Global Challenges, Chemistry Solutions Why and How We Support the Effort to Tackle Global Challenges
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RSCNEWS JANUARY 2015 www.rsc.org Global challenges, chemistry solutions Why and how we support the effort to tackle global challenges Professional development for teachers p10 Expanding our regional networks p12 On 4 and 5 November, we held the 3rd RSC/P&G symposium at the University of Nairobi. With a focus on regulatory harmonisation, hygiene and sustainability, over 200 delegates from across Africa attended to share knowledge and form new connections. During the event, Raffaele Scoccianti from P&G Connect and Develop Africa (below right) announced that the company will support a new internship at the University of Nairobi to look at the sustainable provision of safe, clean water to urban communities. This replicates the successful programme that we have established in Nigeria, and is a model that will enable us to work with new partners to support the Pan Africa Chemistry Network. WEBSITE Find all the latest news at www.rsc.org/news/ Contents JANUARY 2015 Editor: Annika Grandison Design and production: REGULARS Vivienne Brar 4 Contact us: Snapshot 7 RSC News editorial office News and updates from around the Thomas Graham House organisation Science Park, Milton Road Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK 6 Tel: +44 (0)1223 432487 One to one Email: [email protected] Our Virtual Library offers chemical science Burlington House, Piccadilly knowledge at your fingertips London W1J 0BA, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7437 8656 7 Profile Meet Linda Maguire, our 50,000th member @RSC_Comms 15 Opinion facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofChemistry 8 Antimicrobial resistance is a challenge we Photography: must tackle together, says Chris Schofield © Shutterstock (cover) © East African Productions / Royal Society of Chemistry (left) FEATURES 8 Global challenges, chemistry solutions Find out about our work in this area 10 Support for teachers 10 Continuing professional development opportunities to suit different needs 12 Growing networks How we are expanding our regional education activities DIARY 16 Conferences 12 Upcoming meetings and deadlines 17 Events Your guide to events by region and section © Royal Society of Chemistry 2015 20 Registered charity number 207890 Notices Including vacancies and updates from across the organisation Snapshot A look at the latest news from around the world INBRIEF Emerging Technologies Competition Our community reaches 50K goes European We’re pleased to announce that our After two successful years of identifying Dr Richard Ward from 2014 winner Catalytic membership now spans more than promising new technologies in the UK, this Technologies adds: “Our mentor at Croda is 50,000 individuals. Continuing the year our Emerging Technologies Competition brilliant – incredibly supportive and hugely trend of year-on-year growth that will be open to applications from small keen to help us … we have made good we experienced in recent years, we companies and academic researchers from progress.” welcomed new members from different across Europe for the first time. As in previous countries to our worldwide community. The feeling of mutual benefit for the years, the aim of the competition is to reward winners as well as our competition partners “All of our members – from those who the best new technology ideas in the chemical is echoed by Dr Neil Lant from Procter & have been loyal advocates for countless sciences. As the competition continues to Gamble. He says: “We are super enthusiastic years to those who joined more recently – grow, this year’s applications will be judged in about helping [the winners] drive their are an integral part of the Royal Society of three themed panels; healthcare, energy and technologies forward and … helping them Chemistry. And we are proud to welcome sustainability, and materials science. each and every one of our new members,” find home in one of our products or in Opening up the competition to Europe is in said our Head of Membership, David Barr. other industries.” line with our vision for the chemical sciences, He continued: “Being a member of a explains our president, Dominic Tildesley. The impact of the competition is also chartered professional body like the Royal “We want to see an innovative chemistry demonstrated by the success that some of Society of Chemistry is an important sector flourish both in the UK and in the rest the winners have since had. For example, part of a successful career. Through our of Europe. Such a sector is founded on the 2014 winner Dr Matthew Gibson from history, expertise and connections, we are sharing of ideas, skills, and support, and, in an the University of Warwick was recently well placed to support individuals in their increasingly connected and global economy, awarded €1.5m by the European Research science and practice of chemistry and we this has never been more important. Council to continue to develop his will continue our work on developing an technology that mimics nature’s own cold “Welcoming Continental European applicants attractive range of activities and services to the Emerging Technologies Competition defence mechanisms to enable more for our growing community.” is just one way that we can realise this vision efficient preservation of donated cells If you’d like to find out who our 50,000th for chemistry, and we hope to see many and tissues. member is, turn to our profile on p7. applications from all across Europe.” Designed to accelerate the Previous winners of the competition have commercialisation of the best chemical Education campaign in Wales benefited hugely from the prize package, science technologies, the competition In December, we launched the Welsh forming long-lasting business relationships supports innovation in small companies branch of our specialist teaching with our partners and raising their profile. and academia. This year’s nine winners campaign at a breakfast roundtable at the will receive a tailored package of business “The insight from working with our mentors Welsh Assembly. The event was attended support from leading multinational at GlaxoSmithKline has been invaluable,” by Assembly Members from the Labour, says Dr Eleanore Irvine from Biogelx, one of companies, extensive promotion and a Liberal Democrat and Conservative the winners of our inaugural competition in cash prize for further development. parties, as well as by representatives from 2013. “We’ve now got a much earlier sense To find out more about the competition our sister societies and other stakeholders. of how we need to change and develop and to apply, visit http://rsc.li/emerging- In Wales there is a shortage of chemistry the product.” technologies teachers with a chemistry background © MPP IMAGE CREATION / ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY / ROYAL CREATION © MPP IMAGE – only half have a chemistry degree Competition compared with two-thirds in England. finalists are invited Only 4.8% of Welsh primary teachers to pitch their have a science degree. We are therefore technologies at an event in London, calling for all post-14 pupils to be taught which also offers by a chemistry specialist (someone with the opportunity to a chemistry or related degree or relevant hear from leading experience), and for every primary school professionals and to have access to a science subject leader network with fellow who is a science specialist (someone with entrepreneurs and at least one science A-Level). investors. The campaign was well received, with Assembly Members sharing our concerns around the shortage of specialists. We also achieved press coverage across a range of media outlets, including BBC Wales. 4 RSC NEWS JANUARY 2015 100 Wikipedia editors receive access INBRIEF Snapshot to our journals and databases Chemistry on the road We have donated 100 ‘RSC Gold’ accounts “Around the world, we invest in educating Throughout November, we showcased the Royal Society of Chemistry and the – the complete portfolio of Royal Society of future generations of scientists, partner A look at the latest news from around the world many different ways in which we support Chemistry journals and databases – to be with industry and academia and promote our community at our first ever chemistry used by Wikipedia editors who write about collaboration and innovation. And we roadshows in India and South Africa. chemistry. The partnership is part of a wider promote the talent, information and ideas collaboration between our members, staff that lead to great advances in science.” Since we began the roadshows in 2011, and the Wikimedia community, which aims In order to verify its content, Wikipedia we visited more than 40 UK and US to improve the coverage of chemistry- requires all facts stated to be given citations universities. The visits include workshops related topics on the online encyclopaedia from reliable sources. The Wikipedia Library on topics ranging from successfully and its sister projects. will arrange for the donated subscription publishing research and using the media to influencing policy and maximising Our recently appointed Wikimedian in accounts to journals and online archives to career and funding opportunities. Residence Andy Mabbett said: “Royal Society be allocated to Wikipedia editors who have of Chemistry journals are the first port of call demonstrated a commitment to working on In South Africa, employees, for many scientists and Wikipedia is the first projects in relevant topic areas. It, too, is run representatives of our South Africa Local port of call for both students and lay people. by volunteers, supported by the US-based Section and members of the South It absolutely makes sense for Wikimedia Foundation. African Chemistry Institute visited universities in Johannesburg, Pretoria, the two to work together to SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY / ROYAL CREATION © MPP IMAGE share knowledge, freely, for Durban and Cape Town, where they the benefit of everyone.” shared information on publishing research, Open Access, membership Stephen Hawthorne, Royal and the Pan Africa Chemistry Network. Society of Chemistry deputy Our India roadshows comprised three chief executive, explains that scientific symposia in Delhi, Hyderabad this sort of partnership is part and Chennai on analytical and of our vision for the future.