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This section offers news briefs concerning the American Ceramic Society (ACS) as of April 2014. Cherrington Elementary School hosted Westerville Science Night, a program about the importance of science to society. The Southwest Section of the ACS will be held on June 11-13 at the Omni Colonnade, San Antonio, Texas. The President's Council of Student Advisors (PCSA) is accepting applications for 2014-2015 class.

The article presents insights on gender disparities in contemporary labor roles in science. Topics covered include the use of sexism in framing the discovery of the DNA structure in 1953, the possibility for women to earn authorship from performing experimental work and the increasing recognition of the invisible technicians in science. Also mentioned is the acknowledgement by the Academy of Medical Sciences of the discontinuities in the reward system.

The article focuses on the need for a cheaper, smarter green chemistry. It says that green chemistry was one of the topics at the 13th annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference (GC&E) held in College Park, Maryland on June 23-15, 2009. Analytical chemist Liz U. Gron emphasizes that the society needs cleaner, cheaper, smarter chemistry during tough economic situations, times when people looks at gaining a professional or business advantage.

The article reviews the periodical "Nautilus."

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including the "Bottled Water Under Scrutiny" in the July 13, 2009 issue, "Mad Science," by Robert Bruce Thompson in the July 13, 2009 issue, and "Dow Plans Algae Biofuels Pilot," by Melody Voith in the July 6, 2009 issue.

Reports on the benefits of the 20-year research and development facilities construction blueprint announced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE). Details of the agency's science plan; Objective of the plan top revolutionize science and society; Comments from Secretary Spencer Abraham on the strategic plan.

An interview with author Matthew Stanley is presented. When asked how his book "Einstein's War" about physicist Albert Einstein changed over the two decades he's worked on it he commented on how it started out as a history of ideas but expanded as he realized the importance of cultural, political and social aspects of the story. He talks about how science is misunderstood and discusses how personal experiences and beliefs of scientists impact how science is done.

The article reports that U.S. congressional investigators would examine whether administration of U.S. president Donald Trump is respecting scientific integrity in federal agencies. Senator Bill Nelson move comes after reports that political appointees were engaged in screening of scientific grant applications at Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies and treaties.

The author discusses the issue of communicating about science to popularize it and two published stories in the context. The story about octogenarian Donald McCartor managing to get a scientific paper about quantum mechanics published in the science section of the publication "New York Times", is discussed. The story of a published research paper in the journal "Public Understanding of Science" on a layperson's easy access to scientific articles and the impact thereof, is discussed.

The article reports that the U.S. President Barack Obama has required science agencies in the U.S. regarding the creation of the scientific integrity policy, to improve the use of scientific information within government.

The author reflects on the global influence of chemistry, chemicals, and chemists. Topics discussed include employment in the chemical sciences and public perception of chemists and chemistry; concerns about chemical warfare; and ways to strengthen the culture of responsible conduct in the chemical sciences and dissuade the misuse of chemistry.

The article presents several calls for papers for different conventions in the U.S. including the Joint 63rd Northwest/21st Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting at the Park City Marriott in Utah on June 15-18, 2008, the 34th Northwest Regional Meeting at the Sheraton Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont on June 29-July 2, 2008, and the 82nd American Chemical Society Colloid & Surface Science Symposium at the North Carolina State University, Raleigh, on June 15-18, 2008.

The article offers information on the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) in Great Britain that aims to measure research impact using student citation.

Examines the 1996 Democratic Party platform which emphasizes the vital role science and technology play in the United States economic growth. President Clinton and the Democratic Party's support for government policies that encourage private-sector investment and innovation to create a pro-growth economic climate; Science and technology-related issues supported as stated in the platform.

The author discusses the advocacy of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in science and human rights. Topics discussed include the involvement of the ACS on various cases of persecuted chemical engineers, chemists, and related scientists in the 1980s, the case being faced by chemical engineer Kemal Gürüz, and the role that engineers and scientists can play in human rights.

A letter to the editor is presented related to the impact of the television series "Breaking Bad" on society and discussions on whether the series will generate interest among both U.S. students and the general public regarding science.

In this article, the author focuses on the decline in science knowledge among people across the world as of 2013. He informs that science sections are disappearing from newspapers and bloggers believe that good science blogs can be used as a platform by scientists to offer information about researches. He refers to the article "Welcome to the Age of Denial" published in the newspaper "New York Times" in 2013 related to climatic changes and public opinion.

The article focuses on the restoration of respect for science for its contribution to the advancement of society particularly in agriculture and food system. It discusses how science can help in good decision making through the scientific method. The author describes the threats in good science which includes government grants, scientist timidity, and pseudo-science. Particular focus is also given to the importance of recognizing good and bad science.

Information about a meeting "The Science of Science Communication" held in May 2012 and sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences is presented. Topics of the discussion included distance between general public and scientists, research concerning public opinion on climate change and the effect of media coverage of science on people's perception of science. The meeting featured professors Arthur Lupia and Jon A. Krosnick among others.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article by Alan Alda in the November 7, 2011 issue on the public's interest in science.

The article discusses the need for a multidisciplinary initiative on the integration and collaboration in life sciences research to address pressing social problems such as health care, energy, environment, and food as reported by the National Research Council (NRC). Other contents of the report, which was requested by various agencies to determine the potential of advances in biology, are explored. Professor Keith R. Yamamoto states that science has the potential to impact societal challenges.

The article focuses on the aim of Royal Institution of Australia (RiAus) to boost the promotion of science in Australia. RiAus head Professor Gavin Brown asserts that they promote science by developing programs and alliances through increasing awareness and understanding of science, science education, and scientific research. Moreover, Brown asserts on the importance of citizen's participation in changing the perspectives of society towards science and technology.

The article focuses on the research conducted by the American Chemical Society (ACS) task force which evaluates the programs and tools of the society's legislative and government relations programs in the U.S. It states that the findings view ACS as a premier advocacy organization that promotes science and technology policies and member involvement. Several recommendations are presented to achieve ACS strategic plan including policy program mix, member involvement, and strategic alliances.

The article reports on the Fellows lunch of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) held in Sydney, New South Wales. One of the speakers was Harry Kroto, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, who talked about the importance of science, society and sustainability. Also presented is a photography of Kroto, Des King of Caltex Australia and Russell Scott of IChemE in Australia.

The article focuses on the Goal 4 of the ACS Strategic Plan. The plan states that ACS will be a leader in conveying to the general public the value and nature of chemistry and its related sciences. Relative to this, the ACS has initiated the concept of the mass communication of science to great segments of the society.

The author reflects on the role of science in ensuring a sustainable food supply in Africa. She said that science has a role to play in solving the food security problem which is driven by global biofuel production, climate change, and war. However, she said that in terms of buying fertilizers for crops in which African farmers cannot afford, science may only play a little part of solving such problem.

The author reflects on the societal implications of nanotechnology in the science, technology, and society (STS) community. He noted that the fascinating mix of scientists' accounts in nanoscale proved to be the microcosm of the followed discourse. He felt the waves of cynicism coming to the community. He pointed out that nanotechnology is unfolding as expanding environmental and public health experiment with no new regulatory oversight.

The article highlights the meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in San Francisco, California from September 9-10, 2006. About 150 members of the ACS and the ACS Board of Directors participated in the event "Chemists in the Community: Outreach in San Francisco." Volunteers cleaned animal cages and renovated exhibits at the San Francisco Zoo and reintroduced native plants at Heron's Head Park.

The article focuses on the American Chemical Society (ACS) Science & the Congress program in the U.S. Under the program, ACS briefs members of the Congress and their staff on issues and topics related to science. According to the author, the partnership of ACS with the Congress allows the government to understand certain things related to science, which in return result to legislative development.

The article reports that L'Oréal USA has awarded five women as part of the commitment of the company in promoting women in the sciences. Each of them will receive a $20 thousand grant to carry out her postdoctoral research project. The author mentioned the honorees and their academic achievements and scientific careers.

The article reports the conduct of FameLab, a part of the Cheltenham Science Festival in Great Britain which allows fame seekers to give their best performance of a lecture, in 2006. Contestants will be given three minutes to impress judges with talks geared to a general adult audience. Other details regarding the competition are provided such as schedule of regional auditions, qualifications for participants, and prizes.

The article focuses on the arguments over the consideration of sound science in agriculture in different nations. Agricultural and trade negotiators in the U.S. have been pressuring the Japanese to reopen their market, which has been closed to U.S. beef since mad cow disease was first detected in 2003. The U.S. is also in confrontation with the European Union over the restrictions on the importation of genetically-modified crops in Europe. The U.S. argues that, on the basis of "sound science," both of these trade restrictions ought to be lifted. The conflict between those advocating for the use of sound science and those advocating for the use of the precautionary principle in decision making is going in no direction.

The author of this article reflects on the need to educate the public and the U.S. Congress about the importance of science in formulating public policy. One of the environmental concerns requiring urgent action is global warming. In an attempt by the American Chemical Society's Committee on Environmental Improvement to examine climatic change, some issues were uncovered such as attempts: to misrepresent the scientific consensus; to suppress comment from government scientists; to manipulate and modify advisory board reports, to promote selective or false data, and to magnify uncertainty. The author argues that in order to iterate scientific truth, scientists and academicians must make urgent moves.

The article presents the list of the people who were elected the Honorary Fellows of the IMechE organization. It includes Professor Dr Ing LU Yong Xiang, Sir John Rose, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce and Sir Charles Masefield President, BAE Systems.

The article relates the initiative of the Society of Environmental Engineers to establish links with a wide range of technology-based companies as part of its campaign to promote and shape the future of environmental engineering and science. Membership brings to companies and their staff a unique range of benefits and opportunities.

Addresses concerns on the market for science and engineering talent in the U.S. Global competition for talents in the field of science and engineering; Increase in the number of Asians earning science and engineering degrees; Stagnation in the number of Americans receiving similar degrees; Information on government research and development spending as a key driver of engineering growth.

Discusses the role of the press at the interface between science and society. Role of the press in how major scientifically driven transitions are approached and handled; Essay on the status of the relationship between C.P. Snow's two cultures of science and the humanities; Scientific thresholds with untold societal implications.

Focuses on the importance of investigator-initiated research in ensuring the contributions of chemistry to society. Effort to strengthen chemistry research of individual investigators; Benefits of interdisciplinary research programs; Link between the health of investigator-initiated science and the success of program-initiated science.

Focuses on the importance of sustainable development to ensure the societal contributions of the chemical industry. Influence of sustainable development on changes in problem-solving methods; Need to expand the problem solving capabilities; Relevance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration on the industry.

Focuses on the impact of fundamental chemistry research on society. Priority given to high-quality chemical research; Notion on fundamental research; Citation of several discoveries through chemical research.

Focuses on the role of chemistry in the society. Dependence of chemistry on the understanding of biochemical processes on a molecular level; Discussion of molecular age; Necessity of chemical understanding at the undergraduate level.

Focuses on the pursuance of chemical research. Fundamental questions in conducting pure research; Advantages of scientific problems requiring innovative approaches; Role of science in the society; Necessity of pure research for intellectual culture.

Focuses on the molecular view of materials synthesis. Influence of materials on the progression of societies; Trends in materials synthesis; Need to understand the fundamental paradigms used by natural systems to create hybrid arrangements.

Focuses on social issues relevant to scientific development according to research findings from Great Britain's House of Lords and journalist Bill Joy. Reasons why public confidence in science is low according to the House of Lords report; Forecasts of social implications of accelerated scientific developments according to Joy's article.

Discusses issues of science and society in Australia, in light of the growing public concern over scientific research and experimentation. Highlights the public concern over genetically modified foods; Discussion of the history of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the role it has and should play in issues of science and society.

Discusses the low turnout for the National Science Week in Australia and the author's view that Australia's scientific illiteracy is eroding the understanding of its effect in daily life. Organizations that sponsored the week; What little press coverage it received; Quality of the displays and events; How industry and government seemed to fail to recognize the importance of science to Australia's success.

Comments that scientists have a responsibility to make science more comprehensible to a broader audience. Encouragement of participation in public forums; Development of competence in conveying the essence and importance of scientific work.

Talks on the role played by science and technology in the history of India. India's condition during the British rule; Nehru's vision and policies; Growth of chemical industry in India.

Emphasizes the importance of national meetings in gathering scientific information and developments. National meetings as source of ideas and inspirations; Highlights of the American Chemical Society's national meeting held in August 1996.

Focuses on the role of the scientists in the contemporary American society. Sensitivity to any concerted effort to discredit government; Needs to adjust according to socio-political changes.