My week as a CAS Future Leader: Dr Ken Aldren Usman

The CAS Future Leaders Program is considered one of the best leadership learning experiences in the world of science and IFM’s Dr Ken Aldren Usman was there, rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s biggest science minds.

CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society that specialises in scientific knowledge management, selected 35 outstanding early-career scientists from a global pool of about 1000 shortlisted applicants.  Dr Usman’s fellow peers came from leading global institutions, including Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and MIT.

Now back in Australia, Dr Usman shares his recent experiences as a 2024 CAS Future Leader, including what happened in his week of leadership training in Columbus, Ohio and during his participation in the American Chemical Society Fall Conference in Denver, Colorado.

CAS Future Leader Meeting at Hilton, Columbus and CAS Headquarters

The week began on a high note with a full-day storytelling workshop by Story Collider (@storycollider). We received invaluable tips on conveying warmth in our storytelling while maintaining professionalism. We were trained not just in presenting technical data (which most of us were already familiar with) but also in making science more relatable to the public, thus enhancing the impact and accessibility of scientific research.

The program also took us to the CAS headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, where we toured their impressive facilities. Many might only know CAS for providing MSDS and CAS numbers, but their products like SciFinder offer one of the most comprehensive chemical databases, including articles and patents essential for research. Their advanced software lets you easily access information for any chemistry needs, from total synthesis to literature searches, just by uploading a chemical formula or structure! I also had the chance to present my work on Sequentially Bridged MXene Fibres to the employees of CAS and their Chief Technical Officer, Venki Rao!

It wasn’t all science. We also had a kickball game with some of the CAS mentors and the rest of the Future Leaders. We just proved we are not just a bunch of nerds – we definitely have athletes in this batch!

 

Workshops uncover valuable insights

We also attended a workshop on mentoring and coaching (by Scitrain), where I realised the significant differences between mentoring, coaching, and supervising—something I hadn’t fully understood before. The session included written exercises and role-playing that pushed us out of our comfort zones. It was exhausting but valuable, and I’m excited to share these insights with the rest of IFM when I return.

The social media and traditional media training was one of the most interactive and exciting sessions. We learned from science communication experts like Prof. Andre Isaacs (500k TikTok followers @drdre4000) and 2014 CAS Future Leader/Chemistry World journalist Dr Fernando Gomollon Bel (Twitter @gomobel) about the importance of using social media to reconnect people with science. They shared tips on creating content, and we even had role-playing exercises for a more hands-on learning experience. The afternoon also included talks on diversity, equality and inclusion, transitioning from academia to business, as well as further discussions on mentoring and coaching.

The day was capped by a contest where we were tasked to make a pizza using limited resources. Here we also made a short pitch/advertisement to sell our pizza. Very proud to say that our team won the best pizza award for that night! Perhaps something we can do IFM as well?

Before flying to Denver for the ACS Fall conference, we took the free afternoon (16 August) to roam around the beautiful city of Columbus.

 

ACS Fall Meeting, Denver, Colorado

With over 11,500 participants and sessions across three venues (Colorado Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, and Hyatt Regency), this was the largest academic conference I’ve attended. It was a feast for the brain, offering countless new topics and opportunities to connect with researchers. I also had the chance to present my research on MXene fibres.

Unlike other conferences I’ve attended, being a CAS Future Leader offered much more. CAS not only brought us to the conference but also provided exclusive access to special events, like the Talented 12 symposium and lunch, where VIPs such as Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold and high-ranking ACS officials were present. As a young scientist, I never imagined I’d attend a talk, have lunch, and take a photo with a Nobel Laureate and White House Science Advisor like Professor Frances Arnold! I even got a signed copy of CE&N magazine from her—now I can say I share something in common with President Biden!

We also had lunch with ACS President Mary Carroll, President-elect Dorothy Phillips, C&EN Editor-in-Chief Nick Ishmael Perkins, and members of the Talented 12 cohort. They offered us inspiring advice that motivated us to keep striving. It wasn’t just a meet-and-greet; we connected on social media and LinkedIn, building lasting relationships.

It was a truly a conference to remember! And I think I will be returning at the Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University in full spirit!

Take-aways from the program

The CAS Future Leaders program was an extraordinary experience, both professionally and personally. I had the chance to connect with talented chemists from various fields, and I have no doubt they will go on to achieve great things. The learning opportunities were exceptional, with courses in science communication, coaching workshops, and more. The workshops were intense (8am to 5pm!), but I found myself enjoying every moment, even amid exhaustion (as I also attended a 1-week conference in Philadelphia before the CAS events). We also had the privilege of participating in special events at ACSFall2024.

What will stay with me most, however, are the lasting friendship I made with this remarkable group. The program far exceeded my expectations, and I am so grateful to have applied and been selected for the 2024 cohort.