The US has deemed this the International Year of Chemistry and the opening panel discussion was web cast February 1. You can catch the archive at IYC2011, which was very interesting, thought provoking, and informative. The speakers include:

• Andrew Liveris, CEO & Chair, The Dow Chemical Company
• Ellen Kullman, Chair & CEO, DuPont
• Janet Hering, Director of Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
• Joshua S. Boger, former Chair & CEO, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
• Rita Colwell, University of Maryland, College Park, former Director, National Science Foundation
• Dan Nocera, MIT

The panel discussed chemistry based solutions to global problems. I've been noticing a tend in science and engineering communities for a desire for more science based approaches to problems verses the solutions we get today. This trend appears to be international as well. The opening speaker encouraged audience members to run for office.