorities in Science, Engineering & Technology; and supporting a database of ACS women members with information on their areas of expertise and research to be used as a resource tool for the society The WCC Regional Award for Contributions to Diversity, a pilot program for this year's anniversary celebration, attracted many excellent nominations. This award will be given to an individual at each regional meeting in 2002. The committee voted to recommend that WCC partner with the Committee on Minority Affairs to continue this award.—VALERIE L. BARRETT, CHAIR
Frasch Grants
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T ITS APRIL 2 0 0 2 MEETING, THE
ACS Board of Directors, on recommendation of the ACS Committee on Frasch Foundation Grants, recommended 17 grants for research in agricultural chemistry to the Frasch trustee, which approved the recommendations. The Frasch grants, each valued at $40,000 per year, are for afive-yearperiod,July 1,2002, through June 30,2007. The total value of the approved grants for this cycle is $3,400,000.
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Robert P. Houser, U of Oklahoma. Copper-Containing Enzymes in the Bacterial Denitrification Pathway: Synthesis of Inorganic Complexes That Model Nitrite Reductase and Nitrous Oxide Reductase. Urs Jans, City College of CUNY. Abiotic Transformation of Agrochemicals in Wetland Soils and Sediments. Thomas J. Kappock, Washington U. Biochemical Investigation of an Industrially Useful Stress Response inAcetobacteraceae. Marcia Kieliszewski, Ohio U. Design of Novel Modular Hydroxyproline-Rich Glycoproteins through Synthetic Gene Technology Richard Koerner, Pennsylvania State U Protein-Analogue Approach toward Understanding Heme P460. Amnon Kohen, U of Iowa. Studies of Nitrogen Fixation by the Enzyme Nitrogenase. Michael J. Krische, U of Texas, Austin. Aminophosphonic Acid Herbicides via Catalytic Enantioselective Cycloisomerization. Seiichi P. T. Matsuda, Rice U DNA Approaches To Identify Medicago Terpenes and Detennine Their Biological Function. Paul Pare,TexasTechU Binding of the Insect Elicitor Vblicitin to its Receptor: Initiation of VOC Emissions in Corn Plants. Nicola L. Pohl, Iowa State U Engineering Carbohydrate Polymers for Value-Added Products from Agricultural Feedstocks. Eric W. Schmidt, U of Utah. Novel Enzymatic Mechanisms of C—C Bond Formation: New Strategies for Microbial Pathogen Control.
2002-07 Frasch Grants
Elke Schoffers, Western Michigan U. Rhizopine Synthesis: Potential Mediators for Nitrogen-Fixation in Plants.
Lisa M. Berreau, Utah State U. Investigation of Chemical Pathways of Fungal Resistance in Plants: Manganese-Mediated Oxalate Catabolism.
James R. Vyvyan, Western Washington U Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Herbicides Based on Natural Product Templates.
Kirpal S. Bisht, U of South Florida. Development of In Vitro Biocatalysis for Syntheses of Polysaccharide-Based Materials from Agricultural Co-Products.
Zhaohui S. Zhou, Washington State U Protein Damage and Repair in Crop Seed: Role of Protein L-Isoaspartate O-Methyltransferase. •
WOMEN CHEMISTS
Orlando set attendance records for the 15 WCC-sponsored and cosponsored symposia and the special events that commemorated the committee's 75th anniversary celebration. The highlight was the Presidential Event, "Diversity in the 21st Century: Advancing W^men in Science/' which featured five top-level executives who defined diversity, the impact it will have in this century, and the role women will play in this era. Also part of this celebration was the well-attended
Apurba Dutta, U of Kansas. Synthesis of New Agricultural Fungicides.
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