Members of CHAS may be interested in submitting an abstract to a
fall symposium that has been organized by the Women Chemists
Committee (WCC), along with the Committee on Chemical Safety (CCS)
for the Fall 2025 American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in
Washington, DC, August 17-21. CHAS and CHAL are listed as nominal
co-sponsors. Kelley Caflin (WCC) and I will be presiding over this
symposium. Information can be found on the ACS
Call
for Abstracts page under WCC. The symposium title is
Aspects of
Navigating Reproductive Health in a Laboratory Environment.
Submission deadline is Monday, March 31, 2025. Please feel free to
pass this information along to others who might be interested in
submitting.
Background:
The CCS has been working on a reproductive health document for over
two years now and we are hoping that it will be finalized (or close
to that) by fall 2025. Members of the writing team will be
participating, but others who have an interest in, or are
knowledgeable on, the topic are invited to submit.
Symposium Abstract:
Reproductive health is critical to all individuals across the
chemical enterprise, regardless of gender. As individuals progress
through their education and career, they will inevitably encounter
questions related to reproductive health, either personally or as
leaders responsible for ensuring a safe and supportive work
environment. All areas of the chemical enterprise; academia,
industry and government, have the responsibility to provide a safe
and healthy laboratory environment that supports the reproductive
health and well-being of all individuals. This symposium will act
as a forum to share experiences, challenges, and successes in
practices for those who are planning to start a family, pregnant,
or postpartum. The goal is to facilitate a comprehensive
exploration of inclusive practices, reasonable accommodations, and
supportive strategies that enable individuals who wish to start or
expand their families to continue pursuing their passion for
laboratory work and thrive in their scientific careers.
Thanks!
Kelley & Sammye
