About Chemists Celebrate Earth Week

Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) is a community-based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This annual program unites ACS local sections, student chapters, technical divisions, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the positive role that chemistry plays in the world. CCEW occurs annually during the week of Earth Day, which is April 22.

Earth Day was first officially recognized on April 22, 1970 as a way to demonstrate support for a healthy environment, raise awareness about environmental issues, and remind people that we all need to contribute to a sustainable planet.

For years, chemists have been promoting a better world through recyclable plastics, cleaner-burning fuels, phosphate-free detergents, environmental monitoring, and green chemistry initiatives. The ACS joined the Earth Day celebration in 2003. There have been annual CCEW events ever since. Read all of ACS’s policy statements on Sustainability & the Environment here.

CCEW is administered by the ACS Office of Science Outreach, which is part of the Education Division. The Committee on Community Activities (CCA) serves as the advisory group for outreach programs, and selects and develops the CCEW themes and materials.

Earth Day 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the world's largest environmental movement!

Partnership for Earth Day's 50th Anniversary

Earth Day 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the world's largest environmental movement. Earth Day was first officially recognized on April 22, 1970 as a way to demonstrate support for a healthy environment, raise awareness about environmental issues, and remind people that we all contribute to a sustainable planet.

For years, chemists have been promoting a better world through recyclable plastics, cleaner-burning fuels, phosphate-free detergents, environmental monitoring, and green chemistry initiatives. To promote the positive role that chemistry plays in the world, ACS established the Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) public awareness campaign. During CCEW, ACS members and chemistry enthusiasts celebrate by coordinating events and communicating the importance of chemistry.

ACS is excited to partner with the Earth Day Network in 2020 to honor this landmark anniversary. ACS will celebrate through CCEW 2020 from April 19-25 with the theme, "Protecting Our Planet through Chemistry." ACS and the Earth Day Network are creating resources and programs to support ACS members and chemistry enthusiasts joining the campaign.

CCEW logo

Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) is a community-based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This annual program unites ACS local sections, student communities, technical divisions, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the positive role that chemistry plays in the world. Earth Day is observed on April 22 and CCEW is celebrated the week of Earth Day.

Earth Day was first officially recognized on April 22, 1970 as a way to demonstrate support for a healthy environment, raise awareness about environmental issues, and remind people that we all need to contribute to a sustainable planet. ACS joined the Earth Day celebration in 2003. There have been annual CCEW events ever since. Read all of ACS’s policy statements on Sustainability & the Environment.

CCEW is administered by the ACS Office of Science Outreach, which is part of the Education Division. The Committee on Community Activities (CCA) serves as the advisory group for outreach programs, and selects and develops the CCEW themes and materials.

Chemists Celebrate Earth Week Logo

Current and Future Themes

CCEW 2023

April 16-22, 2023
Topic: Algae
Theme: The Curious Chemistry of Amazing Algae
En Español: La Química Curiosa de las Algas Asombrosas

CCEW 2024

April 21-27, 2024
Topic: Batteries
Theme: Get a Charge Out of Chemistry
En Español: Recárgate con la Química

Past Themes

Year Dates Topic Theme Name
2022 April 17-23 Insect Chemistry The Buzz About Bugs: Insect Chemistry
2021 April 18-24 Reduce and Reuse Reducing Our Footprint with Chemistry
2020 April 19-25 Sustainability Protecting Our Planet through Chemistry
2019 April 21-27 Paper Take Note: The Chemistry of Paper
2018 April 22-28 Oceans Dive into Marine Chemistry
2017 April 22 Agriculture Chemistry Helps Feed the World
2016 April 22 Indoor Air The Great Indoors—Your  Home's Ecosystem
2015 April 22 Atmosphere Climate Science—More Than Just A Weather Report!
2014 April 22 Water  The Wonders of Water
2013 April 22 "Best of" All Topics Our Earth: Handle with Care!
2012 April 22 Recycling Rethinking Recycling—It’s Easy to Be Green!
2011 April 22 Alternative Energy Energy—It’s Everywhere!
2010 April 22 Plants & Soil Plants—The Green Machines!
2009 April 22 Atmosphere Air—The Sky is the Limit
2008 April 22 Water Streaming Chemistry
2007 April 22 Recycling Recycling—Chemistry Can!
2006 April 22 Plants & Soil Dig It!
2005 April 22 Atmosphere Air—Here, There, Everywhere
2004 April 22 Water What Do You Know About H2O?
2003 April 22 Trees Chemis—TREE
Bill Nye and Professor Molenium
Professor Molenium and Bill Nye at the March for Science, 2017 (Washington, DC)

Find Your
Local CCEW Coordinator

Visit the CCEW Coordinator Lookup
Map showing NCW Coordinator Locations
Contact icon

Contact the ACS Office of Science Outreach
outreach@acs.org