Heroes of Chemistry

Purpose

An annual award championed by the American Chemical Society’s Board Committee on Corporation Associates that recognizes talented industrial chemical scientists whose work has led to the development of successful commercialized products ingrained with chemistry for the benefit of humankind.

Description

Who are our heroes today? The media recognizes athletes and entertainers, as well as emergency responders, as heroes. Chemistry has its heroes too; they are scientists and engineers who have made the world better through their effort, ingenuity, creativity and perseverance. The life-saving treatments and conveniences of the modern world would not be possible without the materials, drugs, and other products of chemistry.

Winning teams of scientists are inductees of the Heroes of Chemistry, a scientific hall of fame. The American Chemical Society (ACS) has bestowed this honor annually since 1996.

Eligibility

Any private or publicly owned for-profit company may nominate a team of chemists, chemical engineers, and other allied professionals who played a vital role in the research and development of a commercial product that has had an impact on the welfare and progress of humanity.

Nominating companies may choose to include individuals from other companies, government or academic labs, incubators, or other organizations as members of the teams they nominate. Former and deceased employees are eligible to be included in the nomination. The company nominating the technology must be the current owner of the technology.

Please be sure to address all three as thoroughly and specifically as possible:

• The technical merit of the innovation, including the talent and foresight demonstrated by the nominee(s)
• The financial performance of the product(s), market share, and/or other measure of commercial impact
• The impact, lives affected, and benefit to humankind made by the product(s)
  

Deadline

The 2023 nomination period for Heroes of Chemistry is open from November 1, 2022 until February 15, 2023.

Nomination Instructions

1. Create an account in the online nomination system. The account allows you to update your nomination at any time prior to submission and track your nomination status after submission. Your email address will serve as the username for the account. 
2. Select “Apply” at the top of the page. 
3. Select “2023 Heroes of Chemistry Nominations” to preview and begin your nomination. 
4. Enter and submit the required materials for this form. All required information must be submitted with this form. Information not currently available in electronic form can be converted to a PDF using the Fax-to-File feature in the top navigation menu. You may save and return to your nomination until the February 15 submission deadline.
5. Submit your nomination. Saved drafts are not considered submitted nominations. You must select the “Submit Application” button. A confirmation email will be sent to confirm your submission.

Nomination Package

Each submission must include the following items:

• Descriptive Summary: Provide a detailed narrative addressing the product’s commercial use, its benefit to humanity, chemistry's central role, and the involvement of the nominee(s) in developing and commercializing the product(s). Please use clear, non-technical, concise language in this section; this information will be used to draft press releases, web content, and other materials, which will later be vetted with winning companies.
• Impact: Summarize the market success, societal impact, and economic impact of the nominated product(s) in a financial summary.
• Biography or Resume/CV: A short biography or resume/CV (max. two pages) should be submitted for each nominee.
• Supporting Materials: Any brochures, articles, or press releases, etc. that describe the impact of the nominee(s) and/or the product being recognized are highly encouraged.
• Nominee Contact Form: Include all relevant contact information for each team member being nominated on this contact form.

Note: Please carefully and properly fill out the contact information of each team member. This information may be used to contact winners and for sending important information such as invitations, awards, and promotional materials. At least one member of the team must be an ACS member. Please be sure to have prepared which team member(s) have active ACS membership.

Selection Process

A panel of judges from the Committee on Corporation Associates will select the Heroes of Chemistry on the basis of:

• The technical merit of the innovation, including the talent and foresight demonstrated by the nominee(s)
• The financial performance of the product(s), market share, lives affected and/or other measure of commercial impact
• The impact and benefit to humankind made by the product(s)

The selected winners, along with executives from each winning company, will be invited to attend a black tie dinner ceremony.

Sponsor

Committee on Corporation Associates

Corporation Associates member companies may prepare nomination packages, but their employees may not serve on the Award Selection Committee in years when their companies are nominated. The deliberations of the Award Selection Committee are confidential. The Award Selection Committee determines the number of Heroes of Chemistry Awards to be presented in a given year.

Contact Information

Email: chemhero@acs.org