The ACS Tennessee Government Affairs Committee (TN-GAC) provides a unified voice and leadership to effectively engage the ACS membership within the state of Tennessee to drive support of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education.

Key Messages:  

• The TN-GAC embodies and reflects the overall ACS commitment to quality STEM education.

• The TN-GAC is committed to improving STEM education standards and the classroom experience for students in Tennessee schools.   

• The TN-GAC will work to build broad coalitions with professional education and STEM organizations, scientific societies, and with allies in the Tennessee government and in the private sector. 

• The TN-GAC will work with the Governor’s education initiatives that inform Tennessee’s youth about STEM careers and what it takes to be prepared for those careers in the future.

• The TN-GAC will support public outreach efforts that aim to increase the science and technology literacy of all Tennesseans, broadening the scope of economic development welcomed in the State.

ACS is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization, chartered by Congress in 1937, with more than 160,000 chemical scientists and engineers as members. As the world’s largest scientific society, ACS advances the chemical enterprise, increases public understanding of chemistry and science, and bring its expertise to bear on state and national matters.  ACS has formed an independent committee of Tennessee ACS members from across the state to lead and advise our efforts, creating the Tennessee Government Affairs Committee. TN-GAC will be working with ACS members across the state to chart an agenda for science education reform and to engage with other state education stakeholders such as business and industry groups, science teacher organizations, and other education constituencies.

With more than 160,000 members, the American Chemical Society (ACS) is the world’s largest scientific society and one of the world’s leading sources of authoritative scientific information. A nonprofit organization, chartered by Congress, ACS is at the forefront of the evolving worldwide chemical enterprise and the premier professional home for chemists, chemical engineers and related professions around the globe ACS has 189 local sections (chapters) throughout the United States, 6 of them being within Tennessee. These local sections allow Tennessee ACS members to:

• Partake in legislative action calls and events

• Connect with other chemists and chemical engineers in their area

• Participate in ACS programs and proceedings 

• Contribute to the public’s understanding of chemistry

• Join in regional meetings hosted by their local section

Tennessee Sections:
Chattanooga: 205 Members
East Tennessee 595 Members
Kentucky Lake 114 Members
Memphis 367 Members
Nashville 598 Members
Northeast Tennessee 377 Members
Total members in TN: 2256

The Legislative Action Network:
The American Chemical Society is committed to keeping its members informed of legislation that may impact the chemical enterprise and to bringing the expertise of ACS members to bear on science policy

The Legislative Action Network (LAN) is the Society's electronic grassroots program for updating members on current legislation and facilitating contact with representatives. The network focuses primarily on federal science education and R&D policy, but also addresses environment, workplace, and competitiveness issues.

Currently, the LAN gives over 15,000 ACS members an easy, effective way to voice opinions to legislators. It is one of the most effective groups in the ACS. So far this year, LAN members have sent over 11,000 letters to policy makers on science related issues.

Total number of LAN members in TN: 243