ACS Activities – H. N. Cheng

H. N. Cheng is a 40-year member of ACS. Since the 1990’s, he has been active in ACS governance, including many assignments at local, division, national, and international levels. He served as a member of ACS Presidential Succession in 2020 – 2022. During his term, he championed the cause of chemistry, emphasizing the importance of innovation, disciplinary growth, sustainability, digitization, industrial engagement and entrepreneurship. He also gave many talks at ACS meeting, local sections, and divisions, and wrote numerous articles. Moreover, he was active in organizing symposia and webinars to benefit ACS members and the chemistry enterprise.

ACS Assignments in National Offices

2022 ACS Immediate Past President. Many of his activities are summarized in the Home page. He also served in the Public Affairs and Public Relations Committee of the Board of Directors, the Council Policy Committee, and other committees
2021 ACS President. Many of his activities are given in the Home and New Events pages
2020 ACS President-Elect, serving in several governance committees and starting new initiatives
ACS Committee on Public Relations and Communications, Member, 2024, 2019, Associate, 2023, 2018
ACS Committee on Nomenclature, Terminology, and Symbols, Associate, 2016 – 2017
International Activities Committee (IAC), Chair, 2013 – 2015
Member (and Committee Chair) of Board of Trustees, ACS Group Insurance Plan, 2008 – 2016
Co-Chair, Presidential Task Force on “Vision 2025: Helping ACS Members Thrive in the Global Chemistry Enterprise”, 2012 – 2013
Member, ACS Award Selection/Canvassing Committees, 1998 – 2000, 2005 – 2007, 2011 – 2014, 2016 – 2019.
Member of Spencer Award Committee, 2017 – 2018.
Member and Working Group Chair, Subcommittee on Award Equity, ACS Grants and Awards Committee, 2013
Elected Councilor from the Polymer Chemistry (POLY) Division, 2004 – 2012
Elected Councilor from the Delaware Section, 2000 – 2005 (moved over to POLY, 2004)
Elected to ACS Committee on Committees (ConC), 2007 – 2009, 2011 – 2012
Member (and Subcommittee Chair) of Leadership Advisory Board, 2009 – 2011
Member of EDMC Editor Search Task Force, 2011 – 2012
Associate Member, Society Committee on Education, 2010
Member, Senior Chemists Task Force (ConC), 2010 – 2012
Associate Chair, ACS Board-Presidential Task Force on Multidisciplinarity, 2004 – 2005
Member, ACS Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs (CEPA), 2000 – 2006
- Chair, Committee on Economic and Professional Affairs (CEPA), 2006.
- Chair, CEPA Subcommittee on Surveys, 2003 – 2005.
- Chair, CEPA Task Force on Globalization Issues, 2004 – 2005

ACS Delaware Section

Chair, ACS Delaware Section, 1997 (Chair-Elect, 1996, Immediate Past Chair, 1998)
Member, Executive Committee (1996 – 1998, 2000 – 2003)
Councilor, 2000 – 2005
Chair, Long Range Planning Committee, 2001 – 2009
Chair, Carothers Award Committee (1996 – 1997), member (1995 – 2002)
Co-Chair, Nominations Committee, (1997 – 1999), member (1997 – 2002)
Member, Del-Chem Bulletin Advisory Committee, 1999 – 2000

ACS Louisiana Section

Chair 2013, Chair-Elect 2012, Immediate Past Chair 2014
Editor of Bayou Chemist, Louisiana Section’s newsletter, 2012 – 2019
Alternate Councilor, 2018 – 2019
Member-at-Large, 2014 – 2015

ACS Polymer Chemistry Division

Co-Chair, Workshop Committee (2011 – 2014), Chair (2015 – 2019)
Member of Executive Committee (2004 – 2013)
Councilor (2004 – 2012), Alternate Councilor (2013)
Chair, By-Laws Committee (2008 – 2010)
Member-at-Large (2002 – 2003)
Co-Chair, ACS Polymer Division Membership Committee, 2000 – 2001, Member, 1999 – 2011
Member, ACS Polymer Division Program Committee (1994 – 2019)
Member, ACS Polymer Division Industrial Sponsors Committee (1997 – 2005)

Publications on ACS Governance

Cheng, H. N. “New Thrusts in Career Services,” Chem. Eng. News, 2006, 84 (31), p 48 (July 31, 2006).
Cheng, H. N., Gorbaty, M.L. “Employment Benefits: Changes and Challenges,” Chem. Eng. News, 2007, 85 (11), p 42 (March 12, 2007).
Cheng, H. N. “Employment Trends in the Chemical Industry,” ACS Graduate Education Newsletter, 6(1), 4-6, 2007.
Cheng, H. N., Jones, W. E. “The Global Presence of ACS: Resources & Opportunities,” Chem. Eng. News, 2013, 91(33), p 32 (August 19, 2013).
Cheng, H. N., Morello, M. “Helping Members Thrive through Global Connections,” Chem. Eng. News, 2013, 91(43), p 37 (October 28, 2013).
Cheng, H. N. “ACS International Activities,” Chem. Eng. News, 2014, 92 (27), p 35 (July 7, 2014).
Miller, B. D., Cheng, H.N. “The Right Chemistry.” International Innovation, 150, 87-91 (2014).
Cheng, H. N. “Innovations from International Collaborations.” Chem. Eng. News, 2014, 92(50), p 33 (December 15, 2014).
Cheng, H. N. “Gathering Scientists with International Interests.” Chem. Eng. News, 2015, 93(36), p. 43 (September 14, 2015).
Cheng, H. N. “Building Global Relationships.” Chem. Eng. News, 2015, 93(41), p. 41 (November 23, 2015).
Cheng, H. N. “What I Learned.” ACS Industry Matters Newsletter, December 5, 2019.
Cheng, H. N. “Sustainability, Collaboration, and Innovation.” Chem Eng. News, 2020, 98(6), p. 44 (February 10, 2020).
Luis Echegoyen, H. N. Cheng, B. Charpentier. “Greetings from American Chemical Society”, AsiaChem, 2020, 1, 9. https://doi.org/10.51167/acm00005
Cheng, H. N. “Growth, Collaboration, and Advocacy.” Chem. Eng. News, 2020, 98(47 ), p. 41 (December 7, 2020).
S. Rovner (and H. N. Cheng), “A Champion for Chemistry”, Chem. Eng. News, 2021, 99(1 ), pp. 32-35 (January 4, 2021).
Cheng, H. N. “Science and Sustainability.” Chem. Eng. News, 2021, p. 99 (March 15, 2021)
Cheng, H. N., Wilson, A., Echegoyen, L. “Scientific Collaboration for a Better Sustainable Tomorrow”. National Science Review, 2021.
Cheng, H. N. “New Frontiers and Opportunities for Chemistry.” Chem. Eng. News, 2021, 99 (21), p. 30 (June 7, 2021).
Cheng, H. N. “Industrial Engagement, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation.” Chem. Eng. News, 2021, 99 (31), p. 29 (August 30, 2021).
Cheng, H. N. “5 Questions with H.N. Cheng: Sustainability.” ACS Industry Matters Newsletter, November 4, 2021.
Cheng, H. N. “Chemistry in a Virtual and Digitized World.” Chem. Eng. News, 2021, 99 (41), p. 43 (November 8, 2021).
Cheng, H. N. “5 Questions with H. N. Cheng: Fostering Innovation.” ACS Industry Matters Newsletter, December 9, 2021.
Cheng, H.N. “Preparing for Careers in Industry.” ACS Industry Matters Newsletter, January 27, 2022.
Cheng, H.N. “Creating Value for Industry Chemists and Entrepreneurs.” Chem. Eng. News, 2022, 100 (5), p. 28 (February 7, 2022).
Cheng, H.N. “What I Have Learned About Chemical Technical Professionals.” ACS Industry Matters Newsletter, March 10, 2022.
Cheng, H.N. “Key Trends to Impact the Chemical Enterprise in the Near Future.” ACS Industry Matters Newsletter, June 30, 2022.

Other ACS Activities

Served as a volunteer facilitator for ACS Leadership Development courses. Taught about 2 courses every year, 2009-2019. Courses taught include: 1) Leading Change, 2) Engaging Colleagues in Dialogue, and 3) Developing Communication Strategies.
Served as an international volunteer facilitator for ACS workshop on “Communicating Science to the Public”. Taught several times in 2013. Also facilitated the “Train-the-Trainers” workshop on the same topic, 2013 and 2015. Attended international conferences on behalf of ACS.
Organized or co-organized 45 symposia at National ACS meetings since 2000. Edited 23 ACS symposium books, plus 2 non-ACS symposium books
Reviewed manuscripts for ACS journals including Macromolecules, Analytical Chemistry, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Biomacromolecules, ACS Omega, Industrial & Engineering Chem. Research, and ACS Symposium Series.