"Chemistry and Public Policy"

Dr. Allison Campbell – Associate Laboratory Director for Earth & Biological Sciences, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; 2018 Immediate Past President of the American Chemical Society

The past few years have seen scientists across the country be more involved in public policy. Specifically, we have seen scientists speak about the important contributions science makes to U.S. national security, our economy, and our overall well-being. As scientists and experts in our field, it is our responsibility to ensure lawmakers are well educated when creating policies that affect our discipline, our work, and our communities—a point I have emphasized during my time in the Presidential Succession. During my year as ACS President, I hosted an advocacy workshop at the 2017 Fall National Meeting in Washington, DC focused on training ACS members on how to become the chemistry advocates of tomorrow; more than 40 participants attended the workshop, primarily young chemists. I hosted a similar event at the 2018 Spring National Meeting in New Orleans, and plan to host similar events at the Northwest Regional Meeting and at the 2018 Fall National Meeting in Boston.