Vignette of the Month: AOCS President Engages with Amphistar AOCS members in Paris

For decades, surfactants have stood at the heart of AOCS activity and members, bridging fundamental science and industrial innovation. Few classes of molecules have shaped modern society profoundly. More than 15 million tons of surfactants are produced annually, underpinning the performance of everyday consumer and institutional products that safeguard global health and hygiene. AOCS has long nurtured this field, from the pioneering contributions of Samuel Rosen to defining advances presented at landmark meetings such as Montreux (2002) and Kansas City (2004), as well as through the enduring leadership of the Surfactants & Detergents Division and the Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (JSD). Interest in surfactants now spans the full ecosystem—researchers, manufacturers, regulators, and consumers alike. As George Smith, former editor‑in‑chief of JSD, wrote in 2019, “Surfactants are involved in nearly every aspect of daily life, from detergents and construction to energy production, highlighting their critical importance.”

More recently, surfactants feature prominently in AOCS INFORM magazine as well as in the 2025 AOCS annual meeting where Dr. Phil Vinson received the Samuel Rosen Memorial Award of the AOCS Surfactants and Detergents Division for his 40 years of contribution to the new field.

Following suit, it was no surprise that our AOCS President Gerard Baillely took the opportunity of a trip to Europe to meet in Paris Amphistar CEO Pierre-Frank Valentin and Chief Technologist Dr. Sophie Roelants. Pierre-Frank and Sophie are AOCS members, well known for their presentations in past AOCS annual meetings, and amongst the most influential trailblazers behind the fascinating and challenging field of microbial surfactants.

Many advances are being made to make microbial surfactants affordable, performing and sustainable! AOCS is proud to be a conduit to support this science-grounded and entrepreneurship in this field.

We hope to see many of AOCS members present in New Orleans to keep up with the advances with biosurfactants.