The mission of the International Activities Committee is threefold:
(1.) Raise international awareness to ACS
(2.) Create international relationships with faculty for research collaborations and other scholarly activities.
(3.) Oversee a budget to provide an individual an opportunity to attend an international conference. The funds are designed to aid individuals who otherwise would not get an opportunity to attend the conference.
Committee Achievements Since Our Last Meeting
International Travel Award Subcommittee
Members: Akiko Nakamura, Nicole Lapeyrouse, Adrian Villalta-Cerdas, Alexey Leontyev, and James Mendez
Discussed revision of the IAC Travel Award criteria:
The conference may now be held either outside the U.S. or within the U.S., as long as the trip involves international travel for the recipient.
(See IAC meeting minutes, August 2024, for full details.)Selected the recipient of the 2025 International Travel Award (selection completed between Dec 2024 – Jan 2025).
IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast Subcommittee
Members: Akiko Nakamura and Corina Brown
Hosted virtual office hours for the ACS community about IUPAC GWB 2025.
Marketing Subcommittee
Members: Stephanie Ryan and Adrian Villalta-Cerdas
Designed and distributed an informational slide flyer about the IAC.
(Sent to DivCHED Chair Thomas Bussey by Akiko Nakamura.)Stephanie and Adrian represented the IAC at the DivCHED reception.
Discussion of IAC Chair for 2025 - 2027
The current IAC Chair, Akiko Nakamura (term: 2023–2025), will conclude her service in December 2025. Prior to the meeting, Akiko emailed IAC members currently in their second or third terms to inquire if anyone was interested in serving as the next Chair. Adrian Villalta-Cerdas responded and expressed interest in the position.
Chair Selection for IAC (2025–2027 Term)
The new IAC Chair for the 2025–2027 term will be selected at the August 2025 ACS National Meeting.International Chemistry Education Conference
Akiko Nakamura will organize a symposium on international chemistry education at Pacifichem 2025, taking place December 15–20, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.