It's extremely difficult for scientists in their 40s and older to find places in another research organization. So more and more individuals have been forced to try their hand at something else or, if they want to stay in chemistry, to be come consultants in hopes of augmenting their diminished incomes. This is not easy even when the employers help their cast-offs get started. However, forming or joining an organization of consultants can smooth the way.
The group of which I am president was formed in 1978 through the American Chemical Society's California Section, to provide a convenient, friendly mechanism whereby retired chemists and chemical engineers would join together to carry out for-profit and non-profit ventures in consultancy. Because, for obvious reasons, we could not conduct fee-for-service operations under the aegis of the American Chemical Society, we decided to form a separate organization, which we called Calsec Consultants and incorporated ...
