Category: Member News
2012 CCR Awards
Each year, CCR recognizes individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the US chemical research enterprise at its annual meeting.
Nominations are currently being sought for the following CCR award categories:
Malcolm E. Pruitt Award
"For advancing the chemical enterprise though mutually beneficial interactions among industry, universities and government."
CCR Diversity Award
"For advancing an promoting diversity within and among the three CCR sectors."
CCR Collaboration Success Award
"In recognition of a collaborative team that has made outstanding contributions to the progress of chemistry-related science and/or engineering."
Deadline for submission of nominations is February 1, 2012.
At the ACS Annual Meeting in Boston, August 22, 2010, CCR will sponsor the Presidential Symposium entitled Translational Chemical R&D: The Driving Force for Job Creation. The first presentation will explore big picture trends in the chemical workforce and barriers to continued growth. The second set of presentations will focus on tools to translate R&D to commercialization. Examples include models for open collaboration, venture investment in spin-offs, and R&D centers or hubs.
Read more about these sessions.
Register and learn more about the ACS Fall 2010 Meeting in Boston, August 22-26.
A gathering of leaders from industry, government labs, and academia met on December 13, 2010 in Crystal City VA to discuss the current state of Ph.D. education in chemistry, chemical engineering, and allied fields.
The focus was on whether the current model still meets the needs of the employers given that a majority of new Ph.D.s do not end up pursuing an academic career. Graduate education has, for the most part, evolved slowly in the last several decades. However, the way industrial and government labs operate has changed drastically – and incoming Ph.D. talent often has to spend significant time learning and adapting to a new culture and system before becoming a productive member of the organization. While technical training remains strong, the softer skills, such as communication, teamwork and an understanding of research in a global and rapidly changing environment, are too often lacking.
The discussion focused around two questions:
- What subject matter competencies are needed for the future? What is the right balance of breadth versus depth and how can we achieve it?
What behavioral competencies are needed for the future? How do we incorporate the soft skills into the Ph.D. training?
Download the Report
On August 3, 2010 the CCR Executive Committee approved, "Pathways to US Job Growth in Technology Sectors," a position statement outlining ways to create US jobs, increase US manufacturing, and strengthen the US economy. These strategies focus on innovation, the process of originating an idea and developing it into a valuable product.
The three strategies are:
- Establish a National Innovation Commission
- Create Nuclei for Strategic Innovation
- Implement Manufacturing Siting Incentives
Read the position paper.
CCR hopes to open a dialogue with this paper and is interested in your reactions. Please send any comments or criticisms to CCR Executive Director C. Paul Mendez.
