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Foreword This book, “Jobs, Collaborations, and Women Leaders of the Global Chemistry Enterprise,” is the third in a series of three ACS Symposium Books based on my presidential initiatives and symposia. The title of this book may sound eclectic. The first two topics in the title originated from two of the seven recommendations made to the ACS Board of Directors in the final report of my presidential Task Force, “Vision 2025: Helping ACS Members Thrive in the Global Chemistry Enterprise.” (The complete Vision 2025 Task Force report is covered in Chapter 22 of the first ACS Symposium Book in this series, called “Vision 2025: How to Succeed in the Global Chemistry Enterprise,” ACS Symposium Series 1157, published in 2014.) Recommendation #4 from the Vision 2025 Task Force report was: “Discuss with U.S. and global stakeholders the supply and demand of chemists/jobs to bring them to a better equilibrium. Initiate a task force to look at options, including immigration-related issues.” Thus, to study this issue in the U.S.A., I commissioned another presidential Task Force on the Supply and Demand of Chemists and Jobs in the summer of 2013. This second task force was chaired by Tiffany Hoerter of the ACS Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs (CEPA) with representatives from several other stakeholder national ACS Committees. The results of their studies, deliberations, conclusions, and recommendations are covered in Chapter 2 of this book. Recommendation #5 of my presidential Vision 2025 Task Force report was: “Collaborate with others, including chemical societies around the world regarding public communication, education, advocacy, chemical employment, and other topics.” Thus, the International Activities Committee chaired by Dr. H. N. Cheng and the International Activities Office led by Dr. Brad Miller as its Director partnered to organize an “Innovations from International Collaborations” symposium in August 2014 in San Francisco. Several of the invited international speakers were leaders of chemical societies around the world. The speakers were also invited to author chapters for this book, and my co-editors and I are grateful they all did. The third topic in the title of this book is based on another international symposium, “Women Leaders of the Global Chemistry Enterprise,” which I personally organized as Immediate Past President for the 248th national ACS meeting in San Francisco. I have long been a champion for women in science and a firm believer in the importance of both diversity and inclusivity — two of ACS’s core values. Thus, I was inspired to invite fifteen women leaders to share their personal and professional journeys — first as symposium speakers and later as chapter authors for this book. I had met many of these women pioneers as leaders of other chemical societies during my travels as ACS President-Elect and ACS President. Other invited speakers included the CEO and Executive Director of ACS at the time, as well as past ACS Presidents, a Priestley
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medalist (one of only three women in the 139 year history of ACS), the first woman from Saudi Arabia to earn her Ph.D., and many others. This global women leaders symposium provided a fantastic opportunity to gather an amazing group of role models to share their moving and inspiring stories. These outstanding speakers represented Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, the Middle East, as well as the U.S. It was truly an unforgettable and bonding event for all who attended — audience members and speakers alike! Despite coming from diverse regions of the world, common themes emerged on how these women in chemistry overcame professional and cultural barriers, and eventually achieved both personal and professional success via hard work, perseverance, and passion. I hope that the stories shared in this book will help energize and inspire women in science everywhere! Thanks go to the national ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC) and its chair Dr. Amber Charlebois for being the main sponsor for this global women leaders symposium and especially to Dr. Kimberly Woznack for her help. I was happy to invite Kimberly to contribute an informative Chapter 3 about women in academia in the U.S. I was also grateful for the support of many co-sponsors — all acknowledged in my own Chapter 22 in this book, entitled “Partners for Progress and Prosperity: A Personal and Professional Journey.” Special thanks go to this book’s co-editors: Dr. H. N. Cheng, Chair of the International Activities Committee (IAC) and Dr. Bradley Miller, Director of the ACS Office of International Activities (OIA). It has truly been a great pleasure working with both of them on promoting international initiatives. One of the reasons I chose to run for ACS president was my strong desire to encourage ACS members to become more engaged and aware of opportunities in the global chemistry enterprise. The topics covered in this book resulted from extensive work with partners such as IAC, OIA, the authors of this book, as well as many others — dedicated ACS staff as well as countless ACS volunteers, good friends, and supporters around the world during my three years in the ACS presidential succession. I am happy with what we have accomplished together and owe all my hearty thanks. Indeed, our work together helped make my presidential theme — that we should continue to work together on issues of common interest and mutual benefit as “Partners for Progress and Prosperity” — come alive when I shared it with chemistry communities on every continent except Antarctica (which I hope to visit someday). See my presidential article in C&EN, Jan. 7, 2013 as well as several ACS Comments for more details. Last but not least, I also wish to thank my family for their continued support and understanding during these last three years as I worked tirelessly in the ACS presidential succession: my children who are now young adults enjoying their own exciting careers and contributing to society — my daughter Lori married to her Stanford classmate Evan, as well as my son Will; my dear mother Tsun Hwei Li, who just celebrated her 95th birthday with friends and family from around the world; and my husband of 38 years, Norm Wu, who I especially wish to thank as a fabulous partner for life. I hope you enjoy reading the many insightful chapters of this third ACS Symposium Book! Let’s continue to “Partner for Progress and Prosperity” as we work to help solve global challenges. Thanks to all!
Marinda Li Wu 2013 ACS President xii Cheng et al.; Jobs, Collaborations, and Women Leaders in the Global Chemistry Enterprise ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2015.
