chemists can help people and provide for a better world
I am proud to be a chemist because of what chemistry and its practitioners contribute to society. As chemists, we help drive economic growth, identify and solve environmental problems, advance medicine and healthcare, and keep our nation safe and secure. As chemists we can all be proud that we help people and provide for a better world.
We are able to accomplish all that we do through sound application of science and our willingness to tackle the most difficult and challenging problems facing our planet. We can also accomplish this by speaking for science to the public and to policy makers in order to advance understanding of chemistry and its many benefits.
As subject-matter experts, it is in our own best interest to work with policy makers to ensure that decisions that depend on scientific evidence are fully informed, properly crafted and considered. Science is central to challenging issues facing society and decision makers need scientific experts in these fields to help them craft laws, regulations, and programs to successfully address those issues. Each year, Congress and state legislatures consider hundreds, if not thousands, of bills in these areas that can, and do, directly affect our lives.
Policy makers want to hear from you. You are their constituents. Many times members of Congress and state legislators complain that they do not hear enough from the scientific community. They know this is important as most do not have the academic background or expertise to make informed decisions on complex scientific issues. Why not let your voice be the one that helps provide wise counsel to your elected officials?
Engaging with the public and with policy makers helps advance and develop support for science. Policy makers who understand the benefits of chemical research will work harder to ensure adequate and sustainable support of government funding for research and development. A public familiar with the benefits and excitement of chemistry will help encourage young people to pursue a quality education and a career in chemistry.
I call on each of you to become more involved as advocates and communicators on behalf of the chemistry enterprise. Ask yourself, what do I feel passionate enough about that I want to speak up and make a difference? How and where do I want to engage? Find a place and plug in! Your voice and knowledge are critical inputs to a dialog chemists must have with policymakers, the press, and the public – jump in with both feet!
ACS offers a variety of ways to help you to speak for your science to these key audiences.
Be among the first ACS Chemistry Ambassadors
ACS will be launching a new Chemistry Ambassador program in August 2009 – why not consider being among the first to join this effort? Through the new Chemistry Ambassador program, you will be given the tools to reach out to your neighbors, teachers, students, local reporters and policymakers with compelling messages and materials about the value of chemistry and how it improves people’s lives around the world. You will be in a position to make chemistry relevant to anyone you speak with. When launched, the web address for the program will be www.acs.org/chemistryambassadors.
Have a few hours? Visit a classroom or talk to a civic group. It’s easy, fun, and enlightening.
Have just a few minutes? Send your high school guidance counselor the links to ACS scholarships and careers in chemistry. You might open someone’s mind about chemistry, or you might even open the doors to the rest of their lives.
Watch www.acs.org for the upcoming Chemistry Ambassadors Web homepage, which will present ideas and an online toolkit with information, instructions and tips.
Build a relationship with your government representatives
Consider joining the ACS Legislative Action Network which is the Society's electronic grassroots network that allows you to stay “in the loop” on public policy issues important to the chemistry enterprise. As a member, you will receive periodic updates on federal legislation and get timely action alerts to easily contact your members of Congress on issues that matter to you. Joining takes only a few minutes - www.act4chemistry.org/register. Why not join over 17,500 of your colleagues who have already joined?
Visit your congressional offices this summer
If you’re coming to the August National Meeting in Washington, D.C., take advantage of the location and visit your members of Congress. Go to www.acs.org/DCvisits to identify your U.S. Senators and Representative and learn how to schedule a Capitol Hill meeting or join other ACS members in a meeting. You will find tips for successful visits and an entertaining how-to video. Once you arrive in Washington, you can attend an orientation session Sunday morning at the Convention Center or stop by the ACS Public Affairs booth in the Exposition Hall for some final guidance. From there it’s a short cab or Metro ride to Capitol Hill!
Contribute through your local section
Last, but not least, I encourage you to become involved with your local section government affairs and public relations committees. You can interact with others who have the same goals and concerns, and you will have unique opportunities to network and develop career skills.
Through the government affairs committee (GAC), you can work with a team of ACS members in your local section to engage local, state, and federal policy makers on chemistry-related policy concerns at the national level or in your hometown. To learn about joining or forming a GAC and get tools and ideas for your local section, just go to www.acs.org/gac.
The local section public relations committee gets the word out to the media about local section activities. If your local section does not have one of these committees, think about leading the charge and forming one.
Let me conclude by thanking you for all you are doing – or will do – to ensure that the scientific perspective informs public policies and to help your Society share the value of chemistry with the public.
I invite you to send me your thoughts and suggestions. What outreach or community activity would be most effective in putting a human face on chemistry and how can we make it happen? Feel free to contact me at maingeek1.com or president@acs.org
