The American Chemical Societry and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are teaming up to bring you the August 2010 Graduate Student Symposium. The theme of the symposium will be Chemistry and Policy: Solving Problems at the Interface, and it will highlight key areas in which chemistry-related science policy is created and implemented by governments and other major organizations.

The Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee (GSSPC) Project was created in 2005 to facilitate ongoing involvement among graduate students in planning symposia at the American Chemical Society (ACS) biannual national meetings. Student groups are chosen from a college or university to produce quality symposia co-sponsored by the ACS Division of Chemical Education that are relevant to the chemical community.
The GSSPC Project provides:

• a national forum for graduate students to engage professional chemists with new and innovative ideas
• an outlet for graduate students to develop a professional network and leadership skills

The August 2010 graduate student symposium will challenge young researchers, chemical professionals, and policy practitioners alike to tackle important issues, including national security and competitiveness, health and safety, energy and sustainability. Presentations will be given by leaders in these fields. An evening dinner with speakers will provide an opportunity to further discuss ideas raised during the symposium.

Though it is not treated in the technical programs of the major ACS divisions, science policy is a subject of general interest to the 13,000 chemists, chemical engineers, academics, graduate and undergraduate students, and related professionals expected to attend the fall 2010 national ACS meeting. We hope to fill a void in the meeting program by bringing in high-profile speakers from various chemical professions to engage attendees on a range of issues falling within the realms of chemistry and policy. The success of the symposium will be measured by the number of attendees it attracts and by solicited feedback from both attendees and presenters on the symposium’s organization, content, and effectiveness.

"Chemistry and Policy: Solving Problems at the Interface" has now been designated by the ACS as a Presidential Event.

To contact us, please email gsspc@mit.edu.