CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Ms LaTrease Garrison, COO, ACS (American Chemical Society).
Q1) What strategies does ACS envision for catalyzing STEM education in India, and how does ACS plan to contribute to this initiative?
In today’s world, we must improve science and mathematics education at the K-12, community college, undergraduate, and graduate levels. There is a need to enable lifelong, strong, inquiry-based science education for everyone in both formal and informal settings to improve the scientific understanding of all our citizens.
Also, we must focus on helping teachers while strengthening the quality of teaching. ACS is looking at how chemistry is taught and how to make it more accessible to a diverse set of students. Our aim is to make it so relevant that students can immediately see how essential chemistry is and how it works to solve problems faced by the world.
Promoting STEM education at an early age is another thing we are witnessing in India and worldwide. If we do not do this, the chances of students majoring in STEM in higher education are slim.
Worldwide, we have concluded that we need to engage with families, especially the parents, as they can share information, influence, and encourage their children in terms of what they study at the university level and what they pursue as their profession and career. We must make sure that they see value in chemistry and appreciate its benefits.
We have science outreach programs to bring the community together and allow them to do hands-on activities. We will be training our local members, in India, to organize and optimize outreach festivals. Through this, we will engage with local communities, parents, children, and students in an exciting way. We realize that we need to speak in ways that make science accessible and engaging and more attractive.
Also, we are working with several stakeholders such as the Chemical Research Society of India, Indian National Science Academy and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to promote the chemical sciences.
Q2) In the context of making India a hub for innovation and R&D, what role does ACS see itself playing, and what specific measures are being taken to foster innovation in the country?
Being in India has given ACS an exciting opportunity to focus on advancing chemistry innovations, global collaboration, and education to address the challenges of a sustainable future.
India is an “innovation hub” for our global programs and initiatives and serves the scientific community
in Asia-Pacific, South Asia, Middle-East, Africa and Latin America regions. We have set up our “Global
Strategy for Society Programs” office in India to innovate and develop initiatives for our global outreach and engagement.
In a short span of time, the office has come up with different programs for professional development, skills, and engagement.
For example, our team in India has developed the Virtual Internship Capsule, a program to bridge the gap between academia and industry. This program offers hand-picked ACS resources for bachelor’s and master’s students to enhance their job readiness. Discussions are underway with various universities in Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat to establish partnerships leveraging the Virtual Internship Capsule program. We are planning to launch this program in Africa and Latin America in 2024.
Q3) Could you shed light on ACS’s current initiatives and investments in India, especially those aimed at advancing education and research?
India is emerging as a hub for chemical sciences globally, thanks to huge investment in research — building new institutes and strengthening research laboratories. Setting up of new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) in the last decade or so has enhanced the research base as well as the quality of research and science.
The growth opportunities have been immense and diverse.
Recently, we partnered with the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) to launch the Faculty Leadership Summit (FLS), an initiative to build future leaders in science. The program was conceptualized for the early career faculties to delve into diverse aspects of academic research careers and scientific management.
We have also set up a global editorial strategy team comprising about 20+ young and bright PhDs from leading Indian universities to support our publishing operations, and this will expand significantly in the coming years.
Q4) The recent establishment of a significant development center for global data products in Pune is noteworthy. What does this signify for ACS, and how does it align with the company’s broader goals?
ACS is a global organization, and establishing a global data products center in Pune is one example of our commitment to our mission of advancing the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. We are constantly looking for innovative ways to support researchers, because high-quality data is the lifeblood of today’s digital R&D pipeline.
Q5) With over 30 years at ACS, could you share insights into your personal journey within the company and the evolution you’ve witnessed?
I began my career with ACS as an undergraduate student while attending Howard University in Washington, D.C. ACS provided me with an opportunity to work for a summer with its Chemical and Engineering News magazine team. As a chemistry student, this experience opened my eyes to diverse career paths. I remained with the organization as a part-time employee while completing my undergraduate degree and then matriculated to a full-time role directly after graduation. My experience with ACS has been rewarding, educational and fruitful. I believe in the mission of the organization and appreciate the opportunity to work with its members and constituents to advance the chemical science enterprise. Chemistry, as a science, has evolved, and ACS has an organization has evolved to meet the needs of those who work within the chemical science ecosystem.
Q6) How does ACS perceive the future landscape of STEM education in India, and are there any upcoming projects or endeavors that the company is particularly excited about?
ACS’ journey in India has been exciting. ACS strives to enable a sustainable future, ensure a skilled technical workforce, and enhance scientific data collection and access. Within India, we are building new programs and looking at ways to engage our members here in India and other countries around the world.
