Comment: A growing community with a shared vision

As a proud member of the American Chemical Society for over 25 years, I’ve seen firsthand how ACS has been a powerful career enhancer. From leadership opportunities and professional development to soft-skills training and tools like the ACS Salary Calculator, the society has consistently supported my growth and success.Today, I’m excited to share that ACS continues to thrive. As of July 31, the size of our total community—including members, student members, society affiliates, and community associates—has grown to 251,396. This marks a remarkable 14% increase from the same time last year, when our community size stood at 221,288. While our core membership remains steady at approximately 100,000, the expansion of our community associate population reflects the expanding reach and relevance of ACS.Here’s a snapshot of our current community breakdown:Student membership also remains strong, with 11,933 undergraduate and 12,478 graduate members as of July 31. The ACS community is diverse, comprising approximately 15% from industry, 2% from government, 25% from academia, and 5% from other sectors. The occupations of a large portion of our community—over 52%—are unknown. ACS is working to fill this gap, and we encourage you to help us by letting us know what environment you work in the next time you renew your membership.Looking ahead to ACS’s 150th anniversary in 2026, the Committee on Membership Affairs (MAC) invites fellow members to join us in realizing a bold multiyear vision: growing our member and society affiliate count to 150,000. We call on every ACS member to help us build