Nominate someone for Making Chemistry Accessible for All

Pat Redden Award for Making Chemistry Accessible for All

The “Pat Redden Award for Making Chemistry Accessible for All” honors and celebrates exceptional contributions by persons with disabilities (PWD) or champions of PWDs within the chemistry enterprise. This annual award recognizes individuals whose professional excellence, advocacy, and leadership have advanced accessibility, inclusion, and innovation in the chemical sciences.

The recipient will receive:

• A commemorative plaque
• An honorarium, which will support travel expenses to attend the ACS Spring Meeting

The award will be presented annually to one individual at the ACS Spring Meeting.

Eligibility

• Nominee must be a current ACS member in good standing.
• Note: Members of the Executive Board of the ACS Committee on Chemists with Disabilities (CWD) are not eligible to receive the award.

Evaluation Criteria
Criterion 1: Excellence in the Chemical Enterprise
Nominees should demonstrate outstanding accomplishment in one or more areas that reflect the transformative power of chemistry. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Excellence in teaching at any level, as evidenced by peer recognition, awards, or student achievements
• Advancement of scientific knowledge, including research and dissemination (not limited to publications)
• Contributions to ACS service, including governance, programming, or leadership at the local, regional, national, or international levels
• Establishment of a company, consultancy, or entrepreneurial venture that positively impacts the chemical community
• Excellence in public service, including work within governmental or non-governmental organizations
• Achievements in legal or regulatory areas, such as intellectual property, compliance, or legislative contributions

Criterion 2: Advocacy to Expand Accessibility in Science
Nominees should demonstrate meaningful advocacy for individuals with disabilities in the chemical sciences. Examples include:

• Mentoring students or employees who have overcome barriers
• Founding or leading advocacy-focused organizations
• Conducting peer-reviewed research that informs evidence-based policy or accessibility initiatives
• Providing visible leadership that highlights the contributions of chemists with disabilities

Criterion 3: Impact of Advocacy, Excellence, or Overcoming Disability
Nominees should show measurable, positive impacts on the scientific and broader community. Both the breadth and depth of impact will be considered. Examples include:

• Demonstrated mentorship success, including the number and accomplishments of mentees
• Policy changes, publications, or citations acknowledging the nominee’s contributions
• Increased visibility of individuals with disabilities in chemistry
• Creation of new opportunities that broaden access to science

Criterion 4: Demonstrated Research Experience
Nominees must have engaged in scientific research—broadly defined—including:

• Chemical research
• Development of coursework or laboratory experiments
• Contributions to chemical pedagogy or education research

How to Apply
Nomination packets, including a nomination letter, two supporting letters, and the nominee’s CV, must be submitted by January 30, 2026, to be considered for the 2026 award. Nomination and supporting letters should be 800 words maximum. The nominator should email the complete package to cwd@acs.org.

For questions, please contact cwd@acs.org.