Quotes Of The Year

Money. Power. Pollution. Jobs. These are just a few of the topics chemists talked about in 2010. In each of the 51 issues C&EN produced in 2010, editors selected a “quote of the week” to highlight insightful statements. In our inaugural Quotes of the Year feature, we reprint the quotes that we think give the best look back at the past 12 months. Our choices are necessarily subjective. But we believe they illuminate the nature of chemistry as a science and the challenges that lie ahead.

“If Chinese citizens knew what the factories in their backyard produce and how, it would have a huge effect on pollution in China.”
- Jamie Choi, Greenpeace
January 4, 2010
In Pursuit Of Clean Water
Activists in China follow contrasting paths in tackling industrial contamination of water.

“Scientists live or die by the funding they get.”
- Julie Robinson, International Space Station Program Scientist, NASA
February 1, 2010
Science In Orbit
The future of research on the International Space Station is up in the air.

“When you tell people you’re a chemistry major, they give you a stare like you must really enjoy pain.”
- Sarah Simmler, Midshipman 1st Class, U.S. Naval Academy

“In an industry where innovation lies at the core, cutting R&D should raise at least some red flags.”
- Tim Anderson, Analyst, Bernstein Research
February 22, 2010
Transforming Pharma
Despite healthy year-end results, drug firms are shaking up R&D in anticipation of tough times ahead.

“I don’t think we’ll do another Wyeth acquisition. At least I hope not this week."
- Anthony J. Maddaluna, Senior Vice President, Pfizer
March 1, 2010
Rightsizing Pfizer
The world’s largest drug company enters a new round of postmerger consolidation.

“It’s awfully tough when someone says, ‘It’s a nice molecule, but we are never going to be able to make a product out of it.’ ”
- Robin H. Bogner, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics, University of Connecticut
May 31, 2010
Finding Solutions
Custom manufacturers take on drug solubility issues to help pharmaceutical firms move products through development.

“It’s brilliantly named; who can be against inherently safer technology?”
- Lawrence D. Sloan, President and Chief Executive Officer, SOCMA
July 26, 2010
Napolitano Pushes Chemical Security
Administration wants Congress to extend antiterrorism standards for chemical plants.

“A better understanding of exposures will exonerate the majority of chemicals people are afraid of.”
- Tina Bahadori, Exposure Scientist and Managing Director, Long-Range Research Initiative, American Chemistry Council
August 16, 2010
Exposing The Exposome
Individuals’ records of environmental exposures may yield clues to the causes of disease.

“Scientific controversy isn’t fraud.”
- Rachel Levinson, Senior Counsel, American Association of University Professors
November 1, 2010
Fighting Back For Academic Freedom
University of Virginia buttresses defense against attorney general’s fraud probe.

“Like rock stars, reactions can come and go, but those with substance achieve greatness.”
- Victor Snieckus, Bader Chair Emeritus in Organic Chemistry, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
December 6, 2010
Meta Reaction Revisited
Scientists reassess copper’s role in a reaction on aromatic rings.
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