Awards

Institutions worldwide are invited to nominate one outstanding graduating senior who has actively demonstrated the connection between chemical safety and ethics through behavior and schoolwork. More information is at this link

The Committee on Ethics’ ChemLuminary Award recognizes outstanding programming by a local section related to the promotion of ethics in chemistry.

2020: Chemical Society of Washington 
The Chemical Society of Washington led an inclusive process to develop a local-section-specific Conduct Policy (link to the policy) for CSW membership and events. The goal was to provide additional clarity about what is expected of CSW members’ professional behavior, especially at CSW events, and to ensure that all members, guests, and public participants in CSW events felt safe and included. Throughout the drafting and development process, the leaders of this policy effort spent a lot of time ensuring that as broad and diverse a group of members as possible were consulted.

2020: Midland Local Section 
The Midland Local Section put on a public museum exhibit celebrating its Centennial Anniversary. One installation was on Unintended Consequences (UC), which addressed how ethics and environmental responsibility remain essential parts of ACS and the field. This installation prominently displayed the ACS code of conduct, stating the responsibilities of chemical professionals, and acknowledged several innovations that originated in Midland and had unintended consequences, including the silicone breast implant controversy, dioxin, and agent orange.

2019: Silicon Valley Local Section
The Silicon Valley Local Section brought six performances of “No Belles”, stories about female scientists who have and have not received the Nobel Prize, to over 1,000 attendees on four local college campuses, thus raising awareness both of the unethical behaviors that result in the current gender imbalance in STEM fields and of the achievements of women who have persevered.

2019 ChemLuminary award from the Ethics Committee