ACS Astrochemistry Subdivision Opens Up Affiliate Status for Korean Astronomical Society Members 
 
The recently established Astrochemistry Subdivision within the American Chemical Society [http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/Bil301/ACSAstrochemistry.html] invites members of the Korean Astronomical Society to join as an Affiliate Member. Please complete a division application form and email [service@acs.org] it to ACS Membership Service. The PHYS annual dues are $15, which should be remitted with the form. Please indicate that you would like to join the Astrochemistry Subdivision. [http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/Bil301/ACSAstrochemistryjoin.html]
 
The Subdivision of Astrochemistry provides an interdisciplinary "home" for individuals interested in astrochemically related research via experiments, theory, observations, space missions, and mo¬deling. Astrochemistry is the study of the abundances and chemical reactions of atoms, molecules, and ions and how they interact with radiation in the gas phase and in the condensed phase in Solar Systems and in the Interstellar Medium (ISM) leading to the formation and breaking of chemical bonds. Astrochemistry presents both an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary field with ties to the traditional disciplines chemistry, planetary science, chemical biology, physics, and astronomy. Here, chemistry, defined as the change of matter is vital in unraveling the chemical and astrobiological evolution of matter on the microscopic (elementary chemical reactions) and also on the macroscopic level (planets, moons, interstellar medium). Since the present composition of each macroscopic environment reflects the matter from which it was formed and the chemical processes which have changed the chemical nature since the origin, a detailed investigation of the processes altering the chemical composition of the pristine environment is critical to rationalize its contemporary makeup and to understand its ori-gin and chemistry. Astrochemistry exploits molecular tracers to rationalize the origin and chemical evolution of the Interstellar Medium and of Solar Systems by combining laboratory studies (chemical dynamics and kinetics, spectroscopy), theoretical chemistry, astrochemical modeling, astronomical observations, and space missions. This work requires a concerted inter-disci¬plinary relationship between chemists, physicists, astronomers, chemical biologists, and planetary scientists.
 
Best regards,

Ralf Kaiser (Chair), Arthur Suits (Chair-Elect), Martin Head-Gordon (Vice-Chair)