EuCheMSEuCheMSSeptember 2009 NEWSLETTER

EuCheMS future strategy New EYCN steering group

Having served nearly one year as Presi- The annual European Young Net- dent, it is clear to me that EuCheMS has work (EYCN) Delegate Assembly took place on come a long way as a European Association 10 to 11 March 2009 during this year’s through developing its strong science base Frühjahrsymposium in Essen, Germany. With and pursuing effective EU policy activity. the Swedish as a new mem- However, organisations need to look to the ber EYCN now consists of 21 member societies future and EuCheMS is no exception. and one affiliated member society. In addi- Now increasingly seen as an essential tion, the Delegate Assembly elected a new partner in European science initiatives, steering committee for the next two years. EuCheMS is also taking a more strategic ap- Nevertheless, the new steering committee proach to encouraging professional devel- EuCheMS President Luis Oro. has a challenging task ahead, as the first opment and networking, enhancing com- steering committee was largely responsible munication and recognition and improving • enhance recognition of EuCheMS by for the creation of EYCN. its decision-making structures. As agreed by member societies and their individual Taking into account previous experience, the Executive Committee in April, seven members (Chair: Franco De Angelis, some amendments were made to the EYCN Task Groups are helping to ), rules concerning posts in the steering group. A • establish and implement a sustainable • explore the feasibility of establishing a new position of an advisor was added to the policy development activity EuCheMS academy of chemistry steering committee, which will be occupied (Chair: Rodney Townsend, Royal Society (Chair: Jay Siegel, Swiss Chemical Society), by the former chair Csaba Janáky. EYCN’s new of Chemistry), • prepare a vision for EuCheMS Chemistry steering committee is formed by Helena Laavi • develop a five-year financial plan Congresses (Chair: Pavel Drasar, from Finland (Secretary), Sergej Toews from (Chair: José Empis, EuCheMS Treasurer), Czech Chemical Society). Germany (Chair), Ilya Vorotyntsev from Rus- • identify ways of supporting the I look forward to welcoming representa- sia (Website), Viviana Fluxa from Switzer- International Year of Chemistry in 2011 tives from 50 EuCheMS member societies at land (Industry) and Dan Dumitrescu from Ro- (Chair: Igor Tkatchenko, the General Assembly in Interlaken in Octo- mania (Communications). French Chemical Society), ber where we will review our achievements It was emphasized that the role of EYCN in • review structure and governance and approve future strategy. bridging relations between young chemists (Chair: Giovanni Natile, Luis Oro, EuCheMS President and industry should be activated and, in gen- EuCheMS Past President), [email protected], www.euchems.org eral, networking between members should be intensified. Since EYCN has no bank ac- count there is no need for a treasurer. There- fore the position “Treasurer” was changed to Centenary of the “Industry” and the former position of “Indus- try/Internet” was changed into “Website”. Italian Chemical Society Dan Dumitrescu, [email protected] www.eycn.eu The centenary of the Italian Chemical about one thousand chemists from univer- Society (SCI) in 2009 is celebrated by differ- sities, industry and research institutions. ent events, characterised by international During the last years the number of stu- participation and ranging from traditional dents in the scientific faculties has de- fields of chemistry to specific themes such creased. Some future projects in coopera- as education, safety and regional interests. tion with the Italian Ministries of University, The simultaneity of our centenary with Health and Economy will encourage young those of other organisations has resulted in people to study chemistry and thus increase several co-sponsorships, e. g. in chemistry human capital needed for innovation. and futurism. The most important event Luigi Campanella, SCI President

was the SCI Congress in Sorrento in July with [email protected] Photo: BASF The European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences 2

Prize for chemistry teaching Achema 2009 generates optimism The Swiss Chemical Society has created a new prize, the Balmer Prize, to award chemistry Chemistry and chemical engineering are teachers for innovative teaching at high school focusing confidently on the future: this level. The award will be given for successful sums up Achema 2009 that took place from new and experimental didactic approaches to 11 to 15 May in Frankfurt. Over 173 000 vis- chemistry topics or for outstanding reviews of itors from all over the world visited the exhi- personal experience. The prize will be awarded bition halls in order to catch up on the latest annually and consists of either 2 000 Swiss products and technologies. 3 767 exhibitors francs for an individual teacher, with an addi- from 49 countries displayed their cut- tional 2 000 Swiss francs for the teacher’s ting-edge developments from chemical en- chemistry department, or 3 000 Swiss francs gineering, pharmaceutical and food tech- for a team of teachers, with an additional 1 000 nology, biotechnology and related sectors. Swiss francs for the team’s chemistry depart- Both the exhibitors and the organisers Achema 2009 attracted more than 173 000 visitors. ment. The call for bids and the evaluation of were highly satisfied with the outcome of candidates will be carried out together with the event. “The high number of exhibitors riding theme was process efficiency. Bio- the Swiss Science Teachers. and visitors sent out an unmistakable mes- technological processes and the application www.scg.ch/news/news.cfm?ID=135 sage that will resound far beyond the Ache- of renewable resources were also key topics. ma: our branches are going to tackle the Many exhibitors displayed novel micro- European chemistry outreach challenges and leave the economic crisis be- structured components, while nanotechno- in Bristol hind them”, stated Gerhard Kreysa, Chief Ex- logy and ionic fluids played a prominent role ecutive of the Society for Chemical Enginee- in the Congress programme. More than 900 Twenty 16-year-old Italian students and their ring and Biotechnology (Dechema) that or- lectures attracted scientists and developers teachers from Codogno near Milan took part in ganised Achema. Dechema is a member or- to discuss the latest market-ready research the inaugural Spring Chemistry School in Eng- ganisation of EuCheMS. results. land. The students spent two days in Bristol The exhibitors praised the high standard Kathrin Rübberdt ChemLabS enjoying a range of practical work of discussions and contacts. This year’s over- ruebberdt@.de and talks and also took the opportunity to en- gage in some cultural activities in the first of a series of annual visits. The Sustainable Chemistry Award Another Bristol ChemLabS outreach team, working with the British Council, organised a The European Sustainable Chemistry • chemicals and chemi- science week aimed to enthuse French school Award, a EuCheMS initiative, is being launch- cal products that are students from Marseille as part of the 'Science ed with the encouragement of the European less environmentally harmful than cur- in Schools' programme. In total 370 students Environment Agency (EEA) and the support rent alternatives or inherently safer aged from 13 to 15 took part in nine half-day of the European Platform for Sustainable with regard to hazardous aspects. sessions. Each session consisted of a one-hour Chemistry (SusChem) and the European Che- The first Award, a prize of 10 000 Euro, lecture-demonstration in French and English mical Industry Association Cefic. will be presented during the 3rd EuCheMS followed by hands-on experience in a work- Nobel Laureates Gerhard Ertl and Chemistry Congress, on 29 August to 2 Sep- shop. This event was supported by the Centre Jean-Marie Lehn have accepted invitations tember 2010 in Nürnberg, Germany. An in- Universitaire de Saint Jérôme. to be Patrons. The Award will cover innova- dependent panel will be appointed to con- A Bristol ChemLabS outreach team visited Mal- tions in the use of sider the nominations. ta and Gozo in April to give six performances of • alternative synthetic pathways that in- Requirements for the substantiating doc- the lecture demonstration 'A pollutant's tale' crease resource efficiency and selectivity, umentation and guidance on nominations to secondary-aged students from mixed state • alternative feedstocks that are safer will be published on the Award website. A and church schools. Over 1 550 students par- and/or renewable, short promotional leaflet is available from ticipated in the shows. A seventh extended • alternative reactor design and reaction the EuCheMS Secretariat (EuCheMSsecreta- session was held for science and education un- conditions, such as use of solvents with [email protected]). dergraduates at the University of Malta. health and environmental benefits, or Luis Oro, [email protected] Tim Harrison, [email protected] increased yield and reduced waste, www.euchems.org/esca 3 www.euchems.org

Global Helsinki Chemicals Forum Heilbronner-Hückel Lecture The Swiss and the , The first Helsinki Chemicals Forum was was much discussion of the testing of for- SCS and GDCh, have agreed on creating a joint held from 27 to 29 May in Helsinki, Finland. mulations and mixtures, and possible regu- named lecture, the Heilbronner-Hückel Lec- This meeting involved delegates from many latory successors and delegates were given ture. Switzerland will begin in 2010 by inviting governments worldwide and was organised detailed updates on dialogues with other a German scholar to hold a lecture series in by the Chemicals Forum Association in co- global power blocks, such as China, India Switzerland, the GDCh will invite a Swiss operation with the EU Commission. It is in- and USA concerning the future implemen- scholar to Germany in 2011, and so on. tended that this meeting should be the first tation of Reach in these countries and feder- Edgar Heilbronner (1921 to 2006) was a Swiss-G- of a series of strategic high level meetings ations. erman chemist. Erich Hückel (1896 to 1980) was for the global chemical industry; indeed, the Rodney Townsend of the RSC, current Chair- a German physicist and physical chemist. The ini- second meeting has already been arranged man of SusChem, represented EuCheMS tiative arose from a cooperation agreement, for 20 to 21 May 2010. Helsinki is an ideal through his presentation and involvement signed by the two societies in 2008. venue for the meetings: the European Che- in the session on safety and sustainability, micals Agency is located in Finland and an chaired by Alain Perroy of Cefic. Hubert Mandery appointed as increasing number of chemical companies Rodney P. Townsend, [email protected] Cefic Director General are now established there. www.finnexpo.fi/helsinkichemforum/ The Finnish government signalled its The Board of Cefic gave approval to the ap- commitment to the meeting through the di- pointment of Hubert Mandery as Cefic Direc- rect participation of past and present Prime tor General Designate in succession to Alain Ministers of Finland, the Minister of Econo- Perroy on his retirement on 31 October 2009. mic Affairs and the Mayor of Helsinki. The The appointment is subject to ratification by European Commission was represented by a Cefic General Assembly in Lisbon in October. large delegation headed by Stavros Dimas, Hubert Mandery (55) is Senior Vice-President Commissioner for the Environment. The for Trade Policy and General Political Issues at

emphasis of the meeting was strongly on Corporation Fair Photo: Finish the chemical company BASF. Cefic is promoting the implementation of Reach, the EU regu- Experiences from Reach were discussed at the the competitiveness of the industry via initia- lation on chemicals and their safe use. There Helsinki Chemicals Forum. tives and action programmes at a most diffi- cult time for European chemical companies. It is expected that Hubert Mandery will play a vi- News for analytical chemists tal part in leading these programmes, as well as developing a long-term vision and strategy The EuCheMS Division of Analytical Che- Tallinn University of Technology organis- for the future success of the industry. ks mistry (DAC) maintains a website with in- ed a successful symposium attended by www.cefic.org formations on groups of analytical chemis- 51 participants. The symposium illustrated try at European universities (www.dac-eu- the scientific work of the steering commit- Brussels News Updates chems.org). Everyone may contribute to the tee directed to various topics of analytical database and contributors are responsible chemistry. The monthly News Updates are a valuable for an annual update of the information. Although affected by the global financial source of information about EU-level develop- The service is offered free of charge. The re- crisis, the Euroanalysis Conference will be ments on policy, regulation and legislation. port on activities of DAC during 2008 was held on 6 to 10 September in Innsbruck, Now in its fourth year, this publication is an es- published in journals of analytical chemis- Austria. For next year, the programme for sential resource for EuCheMS member socie- try where Manfred Grasserbauer contrib- the analytical section of the 3rd European ties and the chemical sciences community uted with his personal view on analytical Chemistry Congress is in preparation and across Europe. It provides a summary of topical chemistry in the assessment of climate the Euroanalysis XVI Conference is planned issues and web links to sources of more de- changes and sustainable application of the for Belgrade, Serbia, in 2011. tailed information, e. g. Cordis, Euractiv and natural resources to human welfare. Jens E. T. Andersen, Bo Karlberg European Commission and EU Parliament In conjunction with the meeting of the [email protected] websites. Ioanna Psalti is currently the author steering committee in Tallinn, Estonia, in www.euroanalysis2009.at of the EuCheMS Brussels News Updates. April, Mihkel Kaljurand and Mihkel Koel of www.dac-euchems.org www.euchems.org/News/Brussels.asp 4

Year of Chemistry 2011 First Young Investigator's Workshop

The preparations for the International Year of European networking for young profes- chemistry a core to many cross and multi Chemistry (IYC) 2011 continue. The IUPAC Ma- sors of organic chemistry was the motivation disciplinary projects and a vital growth area nagement Committee, in which Wolfram Koch for the first Young Investigator's Workshop, of European science. js represents EuCheMS, met in Bratislava in April sponsored by the Organic Division of Eu- and discussed the next steps. The webpage is CheMS and the Center for Pharmacology and online and is being updated continuously. Eu- Analysis (Cepha), a Czech contract research CheMS recently established a Task Group chair- organisation. The event, which took place in ed by Igor Tkatchenko in order to identify op- Liblice Castle near Prague from 16 to 18 July portunities for EuCheMS support for IYC 2011. 2009, brought together 28 organic chemistry The Task Group will in particular define ways professors from 18 member societies. how the IYC can be promoted in Europe and Lecture topics in the two-day retreat through which activities EuCheMS can get in- spanned chemical biology, synthesis, cata- volved. At the national level, coordination lysis, materials and mechanism. The pro- Young professors of organic chemistry from groups have been established in many coun- gramme and participants showed the cultu- all over Europe met in Liblice Castle near tries already. wk ral and topical diversity that makes organic Prague. www.chemistry2011.org

Swiss kick-off for IYC 2011 Conferences on chemistry education and didactics in Kraków

At the invitation of the Swiss Chemical Society, The 10th European Conference on Re- every education level from primary school the Platform Chemistry of the Swiss Academy search in Chemistry Education (ECRICE) and up to graduate studies. of Sciences (SCNAT) and the association Che- the 4th International Conference Research The programme will feature a wide vari- mie Pharma Schweiz (SGCI), over 30 organisa- in Didactics of the Sciences (DidSci) will be ety of plenary, invited and contributed lec- tions from education, industry and society held on 4 to 9 July 2010 at the Pedagogical tures, as well as poster sessions. Abstracts of gathered in Bern for the kick-off meeting for University of Kraków. Both conferences will oral contributions and posters will be peer-- the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011. take place immediately after ICASE 2010, reviewed. ECRICE will be held in English, the Ideas for activities and possibilities of collabo- the World Conference on Science and Tech- DidSci conference in English, Polish, Czech ration were exchanged among the 33 organi- nology Education. Following a long tradi- and Slovak. The organising committee of sations interested in making a contribution to tion, ECRICE is organised under the aus- the 10th ECRICE and 4th DidSci cordially in- the International Year of Chemistry. pices of the EuCheMS Division of Chemical vites academicians, doctoral students, sci- Lukas Weber, [email protected] Education. ence teachers and researchers to participate The conferences are an opportunity to ex- in these important conferences. Challenges in food preservation change experiences in chemical education Iwona Maciejowska (ECRICE) and research and practice in natu- [email protected] The EFFoST conference on food preservation ral science education (DisSci) carried out at ecrice2010.ap.krakow.pl will be held on 11 to 13 November 2009 in Bu- dapest, Hungary. The conference sessions will focus on processing, safety and sustainability. EuCheMS Newsletter www.effostconference.com Newsletter coordinator: Karin Schmitz Publisher: Gesellschaft Deutscher Please send all correspondence and manu- Chemiker on behalf of EuCheMS

scripts to [email protected] Postfach 900440, D-60444 Frankfurt am Main Danisco Award 2008 Editors: Wolfram Koch (responsible), [email protected] Uta Neubauer, Frankfurt am Main EuCheMS General Secretary: Barbara Ann Halkier, University of Copenha- Advisory board: Reto Battaglia (Switzerland), Evelyn McEwan, c/o RSC, Burlington House, gen, has received the Danisco Award 2008 for Claudine Buess Herman (Belgium), Pavel Dra- Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA, UK sar (Czech Republic), Roger Fenwick (UK), [email protected] her research into secondary metabolites, Philippe Garrigues (France), Wolfram Koch www.euchems.org which are biologically active substances in, for (Germany), Minos Leontidis (Cyprus), Evelyn EuCheMS is registered as “Association inter- instance, plants. The Award instituted by the McEwan (EuCheMS Secretariat) and Giovanni nationale sans but lucratif” (AISBL, interna- Danisco Foundation represents a value of Natile (Italy). tional non-profit association) Layout: Jürgen Bugler, Frankfurt am Main AISBL-Registered office: Avenue E. Van 250 000 Danish krones. Production: Nachrichten aus der Chemie Nieuwenhuyse 4, B-1160 Brussels Roger Fenwick, [email protected]