American Chemical Society
Councilor Bulletin Volume 15 Number 1
March 2015
www.acs.org
From the ACS President Diane G. Schmidt
ACS COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY March 25, 2015 8:00 a.m. Hyatt Regency Denver Colorado Convention Center Hotel Grand Ballroom B
Inside this issue: Message from the President 1 Strategic Plan 2015 & Beyond 2 Launches ACS Meetings Recording Policy 2 Under Review Senior Chemists Breakfast: 3 Marvin Caruthers Improving ACS for Industry 4 New Councilor Orientation 5 Councilor Divisor 5 Councilor Caucuses 5 ACS Fellows Program 6 Presidential Symposia 7 and Events Town Hall Meeting: 7 2016 Press-Elect Nominees
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he 249th ACS national meeting returns to Denver where Chemistry of Peter Cutts Photography Natural Resources is the theme. It is my pleasure to join all of you in the Mile High City, one of the most gorgeous locales for our meetings. We have an exciting program planned rich with scientific papers. As President, I will host 29 technical divisions and eight committees in original programming based on the meeting theme of Chemistry of Natural Resources. More than 10,000 papers will be presented, and nearly 4,000 poster presentations will take place at the meeting. The ACS Board of Directors Open Session will be an opportunity to hear from Deborah Blum, bestselling author of The Poisoner’s Handbook. She will discuss her thoughts on communicating chemistry. Please join your colleagues from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Four Seasons Ballroom 4 of the Colorado Convention Center. Sandwiches will be provided for the first 200 attendees. There are three Presidential Symposia I encourage you to attend as well as several others I am recommending. The first is on the morning of Sunday, March 22, Chemistry Without Borders: The Transnational Practice of Chemis-
try and Allied Sciences and Engineering (8:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., Colorado Convention Center, Ballroom 3A,). The other two presidential symposia focus on nanotechnology, with the first beginning later that afternoon on Sunday, March 22, and continuing all day on Monday. Nanotechnology: Delivering on the Promise will highlight the fascinating research, development, and commercialization of nanochemistry and nanotechnology and will include 16 senior-level speakers from industry, academe, and government. The third presidential symposium, DOE Nanoscience Research Centers: National Resources for the Nanoscience Community (Tuesday, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.), will feature the five heads of chemistry at U.S. national laboratories. This is the first symposium of its type to highlight these speakers collectively. A must attend highlight at ACS national meetings are the Kavli lectures. On Monday afternoon, Theodore Betley, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University, will deliver The Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry Lecture on ‘Radical Frontiers in Catalysis.’ He is followed by Laura Kiessling, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with The Fred Kavli Innovations in Chemistry Lecture (Colorado Convention Center, Bellco Theater) who will speak on ‘Us Versus Them: Distin-
guishing Humans from Microbes with Carbohydrates.’ The entire meeting program is filled with outstanding scientific, educational, and professional content. Please consult the listings in this program or go to www.acs.org/ denver2015 for all the specific details pertaining to these events. There is plenty to select from and I am sure you will find something to satisfy your needs and expectations. The exposition will feature more than 250 companies that will showcase services, instruments, books, lab equipment, and much more in more than 400 booths. For job seekers and employers, the ACS Career Fair will provide opportunities for interviews (both on-site and online). Job seekers will also find one-on-one career assistance, and more than 30 careerrelated workshops. I express thanks to the members of the Colorado Local Section; the Committee on Meetings and Expositions; thematic program chair Robert S. Weber of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; the divisional program chairs and symposium chairs responsible for organizing this meeting’s technical sessions; and the ACS staff for making it all happen. And thanks to you for contributing to the success of this meeting. Of course, thanks to all of you for attending.
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Councilor Bulletin
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ACS Strategic Plan for 2015 and Beyond Launches
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he newly revised ACS Strategic Plan for 2015 and Beyond defines the Society’s value proposition to our members and the chemical enterprise. From our Core Values to our Goals to the opportunities for stakeholders to “Get Involved” the plan positions the Society to address the challenges that our members, the scientific community, and the world face. We continue in the strategic direction that will enable us to achieve our Vision of “Improving people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry” and our Mission to “Advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people.” Substantive changes to the plan are reflected in the Objectives that
the Board and its Planning Committee have developed. As we make progress in these areas, we are advancing our Goals and our offerings to chemistry and chemists. Each goal presents Ongoing Activities, Recent Progress, and ways in which our members can “Get Involved” in the ACS programs that will make the plan a success. You can find detailed information about the plan at http://strategy.acs.org. ACS will marshal our unique resources to: Goal 1: Provide Information Be the most authoritative, comprehensive, and indispensable provider of chemistryrelated information. Goal 2: Advance Member Careers Empower an inclusive community of members with networks, opportunities, resources, and skills to thrive in
the global economy. Goal 3: Improve Education Foster the development of the most innovative, relevant, and effective chemistry education in the world. Goal 4: Communicate Chemistry’s Value Communicate chemistry’s vital role in addressing the world’s challenges to the public and policymakers. Councilors’ perspectives are vital in ensuring that the ACS Goals, Vision, and Mission are achieved. You are invited to share any additional ideas and suggestions for the Society’s strategic direction at
[email protected]. Thank you for all the work that you do for the Society on behalf of chemists and the chemistry enterprise.
ACS Meetings Recording Policy Under Review
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ver the past year, several governance units – the Board Committee on Professional and Member Relations (P&MR), the Committee on Divisional Activities (DAC), and the Committee on Meetings and Expositions (M&E) – have been reviewing the Society’s policy regarding recording content delivered at ACS meetings. The committees are primarily interested in assessing whether the policy continues to meet the needs of the Society, including those who present and consume information delivered at our meetings. The policy reads as follows: “The use of any device to capture images (e.g., cameras and camera phones) or sound (e.g., tape and digital recorders) or to stream, upload or
rebroadcast speakers or presentations is strictly prohibited at all official ACS meetings and events without the express written consent from the ACS.” As 2014 drew to a close, P&MR endorsed recommendations from DAC to undertake the following in 2015: (1) Maintain the current policy for the time being, (2) Increase efforts to publicize the existence of the policy to national meeting registrants, and (3) Conduct a survey of recent national meeting attendees to obtain their perspectives on the current recording policy - in their distinct personas as speakers, and as members of the audience. ACS is interested in learning if presenters and audience members differ in how they
view the current recording policy. If it turns out they do indeed differ, the committees will investigate how they differ, and whether the competing views can be reconciled with one another, and other Society interests on this topic. Among other things, the survey is also expected to provide insights into national meeting attendee awareness of the recording policy, and how much recording is currently occurring (in violation of the policy). The final survey results will be reported to P&MR in June by DAC and M&E. Subsequently, the three committees will consider how the new data impacts the review of the current recording policy.
ACS FREQUENTLY REQUESTED NUMBERS Unless otherwise noted, first dial (800) 227-5558. When prompted, dial the extension given below. To contact other offices, dial the 800 number and ask for operator assistance, or visit the ACS website, www.acs.org. Address changes (800) 333-9511 Career Services
x 4432
Development
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Divisions
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Education K–12 programs
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Education, undergraduate
x 4480
Gifts and other products
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National Chemistry Week
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Local sections
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Meetings, national
x 4374
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x 6129
Membership (800) 333-9511 Records and accounts (800) 333-9511 Secretary
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This bulletin is produced by the Office of the Secretary and General Counsel. For more information please contact: Office of the Secretary and General Counsel American Chemical Society 1155 16th St., NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 872-4461
[email protected] Volume 15 Number 1
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Senior Chemists Breakfast to Feature Marvin Caruthers in Denver
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he Senior Chemists Committee (SCC) is pleased to announce that Marvin H. Caruthers, Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at the University of Colorado, Boulder ,is the keynote speaker at the Senior Chemists Breakfast at the Denver National Meeting. The breakfast is on Tuesday, March 24, at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center, Centennial Room A/B, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Professor Caruthers’ interests include nucleic acids chemistry and biochemistry. Approximately 30 years ago, the methodologies that are used today for chemically synthesizing
DNA were developed in his laboratory and incorporated into so-called gene machines for the purpose of synthesizing DNA used by biochemists, biologists, and molecular biologists for many research applications. More recently his laboratory has developed methods for RNA chemical synthesis and for the synthesis of DNA/RNA on chips. The title of his presentation is Wearing Two Hats-Basic Research and Biotechnology. Ticket price is $20.00 for the breakfast and can be purchased through the meeting registration. There will also
be a limited amount of tickets available at the door. Also in Denver, SCC will co-sponsor, with the Polymer Ambassadors, a workshop for K-12 teachers who will participate in polymer science learning experiments that can be used in the classroom. Topics include: PolyWhat? What In the World is a Polymer? Polymers: New Twist on Old Favorites, and Manufacturing Plastics and Bioplastics. The workshop is Monday, March 23, 4:30-8:00 p.m. at the Sher-
aton Denver Downtown Hotel, Gold Room. SCC will also be involved in the fourth Undergraduate Speed Networking with Chemistry Professionals event on Monday, March 23, 3:45-5:15 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, Centennial B. SCC encourages all Councilors to attend this successful and highly rewarding event. To volunteer, contact Lori Betsock at
[email protected].
The American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT), a new organization sponsored by the American Chemical Society, launched last September. Members of AACT will receive customized curriculum resources, a peerreviewed periodical, a subscription to ChemMatters magazine, and professional development opportunities including webinars and workshops. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in chemistry education. ACS President Diane Grob Schmidt is championing this new initiative and looks forward to working with ACs local sections to support it. Please visit www.acs.org/aact to learn more, stay in touch, and get involved.
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Electronic Voting at Council Meeting
t the ACS Council Meeting in Denver, Councilors will again be using a hand-held audience response system for balloting for Elected Committees and for other votes when necessary. Early in the Council meeting, there will be a hands-on demonstration. A numbered ‘clicker’ will be issued to each voting Councilor at the Council check in. These clickers will be collected after voting is complete. There is a $100 fine for each clicker not returned!
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ACS President and Corporation Associates: Improving ACS for Industry
Diane Grob Schmidt, ACS President and Dawn Mason, Chair, Committee on Corporation Associates
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pproximately onefourth of the U.S. GDP, and nearly 800,000 American jobs, are supported by the chemical industries. Still, we have seen declines in chemistry jobs, and a decrease in the number of ACS members from industry over the past decade. ACS has a role to play in advocating for a business climate that supports chemical businesses and in supporting the people that power the industrial workforce. As ACS President and as Chair of the Committee on Corporation Associates (CA), we are working together to deliver on the promise that Diane made in her C&EN Presidential Statement this past January. With the help of dedicated CA members, we are enhancing access to technical information, optimizing professional development and training for industry, and providing opportunities to network and share best practices at our meetings. We are also working with other committees and divisions to recognize industry scientists for their contributions to society, and to advocate for policies that advance business, employment and economic prosperity. You can look for joint promotions and programming at our national meetings. For example, in Denver we will have an ACS Industry Concierge in the Expo to facilitate business meetings, and to respond to industry member concerns. With regard to programming, you will see Chemistry Without Borders: The Transnational Practice
of Chemistry and Allied Sciences and Engineering and Nanotechnology: Delivering on the Promise and DOE Nanoscience Research Centers: National Resources for the Nanoscience Community under the PRES banner. And we will have industry-specific networking events to promote information sharing. We have teamed up with the Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs and our Career Consultants to present ACS Career Pathways workshops, professional training courses, and leadership courses for all members through the ACS Career Navigator. These workshops and courses have been updated during the past few months to include case studies, scenarios and examples from industry as a way to make them even more relevant to industry scientists. Two national awards and several divisional awards will be presented to industry scientists in Denver. Look for the CA sponsored, “ACS Award for Creative Invention” and “ACS Award for Team Innovation” presentations during the gala on Tuesday evening in Denver. Also look for the many division-sponsored award symposia and presentations throughout the meeting that
honor scientists from industry. There are 66 companies whose employees are presenting research during the ACS National Meeting in the fields of biofuels, polymers, hydraulic fracturing, smart materials, agriculture, food, quality by design, biosimilars, biomaterials, biodegradables, nanomaterials and solar energy. Since pharmaceutical, specialty chemical and consumer product companies have been forced to reduce their internal capabilities for research, and have become more dependent upon academic researchers and entrepreneurial ventures to feed their innovation pipelines. And since, government support of academic research has been markedly reduced, and the competition for financial support for basic research has become fierce. It makes sense that these presentations are ideal places to network to identify opportunities for industry/ academic partnerships. As the year progresses, you can expect to hear more from us about the needs of industry scientists and their employers, because we need your help to improve the value that industry members see in our association, and the many valuable offerings that your committees provide.
Don’t Miss It!
SCI-MIX Monday, March 23 8 - 10 p.m. Colorado Convention Center Hall C/D
GREAT CHEMISTRY HAPPENS AT REGIONAL MEETINGS 2015 Central/Great Lakes Regional Meeting CERM)/(GLRM) May 27-30 Grand Rapids, MI Northeast Regional Meeting (NERM) June 10-13 Ithaca, NY Northwest Regional Meeting (NORM) June 21-24 Pocatello, ID Midwest Regional Meeting (MWRM) October 21-24 St. Joseph, MO Southeast/Southwest Regional Meeting (SERMACS)/(SWRM) November 4-7 Memphis, TN Western Regional Meeting (WRM) November 6-8 San Marcos, CA
2016 Central Regional Meeting (CERM) May 18-21 Cincinnati, OH ——————— For more information, link to the individual meeting sites at www.acs.org/meetings/ regional
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THE ACS 2015 NEW COUNCILOR ORIENTATION AND RECEPTION Saturday, March 21, 2015 Hyatt Regency Denver Hotel at Colorado Convention Center Centennial Ballroom A Orientation and Strategy Café from 3:30-6:00 PM Reception with ACS Committees at 7:00 PM Come and meet other ACS leaders, learn more about the Society, receive information about ACS committees, and establish mentoring relationships. If you are a new Councilor or an Alternate Councilor, please mark your calendars for this event and respond to Semora Smith at
[email protected].
Representation at Council by Local Sections and Divisions The ACS Bylaws require that for each fouryear period beginning in a year divisible by four, the Council Policy Committee (CPC) establish a divisor to determine representation at Council by local sections and divisions. At its meeting in Denver, CPC will set the divisor for 2016 - 2019. This number (divisor) is then divided into the number of members in a local section as of December 31, 2014, and determines the number of Councilors each local section is entitled to in 2016 - 2019. CPC will also set the limit for Councilor representation from the divisions based on the ACS constitutional requirement that 20% of elected Councilors shall be elected by divisions and 80% shall be elected by local sections. The number of Councilors authorized for each division is based on the number of paid ACS members in the division as of December 31, 2014. CPC typically chooses the divisor that affects the fewest number of local sections and divisions, and results in the least disruptive change to the size of Council. However, fluctuations can and do occur in local section and division annual member counts, and some local sections and divisions will experience a loss or gain.
ACS Councilor Caucuses Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center Sunday, March 22 6:00 p.m. District II Middle Atlantic District IV District V District VI
Mineral Hall C Mineral Hall D Mineral Hall E Mineral Hall F Mineral Hall G
Tuesday, March 24 4:00 p.m. Division Officers and Councilors 5:30 p.m. District I
Room 502
Mineral Hall C
Official notification of the Councilor divisor and the number of Councilors permitted for your local section or division will be sent no later than May 1, 2015, as required by the Bylaws. Please note that although this information will determine 2016 Councilor allotment, it will affect elections conducted in 2015.
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ACS Fellows Program 2015 Nominations are open for 2015 ACS Fellows. Nominations will be accepted online at www.nominatefellow.acs.org until April 1, 2015 (11:59 PDT). The American Chemical Society Fellows Program recognizes members of the ACS for excellence and leadership in both of two areas: (1) science, the profession, education, and/or management, and (2) volunteer service in the ACS community. We look forward to receiving your nominations and the opportunity to recognize chemical professionals who are making an impact. Eligibility:
Nominees for ACS Fellows must be current members (including retired and emeritus members) in good standing of the American Chemical Society. Former members or deceased members will not be considered as nominees for ACS Fellows.
Current members of the Fellows Selection Committee, Fellows Oversight Committee, ACS Board of Directors, and current ACS staff are not eligible to be nominees, or primary or secondary nominators.
The selection of ACS Fellows is based on: (1) Excellence and leadership that have a lasting beneficial impact in science, the profession, education, and/or management; and (2) Volunteer service in the ACS community resulting in significant enhancements to ACS programs, products, or services.
There must be documented evidence of exceptional accomplishments, professional attainment, and impact in both of the above two areas.
Nominations:
Nominations for ACS Fellows are solicited from the following groups:
ACS National Committees – Each Committee may nominate one nominee.
ACS Technical Divisions – Each Division may nominate up to two times the number of Councilors from the Division. Nominees must be current members of the Division.
ACS Local Sections – Each Local Section may nominate up to the number of Councilors from the Local Section. Nominees must be current members of the Local Section.
Individual ACS Members – Each individual ACS member in good standing may serve as the primary nominator for only one nominee.
Self-nominations are not accepted.
Each nomination requires a primary nominator and two secondary nominators, all of whom must be current ACS members in good standing and provide letters of recommendation. The Primary Nominator is responsible for submitting the nomination.
Detailed guidelines and instructions for submitting nominations are available at www.acs.org/fellows. Contact Web: www.acs.org/fellows ● Email:
[email protected] ● Phone: 202-872-4431
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TOWN HALL MEETING an opportunity to question the
Nominees for ACS President-Elect 2016
G. BRYAN BALAZS
ALLISON A. CAMPBELL
DAVID J. LOHSE
CHRISTOPHER J. WELCH
SUNDAY, MARCH 22 4:30 - 5:30 PM Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center Hotel Centennial Ballroom F&G Submit your questions in advance to
[email protected] Sponsored by the Committee on Nominations and Elections
