Chemists create life-saving pharmaceuticals, develop energy solutions, improve agricultural productivity, and produce novel materials used in a wide array of products, from cookware to clothing to electronic devices. These recent publications from the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology address the vital role of the chemical sciences in solving environmental problems, making contributions to the U.S. economy, and promoting chemistry education to develop tomorrow’s chemical scientists.
The field of quantum information science (QIS) has witnessed a dramatic rise in scientific research activities in the 21st century as excitement has grown about its potential to revolutionize communications and computing, strengthen encryption, and enhance quantum sensing, among other …[more]
The Importance of Chemical Research to the U.S. Economy
Chemistry plays a pivotal role in the strength of the U.S. economy and the advancement of humankind. Chemists’ achievements include life-saving pharmaceuticals, advanced energy solutions, improved agricultural productivity, and novel materials used in products from clothing to electronic …[more]
The Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface
Wildfires in America are becoming larger, more frequent, and more destructive, driven by climate change and existing land management practices. Many of these fires occur at the wildland-urban interface (WUI), areas where development and wildland areas overlap and which are increasingly at risk …[more]
New Directions for Chemical Engineering
Over the past century, the work of chemical engineers has helped transform societies and the lives of individuals, from the synthetic fertilizers that helped feed the world to the development of novel materials used in fuels, electronics, medical devices, and other products. Chemical engineers’ …[more]
People spend the vast majority of their time inside their homes and other indoor environments where they are exposed to a wide range of chemicals from building materials, furnishings, occupants, cooking, consumer products, and other sources. Despite research to date, very little is known about …[more]
In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched the Pharmaceutical Quality for the 21st Century Initiative to encourage adoption of innovative technologies that would lead to an agile, flexible pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. The goal was to encourage a transition to …[more]
A Research Agenda for Transforming Separation Science
Separation science plays a critical role in maintaining our standard of living and quality of life. Many industrial processes and general necessities such as chemicals, medicines, clean water, safe food, and energy sources rely on chemical separations. However, the process of chemical …[more]