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.
International Travel Award Subcommittee
Members: Akiko Nakamura, Nicole Lapeyrouse, Adrian Villalta-Cerdas, Alexey Leontyev, and James Mendez
Reported the revision of the IAC Travel Award criteria:
- “The Division of Chemical Education funds a Travel Award each year in support of a division member who presents and fully participates in an international chemical education conference
held outside the U. S.. The awardee will have the responsibility to communicate information and insights gained at the conference to the membership through available DivCHED publications and by postings on the DivCHED website.”
- “The Division of Chemical Education funds a Travel Award each year in support of a division member who presents and fully participates in an international chemical education conference
- The recipient of the 2025 Travel Award was a DivCHED international member who attended the Spring 2025 ACS National Meeting from Peru.
Akiko Nakamura invited the award recipient to the August IAC meeting to share her experience and how the award supported her professional development.
At the last national meeting (Spring 2025), IAC members proposed a bylaw change to allow unused International Travel Award funds to be carried over to future award cycles.
Akiko submitted a formal request to Rick Moog (DivCHED Treasurer), who shared it with Cathy Middlecamp (Chair of the Finance Committee).
Akiko held a virtual meeting with Rick, Cathy, and Jon (incoming Chair of the Finance Committee for 2025) to discuss the proposal. Adrian Villalta-Cerdas was also invited but unable to attend.
The request is scheduled to be discussed at the Finance Committee meeting at the end of July.
Global Women’s Breakfast Subcommittee
Members: Akiko Nakamura and Corina Brown
IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast 2026 will be held on February 10, 2026.
Marketing Subcommittee
Members: Stephanie Ryan and Adrian Villalta-Cerdas
[No new updates reported at this time.]
BCCE Subcommittee
Adrian Villalta-Cerdas expressed interest in organizing a symposium for the IAC at BCCE 2026 and plans to submit an abstract for consideration.
Pacifichem 2025 (December 15–20, Honolulu, Hawai‘i)
Akiko Nakamura will organize a symposium on behalf of the IAC titled “Promoting Diversity and Multiculturalism in Chemistry Education.”
Chair Selection for IAC (2025–2027 Term)
Adrian Villalta-Cerdas has expressed interest in serving as the next IAC Chair. Akiko Nakamura, the current chair, will recommend him to the committee at the August 2025 ACS National Meeting.
International Travel Award Funds
The request to allow carryover of unused International Travel Award funds will be discussed at the upcoming Finance Committee meeting. Next steps will be determined based on the outcome of that discussion.