Saturday June 2, 2012

Noon to 2:00 pm

Tent, Upper Plaza (between Fine Arts Building and Meyerhoff Building)

 

Improving People’s Lives Though the Transforming Power of Chemistry

 

The Roles of ACS, Science, and Education in Society                      

Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, President of the ACS, will lead a distinguished panel that will emphasize the vitality of science literacy in our advanced scientific and technological society today.  The panel will discuss the critical role of institutions of higher education in advancing science and in serving society. The conversation with the audience will focus on the importance of the chemical science s as key to improving the quality of life around the world. One goal of this session is to inspire members of the audience to pursue careers in research, teaching and public service in keeping with the ACS mission:

to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people.

 

Questions for the Panel and Audience:

·        What are the grand challenges to science and to education in serving society today?

·        What are the roles of institutions of higher education in addressing these challenges?

·        Are science, scientists, and educators prepared and ready to address these challenges?

·        Are we likely to succeed in convincing society to support us in addressing the challenges?

·        Why should anyone pursue a career in the chemical sciences?

·        What are the employment prospects in the chemical sciences?

·        What can/should we do to raise the public awareness of the importance of chemistry in daily life?

 

Panelists include:

·        Dr. William E. Kirwan, Chancellor of University System of Maryland

·        Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State University

·        Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, President of UMBC

 

Boxed lunches and Crab (Cup)cakes will be provided.