Committee on International Activities

What We Do

The 19-member Joint Board-Council Committee on International Activities (IAC) was established by action of the ACS Board of Directors on June 27, 1962, and was upgraded in 1974 to a joint Board-Council Committee. The IAC is responsible for studying and recommending appropriate Society participation and cooperation in international undertakings pertaining to chemical education, professional activities, and scientific matters of interest to chemists and chemical engineers, and coordinating its efforts with those of other organizations.

Mission

Connect and support global chemical practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people.

Vision

Empowering global communities 

Goals

1. Support.  Enhance opportunities, resources, networks and training to empower our global members. 
2. Connect and Collaborate.  Foster connections and collaborations with members and chemical communities worldwide.
3. Advocate.  Advocate and champion global member equity. 

IAC Working Groups

The IAC is organized in three Subcomittees to best meet the committee goals and support global ACS Members. These Subcommittees are:

Subcommittee 1. Partnerships and Outreach. This subcommittee provides International Chemical Sciences Chapters (ICSCs) with a personal connection to the IAC. It facilitates collaboration between chapters themselves, with ACS local sections, and between ACS entities and the chapters. The members of this subcommittee will do so by organizing regional calls and collaborative opportunities between ICSCs. It further leads outreach and communication efforts with ACS units to advocate for global Members and ICSCs, and synchronizes advocacy efforts to promote ACS policies that enhance the experience of global Members. 

Subcommittee 2. Grants & Recognition. This subcomittee oversees the promotion of the IAC grants and awards programs, especially to global ACS Members and ICSCs, and the selection of the recipients.

Subcommittee 3. Chapter Development and Programs. This subcommittee will guide chapters in growth, training, and development. It is responsible for ICSC oversight, maintenance, compliance, and health. Duties include coordinating the ICSC annual reviews and providing constructive feedback, identifying and assisting struggling chapters, and encouraging the sharing of effective practices and activities between chapters. This subcomittee collaborates closely with the ICSCs and other IAC subcomittees to provide a strong support structure with tools, programs and resources to enable success, while advocating for ICSCs to help bring equity to matters of funding and resources. This subcommittee is further responsible for coordinating IAC programming such as symposia at ACS Meetings, receptions, and more. 

IAC Leadership Team (IAC-LT): The IAC Leadership Team oversees the overall direction of committee, Strategic Plan implementation, and other administrative functions. Led by the IAC Chair, the Leadership Team consists of Subcomittee Chairs and other committee leaders as needed.

IAC Leadership Team