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Change is not easy and not always wanted. But change happens, and we, as chemists, must work with it toward bettering the lives of people in the world—even when the science involved is not accepted by some. In 2015, the members of the United Nations (UN) launched the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which put forward a plan of action for the planet and its people to prosper peacefully. The plan specifically outlined sustainable development goals (SDGs) to demonstrate how to help manage endeavors to improve our situation on Earth for the benefit of all humankind. The SDGs are urgent calls to action and, in many ways, are efforts to improve the human rights of every individual on this planet.
The 17 SDGs, through their supporting information, include an enormous number of opportunities that involve chemistry—not surprising since we know that chemistry is a central science. Indeed, the American Chemical Society is focusing on several of the SDGs in various divisions. We are not just chemists—we are a large part of the world science milieu. Anything as large as a global undertaking is, of course, best accomplished through many small actions by trustworthy individuals and organizations toward building trust in science. To read more about ACS’s efforts with the SDGs, visit cenm.ag/sdg.
ACS is taking other actions on the human rights front to encourage chemists and chemical engineers to provide their expertise to solve these challenges and participate in global efforts with the SDGs. As the ACS Board of Directors’ liaison to the ACS Science and Human Rights program, I am carrying on the work begun by president-elect Dorothy Phillips, particularly with the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition.
ACS is a member of the coalition—a network of scientific and engineering membership organizations that aim to facilitate communication and partnerships on human rights—which currently includes 22 member organizations. The coalition organizes webinar series, engages with the UN, and supports undergraduate and graduate students through SciTech and Human Rights FutureGen Scholars on their science, technology, and human rights projects. As part of this coalition, ACS supports the annual AAAS Science, Technology, and Human Rights Conference, a yearly meeting in November that brings together human rights leaders, academic researchers, and students to develop collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches to the most urgent human rights challenges. ACS has supported plenary sessions and workshops on climate change, health, the invasion of Ukraine, and more.
The ACS Science and Human Rights program—led by Karen Flores Garcia, technical manager at ACS—strives to contribute to human rights issues and initiatives and highlight the contributions of the chemical sciences to the advancement of humanity. ACS has worked toward coalition building with other scientific organizations to create spaces for scientists and human rights experts to convene and discuss challenges and solutions, monitor cases of chemistry practitioners threatened around the world, and support organizations and efforts that help threatened chemistry practitioners.
ACS also monitors cases of chemistry practitioners whose rights have been abridged. These cases can be recommended by ACS members, local sections, divisions, committees, or ACS staff offices. You can find out more about how to report a case, the selection criteria for cases, and the response procedures by visiting cenm.ag/report-a-case. ACS also works with organizations such as the Scholars at Risk Network and the Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund that arrange, fund, and support fellowships for threatened scholars across the US and the world. If you are interested in learning more about these organizations and how to host a scholar, email intlact@acs.org.
The world and the US face daunting challenges: climate change; conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, and many other parts of the world; poverty; food shortages; health issues; and attacks on academics’ ability to pursue their work—such as efforts focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR). Human rights always suffer in the face of abuse of power and bullying, which requires us to stand up for individuals and their work in science.
I strongly believe that chemistry professionals can play an integral role in solving many of our global challenges. My hope is that outlining some of ACS’s activities and resources will encourage some of you to participate in efforts to combat human rights abuses and achieve the UN SDGs.
Let’s all pull together for access to and the practice of science as a human right!
Views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of C&EN or ACS.
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