Mohammad N. Siddiqui chats about chairing an international chapter

Mohammad N. Siddiqui is a professor of chemistry at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. “I teach undergraduate and graduate-level chemistry courses and lead extensive applied and industrial chemistry research initiatives,” he says. His research focuses include fuel desulfurization, chemical recycling of waste plastics, and designing degradable polymers.Siddiqui joined the American Chemical Society and its Saudi Arabia International Chemical Sciences Chapter in 1995 and started volunteering with the chapter about 5 years later. He has been the chair of the Saudi chapter since January 2025. He also held this role in 2006 and 2017. The Saudi chapter, formed in 1993, was the first ACS international chapter. Today, it has more than 300 members, and approximately 200 other local scientists benefit from its activities. Thirty additional ACS professional international chapters have now been established across Africa, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and South America.Siddiqui recently spoke to Nina Notman about being an international chapter chair and organizing the first international ACS conference in Saudi Arabia. This interview was edited for length and clarity.What activities does the Saudi chapter offer its members?It hosts technical dinner meetings with presentations and panel discussions in collaboration with other professional societies, including the Chemicals Research and Innovation Society. It organizes visits to in-kingdom and out-of-kingdom industry and research and development centers. It offers specialized short courses on analytical instrumentation and on high school teaching skills. Additionally, chapter members mentor members of the ACS international student chapter at King Fahd University