ACS First, ACS for Life and ACS for All
Do you still need the American Chemical Society? We were here together when you started your path as a chemist. If you are reading this, we are still together as you have continued to see and experience the value of membership. Together, we publish the leading molecular science, we train chemists at all stages of their careers, we advocate for science and education to the public and governments, and we accelerate careers and innovation in molecular science and engineering. Despite this, our society faces an existential crisis posed by declining memberships as social media and other technologies are flattening communication and access to professional networking. Thus, the ACS must change, and I ask you to help me make the changes that you and our future members need.
I hope that you will give me the chance to advance ACS First, ACS for Life and ACS for All over the next few years. Promotion of the ACS First brand would be a reminder not just to our members, but also to all of the chemical enterprise, government organizations and the public, that they should turn to us when they need chemical solutions or advice. Life members would provide stability to our membership and would allow us to reward such members with the security of engagement with us throughout their lives Finally, we are stronger because of the diversity of our membership—spanning many disciplines and people from different races, ethnicities, and countries—and we can ensure that strength only through the inclusion and belonging that an authentic diversity culture will bring. I ask you to help me make the change you want and need for the ACS. Together, we can.
Rigoberto Hernandez
Extracted from the Candidate’s Statement provided to the Council in Spring 2022, and to be published at C&EN in August/September 2022.