2010 ACS President Seeks Ways to Keep American Chemical Enterprise Competitive
In 2010, ACS President Joseph S. Francisco sought out innovative ways to help make the American chemistry enterprise more competitive in the worldwide marketplace. On top of his very busy agenda were education and job creation in the new global age as well as international collaboration.
Dr. Francisco traveled widely, visiting Canada, England, Egypt, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Norway, Columbia, Bahrain and Israel. In all of his encounters with global leaders of the chemical enterprise, he urged them to collaborate with ACS in creating opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students and researchers.
One of Dr. Francisco’s primary goals for the year was the creation of a Presidential Task Force to consider the development of an International Center. As envisioned by Dr. Francisco, this center would provide American students with the experiences, including cultural training, they will need to compete in the international workplace and help them recognize innovative advances being made in other countries. The task force report on implementing this concept was presented to the Board in December and is expected to be considered in 2011.
In addition, Dr. Francisco assembled a Presidential Task Force on Innovation in the Chemical Enterprise: New Technologies for Society; New Jobs for Chemists. This task force, led by Dr. George Whitesides of Harvard University, is developing a plan and creating a roadmap for how new job opportunities can be created through entrepreneurship and how ACS might support this new concept. Their report will be completed in early 2011.
He also sponsored Presidential Symposia on the future of American job creation at ACS National Meetings in San Francisco and Boston including “Translational Chemical R&D: The Driving Force for Job Creation,” and “Educating Chemists with the Skills Needed to Compete in the New Global Economy.” Dr. Francisco spoke during an ACS Webinar about “Using Your Chemistry Education to Unlock Career Opportunities in the New Decade." In addition, he participated in an ACS Town Hall Forum, hosted by the Society’s Northeastern Local Section, on “Prospects for Chemistry in the U.S. Economy.”
As only the second African-American to serve as ACS president, Dr. Francisco promoted diversity during his year in office. He sponsored a Presidential Symposium on “Women of Color,” and was an active participant in the 15th anniversary of the ACS Scholars Program, which helps underrepresented minority students achieve their dreams of degrees and careers in a broad range of chemical sciences. During his presidential year, the ACS Board of Directors received a report from a Task Force on Implementing the ACS Diversity Reports. This task force was formed in 2009 and jointly appointed by Dr. Francisco and his predecessor, Thomas H. Lane. Dr. Francisco was also the featured speaker at Tuskegee University’s 11th Annual George Washington Carver Convocation, which celebrates the achievements and legacy of this world-renown African-American scientist and educator.
During Dr. Francisco’s presidential year, The Kavli Foundation, an internationally recognized philanthropic organization known for its support of basic scientific research, agreed to sponsor a series of lectures on scientific innovation at ACS National Meetings beginning in 2011. These lectures will address the urgent need for vigorous “outside-the-box” thinking by scientists as they tackle many of the world’s mounting challenges including climate change, emerging diseases and water and energy shortages.
In summing up his presidential year, Dr. Francisco says, “It has been about creating opportunities for our citizenry to develop skills and gain experience to function effectively and competitively in the global marketplace by keeping innovations from around the globe flowing into the chemical enterprise of this country. International collaborations are essential to the future health and vibrancy of chemical research and innovations from our industries and universities. ACS is key to catalyzing these opportunities for our enterprise.”