The Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) is an independent

learned society A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an discipline (academia), academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and s ...

inspired by the creation of the Société de Chimie Industrielle in Paris in 1917. The American Section was formed on January 18, 1918, and held its first meeting on April 4, 1918. The Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) hosts speakers, grants scholarships, and gives awards. It has given the International Palladium Medal roughly every second year since 1961, and helps to award the

Othmer Gold Medal The Othmer Gold Medal recognizes outstanding individuals who contributed to progress in chemistry and science through their activities in areas including innovation, entrepreneurship, research, education, public understanding, legislation, and ph ...

and the

Winthrop-Sears Medal The Winthrop-Sears Medal is awarded annually by The Chemists' Club of New York in conjunction with the Science History Institute (formerly the Chemical Heritage Foundation) to recognize entrepreneurial achievement in the chemical industry for the b ...

every year. The Société also hosts monthly talks, and presents scholarships to writers, educators, and historians of science.

History

One of the first societies for chemists was the

Society of Chemical Industry The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) is a learned society set up in 1881 "to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit". Offices The society's headquarters is in Belgrave Square, London. There are semi-in ...

, founded in London in 1881. This inspired a number of other groups, including the Société de Chimie Industrielle in Paris, France. The French Société was modeled on the British organization in 1917. A number of those active in forming the French Société were elected to its first set of officers, which included industrialist

Paul Kestner Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) * Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

as president, vice-presidents Albin Haller and Henry Louis Le Châtelier, and Jean Gérard as general secretary. Creation of the French Société in turn inspired creation of a related American association in New York in 1918. This was part of an effort to rebuild international connections between individuals and institutions that had been disrupted during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. René Laurent Engel encouraged the re-establishment of ties between chemists in the two countries in his position as the scientific representative in a French Mission to the United States.

Victor Grignard Francois Auguste Victor Grignard (6 May 1871 – 13 December 1935) was a French chemist who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the eponymously named Grignard reagent and Grignard reaction, both of which are important in the formation of c ...

of the

University of Nancy A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

also encouraged the creation of an American organization. A circular appealed to the Chemists and Manufacturers of America to "extend to our French fellow chemists and manufacturers our moral and financial support and the right hand of good fellowship." The American section of the Société de Chimie Industrielle was formed on January 18, 1918, following the presentation of the

Perkin Medal The Perkin Medal is an award given annually by the Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) to a scientist residing in America for an "innovation in applied chemistry resulting in outstanding commercial development." It is considered the ...

by the

Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) The Society of Chemical Industry (America Section) or SCI America is an independent learned society inspired by the creation of the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) in London in 1881. Originally known as the New York Section, it was formed in ...

The Chemists' Club The Chemists' Club is a private club in New York whose membership is open to research and industrial chemists from all areas. The Chemists' Club filed for incorporation on December 9, 1898. The Club's goal was "to promote the interests of chemis ...

in New York. Engel, as secretary of the parent organization, addressed the meeting. Officers of the newly created American section of the Société de Chimie Industrielle included

Leo Baekeland Leo Hendrik Baekeland (November 14, 1863 – February 23, 1944) was a Belgian chemist. He is best known for the inventions of Velox photographic paper in 1893, and Bakelite in 1907. He has been called "The Father of the Plastics Industry" ...

as president,

Jerome Alexander Sir Jerome Alexander (c.1585–1670) was an English-born barrister, judge and politician, who spent much of his career in Ireland (after he had been professionally ruined in England), and became a substantial Irish landowner. He was a noted ben ...

as vice-president, Charles Avery Doremus as secretary, and

George Frederick Kunz George Frederick Kunz (September 29, 1856 – June 29, 1932) was an American mineralogist and mineral collector. Biography Kunz was born in Manhattan, New York City, USA, and began an interest in minerals at a very young age. By his teens, he ...

as treasurer. A report describes the Société's purpose as follows: The first official meeting of the American section of the Société de Chimie Industrielle was held on April 4, 1918 at The Chemists' Club in New York.

William H. Nichols William Henry Nichols (1852–1930) was an American chemist and businessman. He was instrumental in building the chemical supply business in the U.S. The specialty materials business of Honeywell traces its roots back a small sulfuric acid comp ...

, president of the

American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all d ...

, welcomed the new organization. Frederick J. LeMaistre reported on "Conditions in the French chemical industries during 1916".

Governance

The Société de Chimie Industrielle (American Section) is now an independent organization. It was granted tax status as a 501(c)(3), a registered

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

as of 1952. The American Section is directed by a board of officers including a president. , the president of the Société de Chimie Industrielle (American section) is ames M. Weatherall

Activities

Awards

The International Palladium Medal was instituted in 1958 and first awarded in 1961. The first recipient was Ernest-John Solvay. The medal has generally been given every two years. The Société has also been involved in nominating and choosing the recipients of the

and the

, which are given yearly.

Events

The Société supports a program of monthly speakers featuring CEOs, government leaders, and scientists.

Scholarships

The Société funds scholarships for writers, educators, and historians who place chemistry in historical perspective and explore the influence of chemistry on everyday life.

References

External links

* {{authority control 1918 establishments in the United States Scientific societies based in the United States Chemical engineering organizations