Burke, VA chemist re-elected to board of world’s largest scientific society

Dennis Chamot, Ph.D., associate executive director of the National Research Council’s (NRC) Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences in Washington, D.C., has been re-elected to the board of directors of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society. He will begin his third 3-year term in January 2007 as director-at-large.

Chamot received a B.S. and M.S. from Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1964; a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1969; and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, in 1974. He and his wife, Judith, reside in Burke, Va.

Chamot also is an adjunct assistant professor in the Graduate School of Management and Technology at the University of Maryland University College. Prior to assuming his current position, he was deputy executive director with the NRC’s Commission on Engineering & Technical Systems.

An ACS member since 1965, Chamot has served on numerous Society committees and task forces, including those dealing with professionalism, education, public relations, women in the chemical professions, young chemists, and occupational safety and health. He also has been chair of the ACS Division of Professional Relations and a councilor for that division.

Chamot says that “We must do more not only to help individuals, but as companies continue to invest in new facilities in other countries, ACS also needs to encourage corporate executives to invest more in innovation activities in the United States. Not only do we need to help current members, we also need to ask ourselves how we can expect to attract the best and brightest students into chemistry if they perceive, rightly or wrongly, that their future as chemical professionals in the United States is insecure.”