FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | December 16, 2009

Palo Alto, Calif., chemist elected to chair board of world’s largest scientific society

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2009 — Chemist Bonnie A. Charpentier, Ph.D., a vice president at Metabolex, Inc., in Hayward, Calif., has been elected chair of the American Chemical Society board of directors. She will assume her new duties on Jan. 1, 2010.

In addition to chairing the board of the world’s largest scientific society, Charpentier will continue to represent ACS District VI, the Western District, which covers 11 western states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and part of Canada. She has served on the ACS board of directors with distinction since 2006.

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As a board member, Charpentier has emphasized the importance of communicating the value of chemistry through public outreach and education, including National Chemistry Week, chemistry workshops for teachers, and workshops to train university students for job interviews. She supports ACS programs that focus on expanding ACS's legislative outreach through member involvement, including expanding the ACS advocacy programs at the state level that focus on supporting science education.

“This is an exciting time to be a chemist. Chemists are analytical thinkers and problem solvers. Research in new areas of chemistry offers the hope that we can solve many emerging global challenges and help create a sustainable future,” Charpentier said. “Great strides in our science offer great promise to improve people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry.”

Charpentier received a B.S. degree in 1974 and a Ph.D. from the University of Houston in 1981. She lives in Palo Alto, Calif.

An ACS member since 1982, she has served on and chaired a variety of Society committees and task forces at the local and national levels, including those dealing with policy, nominations, local sections, governance and program review, and communications. She also has been active and served as chair in the Cincinnati and Santa Clara Valley Local Sections.

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