Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS,chemistry is the science of basic units of matter and plays a role in every aspect of human life; and

WHEREAS,chemistry has broad applications, including food science, soil science, water quality, energy, sustainability, medicine, and electronics; and

WHEREAS, the science of chemistry is vital to improving the quality of human life and plays an important role in addressing critical global challenges; and

WHEREAS,innovations in chemistry continue to spur economic growth and job creation and have applications for a wide range of industries; and

WHEREAS,Chemists Celebrate Earth Week highlights the everyday uses of chemistry, including in food, dyes and pigments, plastics, soaps and detergents, health products, and energy technologies; and

WHEREAS,Chemists Celebrate Earth Week is part of a broader vision to improve human life through chemistry and to advance the chemistry enterprise and the practitioners of that enterprise for the benefit of communities and the environment; and

WHEREAS,Chemists Celebrate Earth Week serves as an opportunity to stimulate the interest of young people, including women and underrepresented groups, in enthusiastically studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and in pursuing science-related careers that lead to innovations and major scientific breakthroughs;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize April 22-28, 2018, as VIRGINIA CHEMISTS CELEBRATE EARTH WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.