Explore a collection of interviews, virtual and special issues, and more in celebration of the incredible women who continue to drive innovation and break boundaries in the field of chemistry.
Together with our many women editors, authors, reviewers, and readers, ACS Publications works to promote the full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. We salute the hard work of women and girls in the chemistry community whose discoveries and innovations further the American Chemical Society’s mission “to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people.”
We will update this post periodically with new interviews, virtual and special issues, recognitions, and more in celebration of the incredible women who continue to drive innovation and break boundaries in the field of chemistry. Be sure to check back for new content throughout the year! Notable national and global celebrations include:
- International Day of Women and Girls in Science was created by the United Nations to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. It is held annually on February 11, and this year’s celebrations focus on the role of Women and Girls and Science as relates to the Sustainable Development Goals.
- International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 and places this year’s theme of embracing equity at the heart of the campaign.
- Women’s History Month— celebrate with us all throughout March as we showcase and applaud the contributions of women and girls to science.
Relevant and Recent Virtual Issues and Special Collections
- Women in Toxicology: Interviews With the Contributors to Our Recent Virtual Issue
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 - Women in Toxicology from Chemical Research in Toxicology
- Advancing Women in Chemistry: A Special Issue from Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling
- Women Scientists at the Forefront of Energy Research: A Virtual Issue, Part 5 from ACS Energy Letters
- 2022 Pioneers in Energy Research: Jinhua Ye from Energy & Fuels
Celebrating our Nobel Prize Winner, Professor Carolyn R. Bertozzi
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022 was awarded to Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and K. Barry Sharpless “for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry,” which involve simple, quick chemical reactions that can occur within living organisms without disrupting normal biological functions.
Bertozzi has a long-standing history with ACS. She has been a member for 32 years and is an ACS Fellow. She is also the founding and current Editor-in-Chief of ACS Central Science. Many congratulations to Professor Bertozzi and her peers for this remarkable achievement!
Read a Selection of Articles by Prof. Carolyn Bertozzi and Her Fellow Winners
Read the Virtual Issue on Bioorthogonal and Click Chemistry Curated by Prof. Carolyn R. Bertozzi
Hear from our Editors-In-Chief
We asked some of our Editors-In Chief to reflect on the future for women scientists. Read our conversations with them below.
Professor Stefanie Dehnen is the first female Editor-in-Chief for Inorganic Chemistry.
How do you think the field of chemistry has changed for women throughout your career?
In my opinion, the role of women in the field has changed massively in two ways. First, over the past two, three decades, it has become easier for women to attain academic positions - both because of their recognition as scientists and as a result of specific measures to promote their early careers, and because of more support in terms of family issues. Second, the field has naturally benefited from the input of the "other half" of the population, which in earlier times was not recognized, not used, simply not retrieved.
What are some changes you'd like to see to improve the field (chemistry or your sub-field) for women?
I think that the self-evidence with which women can aspire to and realize an academic career generally needs to be reinforced further. This may be largely a question of the social environment of female scientists - and applies to other disciplines as well. Women themselves also need to become even more self-confident when it comes to pursuing their careers against the reservations that still exist among family and friends. Fortunately, there are now equal opportunity programs that specifically support female chemists if they cannot work in the lab during pregnancy. However, it is important to keep in mind that you may not be able to work full time during these months and also during breastfeeding; Therefore, I advocate that resumes/CVs contain this information and need to be read and interpreted more carefully in favor of women in various stages of their lives.
What advice would you give to women in considering a career in chemistry?
Do it - and stick with it even in harder times! We are equally talented and full of great ideas, so women are urgently needed to meet today's challenges, which - now and in the long term - is only possible with the help of chemistry. Without women, 50% of intellectual potential is lost, so it is also our responsibility to the world to contribute. And besides: I consider chemistry to be the most creative, versatile and beautiful of all the natural sciences, so being allowed to realize your urge to do research in a subfield of chemistry is a dream job!
Professor Laura Gagliardi is the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation.
How do you think the field of chemistry has changed for women over the course of your career?
When I was young and I used to say that I wanted to study chemistry or engineering, people around me said “You will have no problem in finding a husband because you enter a field for men”. (My parents however were super encouraging when I said that I wanted to be a scientist). When I was a postdoc in Cambridge UK in 2000, there was not a single woman professor in the Department of Chemistry. I was also told around that time that being a professor would be very hard for a woman if she wanted to have a family. Good professions for a woman would be “teacher, nurse or secretary”.
This was about 25 years ago. A lot has changed, at least in the official language and there are mechanisms in place to encourage women to undertake a career in STEM. Moreover, there are more women in chemistry and science nowadays than in the past and they can serve as role models to young women.
That said, a lot has still to be achieved to make these careers more accessible to young women both in terms of culture and opportunities.
What are some changes you'd like to see to improve the field (chemistry or your sub-field) for women?
I think women should be encouraged to undertake a STEM career from early on in their life. There should be opportunities for everyone at all ages to approach STEM and enjoy it.
The culture has to shift, and this should be achieved at all levels of the society. It is not a problem that can be addressed only in higher education. We, as educators should try our best to be as inclusive as possible in teaching chemistry/science and the passion for research, but the society as a whole has to embrace a much bigger challenge. The USA is a country of opportunities, but there is a large gap in the quality of the education (not to talk about health care) that people can receive, and this creates big discrepancies.
ACS is doing great things to change the culture, but it will take time and, as I said, this is a challenge for the whole society, not just for one organization.
What are your top tips for women considering a career in chemistry?
My advice to the new generations of women considering a career in chemistry, and to the new generation in general is to find their passion, to find an opportunity to have an impact on something that they care about. If one has this opportunity and is so lucky to find their real passion in their work, they will be successful and will and have the energy to make progress every day in their work and make a difference. As scientists, chemists, educators, we are facing this incredible challenge of saving our planet and leaving it in a better condition than how we found it and we can contribute towards this mission in a meaningful way.
We also have the responsibility to make science more inclusive because this will bring a better outcome and will be better for our society. We can do that in many ways and embracing this mission at an earlier stage in one’s career will truly make a difference. At the same time, I tell my students and postdocs all the time that to make a difference, we have also to excel and be the best in what we are doing. We want to find the right answer for the right reason. We have to be committed to integrity and follow ethical practices. We must collaborate, support, and respect each other.
To succeed in all of the above it is important that you believe in yourself and, if you encounter challenges, as we all do, you have to try to overcome then and don’t give up. It is also very helpful to find good mentors. Try to surround yourself by people who are supportive of your professional choices and will encourage you. My mother has been very inspirational in my whole life. She was a high-school math teacher. She has inspired me from an earlier age to be an educator and a scientist and she has encouraged me to pursue my own career and found passion in my work.
Professor Cathleen Crudden is the Editor-in-Chief for ACS Catalysis.
How do you think the field of chemistry has changed for women over the course of your career?
Over the course of my career, I have seen many more women enter STEM fields, but these numbers still don’t translate to better numbers in the higher ranks. One very positive change is that everyone is more engaged in the discussion of diversity and inclusivity and its impact on science. Conference organizers and their funders have recognized the need for diverse speakers, and in general, the younger generation is much more informed about issues relating to equity and are passionate about making improvements. However, while efforts to improve inclusivity are increasing, there are still shockingly outdated views in many places, and research shows that women, especially Black women, and women of color, still face many barriers in their careers.
What are some changes you'd like to see to improve the field (chemistry or your sub-field) for women?
What strikes me is that all the metrics we use to address success are biased. For example, people who are minoritized are less likely to dispute a negative decision at a journal, and are more likely to undervalue their work, sending it to lower ranked journals to begin with. Then they are judged alongside colleagues who regularly push for publication in top journals. Studies have shown that when an assessment of merit of the PI is included in grant applications, women do more poorly than men, and again, grantsmanship is a metric we examine. These impact all aspects of a woman’s progress in a subtle and insidious way. I would like to see granting agencies and publishers do better to track metrics and then make tangible efforts to improve outcomes.
What are your top tips for women considering a career in chemistry?
I would say believe in yourself–believe that you can pursue your goals and be a success. Once you’re in the field, finding allies is very important since they will help you believe in yourself and achieve your goals. I always remember those in the community who believed in me before I believed in myself. And for those of us already established, it’s important to support the next generation to the best of our abilities!
Professor Theresa Reineke is the new Editor-in-Chief of Bioconjugate Chemistry.
How do you think the field of chemistry has changed for women over the course of your career?
There has certainly been positive change over the course of my career, which is encouraging. The numbers of women students in STEM majors have steadily grown while the numbers in faculty positions have seen a more gradual increase. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) efforts have allowed more voices from women to be heard to further catalyze change and increase numbers and retention. There are also many women’s groups across academia and industry that offer support networks for women in science and engineering.
What are some changes you'd like to see to improve the field (chemistry or your sub-field) for women?
I’d like to see more rapid changes and further programs/funding to help support the specific challenges that women face in chemistry careers. For example, women traditionally face higher workloads at home and are faced with many decisions early in their career that significantly affect time commitments, availability, and health. Balancing professional and home life is very difficult for those who choose to parent and women have to make this choice at a critical early career stage. I have seen many women give up or delay their careers due to lack of support, which is not aligned with DEIR. I believe this has particularly affected the numbers of women willing to apply for faculty positions despite the critical need for women in academia. Funded programs to help with administrative support, grant submissions, DEIR, pay equity, and modification of expectations would also help. The lower numbers of women in academia coupled with the need for diversity on committees and panels means there is a particular imbalance in service loads for women in faculty positions. Indeed, the academic, industry, and national lab sectors should be investing in, mentoring, and promoting more women into leadership positions where they can have a direct influence on breaking down barriers!
What are your top tips for women considering a career in chemistry?
Choose your professional subcommunity based on how you feel supported and respected by your colleagues (if you don’t, then maybe it’s time for a change). With the highly interdisciplinary nature of chemistry, there are many opportunities for change. Don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors for advice and note that you can have multiple mentors (and they can change with career stage). Be selective on what projects you direct your energy at, and while difficult, don’t be discouraged by rejections and failures - use them as learning opportunities. Take good care of your physical and mental health. It is important to nurture family, friends, and hobbies outside of your career that support balance and joy in life.
Professor Vicki Wysocki is the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
How do you think the field of chemistry has changed for women throughout your career?
Although the number of women faculty and industrial and governments leaders have not increased to levels equal to men, there have been strides in the right direction. Gone (I hope) are the days when, as a summer intern, I was told that I had to either wear dresses/skirts or dress pants to do polymer synthesis, that I should go to my break on the other wing of the building because "they have some women" (I didn't go), and that perhaps I should consider toxicology as a career because it would be easier to balance with being a mother. Women are reaching more leadership roles than before. Quality research space for women, appropriate salaries, and awards to women are improving.
What are some changes you'd like to see to improve the field (chemistry or your sub-field) for women?
I'd like to reach the point where we don't need diversity training to run a job search, where candidates all have a fair chance without having to look at gender or under-represented minorities. It would be great to reach the point where I don't have to ask female members of my group about the culture "for women" at the company where they just interviewed.
What advice would you give to women in considering a career in chemistry?
It is an intellectually stimulating field. Don't limit yourself to something more boring just because there are more women there.
Read Interviews from ACS Editorial Leaders in India
We are pleased to introduce three prolific women researchers in India who serve as Editors and on the Editorial Advisory Boards of various ACS journals, and who have made significant contributions to chemistry and allied sciences.
ACS Diversity & Inclusion Cover Art Series
The Diversity & Inclusion Cover Art Series has sought to amplify marginalized voices and recognize historically excluded or underrecognized populations of chemists. Many of the beautiful covers we published in 2022 highlighted the inspiring work of Women Scientists.
Get Involved! Find out how to submit your artwork for the 2023 submission round.
Spotlight on the Women Recipients of the 2023 ACS National Awards
The ACS National Awards program is designed to encourage the advancement of chemistry in all its branches, to support research in chemical science and industry, and to promote the careers of chemists. Recipients of this annual award are honored for contributions of major significance to chemistry. Below, we have highlighted the 2023 women awardees and their recent work published in ACS journals.
Maria Oliver-Hoyo: ACS AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN RESEARCH FOR THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF CHEMISTRY
Alison Butler: ACS AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Ann C. Kimble-Hill: ACS AWARD FOR ENCOURAGING DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS INTO CAREERS IN THE CHEMICAL SCIENCES
Caroline Ylitalo: ACS AWARD FOR ENCOURAGING WOMEN INTO CAREERS IN THE CHEMICAL SCIENCES
Maria A. Gomez: ACS AWARD FOR RESEARCH AT AN UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION
Nga M. Do, Aran K. Hubbell, Giselle P. Reyes, Karen Sutherland, Ming Zeng: ACS AWARD FOR TEAM INNOVATION
Susan M. Lunte: ACS AWARD IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Joanna Aizenberg: ACS AWARD IN COLLOID CHEMISTRY
Karen Winey: ACS AWARD IN POLYMER CHEMISTRY
Julia A. Kalow: ACS AWARD IN PURE CHEMISTRY
Nancy Makri: ACS AWARD IN THEORETICAL CHEMISTRY
Mamie W. Moy: AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Carolyn R. Bertozzi: ROGER ADAMS AWARD IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Laura L. Kiessling: RONALD BRESLOW AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOMIMETIC CHEMISTRY
Marta Catellani: HERBERT C. BROWN AWARD FOR CREATIVE RESEARCH IN SYNTHETIC METHODS
Stacey Balbach: JAMES BRYANT CONANT AWARD IN HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHING
May Nyman: F. ALBERT COTTON AWARD IN SYNTHETIC INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Margaret Brimble: ERNEST GUENTHER AWARD IN THE CHEMISTRY OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
Rachelle A. Copeland: NOBEL LAUREATE SIGNATURE AWARD FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION IN CHEMISTRY
Donna G. Blackmond: JAMES FLACK NORRIS AWARD IN PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Jeanne E. Pemberton: FRANCIS P. GARVAN–JOHN M. OLIN MEDAL
Sarah H. Tolbert: HENRY H. STORCH AWARD IN ENERGY CHEMISTRY