The Role of Professional Societies in Advancing Inclusion in Chemistry: Through the Lens of the American Chemical Society

Abstract

In response to a more heightened focus on social justice in recent years, many organizations have reflected on their values and on their role in championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR). The American Chemical Society (ACS) is no different. While historically there may have been an unspoken belief that the role of the ACS was to stick to science, it has become more well-understood that advancing our core values, including DEIR, is the right thing to do both for our members and for the scientific community. Yet, the journey to progress has not been straight nor smooth, and there is still much work to be done. The American Chemical Society is a unique organization with a highly successful publishing and information services unit which supports a myriad of membership and outreach activities. This unit affords the organization the opportunity to impact the scientific community through multiple channels. At the institutional level, chemistry departments at colleges and universities interact with the ACS to secure and maintain ACS Approval of their programs (supported by the Committee on Professional Training, CPT). Impact is further driven through individual engagement with scientists who publish in ACS journals, attend webinars, conferences, events, and professional/leadership trainings, or who choose to volunteer as active members in ACS governance. In each of these settings, the ACS has worked to understand the needs of members, authors, editors, volunteers, and other stakeholders, with the goal of cultivating a sense of belonging within ACS that extends outwardly to impact the entire chemistry enterprise and broader scientific community. Here, a summary of the history of these efforts is presented as a case study where challenges, opportunities, successes, and failures are described. Looking forward, it is not only the actions and attitudes of individual scientists, but the commitment of professional societies individually and in collaboration with other institutions and entities, that will create a scientific community where all can contribute fully and feel welcome.