Chemistry Facts & Talking Points
You can help people in your community to appreciate chemistry's role in major public discussions such as climate change, sustainability, and federal research by demonstrating and explaining the many roles that chemistry and chemists have in improving people’s lives.
Talking points are one effective way to organize your thoughts and make your message easy to remember. They are short concise statements that can be easily incorporated into publicity products and other materials. Think of them as ‘sound bytes’ for the TV news, or the ‘hook’ to a newspaper article. To have the best chance at enhancing the image of chemists and chemistry, it is imperative that all of us speak with a common voice and purpose.
These are examples and talking points of chemistry's benefits to society to help you communicate about current topics. Use these messages to make important, lasting points about chemistry.
- Chemists make important contributions to sustainability – chemists develop new types of materials to prevent depletion of precious natural resources, and chemists are working to clean streams and the air.
- Finding ways to make alternative clean energy a reality has the potential to grow new industries in solar, wind or biofuel in your area.
- Emerging research is conducted in universities and research institutions across your area. Federal funding underpins many areas of research that contribute new products, medicines and knowledge and supports jobs across the U.S.
The list of ways that chemists help society is practically unlimited! The following are some examples of ACS messages:
- Chemistry is everywhere and contributes to everyone’s daily life; it has and continues to transform our lives.
- Chemistry and chemists drive innovations to discover solutions to problems and enhance our lives (e.g. green chemistry)
- Chemistry is important to our nation’s economic health.
- It is vital that the next generation understands that chemistry is everywhere; is a transforming force that improves lives and our society; and is an important profession, because careers in chemistry offer opportunities to change the world.
- Advocacy talking points on sustaining federal support for research (PDF)
For more examples and tips on how to develop strong talking points and messages, visit the ACS PR Guidebook.
More ACS Messages & Advocacy Issues to Help You
