For the second time this year an article by the UC Center for Laboratory Safety was honored as an Editor’s Choice article by the American Chemical Society. Out of over 53,000 articles published annually in more than 64 journals, only 365 papers (one a day) are selected for this honor.
The latest paper, “Beyond the Visual: Achieving Accessibility in Scientific Figures”, was published in the March 24, 2024 issue of ACS Chemical Health & Safety. This paper was co-authored by Hannah Ramsey and Dr. Imke Schroeder who work in the UC Center for laboratory Safety where Professor Craig Merlic serves as the Executive Director.
Scientific figures are essential tools for conveying complex research data, yet their accessibility issues can exclude individuals with disabilities, limiting the reach and impact of scientific publications. This paper explores strategies for enhancing figure accessibility in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 AA, which will become a legal standard for public agencies in April of 2026. The strategies presented not only accommodate individuals with permanent or temporary limitations, but also improve the overall usability and comprehension of figures for all readers, fostering broader engagement and equitable access to scientific knowledge.
The Center’s previous paper, “Challenges of Legacy Chemicals” was published in the January 27, 2025 issue of ACS Chemical Health and Safety. Legacy chemicals—unused or expired chemicals that are no longer needed or usable for research—often remain stored in laboratories for many years. The paper discusses the problems created by legacy chemicals, their origins, how to manage them, how to avoid them, and the overall outlook which is relevant to scientists worldwide.
