IUPAC 2011 World  35 symposia in 93 concurrent sessions  55 general oral concurrent sessions Congress  22 poster sessions  22 continuing education courses by Gabriel A. Infante The scientific papers were organized in the follow- he IUPAC Congress ing areas: that took place 31  Alternative Energy Sources TJuly to 7 August  Chemistry and the Environment 2011 in San Juan, Puerto  Chemistry of Life Rico was one of the major  Chemical Education and Heritage cornerstone events cele-  Industrial and Applied Chemistry brating IYC. Hosted by the  Materials Science Colegio de Químicos de  Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Puerto Rico, the Congress Nanotechnology was a unique and excit-  Chemical Synthesis Gabriel Infante, ing forum for meeting the  Chemical Analysis and Imaging president of the IUPAC 2011 challenge put forth by the  Theoretical, Physical and Computational World Congress Organizing Committee. event’s theme: “Chemistry Chemistry Bridging Innovation among the Americas and the World.” With around The Congress offered a number of special activities 2800 attendees, 1274 scientific papers, 7 Nobel laure- and events that celebrated the International Year of ates, and many special events, the Congress was the Chemistry. largest scientific meeting ever held in Puerto Rico.  A day-long symposium organized by Ingrid Montes featured inter- The Congress included plenary speakers, symposia, nationally prominent oral and poster presentations, workshops, seminars, chemists speaking on group meetings, and state-of-the-art scientific exhibi- the topic “Are Women tions. For the first time, the Congress featured seven Still Underrepresented in Nobel laureates in chemistry as plenary speakers. Science?” A correspond- ing award ceremony  Aaron Ciechanover (2004), Israel and exhibit honored 23  Richard R. Ernst (1991), Switzerland Distinguished Women  Ada Yonath (2009), Israel in Chemistry/Chemical  Roald Hoffmann (1981), USA Engineering.  Mario J. Molina (1995), USA (University of California  The Festival de Quimica, at San Diego and the only Latin American with a which was held 31 July Nobel in Chemistry) and stretched the length  Richard Schrock (2005), USA of Paseo de la Princesa  Robert Grubbs (2005), USA in Old San Juan, enabled members of the public to The scientific program, besides the seven plenary participate in chemistry sessions featured: activities run by enthusi- Flor R. Mattos de Jesús,  three additional invited speakers (Ira Reese, USA, astic, young members of President CQPR, welcomes Peter Atkins, UK , and Luis Echegoyen, USA) local ACS chapters. attendees at the Congress Opening Ceremony.

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 Science on Wheels sponsored by UPR, Mayagüez Campus, and organized by Juan Lopez Garriga and Carlos Ruiz.  A special lecture, the “Homo Sapiens Report: The Future of Humanity,” by Oscar-winning director Michael Wadleigh.

The exhibition hall, one of the largest ever at an IUPAC Congress, featured four islands (Waters, Agilent, Thermo, and Pridco-Puerto Rico Tourism Co.) and 82 other booths from different companies, agen- Roald Hoffmann (left) reads one of his poems before cies, and universities. beginning his lecture at the symposium on Chemistry Another unique activity for an IUPAC Congress was and Culture. Peter Atkins (right) discusses “The Limitless the Special Session of the Puerto Rican Senate that Power of Science.” took place in the Capitol on 4 August to recognize the visiting Nobel Laureates, the IUPAC Officers, and the port and collaboration of the Puerto Rico Legislature, IUPAC 2011 Local Organizing Committee. The American Chemical Society, PR Tourism CO., PR Some memorable social activities gave attendees a Convention Bureau, PRIDCO. The island universities: taste of Puerto Rican culture. The Puerto Rican Night, UMET and Turabo (Ana G. Méndez University System) sponsored and organized by Puerto Rico Tourism Co. Caribbean University, Interamerican University, included typical local music and food. The highlight of Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, UPR- the Opening Ceremony was the Bayamón Symphony Mayagüez and Rio Piedras Campuses, Puerto Rico Orchestra directed by Prof. Angel Mattos. Science, Technology and Research Trust. In addition, a This Congress had a record number of latinameri- number of private companies, including Pfizer, Amgen, can participants with 262 or 26.7 percent: Colombia Eli-Lilly, Waters, Agilent, and others made important 86, Mexico 46, Brazil and Perú 32 each, and 25 contributions to the Congress. Dominican Republic. The largest delegation was from the USA with 293 or 30 percent. www.iupac2011.org IUPAC 2011 was made possible by the financial sup- www.chemistry2011.org/participate/activities/show?id=2

The Homo Sapiens cial project of UNESCO’s education humanity. Therefore, science has Report for sustainable development. to play a leading role.” The ques- One of the more compelling events Before his lecture, Chemistry tion he wants IUPAC members to at the 2011 IUPAC Congress was a International Managing Editor consider, he said, is “What should special presentation of the Homo Fabienne Meyers had the chance science academies and societies Sapiens Report: The Future of to sit down with Wadleigh and talk do?” According to Wadleigh, one Humanity on 31 July. This highly about why he was interested in of the most important things scien- visual lecture by Oscar-winning film speaking at the IUPAC Congress. tists could do is to become a stron- director Michael Wadleigh takes a “Ever single millenium goal is ger voice in the decisionmaking broad look at the complex issues failing,” said Wadleigh. “Political process. mankind will be facing over the and business systems aren’t able next century. to solve the problems facing www.chemistry2011.org/participate/activities/ Michael Wadleigh is an Oscar show?id=1420 winning film director and co-founder of The Homo Sapiens Foundation, which is part of an offi-

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