www.acsnano.org
International Chemistry, Nanoscience, and Engagement ast month, we held the first Atlantic Basin Chemistry Conference (ABCChem) in Cancun, Mexico.1 I was honored to help with the organization and to participate. It is what we hope will be the first of a series of meetings of the chemical societies of Africa, the Americas, and Europe. There were a number of striking features that I would like to share with you that those of us who attend many international conferences see on a regular basis. The first and most obvious is that our science crosses borders.2 Many of the speakers, attendees, and organizers have had rich experiences in laboratories in multiple countries. The conference gave us a chance to reconnect, even and especially with those who were not in those laboratories at the same times that we were, but are nonetheless our academic sisters and brothers. There is something special about putting a face with a name on papers that we have read. Even more, speakers tell the story of what motivated their work, how it fits together, and where it is going; that is difficult to glean from reading a series of papers. It makes science more personal and the scientists behind the work more human in our eyes.3,4 Lastly, the students from these four continents gave many of the best talks, were the most engaged, and, I feel, got the most out of the meeting. It was inspiring to connect with young talent from around the world.
L
Announcements. We look forward to seeing you at the spring 2018 American Chemical Society meeting in New Orleans next month. Many of our editors, advisory board members, and authors will be there. Later this spring, abstracts will be due for the nanothemed fall ACS meeting in Boston, where our ACS Nano award lectures will be given.5 At these two meetings and around the world, we look forward to connecting with you, our readers, authors, community, colleagues, and friends.
■
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
* E-mail:
[email protected]. ORCID
Paul S. Weiss: 0000-0001-5527-6248 Notes
Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS.
■ ■
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank Ms. Holly Bunje for help in preparing this editorial.
Speakers tell the story of what motivated their work, how it fits together, and where it is going; that is difficult to glean from reading a series of papers.
REFERENCES
(1) http://www.abcchem.org/ (Accessed January 10, 2018). (2) Khademhosseini, A.; Chan, W. C. W.; Chhowalla, M.; Glotzer, S. C.; Gogotsi, Y.; Hafner, J. H.; Hammond, P. T.; Hersam, M. C.; Javey, A.; Kagan, C. R.; Kotov, N. A.; Lee, S.-T.; Li, Y.; Mohwald, H.; Mulvaney, P. A.; Nel, A. E.; Parak, W. J.; Penner, R. M.; Rogach, A. L.; Schaak, R. E.; et al. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Cross Borders. ACS Nano 2017, 11, 1123−1126. (3) Weiss, P. S. Connecting. ACS Nano 2011, 5, 6077. (4) Weiss, P. S. A. Conversation with Alan Alda: Communicating Science. ACS Nano 2011, 5, 6092−6095. (5) Fernandez, L. E.; Weiss, P. S. Announcing the 2018 ACS Nano Lectureship Awards. ACS Nano 2018, 12, 1−2.
A number of countries represented were facing dire political and financial woes. The scientists and representatives shared their stories, warnings, and hope for a better future. It is these connections that tie the world together and, we hope, illuminate the way to a brighter future. Scientists have key roles to play in making that happen. With travel complications, there were inevitably missed presentations and shifted schedules. One of the liveliest adventures of the meeting came from “pop-up talks”, based on what we had previously done at the biennial African Materials Research Society meetings. Where we knew there was a cancellation, organizers and invited speakers would identify top poster presenters and others to give short talks related to the theme of the symposia in the program disruptions. On short notice, these exciting talks led to many lively discussions. I recommend that other conferences consider this strategy, as these discussions were far better than the typical break or extended silence due to canceled talks at most meetings. I want to give a special shout out to the unflappable Steven Meyers, Bettina Kirkland, and their team, who kept the meeting moving forward through years of planning, crises at customs, and a flexible schedule. © 2018 American Chemical Society
Paul S. Weiss,* Editor-in-Chief
Published: February 27, 2018 903
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b01245 ACS Nano 2018, 12, 903−903
Editorial
Cite This: ACS Nano 2018, 12, 903−903
