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. Sen. Durbin is known for his long-standing public support of basic research and development. "Senator Durbin truly understands the importance of a workforce educated in science, technology, engineering and math not only to maintain America's economic strength but for our national security," says ACS President-Elect E. Ann Nalley.
One of the original cosponsors of the Federal Research Investment Act, Sen. Durbin has been a consistent champion for increasing research funding at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. He also has been a proponent for steady funding for the Department of Defense science and technology programs, and is a cofounder of the Senate Science, Technology, Education and Math Caucus (STEM), which will be launched this year.
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.