ACS Policy Priority
Invest in People
America needs scientists and engineers. To equip today’s students with the skills to fill the technical jobs of tomorrow, we must improve science and mathematics education at the K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels. We also need to encourage talented people to enter science and engineering fields. Workforce policies must respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by an aging demographic, a more diverse workforce, and major shifts in employment practices.
With these needs in mind, the American Chemical Society works to:
- Enable lifelong, strong, inquiry-based science education for everyone in both formal and informal settings to improve the scientific understanding of all our citizens.
- Increase state and federal support for pre- and in-service teacher training to strengthen the quality of teaching and enhance student learning.
- Encourage the best and the brightest to pursue scientific careers, particularly more women, underrepresented minorities, and people with disabilities.
- Enhance employment-related benefits for science and engineering professionals.
| Statement | Position |
| Science Education Policies | Highlights such areas as encouraging teacher development, improving curricula design, and addressing assessment tools. |
| Association Healthcare Plans | Supports access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans and advocates association healthcare plans (AHPS) to efficiently deliver cost-effective benefits through purchasing pools. |
| Computer Simulations in Academic Laboratories | Computer simulations that mimic laboratory procedures have the potential to be a useful supplement to student hands-on activities, but not a substitute for them. |
| Department of Education (FY09) | Supports the proposed $175 million (302 percent increase) for new math and science education programs under ACI. Opposes flat funding the DoEd Math and Science Partnership program and calls for the authorized level of $450 million (151percent increase). |
| Employment Non-Discrimination | Recommends that federal legislation extends employment discrimination protection to include sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity. |
| Retirement Security | Reviews the challenges chemical professionals face regarding retirement security. Additionally, ACS calls on Congress to deal with the major areas effecting the financial and health security of retirees. |
| Teaching of Evolutionary Theory | Urges state localities to support high-quality science standards and curricula, explains the use of “theory” in a scientific context, and opposes the use of non-scientific content in the science classroom. |
| Visa Restrictions | Encourages timely screening for visiting scientists and students, recognizes the need for scientific progress, and commits itself to assisting federal agencies with technical expertise. |
| Visa System Enhancement National Security Interests | Supports timely and reasonable processes which facilitate scientific education and exchange. |