Dear Local Section Leader,
It was great to meet some of you in person during the ACS Leadership Institute last week! I hope that the Local Section track equipped you for your upcoming leadership journey.
Additionally, I want to invite you to register for another upcoming LSAC webinar taking place on February 21, 2014, at 1:00 pm ET. This session will highlight 2024's Chemists Celebrate Earth Week and opportunities you will have to engage with other sections and connect with members of the Committee on Community Activities. Don't miss it, register today!
Beth Lorsbach,
Chair, Local Section Activities Committee
2023 Local Section Annual Reports Due February 15
We are pleased to announce that ACS Community Connection, the online service for annual report and event submissions, is now available for the 2023 Local Section Annual Reporting cycle. Please bookmark the Annual Reporting web page for easy access to the Community Connection login page, user guides, and other important resources. All 2023 and 2024 local section officers may access Community Connection with their ACS ID and password.
The chair of your local section may designate additional non-officer volunteers (e.g., Community Activities Coordinator, YCC Chair, Webmaster, etc.) to access and complete your group's annual report and event forms. To assign a non-officer access to Community Connection, please send the non-officer's name, local section affiliation, and ACS ID to connection@acs.org.
The deadline for submitting your completed annual report and ChemLuminary self-nominations is February 15, 2024. Your local section's 2023 allotment will be released to your treasurer following your local section's annual report submission.
Nominate Your Section, Division, or Chapter for a ChemLuminary Award
Submit a nomination for a 2024 ACS ChemLuminary Award! These awards recognize outstanding programming, outreach, and operations of ACS local sections, technical divisions, regional meetings, and international chemical science chapters. Officers may submit ChemLuminary Awards nominations through Community Connection as part of their ACS Annual Reports, due February 15. For more information on the awards and nomination guidelines, please visit ACS ChemLuminary Awards for the complete list of awards or contact chemluminary@acs.org.
Add Your Local Section Events to the ACS Events Hub
We are pleased to announce that local sections may now post their events on the ACS Events Hub. A sample of local section events may be found here. Want to add your event, please complete this intake form.
The ACS Speaker Directory provides users with access to speakers from around the globe who are available to present technical science talks, lead career development & professional advancement presentations, explore general interest, popular science topics, and more. Book your speaker today at www.acs.org/speakerdirectory. (ACS ID and login required)
Member Outreach Templates Available
Happy 2024! It’s the perfect time of year to engage with your current members and let those who expired at the end of 2023 know it’s time to renew their membership. Did you know that ACS has created a handful of templates that take the legwork out of drafting your own communications? Check out the Recruitment and Engagement Toolkit for volunteer leaders and download these copy-paste documents. You’ll also find templates for recruiting new members, instructions and FAQs around eRosters, and information on the $15/member commission opportunity! Have any suggestions? Email memberfeedback@acs.org.
Reminder to Send Annual Tax Returns
Attention all Local Sections officers! This is a reminder that a copy of your annual tax return must be sent to the ACS Tax Office at tax@acs.org. This is a requirement per the ACS Governing Documents and your bylaws. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
ACS Salutes to Excellence Award
This program gives ACS members an opportunity to underscore outstanding accomplishments, achievements, or service for individuals who have made a positive impact in their local community, via their creation or participation in chemistry outreach events and programs. A local section chair or designee can request up to 5 free plaques to present to any individual or organization it deems worthy of this recognition (cannot be a local section member). Please visit the Salutes to Excellence page for more detailed information. If you have any questions about recognition programs, please feel free to contact outreach@acs.org.
Get involved with Project SEED!
Do you know about Project SEED? For over 50 years, Project SEED has provided summer research experiences to high school students all over the United States. Now is a great time to get involved. The program is open for new project proposals from December 1, 2023 until February 8, 2024. Please visit the Project SEED website for more information and contact projectSEED@acs.org for any questions.
Important Events For Local Section Leaders At The
ACS Spring 2024 National Meeting
Register to Join chemists from around the world at ACS Spring 2024!
Register and join us from March 17 – 21 for ACS Spring 2024! We’ll be in-person in New Orleans, LA at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center or virtually across the globe. The theme, Harnessing the Power of Data, will be at the core of programming for the hybrid event. Abstract submissions for ACS Fall 2024 will open this month. It will have the theme Elevating Chemistry and will be held from August 18 – 22 in Denver, CO, and virtually. Learn more about #ACSSpring2024 and #ACSFall2024 at ACS Meetings & Expos.
The ACS Council Policy Committee is hosting its 2024 New Councilor Orientation Program for all newly elected Councilors and Alternate Councilors on Saturday, March 16 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. CT in New Orleans. A special networking reception with Committee Chairs will follow from 6:00-7:00 p.m. This program provides an excellent opportunity to meet other ACS leaders and learn about ACS committees. Special remarks will be given by the ACS President. If you are a newly elected Councilor or an Alternate Councilor, please save the date and RSVP to let us know if you plan to attend. Additional information is forthcoming.
Spring 2024 Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry Award
Nominations for the Fall 2024 The Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry award are now being accepted. Each Committee and Technical Division may nominate up to two individuals for this award. The nominee must be a distinguished younger scientist who is highly regarded by their peers for significant contributions to an area of chemistry or related multidisciplinary area of chemistry. Nominees must be no more than 40 years old or no more than ten years past receipt of their Ph.D. Please see the webpage for full eligibility and nomination requirements. The deadline for submission is February 26, 2024.
Get The Word Out - Share with Your Local Section Members
Please join us for this virtual collaborative event to celebrate Black History Month hosted by the ACS Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter, the ACS International Student Chapters in Nigeria, and the ACS New York Section & Southern California Local Sections.
The event features three presentations by experts:
- Africa's contribution to innovations in Science and Medicine, not well publicized around the world
- The role of Royalty and its contributions to the Black Race - a remedy for upheaval encountered in the world
- Understanding the African ancestry and its relevance to the world community in the 21st century
Looking for a way to connect with speaking events in areas you have expertise in? Interested in building up your speaking resume? ACS' Speaker Directory is designed to connect experts like *you* with speaking opportunities! ACS Local Sections, Technical Divisions, and International Chapters are looking for a diverse range of speakers for in-person, virtual, hybrid, and asynchronous events.
- Gain visibility on a international level
- Share your expertise
- Grow your professional network
Whether you're a seasoned chemist or starting your career, the ACS Speaker Directory is your gateway to connecting with ACS members in need of talented speakers! Learn more and sign up for the ACS Speaker Directory Today!
Life-changing events, such as job loss or natural disasters, can disrupt day-to-day life and completely redefine what normalcy and stability mean. This is why the American Chemical Society wants to ensure that you are aware of all the resources at your disposal to help you through difficult times. Visit the new Proactive Membership Assistance Program page to find all these benefits in one location.
Younger Chemists Committee Celebrates 50th Anniversary
2024 is the Younger Chemists Committee’s (YCC’s) 50th Anniversary! The committee is excited to celebrate with those attending ACS Spring 2024 (March 17th- 21st). We are hosting symposiums and receptions highlighting diverse younger chemists, past YCC Chemluminary award winners, CIBA Travel and Leadership Development awardees, and previous YCC members. Hope to see you there and stay tuned for more details!
A Request for Chemical Safety Content Ideas
The Emerging Issues Subcommittee (EIS) of the Committee on Chemical Safety (CCS) assists in promoting best chemical safety practices. One EIS project is a series of short technical guidance documents designed to address a variety of safety issues to support safer chemistry research. Thus far, developed content covers laboratory ventilation and considerations for working safely with particularly hazardous materials like hydrofluoric acid. Publication of the CCS “Tipsheets” on the CCS website will occur on a rolling basis, with the first release scheduled for early 2024. Contact our ACS Staff Liaison Support Rachel Bocwinski (r_bocwinski@acs.org) with questions or suggestions for topics!
Help with the future of CPRC
The Committee on Public Relations and Communication CPRC is undergoing a strategic planning retreat before ACS Spring 2024. We are looking for input from as many entities from ACS to best improve the effectiveness of the committee. Please respond to this survey to share your thoughts!
Now Accepting Abstracts for ACS Fall 2024!
Submit your abstracts for oral and poster presentations for ACS Fall 2024. The theme, Elevating Chemistry, will be at the core of programming. Sessions for the hybrid meeting (in-person & virtual) will be held in Denver, Colorado, and virtually, August 18 - 22, 2024. Those who wish to submit an abstract will have the option of selecting a virtual or in-person abstract submission.
New for 2024 – Global Virtual Symposia is a new programming opportunity for presenters and audiences to participate in ACS Meetings & Expositions virtually and across many time zones. Symposia sessions have been timed to cover multiple GMT time zones, ensuring accessible participation times for attendees from Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. Researchers from these regions are welcome to participate. Learn more. The deadline to submit is Monday, April 1.
GC&E Conference Call for Abstracts
The ACS Green Chemistry Institute®️ invites you to answer the Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference’s Call for Abstracts. Programing covers the breadth and depth of sustainable and green chemistry & engineering, with special attention to the theme “AI-Enabled Green Chemistry”. Review the symposia now and submit your abstract by February 12, 2024. The 28th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference will be a hybrid meeting held in Atlanta, Georgia from June 3-5, 2024. Submit your abstract today!
ACS PRF – Making Our Future Brighter Through Fundamental Hydrocarbon Research
The ACS PRF accepts research proposals from Monday, February 12, 2024 to Friday, March 8, 2024. Proposals must focus on fundamental petroleum research, including
research related to petroleum-derived materials in one of ten specified subject matter areas. It is important to note that while the PRF Trust imposes restrictions, PRF currently funds various topics of interest in sustainability and green chemistry. These topics include new catalysts and the upgrading/utilization of methane and carbon dioxide. For more information on supported research areas, interested individuals are encouraged to contact a PRF program officer or prfinfo@acs.org.
Grant programs are available for new professors starting their first tenure track position (DNI), as well as established tenured or tenure-track professors exploring a new research direction (ND). Separate grant programs exist for qualified professors in non-doctoral departments (UNI, UR). Departments of successful UR and UNI grant applications will be invited to apply for a competitive $25,000 supplement funds. Supplements aim to enhance research activities, capabilities, and engagement at the department.
Applications are made through a web-based portal, and additional information can be found at www.acsprf.org.
Plan now for IUPAC Global Women's Breakfast 2024
Join the global chemistry community in Catalyzing Diversity in Science by:
- Building active networks of people of all genders
- Overcoming barriers to gender equality
- Promoting professional and inclusive practices
Learn more about hosting or attending events on February 27, 2024, as ACS celebrates the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast.