History of technicians and other applied chemical technology professionals in ACS

Mary Moore 2012 Chair of CTA

Early Years

19641963-1964

An adhoc committee led by William G. Young was charged to explore all aspects of technician relationships to the ACS. “Semi-professional” was the name most used concerning technicians

The Committee on Technician Activities (CTA) was established, the first CTA Chair was Dr. LeRoy Clemence, the committee charge was to start relevant programming for technicians.

Early Years

1966-1969

1966-1969 A complementary committee was tasked to study technician curriculum “Committee on Technician Education” (CTE), chaired by Dr. Carleton Roberts

In 1972 Chemical Technicians

A job

High school graduates trained on-the-job

R&D Lab

Mechanical techniques

Lab technique

Little opportunity

for leadership

Chemist/Engineer directed work scheduleLaborers

Little opportunity

for publication

Rarely authored internal reportsVery rarely authored patents or

external publications

Were predominantly men

ACS Membership

During the ‘70s, CTA led the charge to open ACS membership. There has always been a portion of Society membership who favors a narrow, elite membership policy. This group was at a crest in the early ‘70s. However, the Society was deeply chagrined when the Membership Committee turned down an application from a recent Nobel Laureate and became more responsive to the movement to open membership in the late ‘70s.

Committee on Technician Affairs (CTA)• Committee of Technician Activities was established in 1964 (later called

Committee on Technician Affairs)• Purpose: established to advance the increasingly professional role of

technicians in the workplace• Start relevant programming for technicians

• Technicians were unable to be full ACS members– Encouraged Local sections to establish Technician Affiliate Groups (TAGs) so that

technicians could become affiliate members

• 1st Symposia held at the 1967 Fall ACS meeting in Chicago

• Took over the CTE task around 1970

National Committee of Chemical Technician Affiliates (NCCTA) in 1969

Purpose was to organize programming

NCCTA pushed to establish a technical division to support technician interest

Established Leadership workshops at National meetings for the TAGs, Traveling Road Show “B&B Show”

Established National Chemical Technician of the Year Award in 1989

Upon the establishment of the Division of Chemical Technicians (TECH), NCCTA dissolved in 1991

CTAs’ Role

Highlight the relevance of ACS

to technicians

Raise public awareness about the

value of technicians to the Society

Highlight the relevance of ACS

to technicians

Division of Chemical Technicians (TECH)

Established in 1991 (“Probationary” Status) Full Divisional Status in

1994

Increase awareness of the important

contributions that technicians make to science and industry

Promote the technical, professional, and

leadership development of chemistry-based

technicians

Advocate high standards of education, technical practice, and

ethical conduct for members of the

profession

Division of Chemical Technicians

Enhance communications about applied chemical technology by providing a vehicle for information exchange at national, regional and local ACS level

Support and be a resource for Local Section TAGs

Main purpose was to program at ACS National meetings

Administration of the ACS National Chemical Technician Award

History Concerning Technicians

Since the 1960s, the role of technicians in ACS has changed considerably. Technicians have gone from not being members, to being Society Affiliates, associate members, and finally, full members. With the enactment of new membership categories in June 2009, more than two-thirds of technicians in the U.S. are eligible for full membership in ACS. As the role of technicians in ACS has changed, so too has the role of technicians in industry. No longer seen as just “pairs of hands,” technicians fill a wide range of positions in industry and are held to a higher level of professionalism than ever before.

Community Colleges, 1960 / 2001

American Association of Community Colleges Website

“Supporting the Backbone of the Chemical Enterprise”

With all of these changes came a growing concern that ACS was not adequately engaging the applied chemical technology professional.

• In 2006, a CTA / TECH task force was assigned to investigate the growing concerns

• In 2008, a TECH task force was formed by Chair of TECH to better address how ACS can better serve the Applied Chemical Technology Professionals

Anticipated Profile of the 2015 Applied Chemical Technology Profession

Assorted degrees (types and levels)

Professionals

Versatile, adaptable

Work all over the Enterprise

Proficient in a wide range of technician skills

Two-way interface between theory and

practice/application

Well-versed in employability/soft skills

Skilled communicators

Innovative problem solvers

Contributors

Independent

Strong leaders

Influential relationship builders and collaborators

Active in trainers and mentors

Proactive with respect to career and job responsibilities

As reported from the ACS Applied Chemical Technology Professionals Summit, Dec12-14, 2008.

New Look and New Focus

• Technicians/Applied Chemical Technology Professionals are well on their way to being integrated into the society

• Members of the Division that is more in line with their discipline of interest• Divisions are planning technician and undergraduate events• CTA is working on continuing education courses for technicians• Applied Chemical Technology Professionals are involved in ACS

Governance

As one of the critical members of the Chemical industry team, technicians bring valuable skills to the development of new products, new material, and process methods. The common thread through the whole technician community is the ability to reduce ideas and theory to practice. Technicians are the link between the theory and ideas and the practical production of finished goods.

2010 Council approves CTA Charter Changes• Coordinate the SOCIETY’s interests in the development and

activities of technicians/applied chemical technology professionals;• Facilitate communication between the AMERICAN CHEMICAL

SOCIETY, employers, and other technical and professional societies concerning critical issues of common interest in the area of technician/applied chemical technology professionals activities;

• Provide continuing support for the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY’s educational programs for technicians/applied chemical technology professionals by assisting in the development, review, and promotion of appropriate ACS education materials;

• Enhance the professional image and development of technicians/applied chemical technology professionals.

Acknowledgements

Ken Chapman

John Engelman

Michael Mautino

Richard “Dick” Cobb