International Activities Committee - Spring 2026

Committee Activities – Fall 2025 ACS National Meeting

The International Activities Committee met on August 16, 2025 (hybrid format).

• Approved the Spring 2025 IAC meeting minutes

• Recognized outgoing members: Akiko Nakamura (Chair), Alexey Leontyev, Stephanie Ryan, and Sachel Villafañe-García

• Adrian Villalta-Cerdas assumed the role of IAC Chair (2026–2028 term)

International Travel Award Subcommittee
Members: Akiko Nakamura, Nicole Lapeyrouse, Adrian Villalta-Cerdas, Alexey Leontyev, and James Mendez

• Continued discussion regarding carryover of unused travel award funds

• Hosted a guest presentation from Dr. Betty C. Galarreta (2025 Travel Award recipient), who shared her experiences and highlighted the importance of international participation and engagement

• New members (Diana Hoover and Shreya Bhattacharyya) volunteered to join the subcommittee

Global Women’s Breakfast Subcommittee
Members: Akiko Nakamura and Corina Brown

• Confirmed the 2026 IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast to be held in February 2026

• Continued planning of outreach activities, including virtual office hours

Marketing Subcommittee
Members: Adrian Villalta-Cerdas and Stephanie Ryan

• Developed and updated informational slides for outreach at the DivCHED social event

• Initiated updates to the DivCHED IAC webpage, including travel award information, conference listings, and the operations manual

Additional Activities

• Discussed updates to the DivCHED website and IAC webpage, including revisions to the operations manual and travel award information

• Highlighted ACS resources available to members facing financial challenges

• Engaged in discussion on international committee involvement and global collaboration opportunities

International Travel Award

The committee reviewed applications for the 2026 International Travel Award, receiving a total of 10 applications.

The selected recipient is:

Raul R. Rodriguez-Berríos, Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

• Will attend the 28th International Conference on Chemistry Education (ICCE) / 17th European Conference on Research in Chemical Education (ECRICE) in July 2026, in Erzurum, Türkiye

• Plans to present work on green chemistry and AI/VR/AR-enhanced chemistry education

• Participation will support international collaboration and the dissemination of research from Puerto Rico and the broader Latin American community

Global Women’s Breakfast

The IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast 2026 was scheduled for February 2026. The committee continued to support planning and outreach efforts to engage the ACS community.

Symposia and International Engagement

Pacifichem 2025 (December 15–20, 2025, Honolulu, Hawai‘i)

• Symposium organized by Akiko Nakamura:
  “Promoting Diversity and Multiculturalism in Chemistry Education”

• Included presentations from multiple countries, strengthening international collaboration

ACS National Meeting – Spring 2026
The IAC organized a symposium titled:
“Promoting Global Collaboration in Chemistry Education: Insights from International Initiatives”

• Focuses on international partnerships, curriculum development, and global engagement in chemistry education

• Includes five presentations:

  • A Global Approach for a Systemic Change in Chemistry Education: Beyond Benign and the Green Chemistry Commitment Program

  • Designing Globally Relevant Chemistry Curricula: A Modular Framework Rooted in Culture, Inquiry, and Collaboration

  • Global collaborations developed by the ACS International Student Chapters in Latin America: a regional approach

  • Chemistry for a Sustainable Future: An international NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in the United Kingdom

  • Global Learning for a Sustainable Future: Integrating Green Chemistry Education into a Study Abroad Program