A Look at the ACS National Awards
The American Chemical Society's National Awards don't just honor chemists; they spotlight the discoveries that are quietly revolutionizing our world.
Imagine a prestigious ceremony where the brightest minds in chemistry gather, not for a conference, but for recognition. The air buzzes with anticipation as scientists, whose work has reshaped our understanding of everything from medicine to materials, are honored. This is the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Awards banquet, an annual event that celebrates the pinnacle of chemical achievement 3 .
For 2022, the ACS honored a diverse cohort of chemists from academia, industry, and government institutions, with several awardees hailing from outside the United States, reflecting the global nature of scientific progress 9 . These awards are more than just accolades; they are a testament to the power of chemistry to solve complex problems and push the boundaries of human knowledge.
Awardees from multiple countries
Academia, industry, and government
From medicine to materials science
The 2022 award recipients were honored at a ceremony on March 22, 2022, during the ACS Spring meeting in San Diego 1 . Their achievements paint a picture of a vibrant and dynamic field tackling some of society's most pressing challenges.
| Award Name | Recipient | Institution | Recognized Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priestley Medal | Peter B. Dervan | California Institute of Technology (emeritus) | Highest honor of the American Chemical Society 1 |
| ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry | Mahdi M. Abu-Omar | University of California, Santa Barbara | Development of cost-effective, environmentally friendly chemical processes 1 |
| ACS Award for Creative Invention | Ted W. Johnson | Pfizer | Outstanding invention of commercial value 1 |
| ACS Award in Applied Polymer Science | Richard B. Kaner | University of California, Los Angeles | Significant contributions to polymer science with real-world applications 1 |
| Arthur C. Cope Award | Véronique Gouverneur | University of Oxford | Distinguished achievements in the field of organic chemistry 1 |
| Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis | Jin-Quan Yu | Scripps Research | Creative and impactful research in the field of catalysis 1 6 |
| Alfred Bader Award | Benjamin F. Cravatt | Scripps Research | Outstanding work in bioinorganic or bioorganic chemistry 1 6 |
While all the 2022 awards celebrated exceptional work, the Priestley Medal—the ACS's highest honor—was awarded in 2025 to Frances H. Arnold of the California Institute of Technology. She was recognized for her seminal contributions to the development of directed evolution 3 . This revolutionary method, for which Arnold won the Nobel Prize in 2018, is a powerful biomimetic approach that mimics natural selection to engineer better enzymes.
Create enzymes capable of performing specific chemical reactions that are inefficient or impossible with traditional synthetic chemistry, such as synthesizing complex pharmaceutical compounds or forging new carbon-silicon bonds.
Scientists start by introducing random mutations into the gene that codes for a particular enzyme. This creates a vast library of slightly different enzyme variants.
This library is then screened for the desired activity. The variant that performs best is selected.
The gene for this superior enzyme is then taken through another round of mutation and selection. This cycle is repeated multiple times, guiding the enzyme's evolution toward a predefined goal, much like selective breeding for a specific trait.
What might have taken millennia in nature can be achieved in a matter of weeks in the laboratory. Arnold's work has provided a general toolkit for creating biological catalysts for a wide range of applications, from green manufacturing of renewable fuels to the sustainable production of medicines 3 .
Behind every chemical breakthrough is a suite of essential tools and reagents. The work of awardees like Jin-Quan Yu (catalysis) and Benjamin Cravatt (bioorganic chemistry) relies on sophisticated toolkits 1 6 .
Substances that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed; essential for making chemical processes faster, more efficient, and less wasteful 1 .
Molecules that bind to a central metal atom to form a catalyst complex; they fine-tune the catalyst's reactivity and selectivity, crucial for creating specific molecular shapes 1 .
Temporary molecular units used to control the three-dimensional geometry of a reaction's product, vital for creating the correct version of a molecule in pharmaceutical synthesis.
Chemical probes that react with each other inside living systems without interfering with natural biochemical processes; allow scientists to study and label biomolecules in their native environment.
Non-radioactive isotopes (e.g., Carbon-13, Nitrogen-15) used to "tag" molecules; enable researchers to track the pathway of a drug or metabolite through a biological system using techniques like mass spectrometry 1 .
The 2022 award cycle was historically significant for the recognition of women chemists. The ACS Women Chemists Committee (WCC) reported a record number of women winning National Awards in technical categories 9 .
Four women became the first female recipients of longstanding awards in 2022 9 .
Women were honored in twenty-two different National Awards in 2022 9 .
In the six years leading up to 2022, 11 different National Awards had female recipients at least three times 9 .
Sarah E. O'Connor - First female recipient of the Ernest Guenther Award
Pamela G. Marrone - First female recipient of the Kathryn C. Hach Award
Kim M. Baines - First female recipient of the Frederic Stanley Kipping Award
Vivian W.-W. Yam - First female recipient of the Josef Michl ACS Award
The process of nominating a colleague or mentor for an ACS National Award is a key part of sustaining the chemical enterprise. Nominations for awards to be presented in future years follow a clear annual cycle 2 5 .
A successful nomination package must include several core components 5 :
The ACS follows a standardized timeline for the awards process. The key dates for the 2027 awards are outlined below.
| Period | Key Activity |
|---|---|
| July 1 - November 1, 2025 | Nomination period open for the 2027 awards 3 5 . |
| January - July 2026 | ACS office vets nominations; selection committees review packages 5 . |
| Around September 2026 | Recipients are notified and the official announcement is made 5 . |
| Spring 2027 | Awards are presented at the ACS National Awards Banquet and Ceremony 5 . |
The ACS National Awards do more than just honor past achievements; they inspire future discovery. By celebrating chemists like Frances Arnold, Jin-Quan Yu, and the record-breaking cohort of women awardees, we set a standard for excellence and innovation. These scientists show us that chemistry is not just about equations in a textbook—it's a dynamic, human-driven endeavor to improve our world.
The call for nominations is an open invitation for all of us to participate in this process. Who will be the next trailblazer? It could be a colleague, a mentor, or perhaps even someone whose work you've long admired. By taking the step to nominate, you help ensure that the light of scientific achievement continues to shine brightly.
For more information on the ACS National Awards, including a full list of awards and their sponsors, visit the official ACS website at https://www.acs.org/funding/awards/national.html 3 .