"What Will ACM be When it Grows Up?"

The article presents information about the progress made by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Founded in 1876, ACS did not receive a charter from the U.S. Congress until 1937-some 61 years later. Its objectives are to encourage the advancement of chemistry, to foster improvements in the qualifications of chemists and to be concerned with worldwide applications of chemistry to meet the needs of humanity. With 137,125 members worldwide, ACS is the largest scientific society in the world. ACS members are mostly chemists, with only about 10 percent being chemical engineers. ACS views chemists as a professional group and its activities emphasize the interchange of scientific information and long term R&D issues. It supports chemistry as a science, but its members largely oppose getting involved with technology aspects. The society maintains a computerized roster of experts in various areas of chemistry, obtained by surveying members. It acts as a referral service, citing approximately one referral per week from this roster.