American Chemical Society ACS and You Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future Dr. E. Ann Nalley, Cameron University & Dr. S.K. Airee, University of Tennessee - Martin..

Sustainability Sustainability is often on people’s lips nowadays. Everybody seems to have an idea of what it means, and yet it is an elusive concept. Before giving some definition, let us search for what it includes. For one, sustainability is about the future, making sure that humanity does not follow a path to crisis and doom. We need to take responsibility for our actions toward future generations, and with this responsibility comes a moral imperative. In other words, sustainability is a good to be sought, and not just for us but also for our children and beyond. Sustainability is also about the environment. None of our activities would be sustainable if it led to environmental demise. So, in sustainability is contained another responsibility, that toward nature. It includes operating within the limits imposed on us by the environment. American Chemical Society 8/10/09 2

Assembling the pieces, we see that the concept of Sustainability implicates our actions, future generations, the environment, responsibility, and limits. The challenge before us is to identify, and engage in, those responsible actions that make the environment an integral part of our economy and respect environmental limits, so that we and future generations can continue to live on this spaceship called Earth. My favorite definition of sustainability: "Sustainability is the ultimate relation of action and consequence.“ ( Kirsten Childs, in Sustainable Architecture - White Papers, 2004 ) American Chemical Society

Two aspects of Sustainability American Chemical Society 8/10/09 4 1) Not the same as carrying capacity. Carrying capacity is a static concept that fits non-evolving ecological systems. Human activities progress by successive inventions. Problems due to excess are not generally solved by reduction but are most often overcome by new tools and new resources. As the proverb goes: “Necessity is the mother of all inventions.” This leads to the concept of Sustainable Development. 2) Three-pronged approach.

American Chemical Society 8/10/09 5 ACS Vision & Strategic Goals Vision: Improving people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry Goal 1 Provide indispensable resources Goal 2 Engage Global Community Goal 3 Address Global Challenges - ACS will be a global leader in enlisting the world’s scientific professionals to address, through chemistry, the challenges facing our world. Goal 4 Communicate with the Public Goal 5 Advocate for the Profession Goal 6 Maintain Financial Health The ACS Strategic Plan for 2009 and Beyond is available online at:

American Chemical Society 8/10/09 6 Sustainability Stakeholders Steering Group (S3G) Charter Promote ACS sustainability leadership through facilitation, coordination, and communication among ACS stakeholders and members: 1.Foster cooperation and collaboration on related ACS projects and activities; 2.Identify gaps in existing activities where ACS is positioned to contribute, leveraging our unique strengths; 3.Identify external partners for collaboration, to include other organizations and government agencies; and 4.Suggest mechanisms for member engagement and communication throughout ACS.

American Chemical Society 8/10/09 7 Key Sustainability Stakeholder Committees Committee on Environmental Improvement (CEI), Committee on Science (COMSCI), Corporation Associates (CA), Divisional Activities Committee (DAC), ACS Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI), Local Sections Activities Committee (LSAC), Meetings and Expositions (M&E), Society Committee on Education (SOCED), and Other committees/groups as appropriate

American Chemical Society 8/10/09 8 Sustainability – Highlights of Recent Activities 1.ACS Network Group – Developed to engage students, members, and other stakeholders in the discussion on sustainability issues Inventory of the Society Initiatives – ACS committee, local section, division and staff activities. 3.Sustainability Website – In development to provide a knowledge portal for scientists working on issues pertaining to sustainability. 4.Sustainability Logo – Identifies and brands ACS sustainability efforts. 5. National Meeting Programming – Supporting “Chemistry for a Sustainable World” theme in San Francisco, March 2010, including student programming.

American Chemical Society 8/10/09 9 ACS Sustainability Activities – The Big Picture Virtual meetings, communities around sustainability challenges Community outreach Symposia, presentations, publications, education Public policy statements, advocacy, expertise e-communications, e-resources

American Chemical Society 8/10/09 10 You Are An ACS Sustainability Stakeholder! Join the discussion on the ACS Network at sustainability-stakeholders-group sustainability-stakeholders-group

How Can Student Chapters Participate? Become a Green Chapter Sponsor Sustainability projects in your university and your community. Include Sustainability in National Chemistry Week Host joint activities with high school chemistry clubs Participate in Earth Day celebrations. Nominate local industries for the Presidential Green Chemistry Award Present Promotion of Excellence Awards to industries or groups in the community that make significant contributions to sustainability American Chemical Society 8/10/09 11

We want your suggestions and participation in the program. You are an important part of the ACS Future! THANK YOU AND QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS! American Chemical Society