Comment: Strategically planning for the next 150 years

The American Chemical Society Board of Directors approved a new strategic plan in December 2024 to guide the organization. The new ACS Strategic Plan, which took effect on January 1, represents a modernization of our strategy. The plan builds on the prior plan and provides direction for the important work that we all do to advance the scientific enterprise.

The new ACS Strategic Plan is the result of a thoughtful, yearlong process led by the Board Committee on Strategic Planning as part of a 5-year planning cycle. Over the course of the past year, we carefully developed the new strategic plan with input from you, our community. We took your contributions and envisioned them in consideration of several future scenarios to forge a renewed strategy that will ensure the long-term success of ACS. This exercise was comprehensive and thorough because we need to position ACS to successfully serve its global community and the broader chemistry enterprise as we prepare to celebrate our 150th anniversary and look forward to the next century and a half of operation.

I am very proud of the resulting plan, which has been receiving positive feedback. Some of the comments I’ve heard include: “The strategic plan looks great,” “Overall, the plan looks very balanced and productive,” and “Excellent plan, I agree with all its parts.” I hope you, too, find this plan engaging and see opportunities to incorporate it into your ACS activities.

Let me comment on some aspects of the new ACS Strategic Plan in more depth. The plan includes a commitment that encompasses everything we do: improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Our vision, a world built on science, is simple and direct. This vision represents an ideal future state for the world we want to live in: one built on science because we believe that science enabled by chemistry touches every aspect of our lives.

Our mission is our statement of purpose. Advancing scientific knowledge and our efforts to empower a global community are fundamental to the role ACS plays in the chemistry enterprise. And while we have always stood for ethical and responsible behavior in the discipline, today, more than ever, we need to serve as champions for scientific integrity.

Our core values define who we are and how we live our mission. These values include a passion for science, lifelong learning, inclusion and belonging, and sustainability.

Our strategic goals define how we will transform our intent into action. One of our strategic goals focuses on elevating the reputation of science to build public trust—something that is critical in today’s world. The goal of enhancing community engagement serves as the connective glue that binds our global community together. Another goal of the plan is to empower scientists through education and continuous learning. And, as outlined in the final goal, we will continue to deliver innovative solutions by providing content and services that support the global scientific enterprise.

As you may notice, throughout the plan we focus on supporting our community, which includes members, everyone engaged with the organization, and everyone involved with the chemistry enterprise. We also continue to enhance our broad support for science and those in various fields, with chemistry as the cornerstone. And, as we move forward on our diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect journey, we have added inclusion and belonging as core values and have embedded accessibility and equity into our strategic goals. All these aspects of the plan come together to ensure that everyone who has a passion or interest in the chemistry sciences finds a welcoming and supportive home within ACS.

This plan truly serves as a guiding light for all components of ACS as we look to the future. As rewarding as it was to develop this robust plan during 2024, I am even more excited to move into the execution phase in 2025 and beyond. In 2025, the Strategic Planning Committee will change its focus to championing the plan, connecting it to our component groups, and reporting on our successes and challenges.

Here again is where you, our community, come in. We are all part of the plan and entrusted with helping the society meet the ambitious strategic goals outlined in the plan. For instance, what activities is your local section working on that might help empower scientists? Or, if you’re a member of a division, do you know if programming is happening to enhance community engagement?

I invite you to share your thoughts with me at strategicplanning@acs.org. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful activities across ACS that support our new ACS Strategic Plan and ensure our success for the next 150 years as a premier scientific society!

Views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of C&EN or ACS.