Fast Facts about ACS

With membership of over 151,000, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information. A nonprofit organization, chartered by Congress, ACS is at the forefront of the evolving worldwide chemistry enterprise and the premier professional home for chemists, chemical engineers and related professions around the globe. We strive to be a force for good.

Our Mission and Vision

We are dynamic and visionary, committed to “Improving people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry.”

This vision ─ developed and adopted by the ACS Board of Directors after broad consultation with the membership ─ fully complements the ACS Mission statement, which is “to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people.” Together, these two statements represent our ultimate reason for being and provide a strategic framework for our efforts.

What We Do

The Society publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. We also give more than $20 million every year in grants for basic research in petroleum and related fields.

We also play a leadership role in educating and communicating with public policy makers and the general public about the importance of chemistry in our lives. This includes identifying new solutions, improving public health, protecting the environment and contributing to the economy.

We Are Local, National, and Global

Locally

ACS has 185 local sections (chapters) throughout the United States. Local sections allow members to:

• Connect with other chemists and chemical engineers in their geographic area
• Participate in programs near their homes that can enhance their professional development
• Contribute to the public’s understanding of chemistry in their communities.
• ACS regional meetings are hosted by local sections in various geographic regions across the United States.

Nationally

The Society offers members the opportunity to participate in 32 specialty divisions, ranging from food and agriculture to industrial and engineering chemistry. These divisions help members:

• Keep up with the latest developments in their areas of expertise
• Monitor advances in related fields
• Network with colleagues
• Contribute to the advancement and recognition of their scientific discipline.

Twice annually, ACS sponsors national meetings ─ five days of symposia, tutorials, and poster sessions that cover every area of chemistry, chemical engineering and related sciences. Short courses with renowned instructors, workshops, divisional and committee meetings and other related sessions also occur at national meetings.

Globally

The Society’s international membership exceeds 28,000 and represents more than 140 countries.

More than 80 percent of the articles published in ACS journals and more than half of the material covered in the Society’s Chemical Abstracts Service ─ the world’s most comprehensive source of chemical and scientific information ─ originate outside the United States.

ACS sponsors or promotes a number of international activities such as joint conferences with chemical societies in India and other countries, and the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies (PacifiChem), a weeklong scientific meeting, held once every five years in conjunction with ACS counterparts in Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and China.

We Support Real-World Initiatives

ACS works to improve the world through other initiatives including:

• Project SEED offers bright, economically disadvantaged high school students an opportunity to spend a summer conducting chemical laboratory research with the guidance of a chemical scientist.
• ACS Scholars Program provides underrepresented minority undergraduates with scholarship and mentoring support that they need to earn degrees in the chemical sciences.
• Advancing Chemistry Teaching supports the professional development of science teachers so that they can better present chemistry in the classroom and foster the scientific curiosity of our nation’s youth.
• Green Chemistry Education and Outreach promotes the implementation of green chemistry and engineering principles into all aspects of the chemical enterprise.