Inclusion and belonging at C&EN 

Background

Chemical & Engineering News is published by the American Chemical Society (ACS). In 2025, ACS launched a new strategic plan to guide its work through 2029. The plan builds on the work of C&EN in collaboration with its publisher under the core value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR).

In the new strategic plan, launched Jan. 1, 2025, ACS affirms four core values, among them creating a society in which members from all “backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences thrive.” Inclusion and belonging build on our past work and set our sights on achieving authentic and full participation and fair treatment across identities and experiences.

The strategic plan reaffirms ACS’s belief that achieving an inclusive chemistry enterprise is a shared responsibility so that scientists from all walks of life can address pressing global challenges.

C&EN is editorially independent but recognizes the value of this ambition for our readers and staff.

Editorial values

C&EN strives to deliver stories and editorial content, including images and digital experiences, that represent the many types of lived experiences, scientific disciplines, and professional experiences among our staff and readers alike.

C&EN also seeks to approach our work mindful of the principles of editorial independence, diverse sources in our reporting, respect for people of various backgrounds and viewpoints, and a commitment to constantly improving the effectiveness with which we cover the global chemistry enterprise.

Inclusion and belonging in action

C&EN works to ensure that our coverage accurately reflects the chemical sciences. A standing committee regularly proposes and reviews initiatives and best practices to improve inclusion and belonging. This Inclusion and Belonging Committee also conducts an annual review of output and processes as part of efforts to keep our staff and leadership accountable for upholding our values. This means that our reporters strive to feature and consult a broad representation of chemists and sources in our articles.

Other specific examples of our work include the following:

• We provide a forum for our staff to discuss stories with inclusion in mind.
• We have built a group of external sensitivity reviewers with relevant lived experiences (and scientific and journalistic expertise) to help us look over stories.
• We developed a series of guidelines for our staff on how to make their coverage, art, editing, and social media posts more inclusive and avoid common mistakes that alienate our readers.
• We organize assignments with the principle of avoiding invisible labor for any staff who represent a group we are writing about.
• We developed Trailblazers packages to support access to chemistry for all.
• We apply the principles of the ACS Inclusivity Style Guide in our copyediting.
• Our Creative team has standards for broadening representation in our art so we reflect the global chemistry community.

To provide feedback on C&EN's coverage as it relates to inclusion and belonging or to talk with us about our initiatives, please email us at CENdiversity[at]acs.org.