One obvious area for partnership is the 2011 celebration of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC). Activities are already being drafted by many organizations with the opening event planned at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in January 2011 (http://www.chemistry2011.org/). A major focus of the year is increasing public awareness and understanding of chemistry’s role in solving world problems, as well as creating enthusiasm about chemistry among young people. 2011 is also the 100th anniversary of Marie Curie’s Nobel Prize and the founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies. As ACS president I would passionately support a leading role for the ACS in these events, leveraging our successes with National Chemistry Week and Earth Day engagement by our local sections and divisions – learning from and teaching others!
The ideal outcome of the IYC celebrations, in my view, goes far beyond increased public awareness, enthusiasm about the field of chemistry and pride among current chemists, but extends to a commitment from people in these organizations to undertake ambitious work to really change our world. I would strongly support evaluation of where the ACS could work with other scientific societies, companies, NGO’s and non-profits to develop new programs and even new business models to spread the benefits of scientific innovation. Could we help deliver something remarkably beneficial such as an answer to the potable water problem facing much of the world or help fill gaps in how low cost medicines might be supplied to needy communities? I think we need to be outrageous in our thinking of where we might be able to take some of our partnerships – if not now, when?
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Candidate for American Chemical Society President 2011
