Fast Facts about ACS

Membership: Over 200,000

Journals: 80+

CAS REGISTRY®: More than 219 million unique substances and sequences, enhanced with 8 billion experimental and predictive property data points and spectra.

CAS Reactions: More than 150 million single- and multi-step reactions

CAS Patents: Patents published by 109 issuing authorities covering more than 40,000 unique IPC codes

ACS journal article downloads: More than 305 million

Petroleum Research Grants: More than $19 million

Employees: More than 2,000 in 25+ countries

With membership of over 200,000, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information. A nonprofit organization chartered by Congress, ACS is at the forefront of the evolving worldwide chemistry enterprise and the premier professional home for chemists, chemical engineers and related professions around the globe. We strive to be a force for good.

Our Mission and Vision

We are dynamic and visionary, committed to “improving all people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry.”

This vision ─ developed and adopted by the ACS Board of Directors after broad consultation with the membership ─ fully complements the ACS Mission statement, which is “to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people.” Together, these two statements represent our ultimate reason for being and provide a strategic framework for our efforts.

What We Do

The Society publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. We also give $20 million every year in grants for basic research in petroleum and related fields.

We also play a leadership role in educating and communicating with public policy makers and the general public about the importance of chemistry in our lives. This includes identifying new solutions, improving public health, protecting the environment and contributing to the economy.

We Are Local, National, and Global

Locally

ACS has 185 local sections (chapters) throughout the U.S. Local sections allow members to:

  • Connect with other chemists and chemical engineers in their geographic area.
  • Participate in programs near their homes that can enhance their professional development.
  • Contribute to the public’s understanding of chemistry in their communities.
  • ACS regional meetings are hosted by local sections in various geographic regions across the U.S.

Nationally

The Society offers members the opportunity to participate in 32 specialty divisions, ranging from food and agriculture to industrial and engineering chemistry. These divisions help members:

  • Keep up with the latest developments in their areas of expertise.
  • Monitor advances in related fields.
  • Network with colleagues.
  • Contribute to the advancement and recognition of their scientific discipline.

ACS Spring and ACS Fall are meetings that offer five days of symposia, tutorials and poster sessions that cover every area of chemistry, chemical engineering and related sciences. Short courses with renowned instructors, workshops, divisional and committee meetings, and other related sessions also occur at ACS Meetings & Expositions.

Globally

The Society’s international membership represents more than 140 countries.

More than 80% of the articles published in ACS journals and more than half of the material covered in CAS ─ the world’s most comprehensive source of chemical and scientific information ─ originate outside the U.S.

ACS sponsors or promotes a number of international activities such as joint conferences with chemical societies in India and other countries, and the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies (PacifiChem), a weeklong scientific meeting, held once every five years in conjunction with ACS counterparts in Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and China.

We Support Real-World Initiatives

ACS works to improve the world through other initiatives including:

  • Project SEED offers bright, economically disadvantaged high school students an opportunity to spend a summer conducting chemical laboratory research with the guidance of a chemical scientist.
  • ACS Scholars Program provides underrepresented minority undergraduates with scholarship and mentoring support that they need to earn degrees in the chemical sciences.
  • Advancing Chemistry Teaching supports the professional development of science teachers so that they can better present chemistry in the classroom and foster the scientific curiosity of our nation’s youth.
  • ACS Green Chemistry Institute® promotes the implementation of green chemistry and engineering principles into all aspects of the chemical enterprise.

Support Promising Chemists

ACS is committed to developing the next generation of dynamic chemistry leaders with four core programs:

  • Project SEED
  • ACS Scholars Program
  • Advancing Chemistry Teaching
  • Green Chemistry Education and Outreach

ACS Branding Guidelines

Branding provided by ACS are intended for the use of

  • ACS Local Sections
  • Technical Divisions
  • Student Affiliates
  • Regional Meeting Planners
  • And anyone else, member or non-member, who has rightful reason to promote ACS programs, products, or services.