Predicting the year in chemistry

With 2020 just starting, scientists around the world are wondering what the year has in store for them. To help steer them straight,

Chemical & Engineering News

(C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, is highlighting key business and policy issues that will impact the chemistry enterprise across the globe.

After several years of growth, the U.S. and European chemical industries could see that momentum slow. In contrast, Chinese firms are on the upswing due to easing tariffs and new investment laws, and Middle Eastern petrochemicals are stronger than ever. The pharmaceutical services sector appears on track for another strong year, and diagnostic instrumentation makers are slated for double-digit growth. Many businesses are looking to improve their environmental practices, with an emphasis on reducing the use of plastic and recycling more materials.

In terms of policy, C&EN staff predicts that the U.S. government will take steps toward updating chemical risk assessments, along with action on classifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as PFAS) as hazardous materials. Environmental activism is expected to increase, especially against industrial chemical development in the U.S. Another important trend is protecting U.S.-based research from foreign interference without hindering scientific collaboration and openness.

The article, “C&EN’s World Chemical Outlook 2020,” is freely available

here

.

For more research news, journalists and public information officers are encouraged to apply for

complimentary press registration

for the ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Exposition in Philadelphia.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The Society is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical

Chemical & Engineering News

. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder

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and STN

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), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

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