ACS, the world's largest scientific society, presents its annual Public Service Awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the development of public policy that benefits the chemical sciences. Elected to the Senate in 1972, Sen. Domenici is an outspoken supporter of the need for increased federal research and development in the physical sciences. "His commitment to the mission of basic R&D in the face of a challenging budget environment is crucial to maintaining American scientific leadership in the 21st century," says ACS President William F. Carroll, Jr.
As chairman of the Appropriation Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Sen. Domenici oversees funding for the national laboratories of the Department of Energy. He is a strong proponent of technology transfer from the national labs to the private sector and for increased federal funding of basic research.
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress, with a multidisciplinary membership of more than 158,000 chemists and chemical engineers. It publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.