IICS NEWS Octobers 1971
News, Reports, People, Meetings
Professionalism is key issue in ACS fall election Candidates, agreeing in principle, differ in emphasis and on what steps Society should take to help the profession The spirited campaign being conducted by candidates for the position of ACS President-Elect to be decided in this fall's election has come as something of a surprise to many members accus tomed to the traditional somewhat staid elections of the past. Unlike any other election in the history of ACS, candi dates George S. Hammond, William A. Mosher, and Alan C. Nixon this year are speaking out on vital issues facing the Society, at local section meetings and other groups assembled especially for members to meet the candidates and hear their views. Recent meetings at which all three of the candidates for the 1972 ACS President-Elect appeared include: • Combined meeting of the New York and North Jersey Sections held at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., overlooking New York's Hudson River and Manhattan Island. • Meet the Candidates Night spon sored by the ACS Committee on Nom
inations and Elections held during the ACS national meeting in the Washington Hilton's East Ballroom. » Dinner meeting of the Delaware Section with entertainment provided by the University of Delaware resident string quartet held at the Du Pont Country Club on the outskirts of Wil mington. The electioneering began as early as July (C&EN, July 19, page 45; Aug. 16, page 49). As members prepare to mail their ballots in November, candidates Hammond, Mosher, and Nixon appear to be more and more actively and en thusiastically seeking the high ACS of fice. C&EN's Mike Shaffer has been keeping track of the candidates since the beginning of their campaigns and compares here some of the comments they have made about professionalism. Official statements and qualifications of the candidates, and their records of ser vice to the Society, will appear in the Oct. 25 issue.
At the top of the list of highly debated issues and probably the key issue of the election is the currently popular subject of professionalism. It is a matter of record that Dr. Nixon, who ran in last year's election with the slogan that ACS's first responsibility is to its members, is the champion of professionalists in ACS. But Dr. Hammond and Dr. Mosher also have equally vocal points of view. Why has the Society not done more to provide professional benefits before now, members ask. "ACS is conserv ative and stodgy because that is the way it is," Dr. Hammond says. "Mem bers for a long time were content with things this way. ACS has been stuffy for a long time because members al lowed it to be that way. Any organi zation will be what the members are."
According to Dr. Mosher, members will have to become more personally involved. "We have more logic on our side than clout," he says. ACS repre sents a fairly small segment of the problem, Dr. Mosher explains. "I rec ommend that ACS explore immedi ately the formation of a broadly based interdisciplinary body for more active political action especially in the area of manpower and science policy. . . .
"If you will study the record you will see that ACS has done much, probably more, directly for its mem bers than most professional societies have done," Dr. Mosher says. But Dr. Nixon believes ACS should do more. "In spite of the facade of professional ism in the Society, what we have done is not adequate," he says. Dr. Nixon berates ACS for shying away from politics, saying that politics is the medium by which democracy works. "It is nothing to be ashamed about. . . . I'm not talking about pro fessionalism in the way ΑΜΑ and the bar associations are," Dr. Nixon says. "I'm talking about employer-employee relationships. And most chemists are employees." There is no doubt that much of the sting of dissatisfaction now spreading through ACS falls into the category of professionalism. Most of the time de voted to discussions which followed the candidates' opening remarks at the three meetings centered on this issue. Science, published by the Ameri can Association for the Advancement of Science, sizing up the situation in a recent issue, called ACS "disgruntled chemists seeking new activism from an old society. Any drastic transfor mation of ACS is about as remotely probable a feat as radicalizing the Na tional Academy of Sciences," the mag azine says. The three candidates for PresidentElect do not say that they are seeking drastic changes in ACS, but they do agree that the Society will have to do a much better job in the near future than it is doing now of satisfying the rapidly diversifying demands of its chemical professional constituency.
Photos by C&EN's Mike Shaffer
For other news of special inter est to ACS members, see: Textile chemicals
24
Limits in Ph.D. programs
44 Hammond
46 C&EN OCT. 4, 1971
Mosher
Nixon
ACS News
ACS solicits nominations for 28 awards Deadlines for nominations: Conant Award due before Jan. 1,1972; all other awards before March 1,1972 Nominations for awards administered by the Society and to be presented in 1973 are now being solicited, including one new award and two which are not given annually—the Roger Adams Award in Organic Chemistry, and the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award (to be presented in 1972). The new award is the ACS Award for Pollution Control sponsored by Monsanto Company, consisting of $3000, a certificate, and an allowance of not more than $350 for traveling ex penses to the meeting at which the award will be presented. Effective with the 1973 award, the honorarium for the ACS Award in the Chemistry of Plastics and Coatings sponsored by Borden Foundation, Inc., will be increased from $1000 to $2000. Effective with the 1973 award, there will be only one award for the James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching. It will consist of $2000 and a certificate. Travel ex penses to the award presentation meeting will be paid. The Board of Directors Committee on Grants and Awards believes the ACS awards program to be unexcelled in terms of the recognition and pres tige which accrue to the recipients. The excellence of the ACS awards pro gram can be traced directly to the number of highly qualified nominees proposed, the care with which the nominations are prepared, and the high degree of discrimination exer cised in the selection of recipients. The cooperation of the membership in making the annual nominations for these awards has been good. This has been because members have assumed the obligation for nominating col leagues whose achievements are out standing. Even so, the committee be lieves there are many exceptionally competent chemists and chemical en gineers who have not been nominated. Awards can be made only to those who are nominated. Therefore, the com mittee wants each ACS member to feel a personal responsibility to review the accomplishments of his friends and coworkers in the profession and nomi nate those whom he believes eligible for any of the Society's awards. • Roger Adams Award in Organic Chemistry. A nominee must have made outstanding contributions to research in organic chemistry defined in its
broadest sense. There are no limits on age or on nationality. • ACS Award for Creative Invention.
To recognize individual inventors for successful applications of research in chemistry and/or chemical engineering which contribute to the material pros perity and happiness of people. A nominee must be a resident of the United States or Canada. A patent must have been granted for the work to be recognized and it shall have been developed during the preceding 17 years ending Jan. 1,1973. • ACS Award for Creative Work in Syn thetic Organic Chemistry sponsored by Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufac turers Association. A nominee m u s t
have accomplished outstanding cre ative work in synthetic organic chem istry that has been published in an American journal during the preced ing five years ending Jan. 1,1973. • ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chem istry sponsored by Mallinckrodt Chemi cal Works. A nominee must have dem onstrated extensive contributions to the advancement of inorganic chem istry. Activities recognized by the award may include such fields as teaching, writing, research, and ad ministration. A nominee must be a member of the American Chemical So ciety. • ACS Award for Nuclear Applications in Chemistry sponsored by G. D. Searle
& Co. A nominee must have made out standing contributions to nuclear isotopic applications in the field of chem istry. There are no limits on age or on nationality.
Nominating procedure for ACS awards The nomination must be made by a member of the Society (except a mem ber of the award committee). It must include a biographical sketch of the nominee (including date of birth), list of publications and patents, specific identification of the work on which the nomination is based, with samples (dis played on 8V 2 -inch χ 11-inch pages) of published work, and an evaluation and appraisal of the nominee's ac complishments, particularly the work to be recognized by the proposed award. Seconding letters are not necessary. Only those that contain factual informa tion about the candidate not provided in the nominating document will be transmitted to the award committee. In no case should more than two such supporting letters be included. In general, text or reference books shall not be included as part of a nominating document. However, ,a publisher's descriptive brochure, an abstract or a pertinent but short ex tract, and/or reviews of books may be included. One copy of the nomination includ ing seconding letters plus eight copies of any printed material must be furnished for distribution to members of the award committee. The committee cautions that great care should be taken in the prepara tion of the evaluation of the nomi nee's accomplishments. The eval
uation enables the highlighting of con tributions of particular significance to theory or practice which might render a nominee more eligible than others nominated for an award. An analysis of patents filed by the nominee is es pecially valuable. In listing publica tions, indicate the specific contribution of the nominee to those publications of which he may be coauthor. Reprints may be included as docu mentary evidence provided the subject treated is restricted to the work on which the nomination is based, and such reprints do not exceed five (titles). The awards program is operated on an annual basis. Hence, nominations are not automatically extended from year to year for those candidates not selected for an award. Renomination is necessary if the previous nominee is to be considered by the current selection committee. It is possible to update any previous nomination on file with ACS. Only the original of sup plemental material is required. Nominations and renominations should be submitted to the Awards Office, American Chemical Society, 1155—16th 3·., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, before* March 1, 1972. Earlier transmittal is encouraged. "Awards Administered by the Ameri can Chemical Society" (Bulletin 7), describing awards presented in 1973, is available upon request from the Awards Office.
OCT. 4, 1971 C&EN 47
ACS News • ACS Award for Pollution Control sponsored by Monsanto Company. A nominee must have made an original finding in chemistry or chemical engineering that has resulted in a new and significant achievement in pollution control. There are no restrictions on age, nationality, or sex.
• ACS Award in Chemical Instrumentation sponsored by Sargent-Welch Scientific Company. A nominee must be a citizen of the United States or Canada and must have accomplished a practical and significant simplification of analytical procedure by means of instrumental techniques.
• ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry sponsored by Fisher Scientific Company.
• ACS Award in Chromatography sponsored by SUPELCO, INC. A nominee must have made an outstanding contribution to the field of chromatography, with particular consideration given to developments of new methods designed for accuracy and speed.
A nominee must be a resident of the United States or Canada and must have made an outstanding contribution to analytical chemistry, pure or applied. Special consideration will be given to the independence of thought and the originality shown, or to the importance of the work when applied to public welfare, economics, or the needs and desires of humanity. • ACS Award in Biological Chemistry sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company. A
nominee must be a citizen of the United States who shall not have passed his 36th birthday on April 30, 1973, and shall have accomplished outstanding research in biological chemistry (excepting therefrom immunology, clinical investigations, pharmacology, and experimental therapeutics) of unusual merit for an individual on the threshold of his career. Special consideration shall be given to the independence of thought and the originality shown. At the time of the nomination, the nominee must be actively engaged in the line of research for which the award is made. This award will not be voted to any person who previously has received another award sponsored by Eli Lilly & Co. granted for the same technical accomplishment. • ACS Award in Chemical Education sponsored by Scientific Apparatus Makers Association. A nominee must have made outstanding contributions to chemical education considered in its broadest meaning, including the training of professional chemists; the dissemination of reliable information about chemistry to prospective chemists, to members of the profession, to students in other fields, and to the general public; and the integration of chemistry into our educational system. The activities recognized by the award may lie in the fields of teaching (at any level), organization and administration, influential writing, educational research, the methodology of instruction, establishment of standards of instruction, and public enlightenment. Preference shall be given to American citizens. 48 C&EN OCT. 4, 1971
• ACS Award in Colloid or Surface Chemistry sponsored by The Kendall Company. A nominee must be a resident of the United States or Canada and must have made outstanding scientific contributions to colloid or surface chemistry. Special consideration will be given to the independence of thought and the originality shown. • ACS Award in Enzyme Chemistry sponsored by Pfizer Inc. A nominee must be a citizen of the United States, engaged in noncommercial work, must have accomplished outstanding work in enzyme chemistry, and shall not have passed his 40th birthday on April 30, 1973. The presence of an enzyme action must be unequivocally demonstrated in the nominee's work. This award will not be voted to any person who previously has received another award sponsored by Pfizer, Inc., for the same technical accomplishment. • ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry sponsored by Texas Instruments Incorporated. A nominee must have accomplished outstanding research in the preparation, properties, reactions, or structure of inorganic substances. Special consideration shall be given to the independence of thought and originality shown. The nominee must not have passed his 45th birthday on April 30, 1973. The award shall be granted without regard to nationality. • ACS Award in Petroleum Chemistry sponsored by Precision Scientific Company. A nominee must be a citizen of the United States or Canada and have accomplished outstanding research in the chemistry of petroleum or in fundamental research that contributes directly and materially to the knowledge of petroleum and its products. A nominee shall not have passed his 40th birthday on April 30, 1973. Special consideration shall be given to the independence of thought and the originality shown.
• ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry sponsored by Witco Chemical Company, Inc. Foundation. A nominee must have made outstanding contributions to polymer chemistry. The award shall be granted without regard to age, nationality, or sex. • ACS Award in Pure Chemistry sponsored by Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity. A
nominee must not have passed his 36th birthday on April 30, 1973, and must have accomplished research of unusual merit for an individual on the threshold of his career. Special consideration is given to independence of thought and the originality shown in the research, which must have been done in North America. • ACS Award in the Chemistry of Plastics and Coatings sponsored by Borden Foundation, Inc. A nominee must have accomplished outstanding work in the chemistry of plastics and coatings to be defined as including, but not necessarily limited to plastics, plastic films, paints, printing inks, industrial coatings, and adhesives. A nominee must be a resident of the United States or Canada. The award shall be granted without regard to age or sex. • James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching now recognizes outstanding teachers of high school chemistry at both the regional and national levels. Regional awards may be made annually, one in each of the ACS meeting regions provided qualified teachers are identified. Regional recipients will be candidates for the James Bryant Conant Award. • The Regional Award. Formal nominations for this award are submitted only by an ACS local section. Individuals wishing to propose a candidate may submit for consideration such nominations to the ACS local section in their locality. A nominee must be actively engaged in the teaching of chemistry in a high school (grades 9 through 12) either in the territory of the local section making the nomination or in an adjacent territory within the geographic region but not assigned to any local section. The deadline for receipt of nominations for regional awards is Jan. 1, 1972. All nominations must be sent to the national Awards Office where they will be distributed to the award committee of the participating region. The selection of the regional recipient is under the auspices of a regional award committee established for this purpose. Nominations made by local
ACS News sections in a region not having regional competition any year will be judged with one another and the winner placed in competition for the national award. • The National Award.
One of the
1972 regional winners or candidates will be selected as the 1973 recipient of the Conant Award. Selection will be made by a national award committee. (A separate brochure describing this award is available upon request.) • The Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry sponsored by Enjay Chemical
Company. A nominee must have accomplished outstanding research of a theoretical or experimental nature in the field of physical chemistry. The award will be granted without regard to age, nationality, or sex, but the nominee must be a member of the American Chemical Society. • Garvan Medal. A nominee must be a woman, a citizen of the United States, and have performed distinguished service to chemistry. • James T. Grady Award for Interpreting Chemistry for the Public. A nomi-
nee must have made noteworthy presentations through a medium of public communication to increase the American public's understanding of chemistry and chemical progress. This information shall have been disseminated through the press, radio, television, films, the lecture platform, or books or pamphlets for the lay public. • The Ernest Guenther Award in the Chemistry of Essential Oils and Related Products sponsored by Fritzsche-Dodge & Olcott Incorporated. A nominee must
have accomplished outstanding work in analysis, structure elucidation, chemical synthesis of essential oils, isolates, flavors, and related substances. Special consideration will be given to the independence of thought and the originality shown. This award shall be granted without regard to age, nationality, or sex. • Frederic Stanley Kipping Award in Organosilicon Chemistry sponsored by Dow Corning Corporation. A nominee
must be engaged in noncommercial work and must have accomplished distinguished achievement in research in organosilicon chemistry during the preceding 10 years ending Jan. 1, 1973. The measure of this achievement should focus primarily on the nominee's significant publications in the field of organosilicon chemistry but
may include consideration of his contributions to the related field of organometallic chemistry, particularly embracing the elements of Group IV. There are no limits on age or on nationality.
Oct. 9-10. Modern Liquid Chromatography; Lloyd R. Snyder and J. J. Kirkland. Buffalo, N.Y.
• E. V. Murphree Award in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry sponsored by Esso Research and Engineering Company.
Oct. 15-16. Communication Skills for Chemists and Chemical Engineers; Frederick G. Sawyer. Chicago, III.
A nominee must have accomplished outstanding research of a theoretical or experimental nature in the fields of industrial chemistry or chemical engineering. The award will be granted without regard to age, nationality, or sex.
ACS SHORT COURSES
Oct. 15-17. Polymer Engineering; Frank E. Karasz and Thomas W. Huseby. Cleveland, Ohio. Oct. 16. Column Selection in Gas Chromatography; Harold M. McNair and Walter R. Supina. Boston, Mass.
• The James Flack Norris Award in Physical Organic Chemistry sponsored by the Northeastern Section, ACS. A nomi-
Oct. 22-23. Interfacing the Minicomputer; Raymond E. Dessy and David G. Larsen. New York City area.
nee must have made outstanding contributions to physical organic chemistry. The award will be granted without restriction.
Oct. 29-30. Gas Chromatography; Roy A. Keller and Michael F. Burke. Detroit, Mich.
• Charles Lathrop Parsons Award.
A
nominee must be a member of the American Chemical Society and a citizen of the United States and have performed outstanding public service. This award is not a recognition of scientific accomplishment. The public service recognized may be performed as part of or outside the regular duties and activities of the person's employment. Members of the ACS Board of Directors are ineligible to receive this award. • Priestley Medal.
The medal, given
to recognize distinguished services to chemistry, may be awarded not only to members of the Society, but to nonmembers and to representatives of any nation, without regard to sex. Members of the ACS Board of Directors are ineligible to receive this award. Appointments Dr. Melvin Calvin appointed the following to represent the Society at special functions: Dr. Robert G. Bass, chairman-elect of the Virginia Section, at the inauguration of E. Bruce Heilman as president of the University of Richmond on Oct. 30, Richmond, Va. Dr. M. Robert Willcott of the Southeastern Texas Section at the inauguration of Norman Hackerman as president of William Marsh Rice University on Sept. 24, Houston, Tex. Dr. Melvin Potts, chairman of the Southeast Kansas Section, at the inauguration of William Edward Everheart as president of Drury College, Oct. 17, Springfield, Mo.
Nov. 5-6. Communication Skills for Chemists and Chemical Engineers; Frederick G. Sawyer. Rochester, N.Y. Nov. 12-13. Business Aspects of Chemistry; Aimison Jonnard. Midland, Mich. Nov. 13-14. Modern Liquid Chromatography; Lloyd R. Snyder and J. J. Kirkland. New York City. Nov. 13-14. X Ray Diffraction for Industrial Chemists; Robert J. Fredericks. New York City (new course). Nov. 19-20. Communication Skills for Chemists and Chemical Engineers; Frederick G. Sawyer. Philadelphia, Pa. Nov. 20-21. Modern Organic Synthesis; Barry M. Trost and Edwin Vedejs. Akron, Ohio. Dec. 3-4. Explosion Problems in the Chemical Industry; Robert W. Van Dolah and David Burgess. New York City. Dec. 3-4. Techniques of Creative Problem Solving; Lewis E. Lloyd. Chicago, III. Dec. 5-10. Minicomputers and Interfacing; Raymond E. Dessy and David G. Larsen. Blacksburg, Va. Dec. 10-11. Business Aspects of Chemistry; Aimison Jonnard. Philadelphia, Pa. Dec. 10-11. Intermediate Gas Chromatography; Harold M. McNair, Richard S. Juvet and Stuart P. Cram. Berkeley, Calif. To obtain complete information and registration forms, write to Education Department, ACS, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, and specify course and location. To register by phone, call (202) 737-3337, ext. 258.
OCT. 4, 1971 C&EN 49
