2020 is a crucial year for science. Every day, we unlock new evidence that reshapes how we think about humanity, our world, and the universe itself. At the same time, we face new global challenges - including public health crises, plastic pollution, and the increasingly alarming reality of climate change - that will shape our future prospects as a society. We need strong voices like yours to ensure that the message of science and empirical evidence stands out from the crowd. You can seize the moment and become a AAAS member. When you do, you help AAAS: to collaborate with dozens of scientific societies to urge Congress to reject policies that disregard science, secure funding for critical research projects that benefit our society, inspire the next generation by placing retired scientists in K-12 classrooms across the nation and push for STEM education for all, especially in underserved communities.

Thousands of chemists and other scientists will travel from around the world to attend the ACS spring and fall national meetings. Among them will be C&EN's team of science reporters, who will be on the lookout for the best new science and other news you don't want to miss. When you subscribe, C&EN's team will bring you a daily email digest for each day of the conference. Think of this as your guide covering the emerging science at the ACS National Meeting & Exposition. The newsletter is designed to help you follow the meeting, whether you're there in person, or following from afar. Get started by filling out the form, and you'll start receiving updates the first day of the national meeting you subscribed to.

The European Radon Week 2020 will combine three workshops and is addressed to national authorities, the scientific radon community, industry and all other experts interested in radon. The European Radon Week will give an overview of the work and research done in Europe, especially in the field of harmonisation of radon measurement methods, radon priority areas, mapping and communicating radon data. Invited experts will present results and experiences, but much time will be reserved for discussions.

Women and female students winners demonstrate innovations in the IT field - Every area of life today involves technology demanding a skilled, educated population to work in the industry. The Las Vegas affiliate of NCWIT (National Center for Women & Information Technology) proudly presents the Techie, Aspirations, and Inspirations awards to honor these women and girls, which will be held at Zappos, 400 Stewart Ave., in downtown Las Vegas, on April 25. The Las Vegas Techie Awards honors influential professionals and organizations, combining diversity and action along with meaningful dialogue. The Aspiration Awards honors and acknowledges girls and young women in middle school and high school aspiring for careers in computing and technology. In addition to the Aspirations Awards, the Las Vegas affiliate of NCWIT is the first affiliate to offer the Inspirations Awards, which recognizes, encourages, and supports girls in middle schools to consider pursuing careers in STEM and technology careers. The number of women increasing in the tech industry continues to rise with programs such as NCWIT.

Vera Rubin, legendary astronomer who was perennially overlooked for the Nobel prize, has become the first woman to have an American observatory named in her honor! ''Named after an astronomer who provided important evidence of the existence of dark matter,'' wrote France Córdova, National Science Foundation (NSF)'s outgoing director, ''the NSF Vera C. Rubin Observatory seems destined to make science history with its extraordinary capabilities that will come to bear in the next few years.''

In the past, Wall Street and finance used to be an all-white ''good ole boys club'' akin to Mad Men. This has changed in recent years and great progress has been made. Despite this progress, we still have a lot more work to do to achieve in terms of parity. According to a recent report, less than 17 percent of senior positions in investment banks are held by women. Authority Magazine recently ran a series called ''Meet The Female Leaders Of Finance.'' In the series we asked dozens of prominent women leaders in finance about the improvements in gender bias, so far, and what can be done to sustain this progress. Here are 10 highlights from the series.

We can't think of a better way to start the year than by applying to the L'Oreal USA For Women in Science fellowship! Not only do fellows receive a $60,000 grant to advance their research, but they also benefit from: Media training, Mentoring, External recognition and Access to a network of outstanding alumni. Applications are due January 31.

Intel recently released a report showing that white and Asian men dominate the top pay tiers of the company's workforce. And while the results aren't surprising, since they're largely typical of large Silicon Valley companies, the level of detail the chipmaker goes to in chronicling the pay disparity is. The chip giant found that in 2018, 29 of its top 52 executives, who all earn more than $208,000 a year, were white men. Asian men accounted for 11 of the positions, while there were eight white women in the top ranks. One black man, one black woman, one Hispanic woman and one Asian woman rounded out the list. This is the first year that the EEOC is requiring the same kind of pay data from all companies with more than 100 employees, though companies aren't required to publicly disclose that data. Previously, the EEOC required race and gender data, but not pay data. The pay gap is one of many diversity issues confronting companies in the tech industry. Silicon Valley has faced tough questions about the treatment of women and minorities, and the industry continues to struggle with recruitment, retention and promotion.

Paris, 25 November - The first UNESCO-sponsored international centre for artificial intelligence (AI) will be seated in Ljubljana, the UNESCO conference general decided in Paris on Monday. The ministry in charge of education and science believes this puts Slovenia on the global map of the most high-profile and advanced countries AI-wise.

The women at Nasa who inspired the 2016 book Hidden Figures and subsequent biographical 1960s-set film of the same name are to be honoured with Congressional Gold Medals. US President Donald Trump recently signed the ''Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act'' into law. The act outlines that Congressional Gold Medals are to be awarded to mathematician Katherine Johnson and aeronautical engineer Dr Christine Darden and posthumously awarded to mathematician Dorothy Vaughan and aerospace engineer Mary Jackson in recognition of their work. A fifth medal is also to be awarded in honour of ''all of the women who contributed to the success of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the Space Race''. The statement announcing the passing of the act states that ''appropriate arrangements'' are being made to present the five medals.