MSU chemist Angela K. Wilson featured in Chemical and Engineering News
Michigan State University chemist Angela K. Wilson was recently featured in Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN)—the trade weekly of the American Chemical Society (ACS)—as the current ACS president.
Wilson, who was named president-elect of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 2021 and is now serving the second year of her three-year term (2021-2023) as president in the presidential succession (president elect, president, and immediate past president), was interviewed by C&EN about her plans for and leadership role in the organization.
In addition to sharing background information on what initially piqued her interest in chemistry and career highlights to date, Wilson shares her thoughts on the future of the chemical sciences and the importance of our community to address present and future challenges, such as those included in the United Nations sustainability goals. She also emphasizes the importance of the chemical community to interact with the public as well as underscoring ACS’s core value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect.
“This is a critical time for the American Chemical Society and the global chemical enterprise—and frankly for our world,” said Wilson, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of chemistry and associate dean for strategic initiatives in the MSU College of Natural Science. “This enterprise is at the very core of the COVID battle, developing novel, needed solutions, and is a primary contributor to health, security, and the national and global economy, responsible for more than 25 percent of our nation's GDP.”
Wilson is the first female physical chemist—and one of only a few theoretical chemists—to serve in this role across the history of the organization. Her theoretical chemistry research focuses on the development of quantum mechanical methods for thermochemical and spectroscopic predictions, while her computational chemistry research includes the design of new drugs, catalysts, and metal-organic frameworks.
To read the complete interview, visit https://cen.acs.org/acs-news/governance/Angela-K-Wilson-ACS-president/100/i1.
Banner image: Angela K. Wilson is the first female physical chemist—and one of only a few theoretical chemists—to serve in this role across the history of the American Chemical Society. Credit: Harley J. Seeley
