Since 1995, the Dreyfus Foundation has sponsored two annual awards that are administered by the American Chemical Society: for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences, and for Encouraging Disadvantaged Students into Careers in the Chemical Sciences. In 2020, these awards were made to Katherine J. Franz, the Alexander F. Hehmeyer Professor at Duke University, and Lawrence K. Duffy, Professor and Director of the Resilience and Adaptation Program at University of Alaska Fairbanks, respectively.

Each award consists of $5,000 to the awardee and a grant of $10,000 to an eligible non-profit institution, designated by the recipient, to strengthen the objectives of the award. Franz has directed her award to the Duke University Chem Connect Initiative, which connects Duke students to issues beyond science, including promoting positive mental health in graduate school, awareness of equity issues among scientists, and professional development. Duffy directed his award to support the University of Alaska’s Rural Alaskan Native Institute’s high school students summer college experience.