Historically, although the role of professional-chemists has shifted little in the past thirty years, the duties of technicians has shifted significantly. In 1964, the ACS recognizing the shifting role of the chemical technician in the work place appointed an ac hoc Committee on Technicians Activities (CTA) chaired by William G. Young, Vice-Chancellor of UCLA. Two principle issues have dominated the attention of the ACS groups concerned with technicians: professionalism and education. An early action of the CTA was to encourage technicians to form TAGs affiliated with their local ACS sections.
Who or what then is a TAG? Two definitions are required, first what is a chemical technician and then what is a TAG. A chemical technician, as defined by the ACS, is a person who does not meet the qualifications stated in the definition of a chemist but whose training includes successful completion of a two-year post-high school level chemistry curriculum leading to an Associate Degree, or the equivalent work in a Baccalaureate program, or the equivalent knowledge gained by experience. The primary work of a chemical technician is conducting experimentation and/or correlating information to help solve problems and/or discover new chemical knowledge. A chemical technician's work is generally directed by a chemist, chemical engineer, or a person with equivalent training or experience. TAG is the acronym use by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Division of Chemical Technicians, Inc. (TECH) for Technician Affiliate Group. Therefore these are groups of chemical technicians affiliated with their local ACS section.
These groups of technicians while affiliated with and deriving some financial support from the local section are autonomous. They provide programs, continuing education activities, and networking opportunities unique to the working technician. At the same time they provide the local section with a valuable source of membership and a pool of people to support public activities.
By 1972, TAGs were planning programs, presenting continuing education activities, and publicizing the contributions of technicians to the local chemistry community. These TAGs were the driving force for the formation of the NCCTA (National Conference of Chemical Technician Affiliates) in 1972. This organization was the forerunner of TECH which was granted probationary status by the ACS in 1991 and attained full division status in 1994. TAGs are the building block of TECH and the major source of its membership and leadership.
In closing , the affiliation of the TAGs with the local ACS sections has many benefits for both groups among them are:
- Provides a source of additional manpower for Local Section community outreach programs (National Chemistry Week, "Science Saturdays", etc.) and other Local Section programs.
- Encourages technicians to become full ACS members, increasing the membership base of the Local Section.
- Gives the Local Section potential volunteers for committee chairs and eventually Executive Committee candidates.
- Further cultivates the technician/scientist relationship in a venue outside the workplace.
- Gives the TAG members the opportunity to participate in more programs tied to their community and workplace through the Local Section.
- Allows TAG members to feel part of a larger local professional organization.
- Gives the TAG additional networking opportunities in local industry and academic institutions through which they can recruit new members.
- Provides expanded opportunities to communicate TAG programs and activities through Local Section publications.
- Gives both the Local Section and the TAG the opportunity to work and grow together – the synergy of the two groups can result in exciting fresh ideas and expanded possibilities.
John Engelman is a Technician Specialist working at S C Johnson. He came here 2 years ago when S.C. Johnson purchased DowBrands from the Dow Chemical Company. He is the Chair-Elect for the Division of Chemical Technicians, Inc. of the American Chemical Society. John is interested in forming a TAG affiliated with the Milwaukee Section. Anyone who may be interested, or just knowing more about TAGs, may contact John at 262-260-6280 or jhengelm@scj.com.
