American Chemical Society Webinar focuses on mid-year update on chemicals and the economy

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2010 — News media and others interested in the chemical sciences are invited to join the next in a series of American Chemical Society (ACS) Webinars™, offering a mid-year update on chemicals and the economy.

Scheduled for Thursday, July 8, from 2 – 3 p.m. EDT, the free ACS Webinar™ will feature Paul Hodges, Chairman of International eChem (IeC), and author of the well-regarded ICIS Chemicals and the Economy blog, speaking on Chemicals & the Economy Mid-Year Updates –– Impact and Outlook for Executives and Scientists.

ACS Webinars™ connect you with subject experts and global thought leaders in chemical sciences, management and business to address current topics of interest to scientific and engineering professionals. Each webinar includes a short presentation followed by a Q & A session.

News media and scientists can tune into the conference without charge, but must register in advance.

Hodge’s topics will include:

• The impact of government stimulus programs around the world in supporting demand over the past 18 months – how it is impacting jobs in the chemical industry
• What will happen now that these programs are coming to an end –– back to reality
• The likelihood of the economy entering full recovery mode or facing a “double-dip” downturn
• The key indicators you can monitor as we move into the second half of 2010

Founded in 2001, IeC, Hodge’s firm, has built a reputation as trusted commercial advisers to the global chemical industry and its investment community. In addition to his post with IeC, he is non-executive chairman of a fast-growing technology spin-out from Heriot Watt University, Scotland. Previously, Hodges was an executive director of a $1billion global business for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), vice president of European Aromatics and Derivatives for DeWitt, and vice president of Europe for ChemConnect.

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