The Importance of Chemical Research to the U.S. Economy (2022) / Chapter Skim
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7 Conclusions and Recommendations
7 Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 171-180
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From page 171... ...
This chapter is not meant to serve as an exhaustive list of conclusions and recommendations that cover all of fundamental chemical research and the chemical economy but rather targets some big picture areas, as well as a number of specifics that address the committee's charge, which came through as being particularly important during information gathering, discussions, and deliberations. This chapter begins broadly with recommendations for chemical research and the chemical economy, and then narrows to talk about more specific topics: team science, chemistry and environmental sustainability, challenging the assumptions around chemical research, chemical data, the future chemical workforce, and funding for chemical research.
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From page 172... ...
Conclusion 2-3: Chemistry is a foundational and central scientific discipline, and sus tained investment in fundamental chemical research provides the chemical knowledge for technology development, generating unexpected discoveries that are the basis for innovation. These innovations directly influence the chemical economy, environment, and quality of life, and also advance knowledge and discovery in many other scientific and technological disciplines, such as the life sciences, information technology, earth sciences, and engineering.
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From page 173... ...
Additionally, the inverse is true: chemical knowledge contributes to many diverse fields of science and technology. When teams of researchers with diverse expertise gather to solve a central problem in a critical area, chemistry drives basic knowledge and practical application in order to help teams accomplish major advances.
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From page 174... ...
For chemical research to evolve with, and help advance, the moving landscape of the chemical economy toward sustainability, there are two key conclusions that the committee came to, based on the evidence gathered in Chapter 3. Conclusion 3-3: As fundamental chemical research continues to evolve, the next genera tion of research directions will prioritize the future of environmental sustainability and
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From page 175... ...
Conclusion 3-4: Chemical research will have the greatest impact addressing energy and environmental sustainability if researchers and practitioners develop and use tools to quantify and mitigate environmental and human health impacts of new discoveries and are aware of the societal implications of their work, and if the research is driven by poli cies that identify specific environmental sustainability outcomes. To encourage academic researchers to keep environmental sustainability in mind at every stage of research, the committee noted that grant mechanisms usually do not ask researchers to consider the environmental impact of their work unless it is directly related to the grant or contract for which the researcher is applying.
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From page 176... ...
By understanding what is most likely for the energy landscape in the future, chemical researchers can make decisions about what the pressing needs will be to help move sustainability forward. Conclusion 3-5: As the world moves deeper into its current energy transition -- includ ing the switch to electric vehicles, the implementation of clean energy alternatives, and the use of new feedstock sources -- coupled with an increasing focus on circularity, the committee expects that decarbonization, computation, measurement, and automation will significantly alter the operations and processes of current industries, creating new opportunities and challenges that will benefit from fundamental chemistry and chemical engineering advances.
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From page 177... ...
7.6 CHEMICAL WORKFORCE Throughout this report, there is an emphasis on the individuals who are responsible for chemical advances and those who are driving the chemical economy. Chapter 2 noted how expansive the chemical economy is and how it supports millions of jobs.
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From page 178... ...
Conclusion 5-5: Creating an equitable and inclusive learning environment that exposes trainees of the future chemical workforce to new and innovative chemical tools, technolo gies, and instrumentation, as well as interdisciplinary knowledge and critical collabora tion skills, will require a serious and sustained investment from funding agencies, uni versities, industry partnerships, and accreditation programs. This investment is critical because the tools and practices that enable chemical research are constantly evolving, and training programs must be able to adapt to best facilitate the learning of basic-to advanced chemical principles that will help students succeed.
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From page 179... ...
programs have proven to be an important mechanism for advanc ing the chemical enterprise. There are many examples of fundamental chemical research being further pursued as a marketable product or process to contribute to the chemical economy through SBIR/STTR programs, and these programs also foster an emerging area of the chemical workforce where university researchers create and work in these small start-ups that are based on the grants from these programs.
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From page 180... ...
In its final section, Chapter 6 explains some of the current issues with how institutional infrastructure is supported. This is particularly important to trainees who will be entering the chemical economy, because chemical research requires a working knowledge of many different facets of technology and research, all of which are supported through infrastructure.
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