We welcome you to join us at our March 2021 board meeting, where we will explore three critical topics: 1) diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice in chemistry and chemical engineering; 2) identifying and accounting for vulnerabilities in U.S. chemical weapons detection, identification, and tracing capabilities; and 3) revisioning undergraduate chemistry curriculums. These conversations will inform our future research and work on the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology.

Registration and livestream information will be posted closer to the event.

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Session 1: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 12:10PM to 3:00PM Eastern

Women, persons with disabilities, and other minority groups are underrepresented in science and engineering fields, according to a 2019 report from the National Science Foundation. In December 2020, the National Academies Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology (BCST) made a commitment to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in its internal and external activities, joining many scientific institutions who have pledged to lower barriers to entry for these groups.

This session will explore how the BCST can use its resources to advance DE&I in the chemistry and chemical engineering fields. We will hear from two experts, Dr. Christine Grant and Dr. Hoby Wedler, on their influential work in and best practices for expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups in the sciences.

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Session 2: Identifying and Accounting for Vulnerabilities in U.S. Chemical Weapons Detection, Identification, and Tracing Capabilities

Thursday, March 4, 2021 10:05 AM to 1:15 PM Eastern

Chemical weapons remain an ever-present, high level threat to domestic and global security despite international efforts to regulate the weaponization of chemical agents. The recent use of deadly chemical agents in alleged assassination attempts of civilian targets has elevated interest in and attention to these weapons. This heightened awareness underscores critical knowledge gaps in the development of chemical weapons detection and identification technologies. The targeted deployment of chemical agents also demonstrates the advantages of employing forensic chemistry to investigate and trace chemical weapons.

This session will explore the current state of the science in the field of chemical weapons detection, identification, and tracing, and will highlight opportunities for additional research in this space.

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Session 3: Revisioning Undergraduate Chemistry Curriculums

Thursday, March 4, 2021 1:45 PM to 4:35 PM Eastern

The role of chemistry in society has transformed tremendously over the past several decades. Chemistry now touches almost every aspect of our lives, including what we eat, wear, and buy.? With such expansive applications, undergraduate chemistry programs should strive to focus on the prevailing issues of our time – from sustainability to date science – and be inclusive to historically underrepresented groups.

This session will explore the state of undergraduate chemistry curriculums, the challenges of adding new content to existing, fundamentals-based course loads, and the potential pathways to focus more on sustainability, data science, and diversity.