III
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 283
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 26, 2011
Mr. Coons (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Bingaman, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Pryor) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Designating the year of 2011 as the
International Year of Chemistry
.
Whereas the United Nations has designated the year of 2011
as the International Year of Chemistry and is holding a worldwide celebration
called Chemistry—Our Life, Our Future
, which recognizes the
achievements made in the field of chemistry and the contributions of those
achievements to the well-being of humankind;
Whereas the science of chemistry is vital to the improvement of human life because of its power to transform;
Whereas chemistry provides solutions that successfully address global challenges involving safe food and water, alternate sources of energy, improved health, and a healthy and sustainable environment;
Whereas the members of chemical enterprise and industry, scientific societies, and academia in the United States, and the Government of the United States, generate important contributions to the economy of the United States, and energize the scientific and technological base with critical innovations;
Whereas 2011 represents the 100th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Prize to Marie Curie for the second time, the first time that an individual had received a second Nobel Prize;
Whereas Marie Curie has inspired generations of scientists to excel in their fields;
Whereas the purpose of the Chemistry—Our Life, Our
Future
celebration is to increase public appreciation of chemistry in
meeting world needs, to further the development of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education at all levels, and to encourage interest
in chemistry among young people in order to create a future corps of
innovators;
Whereas exciting new practices of sustainable green chemistry incorporate design processes to maximize the amount of raw material that ends up in the end product, use safe, environmentally benign substances, including solvents, design energy efficient processes, and minimize waste disposal by not creating it in the first place; and
Whereas during the year of 2011, countries and organizations will reach out to adults and children through symposia, conferences, demonstrations, workshops, contests, school activities, exhibitions, and other public events to increase awareness of the history and importance of chemistry: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
designates the
year of 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry
;
supports the goals of the International Year of Chemistry;
recognizes the necessity of educating the public on the merits of the sciences, including chemistry, and promoting interest in the sciences among the youth of the United States; and
encourages the people of the United States to participate in the International Year of Chemistry through appropriate recognition of programs, activities, and ceremonies that call attention to the importance of chemistry to our well-being in the present and the future.