ACS N E W S

Retired chemists-a varied lot

RCCH survey shows retired chemists want jobs ranging from teaching to managerial posts

"There's no place like home," seems to be the attitude among most retired chemists living in the western part of the U.S. ACS statistics show that nearly 70% would prefer to stay there after retirement.

In sharp contrast, only 229c of New England chemists have any interest in staying in their northeastern clime after retirement. Elsewhere, opinion seems to be pretty evenly divided, with some 46% of southern chemists (including those living in Florida) planning to retire there. And in the Middle Atlantic states, about 55% feel this is where they'll spend their later years.

These are some of the findings aris­ing from a statistical evaluation of data supplied by the 1101 chemists and chemical engineers who applied to the new ACS Retired Chemists Clearing House facility earlier this year. RCCH, a project of the Committee on Professional Relations and Status, was conceived as one means of helping older chemists looking for postretire­men t jobs.

The large number of applicants ex­ceeded all expectations and provided a good source of information on this segment of Society membership. Their brief résumés were photorepro-duced in booklet form and the direc­tory was distributed to more than 1000 prospective employers this past spring.

Work choices varied. Not unex­pectedly, the type of work sought by retirees varies, most often, it seems, in relationship to the academic degree of the individual. Hence, while 53% of all RCCH candidates indicated an in­terest in research positions, this ranged from a low of 43% among bachelors to 62% for doctorate holders.

Teaching, which is often thought of as a logical job choice for retirees, drew an even broader range of re­sponse from RCCH applicants. Only about 15% of bachelors, for example, checked this category, compared with 42% of masters and 49% of Ph.D.'s. But the low proportion of would-be teachers among B.S. degree holders more than anything else probably re­flects a personal evaluation of ability to instruct.

A report of the ACS Office of Pro­fessional Relations

This general pattern of job interests was completely reversed among re­tirees seeking managerial positions. Some 33% of bachelors selected this job choice, whereas only 23% of M.S. and 21% of Ph.D. holders were so re­corded (RCCH retirees could indicate more than one field, so percentages are not additive). Similarly, B.S. chemists seem to have a greater yen for sales and marketing positions (15%), almost triple the interest expressed by RCCH registrants at the doctorate level (6%)".

As to term of employment, it seemed evident from examination of the RCCH data that most retirees are interested in casual employment, probably just enough to keep scientifically alert. At least, this was an attitude evident in an earlier survey which the Professional Relations Committee conducted among a representative group of retirees (C&EN, Nov. 4, 1963, page 152). Most in the RCCH group (67%) in­dicated they were looking for part-time jobs, as compared with 37% interested in full-time positions, and 14% in in­terim employment; 11% had no time preference at all.

In most respects, statistics compiled from the 1101 RCCH applicants were not too atypical. The top five states in terms of numbers of retirees cor­responded closely with ACS member­ship data, for example. These were New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois, the number of retirees in which represented 45% of the total. These states account for 44% of ACS domestic membership. This same general correspondence was also evident in a regional comparison where the proportions of retirees and of Society members in different sec­tions of the country were virtually identical.

Among the various academic de­gree holders, the proportion of Ph.D/s in the retired group was larger than is ACS experience, 43% versus 38%. Among all respondents, approximately half had completed their academic training by 1930, and 75% were through by 1935.

That the Retired Chemists Clearing House attracted the audience for which it was designed also seems ap­parent from an examination of the registrant data. For example, 7 1 % were over 60 years old, and 37% were

aged 65 or more. Further, 65% of those signing up indicated that they would be available during the 1966— 67 year, with another 22% becoming eligible during the 1968—70 period. The remaining 13% said they didn't expect to retire, or at least become available for new positions, until 1970. But of the total, interestingly enough, 79% indicated they were still em­ployed this year. About 16% became unemployed during 1963—65, and 5% traced their unemployment status to 1962 or earlier.

The future. The future status of the RCCH project still is somewhat uncertain. Efforts are now under way to contact employers to get their opin­ions on the merits of the directory, particularly to determine the number of contacts or hirings made as a re­sult of its publication. A similar can­vass is being made among chemist re­tirees, although many wrote earlier to voice enthusiastic reception for the new ACS service. Ultimately, the Committee on Professional Relations and Status in consultation with staff administrators will have to decide whether another directory should be issued and, if the project is continued, how frequently the publication should appear.

Perrin joins JPC staff Marilyn H. Perrin of La Jolla, Calif., has been named assistant editor of The Journal of Physical Chemistry ef­

fective Sept. 1. Born in New

York, Mrs. Perrin received a B.S. in chemistry from UCLA 'in 1961 and an M.A. in physical chemis­try from Harvard University in

1962. She is working on her doctoral thesis in theoretical chemistry and ex­pects to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard later this year.

New local section officers CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS. Dr. Neal L. McNiven, staff scientist at Wor­

cester Foundation for Experimental Biology, is the 1966-67 chairman of the Central Mas­sachusetts Section. Serving with Dr. McNiven are Dr. Robert C. Plumb, c h a i rman-e lec t ; John Killoran, 153

Richmond Ave., Worcester, Mass. 01602, secretary; and Dr. Paul D. McMaster, treasurer.

94 C & E N A U G . ?9. 1966