American Chemical Society AMA: I am Allison Campbell, President of the
American Chemical Society. Ask me anything about the importance of
sharing science and my priorities for ACS!
Abstract
Hi Reddit! I’m Allison Campbell, President of the American Chemical
Society. Currently I am the Associate Laboratory Director of the Earth
and Biological Sciences Directorate at Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory (PNNL). A physical chemist by academic training, my research
has focused on biomaterials. My research focus is on the role of
proteins in biomineralization. During my time in the Materials Science
Department at PNNL, I have co-invented a process inspired by biology
that allows us to grow bioactive calcium phosphate layers onto the
surfaces of artificial joint implants. By mimicking bone, this
innovation can extend the life of the implant and reduce implant
rejection. I hold a PhD in physical chemistry from the State University
of New York at Buffalo, and a BA from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg,
PA. I have been a member of the ACS since 1985 and in that time have
become a member of the National Academy of Sciences Chemical Sciences
Roundtable and was named an AAAS Fellow in 2013. One aspect of science
I’m most passionate about is promoting science education and sharing
scientific information. As often as I can, I share my personal
enthusiasm for science with young students and participate in a number
of hands-on education programs. As ACS President I feel it’s so
important that all us chemists out there should share with the public
what chemistry is and how it helps society. This means we need to get as
good at science communication as we can. I also feel it is greatly
important to foster common principles and practices among the global
chemistry community. You can read about these and my priorities as ACS
President in my Chemical & Engineering News statement “Pedaling the
power of chemistry.” Ask me anything about my ACS priorities of sharing
the value of chemistry and building its global principles and practices.
You can also ask about my research in biomineralization. Note that as a
scientist employed by a federal laboratory, I am bound by the Hatch Act
and therefore may not engage in questions of a political nature.
Unfortunately, I have to sign off at 9am PST. Thanks for all your
questions.