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EuCheMSEuCheMS November 2016 NEWSLETTER

ECC-6: met in Seville EYCN Career Days in Seville The four-day programme “Creating a success- ful career”, which was organised by the Euro- The wonderful friendly city of Seville pean Young Chemists’ Network (EYCN), con- was abuzz with in mid-Septem- tained lectures about scientific oral and writ- ber: The 6th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress ing skills, entrepreneurship, project manage- (ECC-6), hosted by the National Association ment and career development. Workshops of Spanish Chemists (ANQUE), took place in were held for CV and job-hunt advice, experi- front of 2000 people, most of them young. mental troubleshooting and research funding All aspects of chemistry were explored in Europe. In addition, the soft launch of the through nearly 800 oral presentations and International Young Chemists’ Network (IYCN) a similar number of posters. took place, which defined the first actions of The congress started with a fine exposi- this network unifying all young chemists in tion from Nobel Laureate Dick Schrock on the globe. Furthermore the presentations molybdenum alkene metathesis catalysts. from the finalists of the European Young EuCheMS Lecture Award winner Gérard Great success: tapas and chemistry in Seville. Award were held. Férey presented metal organic frameworks, The social programme included a career net- which breath (the pore size changes) and The congress finished with the winner of working reception, organised by the Gesell- have exciting applications. the August-Wilhelm-von-Hofmann-Denk- schaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) and spon- Very sadly, Bucky-balls discoverer Harry münze (awarded by GDCh), Ben Feringa, on sored by GDCh and the Royal Society of Chem- Kroto died recently. However, it was a de- nano motors that can be controlled by light. istry. This event created the ideal opportunity light to have Harry’s wife Margaret there These and all the other lectures and posters for young chemists to connect with HR man- when Nazario Martin delivered a touching were the bedrock of the congress but there agers from different chemical companies and tribute to him. He highlighted Harry’s pio- was so much more: master classes, sessions publishing houses. neering discoveries in the field and then de- devoted to the Federation of Latin Ameri- Once again, the Research in Germany Council scribed his own work on chiral fullerenes can Chemical Societies, John Dalton’s 250th (DFG) showcased many opportunities for a fu- amongst others. birthday, transnational exchange (joint ture career in Germany. This was a great occa- The winner of the Prince of Asturias with the American Chemical Society), de- sion for young chemists to find information

Prize, Avelino Corma, showed exquisite bates on CO2 usage, the role of chemistry in on the different options available to chemists, control over placing catalytically active society and ethics. Helena Grennberg was and was particularly enjoyed by the five centres in or on supports with wide com- presented with her EuCheMS Award for Ser- American young chemists who attended the mercial applications. ’ spec- vice and one of the most successful events EuCheMS Chemistry Congress as part of the tacular work on new biomaterials for sens- of the European Young Chemists’ Network Young Chemists Crossing Borders exchange ing and for regenerative medicine included involved lectures in a tapas bar. The Euro- programme, organised by EYCN and the new ways to grow bone and the multilayer pean Young Chemists Award was again a Younger Chemists’ Committee of the Ameri- structure of cartilage as well as for hugely successful competition. can Chemical Society. the prostate specific antigen (PSA), HIV and Overall, the congress was a great suc- The EYCN brought the conference inside the Ebola in cured patients for mapping virus cess, for which massive thanks go to Peter heart of the city centre by organising the first types. Janine Cossy explored heterocyclic Edwards (scientific committee), Carlos Negro EYCN Science Café in a tapas bar. The combi- syntheses, many of which benefitted from (local organising committee), to Ernesto nation of delicious tapas and highly accessible the presence of cyclopropane rings in the Castañeda and Lorenzo Baselga (ANQUE) chemical sciences was a huge success and at- skeleton for cyclisation, whilst Nobel Lau- and to Nineta Majcen, Bruno Vilela and Irina tracted a multitude of attentive participants reate Jean-Marie Lehn looked at the selec- Simion (EuCheMS). More details on ECC-6 at The EYCN programme finished on a high with tion of drug candidates from dynamic com- www.euchems.eu/newsletters/newsletter/ Ricardo Lopez introducing the fascinating binatorial assemblies synthesised in the bnu-september-2016-ecc6-special-issue/. We chemistry of wine to a full room with, of presence of the target. Roberta Sessoli very much look forward to welcoming you course, complementary and surprising tasting showed how magnetic materials can be in for ECC-7 in August 2018. session of different kinds of wines from all used in spintronics and to make q-bits, the David Cole-Hamilton, EuCheMS President over Spain. centrepiece of quantum computers. [email protected] EYCN, [email protected] The European Association for Chemical and Molecular 2 Sciences

Nineta Majcen, Diane Grob Schmidt The Seville declaration on the and David Cole-Hamilton signed the use of chlorine in warfare Memorandum of Understanding. Below: Members of the General During its General Assemby 2016 in Seville in Assembly 2016. September, EuCheMS signed the following declaration: “We, the Member Societies of the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS), deplore the use of chlor- ine in the Syrian conflict or any other and call upon the international community to bring to justice those responsible for the misuse of chlorine.”

ACS and EuCheMS: Memoran- dum of Understanding EuCheMS General Assembly in Seville During the EuCheMS General Assembly 2016 in Seville, which took place just before the 6th This year EuCheMS met for its General EuCheMS Chemistry Congress (ECC-6), Diane Assembly in Seville in September, just be- Grob Schmidt, Past President of the American fore the 6th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress. Chemical Society (ACS), EuCheMS President The General Assembly send a strong mes- David Cole-Hamilton and EuCheMS Secretary sage to the world by signing “The Seville General Nineta Majcen signed a Memoran- declaration on the use of chlorine in war- dum of Understanding. fare” (see left). Furthermore, to formalise The two societies agree to work together to and further develop collaboration between “promote the ethical use of chemistry” and EuCheMS and the American Chemical So- “collaborate for the good of the chemical en- ciety (ACS) a Memorandum of Understand- terprise, of their members, and of the subject ing was signed on behalf of EuCheMS and of chemistry” in such areas as events, surveys, ACS (see left) by David Cole-Hamilton lobbying, ethics and safety, global challenges, (EuCheMS), Diane Grob Schmidt (ACS) and exchange programmes, especially for young Nineta Hrastelj Majcen (EuCheMS). people, the public understanding of chemistry During the Member Societies’ Initiative its sincere gratitude for strategic leadership etc. The Memorandum of Understanding also session Sir John Holman, President of the during their term of office. provides for preventing interference of either Royal Society of Chemistry, addressed the The special session at the General As- society with the other’s “mission or applicable European community on Brexit aspects rel- sembly meeting was dedicated to the up- law”. evant for research community and con- coming employability survey. The survey is Already, joint sessions have been developed at firmed the RSC commitment to remain coordinated by Reiner Salzer and will be ECC-6 and one is planned for the ACS Spring open for collaboration. carried out jointly by EuCheMS and the meeting which will take place in San Francisco The General Assembly unanimously European Chemistry Thematic Network As- in April 2017. ACS has sponsored ECC-6, a joint elected Pilar Goya (Spain) as President Elect sociation (ECTN), in collaboration with the employment survey is being planned and the and Eckart Ruehl (Germany) as Treasurer. ACS. The European Commission has been Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry (ABC Both will start their term as ex-officio notified on the follow up and was repre- Chem) is being launched as a new type of con- members of the EuCheMS Executive Board sented at the meeting by Antonio Camma- ference (see page 4). and members of the EuCheMS Presiding rota, DG EMPL/B3. We very much look forward to developing Council on 1 January 2017. On this date, EuCheMS continues to grow also further joint initiatives between ACS and Christophe Copéret (Switzerland) and Artur through its growing membership: This year, EuCheMS, two of the world’s largest chemis- Silva (Portugal) will join the EuCheMS the European Federation for Medicinal try based organisations. Executive Board as its elected members. The Chemistry was accepted as a supporting David Cole-Hamilton term of office for EuCheMS Past President member of EuCheMS. [email protected] Ulrich Schubert and Treasurer Francesco De Nineta Hrastelj Majcen Angelis ends this year. EuCheMS expressed [email protected] 3 www.euchems.org

Chemists urge the State of Israel 50 years ago: discovery of to ban chemical weapons PCBs in the environment Environmental chemists struggle every day to Israel, Egypt, Southern Sudan and North to fight cancer and pathogens, to purify discover new chemicals and unravel their fate Korea are the only countries of the 196 re- drinking water, to produce energy-saving in the environment and in humans by devel- cognised countries that have not signed insulation materials and many other useful oping new methodologies and analytical and ratified the Chemical Weapons Con- materials for the sake of humankind. We re- techniques. Using state-of-the-art instrumen- vention (CWC) which provides for the elim- quest that the government of Israel would tation we can today identify and quantify ination and monitoring of chemical independently ratify the CWC. Not only the thousands of chemicals in complex samples at weapons under the auspices of the Organi- chemists, but also all Israeli citizens would very low levels. sation for the Prohibition of Chemical rejoice at the ratification and applaud the In 1964, the young Danish scientist Sören Weapons. Israel has signed but not ratified Israeli government for keeping Israel in the Jensen was hired at the Department of Ana- the CWC, Southern Sudan plans to sign. sane part of the world.” lytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, The Israel Chemical Society is a member Cole-Hamilton says: “I applaud Ehud Kei- Sweden to analyse levels of the pesticide of EuCheMS. So EuCheMS President David nan’s brave action. Chemical weapons have DDT in the Swedish population. In his Cole-Hamilton has been supporting Ehud no place in a civilised society. They do not samples he found not only DDT and its Keinan, President of the Israel Chemical So- act as a deterrent and their effects are ap- degradation products but also a number of ciety, in his attempts to remove these palling. We have a unique opportunity to rid unknown peaks, a great motivator for any dreadful weapons from Israel. These at- the world of this scourge and we are so close analytical chemist. With skill, ambition, curi- tempts have culminated in an open letter to doing it. EuCheMS calls upon Prime Min- osity and lots of hard work, aided by the de- from Keinan to the Prime Minister of the ister Netanyahu to ratify the CWC as soon as velopment of mass spectrometry, Jensen dis- State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, urging possible and for Egypt, Southern Sudan and covered polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in him to sign the CWC. The letter ends with North Korea to follow this inspiring lead.” the environment in 1966. He found these the passionate plea: “The Israeli chemists Together with a journalist, Keinan and PCBs in his samples interfering with his DDT and chemical engineers, together with the Cole-Hamilton published an article in The analysis, but also in hair from his children large community of chemists around the Conversation drawing attention to the and wife and realised their widespread per- world, are working together to remove the letter (https://theconversation.com/why- sistence and transfer from mother to child curse of chemical weapons from the face of ratifying-the-chemical-weapons-convention via breast milk. the earth. We prefer to use these materials -is-in-israels-best-interest-63889). Within ten years of his discovery PCBs were regulated and banned in a large part of the The Times The Guardian world but they are still an issue of concern. Chemical weapons in Syria: Letter to and The discovery was later followed by bromi- We are extremely concerned about the con- accountable by the Security Council. It must nated flame retardants detected in fish tinuing use of chlorine as a chemical weapon be emphasised by all signatories to the CWC downstream from textile industries in in Syria and the suffering it causes for an al- that those using chlorine to injure and kill Sweden and the widespread environmental ready traumatised people (see “Assad used are committing a crime and will be held to contamination of fluorinated compounds gas weapons, UN confirms”, The Times, 26 Au- account. and various pharmaceuticals. gust). Any use of chemical weapons, whatever So, we call on the UK Government, the UN and Chemicals which are banned are replaced by the toxic chemical used, is illegal under the the international community to be resolute in industry-developed substances with similar 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) their commitment to investigating both the properties that are hunted and scrutinized by and international customary law. Some 192 use and users of chemical weapons in Syria smart environmental chemists – 50 years ago, countries have signed up to this convention and to prosecuting the perpetrators. today and tomorrow. including Syria. We also call on all practitioners of chemistry, Patrik Andersson, [email protected] As with many chemical weapons attacks be they in academe, industry or trading of ma- identifying the user is problematic because terials, to point out that chemicals should be the perpetrator has invariably fled the scene. used to help mankind. Chlorine has many From Seville to Stockholm Collecting evidence in the middle of an ac- legitimate and valuable roles but absolutely The 2016 for Chemistry goes to tive theatre of war is even more complicated. not as a poison for human lungs. Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. We therefore welcome the recent report of Alastair Hay, Leeds University and Bernard L. Feringa for their work on the UN investigation and the call by the Incoming Chair of the molecular machines. Feringa was Thurs- United States that President Assad be held Chemical Weapons Advisory Group (CWAC) day‘s plenary speaker at ECC-6 in Seville (see page 1). 4

Sandy Lawson Events 2017

18 – 22 June 2017, Oslo, Norway 29 August – 2 September 2017, Trondheim, Norway ICCE 2017 – 16th EuCheMS International 11ICHC – 11th International Conference on the Jürgen Bugler Karin J. Schmitz Conference on Chemistry and the Environment History of Chemistry, www.ntnu.edu/11ichc Uta Neubauer www.icce2017.org 10 – 13 September 2017, Berlin, Germany 2 – 5 July 2017, Copenhagen, Denmark GDCh-Wissenschaftsforum Chemie 2017 (WiFo 2017) EuCheMS Newsletter: the 4th EuCheMS Inorganic Chemistry Conference www.wifo2017.de Frankfurt team says goodbye www.eicc-4.dk “Aufhören, wenn es am schönsten ist” (quit at 3 – 7 July 2017, Naples, Italy Events 2018 the top) the Germans say, and that is exactly ISSNP 2017 – International Summer School on what the EuCheMS newsletter team at the Natural Products, www.issnp.org 4 – 7 June 2018, Prague, Czech Republic GDCh headquarters in Frankfurt/Germany is 3 – 6 September 2017, York, IIS Prague 2018 – 13th International Symposium on going to do. This EuCheMS newsletter is the 3rd EuCheMS Congress on Green and Sustainable the Synthesis and Applications of Isotopes and Isotopi- last issue produced in Frankfurt. In the future Chemistry, www.york.ac.uk/3EUGSC cally Labelled Compounds, www.iis-prague2018.cz the EuCheMS secretariat will be responsible for the newsletter and you will receive the Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry (ABC Chem): issues from Brussels. a new kind of conference will start in 2018 The EuCheMS newsletter started ten years ago in May 2006, with Sandy Lawson as coor- The Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry dinator, Uta Neubauer and Ernst Guggolz as (ABC Chem) is designed to be a new type of editors and Jürgen Bugler as graphic designer. conference where chemists from countries In October 2007 Karin J. Schmitz took over the around the Atlantic basin will meet to ex- coordinator’s job from Sandy, who concen- change ideas and develop collaborations. trated on the proofreading of all articles. The pilot conference will take place in Can- It was a pleasure for us to produce the news- cun, Mexico, from 24 to 27 January 2018. It is letter for you and to contribute – at least a bit jointly sponsored by the American, Brazilian, – to make EuCheMS a unique and real Euro- Canadian and Mexican Chemical Societies as pean organisation. We wish our colleagues in well as EuCheMS and further supported by Brussels every success and satisfaction in their the Federation of Chemical Societies of Afri- Representatives of EuCheMS and the American, Brazilian, new assignment. ca, the South African Chemical Institute and Canadian and Mexican Chemical Societies. The Frankfurt team will remain EuCheMS the Federation of Latin American Chemical fans, and that’s a promise! Societies. hotel, so it is expected that the opportunities Karin J. Schmitz The numbers of participants will be controlled for networking and discussions will be en- [email protected] to be not more than 500. Arrangements are hanced. being made to ensure even representation We hope you will join us in being interested in Experts needed for the from the various participating organisations. this exciting new venture. evaluation of EU grants The meeting will be self-contained in a single David Cole-Hamilton, [email protected] The European Commission desperately needs more experts to help in the evaluation of EuCheMS Newsletter Publisher: Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker on grants. They need both men and women from Newsletter coordinator: Karin J. Schmitz behalf of EuCheMS all countries but there are some countries Please send all correspondence and manuscripts Postfach 900440 where there are simply no women nomi- to [email protected] D-60444 Frankfurt am Main nated. The benefits for reviewers include Editors: Wolfram Koch (responsible), EuCheMS General Secretary: allowing them to understand the processes of Karin J. Schmitz, Uta Neubauer, Frankfurt am Main Nineta Majcen, Rue du Trône, 62 grant applications better and to know the Advisory board: David Cole-Hamilton (Presi- 1050 Brussels, Belgium kinds of things the panels are looking for. dent), Ulrich Schubert (Vice-President), Franco [email protected] Some reviewers may also be asked to join pa- De Angelis (Treasurer), Eckart Ruehl (Member of www.euchems.eu nels. So whatever European country you come Executive Board), Nineta Majcen (Secretary EuCheMS is registered as “Association inter- from, whether you are female or male, young General). nationale sans but lucratif” (AISBL, international or old, please add your name to the database Layout: Jürgen Bugler, Frankfurt am Main non-profit association), AISBL-Registered office: at http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/ Production: Nachrichten aus der Chemie Rue du Trône, 62, 1050 Brussels, Belgium portal/desktop/en/experts/index.html.