The mission of The Electrochemical Society is to advance theory and practice at the forefront of electrochemical and solid state science and technology, and allied subjects. As such, we are a scientific rather than a political organization. However, when events, actions, or policies infringe on fundamental human rights or pose a grave threat to peace, stability, and/or equity in the world, everything is affected including scientific discovery. In these circumstances, the ECS Executive Committee is empowered to issue statements on behalf of the Society in support of vital causes central to both our science and humanity at large.
Climate Change | Diversity and Inclusion | Racial Justice | Ukraine | Turkey and Syria
Statement on Climate Change
The Electrochemical Society (ECS) affirms the scientific consensus that human activities—primarily the burning of fossil fuels for power generation, transportation, and various industrial processes—are the main drivers of climate change. Moreover, ECS believes climate change poses an immediate, grave, and existential threat to all life on Earth and must be addressed urgently.
ECS is dedicated to advancing the electrochemical and solid state sciences for the benefit of all humanity. The Society’s members are passionately developing the next generation of technological solutions for the challenges facing our planet. Nowhere is this more critical than in our efforts as scientists, researchers, and engineers to find solutions for providing clean, affordable, and sustainable sources for powering and moving an interconnected world.
ECS members are actively researching many fundamental and applied aspects of electrochemical energy conversion and storage processes, systems, and materials. These include fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors; photovoltaic/photoelectrochemical and bioelectrochemical energy conversion systems and materials; electrochemical industrial processes such as hydrogen production, electrosynthesis, CO2 utilization, and water remediation; as well as many critical systems including sensors, electronic and optoelectronic devices, and the manufacturing and processing of materials for these applications.
Furthermore, ECS pledges to advocate for integrating science in the definition and implementation of effective strategies to combat climate change. The Society is steadfast in its commitment to disseminating only truthful, accurate, and verified research and data in addressing this grand global challenge.
Statement on Diversity and Inclusion
The Electrochemical Society strives to be an inclusive organization that promotes and values diversity. We recognize and respect the rights of all, and are committed to building and maintaining a culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the unique backgrounds and experiences of our members, volunteers, employees, and constituents. Diversity is our strength. It fuels innovation, enhances collaboration, enables our best accomplishments, brings us closer to the communities we serve, and advances our mission to promote electrochemical and solid state science worldwide.
Statement in Support of Racial Justice
The Electrochemical Society acknowledges the grief, anger, and pain stirred by recent events, but also joins the call to action for positive change necessitated by the persistent racial injustice and inequalities plaguing society, as tragically exemplified by the killing of George Floyd.
In this time of division and unrest, The Electrochemical Society reaffirms its commitment to being an inclusive organization that promotes and values diversity. We recognize and respect the rights of all, and are committed to building and maintaining a culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the unique backgrounds and experiences of our members, volunteers, employees, and constituents.
Diversity is our strength. It fuels innovation, enhances collaboration, enables our best accomplishments, brings us closer to the communities we serve, and advances our mission to promote electrochemical and solid state science worldwide.
Statement on Ukraine
The Executive Committee of The Electrochemical Society wishes to express our collective shock and dismay at the appalling actions unfolding in Ukraine. Although the Society’s mission is not political, we feel compelled to share this statement because what we have seen is a humanitarian tragedy, launched without provocation or regard to the needless suffering the invasion of sovereign Ukraine has caused.
ECS will not sponsor or otherwise financially support events and institutions operating within the Russian Federation until such time that they have withdrawn their forces and made restoration, to the extent possible, for the damage inflicted on the Ukrainian people.
ECS acknowledges that the actions taken by the Russian Federation do not reflect the will of individual ECS members living and working in Russia. Therefore, we will not infringe on the memberships of our ECS members in the Russian Federation. However, we hope that they stand with the rest of ECS and the world in our denunciation of this horrific action and become vocal in their opposition to this unwarranted invasion.
Lastly, we pledge our unwavering support to the people of Ukraine. Those wishing to donate or give aid to Ukraine can find more information here.
Statement on Turkey and Syria
The ECS Executive Committee approved the release of the following statement acknowledging the devastation and impact of the natural disasters occurring in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia:
The ECS community stands in solidarity with our valued members from Turkey and Syria in grieving the loss of more than 47,000 precious lives and counting, and the unprecedented destruction caused by the continuing series of devastating earthquakes that began striking the region with back-to-back earthquakes of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.5 on February 6, 2023.
