About DIC

Note From the Chair:

"Thank you for visiting the Division of Inorganic Chemistry (DIC) of the American Chemical Society. The DIC is a vibrant, evolving community of scientists dedicated to advancing the chemistry of all elements to address global challenges. As our field continues to expand in scope and impact, so too does our commitment to supporting our members through meaningful scientific engagement, professional development, and inclusive community building.

Looking ahead, the Division is actively modernizing how we serve our membership. A central component of this effort is a new approach to programming at ACS National Meetings, where we are moving toward integrated contributed and invited sessions organized within subdivision-identified topical areas. This model is designed to create more cohesive scientific conversations while ensuring broad access to oral and poster presentation opportunities for our members at all career stages. By aligning programming with the most exciting directions in inorganic chemistry, we aim to foster deeper engagement, elevate emerging voices, and strengthen connections across subdisciplines.

Inorganic chemistry remains a broad and dynamic field, encompassing the study of the elements across the periodic table and their roles in areas ranging from catalysis and energy to materials, biology, and the environment. To reflect this diversity, the DIC is organized into six subdivisions: Bioinorganic, Coordination, Nanoscience, Organometallic, Solid State, and Sustainable Energy & Environment. These subdivisions serve as intellectual homes for our members and anchor our scientific programming, awards, and community activities.

At its core, the DIC exists to support its members. We do this by creating opportunities to present and discuss research, recognizing excellence through awards, supporting conferences and symposia, and fostering connections across academia, industry, and government. The Division sponsors a wide range of awards, including the Young Investigator Awards across all subdivisions, the Early Career Industrial Investigator Award, the Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry, and Student Travel Awards. In addition, we are proud to recognize excellence in key areas of the field through subdivision awards, including the Smalley–Curl Award in Nanoscience, the Qnity Electronics Solid State Chemistry Award, and the John C. Bailar, Jr. Award in Coordination Chemistry. These awards celebrate innovation and leadership across the breadth of inorganic chemistry. We also have several endowed ACS National Awards affiliated with the Division - ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, ACS Award in Inorganic Chemistry, Alfred Bader Award in Bioinorganic or Bioorganic Chemistry, F. Albert Cotton Award in Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry, Harry Gray Award for Creative Work in Inorganic Chemistry by a Young Investigator, M. Frederick Hawthorne Award in Main Group Inorganic Chemistry, and Frederic Stanley Kipping Award in Silicon Chemistry (Presented Biennially in Even-Numbered Years).

We are also excited to expand our partnerships that enhance the professional development of our members. In particular, the Division is growing its collaboration with Ionic Viper, a long-standing and highly impactful community dedicated to advancing inorganic chemistry pedagogy. Through this partnership, we aim to further support educators, share best practices, and strengthen the connection between research and teaching within our community.

The strength of the DIC lies in its diverse and engaged membership. Our members span a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and career paths, contributing to education, research, industry, energy, environmental stewardship, and public policy. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all members feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to contribute.

As we look to the future, we invite you to become an active part of this community—whether by presenting your work, organizing symposia, mentoring students, contributing to educational initiatives, or simply engaging with colleagues who share a passion for inorganic chemistry. The Division of Inorganic Chemistry is more than a professional home; it is a network of scientists working together to advance discovery, innovation, and impact."

History:

In its origins, ca. 1908, Physical Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry were clustered in the Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry. As modern chemistry matured, Inorganic Chemistry gained popularity and prominence. This led to a petition to the ACS (promoted by John Bailar) to establish a separate division for Inorganic Chemistry, which was approved in 1957.  John Bailar became the first Chair of the division. The division will celebrate its 70 years in 2027.

To better serve its membership, the DIC established subdivisions in areas of importance. The first of such subdivisions was the Organometallic Subdivision in 1967. The Solid-State Subdivision was established five years later, in 1972. The subdivision of Bioinorganic Chemistry followed in 1985. The other three subdivisions, Nanoscience, Coordination, and Sustainable Energy and Environment, were established in 2003, 2013 and 2017 respectively.

Taken in part from Bailar, J. C. A history of the Division of Inorganic Chemistry, American Chemical Society, J. Chem. Educ. 1989, 66, 537-545.

Mission:

The DIC Core Values are Passion for chemistry; Focus on members; Professionalism, Safety, & Ethics; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect. Our Vision is to advance the Chemistry of All Elements to meet global challenges. This vision will be achieved by pursuing our mission of Fostering an inclusive community of inorganic chemistry practitioners by promoting and celebrating excellence in education, research, and innovation.