ACS’s new strategy aims to engage scientific community

The American Chemical Society is starting 2025 with a new strategic plan. The plan was approved by the ACS Board of Directors in a December 2024 meeting and includes an updated vision and mission and changes in core values and strategic goals, as well as the addition of a clear commitment by the society. The board reviews and approves ACS’s strategic plan every year, but the last time changes of this magnitude were made was in Jan. 2020.

“ACS is a vibrant and visionary society that has been the epicenter for chemical science professionals for nearly 150 years,” says ACS Board of Directors chair and director-at-large Wayne E. Jones Jr. in a press release. “Our new plan captures that energy and positions the organization to continue to play an important and impactful role moving forward.”

For the first time, ACS is leading with a commitment: “Improve all lives through the transforming power of chemistry.” This commitment echoes the society’s previous vision statement, “Improving people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry,” but includes a change so subtle you might have to read it twice. The small language shift conveys a far-reaching ideological change—underscoring just how much of a cornerstone chemistry is to the sciences, the role it plays, and the forms it takes.

“ACS supports scientists in their pursuit of new knowledge and understanding, which in turn enables better lives and a healthier planet,” says Jones. “Having this ideal captured in our commitment continues to provide a North Star to guide all aspects of our organization.”

Beyond this commitment, the society also embraces a new vision and mission. Building on the role chemistry plays in the sciences, the new vision is “A world built on science.” And the new mission further defines the organization’s purpose as it works to “advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community, and champion scientific integrity.”

“The days of solid lines differentiating chemistry, biology, physics, and other scientific disciplines as silos are long gone.” says Jones. “We certainly agree that chemistry is a central science, but discoveries increasingly occur through multidisciplinary work that involves teams from many different fields. We want to clearly signal our support for everyone working in and with the chemical sciences.”

A shift in core values

Another notable change is embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) principles throughout the strategic plan. In the previous plan, one of the core values was diversity, inclusion, and respect. The new core value of inclusion and belonging continues to acknowledge that advancing science requires a community with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and is one example of the many places in which DEIR now appears throughout the plan. Other instances, such as equitable access to science education in the core value of lifelong learning or aspects of equity in the new goals, show a society that has taken the commitment to a former core value a step further.

“ACS remains committed to DEIR,” says Albert G. Horvath, CEO of ACS. “By infusing DEIR throughout the plan, we are moving forward in our DEIR journey and putting our intentions into action. We are living our principles.”

Core values in the 2025–29 strategic plan are:

▸ Passion for science: reflecting the belief that chemistry plays an innovative role in scientific discovery

▸ Lifelong learning: promoting equitable access to science education, resources, and career pathways

▸ Inclusion and belonging: working to create environments where people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives can thrive

▸ Sustainability: encouraging the embodiment of safe, ethical, and responsible practices

From intent to action: Updated strategic goals

“A strategic plan is a framework that guides action and hopefully leads to even greater success,” says Horvath. “The goals expressed in our new plan are the guideposts we believe are most important to pursue today.” The society has identified four new goals to focus on in the next 5 years:

▸ Elevate the reputation of science: to help build public trust in science

▸ Enhance community engagement: to synergize and enrich the society’s diverse community

▸ Empower scientists: to help people make informed decisions through accessible education and continuous learning

▸ Deliver innovative solutions: to reinforce the society’s role of providing content and services that support the global scientific enterprise

“The strategic goals of the new plan are very relevant and timely. The rapid advancement of technology and the growing mistrust of science are just two examples of what we’re experiencing,” says Jones. “For ACS to remain a vibrant and visionary society, we must continue to focus on . . . our strategic goals.”

The new strategic plan is on ACS’s website at www.acs.org/about/strategicplan.