Mr. Bradley Smith
Brad
Smith is the Manager of Grassroots and Member
Involvement for the American Chemical Society (ACS) . He
has worked for the ACS Office of Public Affairs since
1998. In his present position at the ACS, he is actively
bridging the gap between practicing chemists and
policymakers by advocating ACS policy positions to
federal and state policymakers and directing the Society's
grassroots programs. Under Brad's
direction, the ACS flagship grassroots program, the
Legislative Action Network, grew from a few hundred
individuals to over 16,000 active participants. In
addition, Brad manages the ACS Local Section Government
Affairs Committee, and the ACS Public Policy Fellowship
programs. He received his M.A. in U.S. History from
Bowling Green State University and his B.A. from
Muskingum College.
Science Policy Today for a Better Tomorrow
The
ACS Congressional charter passed in 1937 and signed by
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, calls upon the ACS
to "encourage in the broadest
and most liberal manner the advancement of chemistry in
all its branches; increase the diffusion of chemical
knowledge, ...promote
scientific interest and inquiry, ...foster
public welfare and education, aiding the development of
our nation's industries, and
adding to the material prosperity and happiness of our
people."
This presentation will examine how the ACS fulfills its
Congressional charter through the advocacy efforts of
members, governance, and staff. At the core of ACS
advocacy are the members of the Society
- without them there would be no ACS positions or
advocacy. The members decide through the ACS committee
structure what the positions and priorities of the
Society shall be and staff in the ACS Office of Public
Affairs, joined by members of the ACS Legislative Action
Network and local section Government Affairs Committees
and ACS governance, communicate those priority positions
on Capitol Hill, with the Executive branch and other
interested organizations.
The
presentation will pull together all the various pieces
of ACS advocacy to give participants an overall
understanding of how ACS policies are created,
communicated, and advocated. It will also update current
issues being considered in Congress.
THE ACS OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) houses the Society's
Government Affairs and Communications programs. OPA
Government Affairs activities promote public policies
that advance science and the chemical enterprise for the
benefit of ACS members, the chemical professions, and
society. OPA educates policymakers on the role of
science in public policy, advances specific,
member-developed recommendations on issues affecting the
chemical enterprise, and informs and involves ACS
members in the process. OPA Communications efforts are
designed to increase public awareness of chemistry's
critical role in society; to empower our members to be
effective communicators for their science; and to
enhance the reputation of ACS programs to key audiences.
In November 2008, OPA Communications was realigned into
a Science Communications team and a Society
Communications team to more effectively carry out those
two basic functions.