Future Mission, Goals and Function of IUPAC

The following article by President Joshua Jortner was published as a Guest Editorial in ‘Nachrichten aus Chemie’, February 1998, the news magazine of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) serves as a Scientific, international, non-gov- ernmental and objective body in addressing the global issues involving the chemical sciences. The future mis- sion and function of IUPAC should rest on the principles of the globalization of the scientific-technological en- deavour, the response to current changes in science and technology, the fast expansion of the boundaries of modern chemistry and the mission oriented service of Professor Dr. Joshua Jortner chemistry. IUPAC was formed in 1919 by chemists from industry and academia. Over nearly eight decades the Union IUPAC will represent, when appropriate, the interests of has succeeded in fostering world-wide communications chemistry in international governmental and non-gov- in the chemical sciences and in uniting academic and ernmental forums. Goals have also been established for industrial chemistry in a common language. IUPAC has the Union’s contributions to the advancement of world- long been recognized as the world authority on nomen- wide research in the chemical sciences, the promotion clature, atomic weights and many other critically evalu- of the service of chemistry to society (with attention to ated data, and it continues to sponsor major the advancement of the chemical sciences in develop- international meetings that range from specialized sym- ing countries), and the facilitation of the development of posia to CHEMRAWN meetings with societal impact. effective channels of communication in the global During the Cold War, IUPAC became an important in- chemistry community. The Union feels it is important to strument for promoting world-wide collaboration and promote the chemical aspects of industry in its contribu- communication among chemists. tions to sustainable development, wealth creation and One of the hallmarks of our era is rapid political, eco- improvement in the quality of life. nomic, technological and scientific change. With the The improvement of chemical education is another major changes that have occurred world-wide in chem- IUPAC goal. The Union recognizes that the needs of the istry and the chemical industry, IUPAC has examined its developed countries and the developing countries in role as the organization principally responsible for pro- this regard are quite different. Scientific literacy is the motion of the chemical sciences globally. Following a major concern in the developed world. IUPAC’s rôle is series of meetings to obtain input from leaders in chem- to act as a clearinghouse for information about national istry on four continents, IUPAC has redefined its mis- programs. Less developed countries need help and sion and established goals and strategies to guide its support at all levels of education and training. approach to the shaping of the chemical sciences in a IUPAC strives towards globalization of its activities rapidly changing world. with the participation of the entire world’s chemistry IUPAC’s Mission is to advance the world-wide as- community. The broadening of the geographical base pects of the chemical sciences and to contribute to the will be accomplished by recruiting new National Adher- application of chemistry to the service of Mankind. In so ing Organizations. In addition, new mechanisms need doing, IUPAC promotes the norms, values, standards to be set up to insure world-wide dissemination of infor- and ethics of science. mation about IUPAC’s work and the drawing of human To further its Mission, IUPAC is currently establishing capital to its activities. The Internet is seen as an oppor- a set of long-range goals and developing strategic tunity to greatly improve the Union’s efforts in both these thrusts to provide guidance for the kinds of scientific areas. work the Union undertakes. In addition to initiating and To carry out its scientific work (largely in nomencla- continuing major thrusts on the activities listed above, ture, terminology, critical data evaluation and organiza-

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 1 tion of scientific symposia), IUPAC has, over many tual accomplishments, scientific creativity and original- years, developed a network of 37 Commissions. Al- ity and the generation of new knowledge. The quality, though an enormous amount of valuable work has been relevance and remarkable scope of modern chemistry produced, this relatively static structure has now be- should preclude any ‘identity crises in chemistry’, some- come an impediment to undertaking projects that are times manifested in the chemistry science and educa- widely regarded as relevant to today’s world and are tion community regarding the future of the chemical completed in a time-frame consistent with the fast pace sciences as a central scientific discipline. of modern research and industrial development. We will I have discussed changes to the way in which IUPAC soon propose to IUPAC’s governing bodies major operates to fulfil the Union’s goals and future mission. changes that will consolidate the responsibility for initia- The problems with which science and society are faced tion and management of scientific projects, each of today are complex and require a reassessment of scien- which will be conducted by a time-limited working party. tific policy considerations, and an implementation of We plan to reach out to a broad international community evolutionary changes in the function and structure of the of chemists to help define the needs on which IUPAC Union. IUPAC serves the international scientific en- projects are based and to recruit the most talented deavour in the dual function of a basic science and a chemists world-wide to work on these projects. mission-oriented Union. The Union is in a unique posi- Chemistry historically emerged and developed as an tion to contribute to the central interdisciplinary chemi- interdisciplinary scientific field, with a broad definition of cal sciences. Strengthening international chemistry, its borders. Paraphrasing Linus Pauling’s definition of striving towards inspiring high standards of excellence the chemical bond ‘whatever is convenient to the chem- and relevance in academic and industrial research and ist to define as a bond’, chemistry can be defined as a promoting the service of chemistry to society and to glo- discipline encompassing all areas which are of interest bal issues, these are the visions that shape IUPAC’s for chemists and where molecular science makes sig- activities towards the 21st century. nificant contributions. The rich and diverse world of Professor Dr. Joshua Jortner modern chemistry encompasses remarkable intellec- President of IUPAC The Chemical Heritage Foundation A growing resource for the chemical community

The Chemical Heritage Foundation, based in Philadelphia, is rapidly emerging as the chemical community’s premier resource for preserving and recording our remarkable heritage, for historical research and scholar- ship, and for public education.

IUPAC and CHF The relationship between CHF and IUPAC goes back to 1984, when CHF first received in its archives a number of historical reprints dealing with the International Com- mission on Atomic Weights of IUPAC. Subsequent years saw further archival deposits, and the establish- ment of CHF as one of IUPAC’s Associated Organiza- tions. In 1996, the Union decided to transfer all of its archival materials to CHF, to prevent further dispersion of historically significant material. In the summer of that year, the Union transferred to CHF 185 boxes of docu- A recent cover of Chemical Heritage, CHF’s news ments dating from 1919 through 1970. The earliest ar- magazine. The image on the cover is a painting of the Bayer factory in Albany by Otto Bolhagen of Bremen. chive box (1919–25) includes such treasures as letters Image courtesy: Bayer AG.

2 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 this major donation are those of the Commissions on Organic and Inorganic Nomenclature. The total collec- tion contains a rich compendium of correspondence, notes, conference material, commission proceedings, country files, and IUPAC Bureau documents, accounts, and budgets.

A Brief History of CHF A detailed article on CHF’s origins, mission and goals was printed in Chemistry International 1995, 17, 5. CHF began modestly in 1982, as the Center for the History of Chemistry (CHOC), a pilot project between the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania and the American Chemical Soci- ety (ACS). CHOC’s goal was to address the urgent need to document, preserve, and make known the heritage of chemical achievement. In 1984, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) became the third spon- sor of the Center. In 1987, the Center was incorporated as a not-for- profit under the title, the National Foundation for the His- tory of Chemistry, by joint action of ACS and AICHE. The Foundation rented space in a new building at the University of Pennsylvania, and restructured its activi- ties into those of its Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry (established 1987), and its Othmer Library of Chemical History (established 1988). In 1992, the Chemical Heritage Foundation assumed its present name to better reflect the interdisciplinary The exterior of the Chemical Heritage Foundation’s nature of the chemical sciences and industries, and the permanent home, Spring 1997. Photograph by Gregory widening public scope of its activities. In 1995, CHF pur- Tobias. chased, and in 1996, CHF moved to its permanent home, the First National Bank building at Independence from Leo Baekeland, Marston Bogert, Arthur D. Little, National Historical Park in Philadelphia. Today, CHF Fred Rossini, Charles L. Parsons, W. Albert Noyes, and enjoys the endorsement and support of 19 professional other key figures in the international chemical commu- societies and associations. nity. Among general groupings of papers contained in

An Othmer Library staff member unpacking some of the library’s books and journals. Shelving and cataloguing are under way at the library’s permanent site in Philadelphia. Photograph by Gregory Tobias.

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 3 Artist’s sketch of a proposed reading room in the Othmer Library. Image courtesy: Richard Conway Meyer, Architect.

Programmes and services umes donated by The Chemists’ Club of New York. Valuable additions to the library are being sought and The Othmer Library of Chemical History received every day. The library has already grown to CHF fulfils its mission—to foster the heritage of the over 50 000 books and journals ranging in publication chemical sciences and industries—in part through the date from 1526 to 1970. An eventual stack capacity of operations of its Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer 250 000 volumes is expected. Library of Chemical History. The Othmer Library is a In 1996, Elizabeth Swan became Directory of Library product of the vision and generosity of Donald F. and Services, and set about the daunting task of re-organiz- Mildred Topp Othmer, and underpins all the program ing the library in CHF’s permanent home. Staff positions activities of CHF. The library is rapidly becoming the were advertised for and filled, and now number four full premier repository, media resource centre, and re- time and five part-time employees. An acquisitions search facility for the history of the chemical sciences policy has been drafted to help potential donors identify and industries. The library promotes access to materials the materials CHF is looking for. The process of creating on the origins, development, and current directions of an electronic catalogue using the Online Computer Li- the chemical sciences and technologies. Its activities brary Center (OCLC) bibliographic system has begun. include: The objective is to create an online catalogue which will • maintaining a comprehensive reference collection; be searchable via internet electronic access. Develop- • developing special book, manuscript, artefact, and ment of full stack capacity, improved infrastructure, and oral history collections; climate control for rare books and manuscripts are other • collecting papers of chemical scientists and organi- major goals for the library. zations; • providing database entry to other historical collec- The Beckman Center tions; and • maintaining a pictorial collection, which includes Made possible by a grant from Arnold O. and Mabel prints, negatives, slides and audio visual items. Beckman, the Centre’s mission is to undertake basic The core of the library consists of over 40 000 vol- research on the history of the chemical sciences, to con- duct scholarly events of interest to the chemical and his- torical communities, and to foster public understanding of the chemical sciences. Some examples of Beckman The Staff of Chemistry International apologize Center programmes include: for the lateness of this issue. It was a result of un- • A Spring 1997 symposium on ‘The Emergence of foreseen complications of the relocation of the Biotechnology: DNA to Genentech’, as part of the office to Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Center’s Biomolecular Sciences Initiative (BIMOSI). USA. We expect to return to a normal printing The symposium brought together major players in schedule for the May issue. the biotechnology revolution to share reflections and

4 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 A gathering of distinguished scientists and historians at a Spring 1997 CHF symposium on ‘The Emergence of Biotechnology: DNA to Genentech.’ The event was recorded on videotape in front of a live studio audience. [The seated panel is comprised of (from left): Charles Weiner, MIT; Stanley Cohen, Stanford; Maxine Singer, Carnegie Institution of Washington; Herbert Boyer, Co-Founder of Genentech; Moderator Everett Mendelsohn, Harvard; Paul Berg, Stanford; George Rathmann, Amgen and ICOS; William Rutter, Chiron; and Arthur Kornberg, Stanford.] Photograph by Harry Kalish.

assessments from biotech’s early years. The • The Glenn. E. Ullyot Lecture Series (co-sponsored videotape of this event represents a significant con- with the ACS, Philadelphia Section and the Chem- tribution to the historical archive, and an edited ver- istry Department, University of Pennsylvania), sion will be used to create a classroom resource. which explores the impact of the chemical sciences • The Oral History Project—A programme in which on society. The lecture in 1997 was given by Dr. P. leading chemical scientists, industrialists, and prac- Roy Vagelos, former Chairman and CEO of Merck titioners are interviewed at length and their lives and and Co., Inc. careers documented. Over 100 histories have been • Travelling educational exhibits, that highlight the completed, with individuals from Mildred Cohn to contributions of chemical scientists and the chemi- Linus Pauling and Edward Jefferson to Ralph cal industries to society. The most recent exhibit, Landau. Chemistry is Electric!, was developed to coincide • Continuing fellowships and travel grants to support with the 100th Anniversary of the Dow Chemical visiting academic scholars and educators, including Company. These exhibits have been displayed in the Edelstein International Fellowship and museums, high schools and cultural centres in the Studentship, the Gordon Cain Fellowship on Entre- USA and Europe. preneurship and Innovation, and the Eugene • Events throughout the USA, such as a Spring 1997 Garfield Fellowship. Many visiting and resident symposium on ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship in scholars use CHF premises to give Brown Bag talks the Petrochemical Industry’ at the Annual Interna- to the wider community about their work. tional Petrochemical Conference, San Antonio, Texas. Public outreach • Conversazioni at CHF’s home in Philadelphia, Public outreach activities are a critical part of CHF’s which provide opportunities for leaders in the mission ‘to make known the achievements of chemical chemical community to speak to the Foundation scientists and the chemical process industries.’ These and its friends. activities make an enormous contribution to the chemi- cal community and broaden public understanding of the Publications chemical sciences and technologies. Some examples CHF’s publications activities are growing. CHF’s news are: magazine, Chemical Heritage, has expanded into a 48-

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 5 A panel from CHF’s most recent traveling exhibit: Chemistry is Electric! Image Courtesy: Joel Katz Design Associates. page, four-color publication—one of the largest, most CHF is developing timelines on subjects from Chemi- respected heritage periodicals in the world today. cal Engineering to Electrochemistry to Scientific Infor- CHF has begun an independent series on Innovation mation. CHF also produces resources for high-school and Entrepreneurship. The first volume, Everybody teachers, including Chemical Achievers and Structures Wins! A Life in Free Enterprise, by Gordon Cain was of Life, and popular publications, like American Chemi- published in 1997. Next in this series will be Ralph cal Enterprise and Polymer Pioneers. Landau’s edited volume on Pharmaceutical Innovation. Further information about the Chemical Heritage CHF has also published books in partnership with the Foundation may be obtained by contacting: Dr Leo American Chemical Society and the University of Penn- Slater, Program Manager, Historical Services Chemical sylvania (recent examples include Eilhard Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadel- Mitscherlich—Prince of Prussian Chemistry by Hans- phia, PA 19106, USA. Tel.: 215 925 2222 (x224), fax: Werner Schütt, and Lavoisier—Chemist, Biologist, 215 925 1954. Economist by Jean-Pierre Poirier).

Project Sediba: a programme for upgrading physical science and mathematics teachers in Southern Africa Pieter Steyn & Rufus Wesi

The beginning of 1996 witnessed the establishment of dustries and wealth creation in the Republic of South an upgrading programme for physical science and Africa. Amidst the recurrent high failure rate amongst mathematics teachers, called the SEDIBA Project. The matriculation science pupils and reports that local SEDIBA (Setswana word for fountain) Project is a part- standards in education, particularly that of mathematics nership involving the Potchefstroom University for CHE, and science, are far below the norm, the founding of the the North West Education Department, and SEDIBA Project was a much needed development. NASCHEM—a division of DENEL, a giant armaments Upon its inception in 1996, the SEDIBA Project regis- corporation. The project is aimed at improving the qual- tered an initial group of 40 teachers in the physical sci- ity of science and mathematics teaching by assisting ence stream. In the beginning of 1997, not only did 45 science and mathematics teachers to gain mastery of new teachers enrol for the first year of the physical sci- the subject and to teach it with confidence and commit- ence course, but a new programme for upgrading math- ment. The teaching of these subjects is of fundamental ematics teachers was introduced with an initial importance in the establishment of high technology in- enrolment of 37. The total enrolment of teachers in both

6 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 tive Committee of the IUPAC Bureau. Four other senior members from the three above-mentioned departments are also involved in the day-to-day running of the project. As part of its contribution, the North West Edu- cation Department seconded two senior science teach- ers, Mr Wesi and Mr Dolo to the project; both are registered for masters degrees in science education. The management and staff of the SEDIBA Project are pleased that both the planning and organization of the project have been successfully executed. Both the teachers and the lecturing staff are highly motivated and enthusiastic about the project. The current target of SEDIBA Project is practising secondary school teachers in possession of a 3-year diploma in physical science or mathematics teaching in the North West Province. The financial support from NASCHEM, as part of its social responsibility pro- gramme, makes it possible for teachers to enrol for this programme at reduced tariffs. Upon completion of the programme, teachers will obtain a higher education di- ploma in science or mathematics education. SEDIBA staff members are actively involved in research; investi- Rufus Wesi gating numerous aspects of science education such as the situation analysis with regard to the qualification and physical science and mathematics programs to date is distribution of science teachers in the North West Prov- 117. ince, the use of computer aided instruction, alternative Project SEDIBA comprises two professional develop- conceptions, and the conceptualization of concepts in ment programmes for physical science teachers and both science and mathematics. mathematics teachers offered on part-time bases. Tui- Since its inception, the SEDIBA Project is steadily tion is done by means of contact teaching involving making a difference in the lives of teachers who for a state of the art computer aided instruction and by means long time tried to teach, however, with little success, and of distance learning. Lectures are offered mostly during children who emerge from an educational environment school holidays on the campus of the Potchefstroorn characterized by crises, high failure rates, and a lack of University. Courses are presented at an equivalent of a culture of learning. Through 117 teachers, the first year university level. The physical science stream consists of physics, chemistry, education, didactics of physi- cal science, and computer lit- eracy. Practical work forms an integral part of the physical science programme. The mathematics stream consists of topics in algebra, Euclidean geometry, trigonometry, calcu- lus, education, computer lit- eracy and didactics of mathematics. Hosted by three academic departments (physics, chem- istry and mathematics), project SEDIBA functions under the directorship of Professor Pieter Steyn, who is the head of the Chemistry Department and a member of the Execu-

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 7 SEDIBA Project is reaching out to over 30 000 pupils. elevating the levels of science and mathematics educa- Feedback from subject advisors and schools indicates tion. This will enable more young people, particularly that there has been a marked improvement in the qual- those from previously disadvantaged communities, to ity of teaching from the SEDIBA teachers. The success qualify for careers as scientists, mathematicians and of the project is attributed not only to commitment and engineers. The project will be extended to the dedication by both the teachers and the lecturing staff, Mpumalanga Province in 1998. Fifty physical science but also to the fine spirit of cooperation between all the and mathematics teachers will be involved in a teacher parties involved (that is, NASCHEM, the North West upgrading programme made possible by a generous Education Department and the Potchefstroom Univer- grant from INGWE, a coal mining company belonging to sity). It is envisaged that project SEDIBA will continue to Gencor. make a considerable impact on the educational system,

News

Dr Beljaars holds a Masters Degree in Organic Paul R. Beljaars Be- Chemistry and Food Chemistry from the State Univer- comes President of sity of Utrecht and a Doctoral Degree in Agricultural Sci- AOAC International ences from the Agricultural University of Wageningen, the Netherlands. Paul Raymond BeIjaars began He is also active in the Netherlands Normalization In- his one-year term as President stitute, the International Standardization Organization, of AOAC International (formerly and the European Committee for Standardization. the Association of Official Ana- lytical Chemists) on 10 September 1997 following the business meeting at the 111th AOAC International An- AOAC International update nual Meeting in San Diego, California, USA. BeIjaars is Reorganization of the Technical Services the Association’s first European President. Department Dr BeIjaars, an actively involved member of AOAC since the mid-1970s, is now serving his fifth year on the AOAC International reorganized its technical services AOAC Board of Directors. Other activities in AOAC have department this year. Mr Scott Coates was appointed as included co-founding the AOAC Europe Low Lands Director of Technical Services in February 1997. Mr Subsection as well as serving on the Regional Sections Steven Ward is now the Methods Manager, responsible Committee, the International Committee, the Methods for administering the AOAC® Official MethodsSM pro- Committee on Commodity Foods and Commodity Prod- gramme. Ms Anita Mishra is the AOAC Technical Coor- ucts, the Editorial Board, the Finance Committee, the dinator responsible for administering the Peer-Verified Annual Meeting Programme Committee, and the task MethodsSM and Performance Tested MethodsSM pro- groups on Nominations, Methods Format, and the By- grammes. Ms Arlene Fox is the AOAC Programme Co- laws. ordinator responsible for the administration of the: When asked about his primary focus while in office, Technical Division for Reference Material, Technical BeIjaars responded ‘At AOAC, we want to build a Division on Laboratory Management, AOAC® Labora- stronger international presence and work together with tory Proficiency Testing Programme, and coordinating other international scientific organizations to create reli- international activities. able analytical and microbiological methods world- wide.’ Method validation Programme Integration BeIjaars, Head of the Chemistry Department’s Food Inspection Service of the Netherlands Inspectorate for AOAC is reviewing plans to integrate its three method SM Health Protection since 1968, has been very active in validation programs (Official Methods , Peer-Verified SM SM methods development as the Chair of the Inspectorate’s Methods and Performance Tested Methods ) to Project Group for Collaborative Studies (PCS). He has make all three programmes more internally consistent. also been cofounder, author, and editor of the Dutch A recommendation will be submitted to the Board of Di- Journal De Ware (N) -Chemicus published by the In- rectors in September 1997 at the AOAC Annual Meeting spectorate for Health Protection. in San Diego, California.

8 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 Technical Division on Reference Materials International Organization for Chemical AOAC established the Technical Division on Reference Sciences in Development Materials several years ago to provide a forum to dis- supporting chemistry in developing countries .... cuss the needs and standards for reference and quality • IOCD Working Groups link chemists in developing control materials. The Technical Division on Reference countries with distinguished investigators in indus- Materials has about 500 members and has jointly spon- trial countries in collaborative research on topics in sored the Biological and Environmental Reference Ma- the areas of health, agriculture and industry. terials (BERM) Symposia held in Antwerp. The next • IOCD organizes laboratory workshops in developing BERM meeting is planned for Baltimore, Maryland, USA countries to provide chemists hands-on instruction in 2000. in research techniques. IOCD is a non-governmental, non-profit agency char- Technical Division on Laboratory Manage- tered in Belgium. ment AOAC established a Technical Division on Laboratory IOCD Governance Management in 1997 to provide AOAC members a fo- The Executive Committee of iOCD, comprising the rum to discuss laboratory management issues. The President, Vice-President/Treasurer, Executive Direc- Technical Division on Laboratory Management will hold tor, and the three working group chairpersons, sets an inaugural business meeting at the AOAC Interna- overall policy and programme directions for the IOCD. tional Annual Meeting on September Advice and assistance on specific issues is available to the Executive Committee from members of the Senior AOAC Laboratory Proficiency Testing Pro- Advisory Council, a panel of distinguished scientists, gramme three of whom are Nobel Laureates. AOAC is developing a Labora- tory Proficiency Testing Pro- IOCD Officers gramme. Subscribing President (1992–1995). Dr Jean-Marie Lehn, Laboratoire laboratories will receive test de Chimie Supramoléculaire, Université Louis Pas- samples for analysis, reports teur, Strasbourg, France. results to AOAC, and then re- Vice President/Treasurer. Dr Elkan R. Blout, Division of ceive a confidential report on Biological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, how well the analytical results Boston, Massachusetts, USA of their laboratory compare to other laboratories. Inquiries and requests for information about IOCD Annual Meetings Dr Robert H. Maybury, Executive Director, IOCD (USA 111th AOAC International, Town & Country Hotel, San Office), PO Box 8156, Fails Church, Virginia 22041, Diego, California, USA, 7–11 September 1997. USA. Tel.: +1 703 845 9078, fax: +1 703 845 9078, e- mail: [email protected] http://iocd.unam.mx 112th AOAC International, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Dr Carlos Rius, IOCD Secretariatm Av. Universidad Montreal, Quebec, Canada 13–17 September 1998 2219, 4 piso Col. Copilco A. Obregon, cp 004360, 113th AOAC International, Adam’s Mark Hotel, Hou- Mexico D.F., Mexico. Tel.: +52 5 616 1183, fax: +52 ston, Texas, USA, 26–30 September 1999 5 645 7709 and +52 5 558 8652, e-mail: 114th AOAC International, Adam’s Mark Hotel, Phila- [email protected] delphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 10–14 September 2000 IOCD Senior Advisory Council Dr Berhanu Abegaz, Addis Ababa University, Addis Official Methods of Analysis Compendium Ababa, Ethiopia. The AOAC® Official Methods of Analysis compendium is Dr Sydney Archer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute available in both hardcopy and CD-ROM format. The Troy, New York, USA. 4th Revisions to the 16th edn of the AOAC* Official Dr Sune Bergström, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Methods of Analysis compendium will be available in Sweden. Dr Norman E. Borlaug, CIMMYT, Mexico D.F. Mexico. the Spring of 1998. Dr K.H. Bachel, Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Bayerwerk, IOCD Germany.

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 9 Dr Vad’m Ivanov, Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Working Group on Plant Chemistry Chemistry, Moscow, Russia. Chair: Dr Kurt Hostettmann, Institut de Pharmacognosie Dr Huang Liang, Chinese Academy of Medical Sci- et, Phytochimie, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, ences, Beijing, China. Switzerland. Dr M. Kamel Mahmoud, National Research Center, Vice Chair: Dr Ermias Dagne, Chemistry Department, Cairo, Egypt. Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA, Dr Dr Lester A. Mitscher, The University of Kansas, Law- Patrick Moyna, Facultad de Quimica, Montevideo, rence, Kansas USA. Uruguay. Dr Teruaki Mukaiyama, Science University of Tokyo, The Working Group on Plant Chemistry has organ- Tokyo, Japan. ized laboratory workshops on simple bioassay tech- Dr Pierre Potier, Institut de Chimie, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, niques for natural products chemists (1990, Nairobi, France. Kenya; 1992, Accra, Ghana; 1994, Uruguay; and 1996, Dr C.N.R. Rao, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Harare, Zimbabwe). In 1996, the workshop was fol- India. lowed by an international symposium on African Medici- Dr Glenn T. Seaborg (IOCD President Emeritus), Law- rence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA. nal Plants. In 1997, an international symposium on Dr Christoph Tamin, Universitat Basel, Basel, Switzer- Medicinal Plants from the Americas will convene in land. Panama).

Joint IOCD–IUPAC Working Group on Environmen- IOCD programme activities tal Analytical Chemistry IOCD was created in 1981 by a group of distinguished Chair: Dr Waiter R. Benson, Bethesda, Maryland USA. scientists from 15 countries meeting at UNESCO, Paris, IOCD and the International Union of Pure and Applied out of a concern about the barriers that hinder the re- Chemistry (IUPAC) formed this joint working group in search efforts of chemists in developing countries. Sci- 1993 to promote environmental analytical chemistry in entific working groups were set up to enable chemists in developing countries. The group organized its first developing countries to collaborate in research with dis- workshop in May, 1996, in Quito, Ecuador, in collabora- tinguished investigators of industrialized countries. At tion with an Ecuadorian non-governmental organiza- present, there are four working groups in IOCD. tion, Corporacion OIKOS, for 20 analytical chemists to assist them to take part in environmental monitoring. IOCD Working Group on Fertility Regulation Chair: Dr Josef Fried, Chemistry Department, The Uni- Concerning IOCD funding.... versity of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA Vice Chair: Dr Stephen Matlin, Commonwealth Secre- The programme activities carried on by IOCD are tariat, London, UK. funded by grants received from individual donors and This working group is carrying out research on the agencies such as foundations, governmental organiza- chemistry and mechanism of action of new antifertility tions and the United Nations (UNESCO, WHO, etc.). agents in the male. These agents are synthesized by IOCD operates with minimal overhead costs, primarily chemists in developing countries, members of the work- those for communications and limited travel of members ing group, and then tested in a biological laboratory in of the Executive Committee. Contributions to IOCD are the United States under the supervision of Dr M. James welcome, those from US citizens being tax-deductible Cosentino. since the IOCD affiliate, called the Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development, Inc. (OCDI), has IOCD Working Group on Tropical Diseases been declared a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization Chair: Dr Fred Opperdoes, Research Unit for by the US Internal Revenue Service. Tropical Diseases, International Institute of Cellular, & Molecular Pathology, Brussels, Belgium Please address inquiries to: Dr Elkan R. Blout, Vice Vice Chair: Dr Jacques Peri6, Laboratoire de Chimie President and Treasurer, IOCD, Division of Biological Organique, Biologique, UniversM Pul Sabatier, Tou- Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 louse, France. Huntington Avenue, MA 02115, USA. The Working Group on Tropical Diseases involves chemists in developing countries in synthesis of com- pounds that are tested as possible new chemothera- peutic agents in the treatment of tropical diseases such as malaria, filariasis, etc.

10 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 Provisional Recommendations

IUPAC seeks your comments spectroscopy used in laser-based molecular In this section we publish synopses of IUPAC’s latest spectroscopy for chemical analysis. It has four main provisional recommendations on nomenclature and sections: fundamentals of laser absorption symbols. All comments on these recommendations are spectroscopy, Doppler-limited spectroscopy, sub-Dop- welcome and will be taken into consideration. The final pler laser spectroscopy, and time-resolved laser revised versions are published in Pure and Applied spectroscopy. Chemistry and synopses of these are published in Basic aspects of spectral resolution limited by the Chemistry International as recent reports. Doppler width of molecular absorption are treated, ap- If you would like to comment on the provisional rec- plication of single mode or multi-mode lasers is dis- ommendations please write to your nearest national/re- cussed, approaches to high-resolution sub-Doppler gional centre requesting a copy of the full report. Copies laser spectroscopy are given, and applications are dis- are not available from the IUPAC Secretariat. The most cussed. recent list of the national/regional centres appeared in This document does not cover laser-induced effects Chemistry International 1997, 17, 141. causing luminescence, which are covered in Part XVI [Pure Appl. Chem. 1997, 69(7), 1435–1449], or scatter- ing processes covered in Part XVIII [Pure Appl. Chem. Nomenclature, symbols, units and their 1997, 69(7), 1481–1468]. Some relevant common usage in spectrochemical analysis— terms have already been defined in Part XVI and are not XVII. Laser-based molecular redefined in this document. spectrometry for chemical analysis: absorption Comments on these recommendations are welcome and should be sent by 1 September 1998 to: Dr D.S. (Prepared by G. Gauglitz & D.S. Moore) Moore, Group DX-2, Mail Stop C920, Los Alamos Na- This document, part XVII of this series, deals with the tional Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA, Fax: +1 fundamentals and applications of laser absorption (505) 667 0500, e-mail: [email protected]

Meeting reports

Summary minutes of meetings of the Physical Chemistry Division Committee data compilation and bodies such as CHEMRAWN and during the 39th General Assembly of COCI on the other side. It was generally felt that the IUPAC, Geneva, 23–27 August 1997 suggestions for restructuring in the VPCA report, involv- ing the mergers of Commissions of the Analytical and The future structure of IUPAC and the reorganization of Physical Chemistry Divisions would not result in a more the union that is expected as a result of the work of the responsive or relevant organization. Divisions and Strategy Development and Implementation Committee Commissions are criticised for not fulfilling the IUPAC were extensively discussed during the PCD Committee mission, yet this mission remains vaguely defined. meetings. It was generally felt that changes are needed. To set the stage for the discussion, each participant of The organization is elaborate and inflexible, and the the meeting was asked to answer the question ‘Would work should be more focused on subjects which are IUPAC be created if it did not exist?’ There was a con- coordinated over an international scale. The present sensus that an international body is needed for matters statutes of IUPAC are too vague and nonspecific to al- such as international nomenclature, atomic weights, ta- low the measurement of achievements. Its activities can bles of thermodynamic and thermophysical properties be considered to represent two different interest areas: a scientific side exemplified by the ‘Green Book’, and

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 11 of substances of great commercial interest, etc. Such a Assembly 1995, Guildford, UK, body is also needed for sorting out units, and to formu- 4–7 August 1995 late guidelines for presentation and codification in rap- idly moving and newly developing fields. It could also Summary minutes prepared by Martin Quack, act as a pressure group on governments in special is- Secretary I.1 sues. This body could be much smaller than the present The Swedish translation of the abbreviated list of Physi- IUPAC and more flexible, with a short response time. cal Chemical Symbols has just been published and a The discussion was centred on the question of what German translation of the green book is underway. changes are needed in the Physical Chemistry Division There seems to be a need for a better coordination of in the next 2–4 years. The question was raised, ‘What the translations. Further possible translations (into would happen if most or all permanent commissions French, Italian, etc.) were discussed. were abolished?’ After some discussion, the Commis- The versions of the green book for the 3rd edition, sion Chairmen decided to meet as a group to discuss with the new title Physical–Chemical Quantities, Units this question. In the interest of making the Physical and Symbols, which is planned for 1998, were dis- Chemistry Division more flexible and relevant they rec- cussed in detail. Of the numerous topics, we shall men- ommended the following: tion here only the more general issues which remained 1 The Commission Chairmen should become a per- unresolved and still need further discussion. The ques- manent part of the Division Committee which would tion of the definition of the ‘Electrochemical Potential’ otherwise be reduced to a few officers and an has been discussed and it was decided that a small sub- at-large TM. committee of five people, formed by some members of 2 At least an entire day of each General Assembly I.1 and I.3 (Electrochemistry) should prepare a definitive meeting should be devoted to discussions of scien- formulation which is acceptable to both I.1 and I.3 until tific and technological issues as possible candidates the next meeting. for IUPAC projects. This discussion would involve The central term ‘amount of substance’ remains con- the newly constituted Division Committee. Discus- troversial because of its clumsiness. Possible alterna- sion of administrative issues would not be permitted tives were discussed, with the idea of introducing a during this period. Ideas would be circulated in ad- clearly technical term, which is not taken from the Eng- vance of the GA, giving members of the Division lish language, such as ‘enplethy’ (from Greek, similar to Committee time to get input from scientific col- enthalpy, energy, entropy), ‘Stoffmenge’ (from German) leagues outside IUPAC. ‘Stoffamount’ mixed (German and English) and ‘ment’. 3 Such discussions would lead to new projects, per- In a meeting with I.5 (Spectroscopy) the introduction haps involving members of several Commissions. of an SI consistent unit for the quantity wavenumber The Commissions would interpret their missions (rarely called also ‘repetancy’) was discussed. One pro- broadly and this, in time, will lead to appropriate posal is 1 Berg = 1 Bg = 1 m–1 (in analogy to 1 Hz = changes in the Commission structure. Coordination 1 Hertz = 1 s–1). The frequently used unit 1 cm–1 would with other Divisions would also be possible. be replaced by 1 hBg (hectoberg), which is SI consist- 4 The need to keep the Commission structure was ent and easily pronounced. emphasized by the comment, ‘Abolish the Commis- sions and IUPAC will die because of lack of Meeting of the Commission on Biophysi- projects’. cal Chemistry (I.7), Geneva, Switzerland, The Division Committee approved these recommen- dations and decided to propose to the IUPAC authori- 24–25 August 1997 ties that the membership of the Physical Chemistry Helmut Hauser, as the Commission Chairman, first Division Committee be changed to Commission Chair- gave an overview of the directions that IUPAC was be- men, a few officers and a position for a titular member ing urged to take. A more restrictive policy in selecting from outside the existing Commissions. IUPAC projects will be adopted. Future IUPAC projects Gerd Olofsson should be timely, highly relevant to the chemical com- Thermochemistry, Chemical Center, Lund University, munity and completed in a reasonable period of time. PO Box 124, S-221 00, Lund, Sweden The main items on the agenda were the review of ongoing projects and the discussion of feasibility stud- ies. The project ‘Recommendations for the Presentation Quantities, Units and Symbols in Physi- of NMR Structures of Proteins and Nucleic Acids’ coor- cal Chemistry. Commission on dinated by Kurt Wüthrich has been completed and is Physico-Chemical Symbols Terminology scheduled for publication in Pure and Applied Chemis- and Units (I.1) at the IUPAC General try by the end of 1997. The plan is to also have it pub-

12 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 lished in the Journal of Molecular Biology, the European menclature’ has been drafted by the working party and Journal of Biochemistry, Biochemistry and the Journal this will serve as a basis for the preparation of the final of Biomolecular NMR. There was a general consensus document. The expected completion date is 1999. among the members of Commission I.7 and the Division Helmut Hauser reported on the status of the project Committee that this document represents an important ‘Terminology in the Field of Lipid Vesicles’. The recent contribution by IUPAC. It will prove very valuable in the expansion and numerous new developments in this standardization of the reporting of NMR structures of field of research called for an updating of the existing proteins and nucleic acids. document written by Lisbeth Ter-Minassian-Saraga. For In a joint meeting with the Electroanalytical Chemistry this purpose a new working party has been formed and Commission V.5 (R.P. Buck, Chairman) Daniel an amended version of the document is due within the Thévenot’s project on Electrochemical Biosensors was next year. The expected completion date is end of 1998. reviewed. A ‘final’ document has been sent to eight jour- In a joint meeting with the Electrochemistry Commis- nal editors, about 20 experts and the members of the sion (I.3), Fred Hawkridge and George Wilson reported two commissions involved. It has already been ap- on the status of the joint project ‘Redox Potential Meas- proved by the Interdivisional Committee on Nomencla- urements of Proteins’. Current plans include making the ture and Symbols (IDCNS). The present definition of report consistent with the IUPAC Green Book, collecting biosensors excludes ‘single use devices’. This fact has and incorporating the comments of various expert re- turned into a contentious issue that needs to be re- viewers, and producing a final version to be sent to solved satisfactorily in the final document. The comple- IDCNS for approval in 1998. tion date of this project is 1998. Terry Stouch presented his feasibility study on ‘Rec- Robert Goldberg’s project on ‘Thermodynamics of ommendations for Reporting the Results of Computa- Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions’ was discussed in a joint tions in Biophysical Chemistry’. Stouch has established meeting with the Thermodynamics Commission I.2 (W. a well-balanced working party of experts who concluded Wakeham, Chairman). This project, which is now for- unanimously that there is a need for guidelines for the mally complete, has led to three publications in the Jour- presentation of computational results. All members of nal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data: the Commission agreed that this subject is of great im- • R.N. Goldberg & Y.B. Tewari. Thermodynamics of portance to science and that it warrants the initiation of a enzyme-catalyzed reactions: Part 3. Hydrolases. J. new IUPAC project. It is conceived as a joint project with Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 1994, 23, 1035–1103. Professor J.E. Boggs of the subcommittee on Theoreti- • R.N. Goldberg & Y.B. Tewari. Thermodynamics of cal Chemistry of Commission I.5. enzyme-catalyzed reactions: Part 4. Lyases. J. The time left was used for discussion of possible fu- Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 1995, 24, 1669–1698. ture projects that might be undertaken within Commis- • R.N. Goldberg & Y.B. Tewari. Thermodynamics of sion I.7 or as joint projects with other commissions. In enzyme-catalyzed reactions: Part 5. Isomerases several joint meetings with Commissions of the Physical and Ligases. J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 1995, Chemistry Division and also other Divisions the need for 24,1765–1801. good coordination and collaboration within IUPAC was Robert Goldberg pointed out that the database needs emphasized. John Ralston, Chairman of Commission updating as new information appears in the literature. I.6, stressed that making use of existing expertise within There is now a need and an opportunity to derive Gibbs IUPAC by optimizing coordination and collaboration is free energies and enthalpies of formation for biochemi- preferable to generating new IUPAC bodies. cal substances from thermodynamic network calcula- *Dr John R. Moody, Chairman, acting for the vacant tions. position of Secretary Hans-Jürgen Hinz and Fred Schwarz presented the third draft of a document dealing with ‘Recommenda- Minutes of the 6th Meeting of the Com- tions for the Measurement and for the Presentation of mission on Isotope Specific Measure- Results Obtained on Biological Substances with Scan- ments as References (II.4), University of ning Calorimetry’. The scope of the final document was discussed in detail. To finalize the project in 1999 the Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 27 Au- working party will meet twice within the next year. gust 1997 Martin Caffrey reported on the status of the project on Present: ‘Nomenclature for Lipid Mesophases’. He summarized Dr John R. Moody (Chairman) the objectives of the project and described his strategy Prof. Kensaku Okamoto for realizing these objectives. A first version of a docu- Dr John W. Gramlich ment entitled ‘Recommendations for a Lipid Phase No- Dr Andreé Lamberty

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 13 Prof. Kevin J.R. Rosman IMEP round 7—Trace Elements in Human Serum Dr Philip Taylor The samples have been received and distributed to the Dr Robert Vocke ‘certifying’ laboratories. The submission of samples to Prof. Paul De Bièvre participants should occur early in 1998 with programme Prof. Klaus G. Heumann conclusion expected in 1998. Apologies for absence: Prof. Robert F.M. Herber

‘The International Measurement Evaluation Pro- IMEP round 8—Carbon Isotope Ratios in CO2, grammes (IMEPs) for rounds 1–6 have been com- This programme will not begin until 1998 and is not ex- pleted, with the exception of several publications that pected to conclude until 2000. It is not listed with the are in press or prepared for review. The concept of com- current IUPAC Programme Information Files. paring the ‘state of the practice’ to a reference value established by isotope specific measurements trace- IMEP round 9—Trace Elements in Natural Water able to the SI have been well received by programme Samples have been obtained and ‘certifying’ laborato- participants and by IUPAC. The practice is likely to ries have been identified. Sample distribution would not spread through the development of numerous regional begin until 1998, with the expected conclusion of the IMEP programmes initiated by Prof. De Bièvre, thus programme in 1999. multiplying the influence of the Commission pro- grammes. IMEP round 10—Trace Elements in Polyethlene The necessary samples have been obtained and ‘certi- fying’ laboratories have been approached for measure- Summary ments. Some measurements have begun. The The members were welcomed to the meeting by Dr J.R. programme is expected to conclude in 1999. Moody. The minutes of the 4th Meeting of the Commis- sion II.4 in Guildford, UK on 6–7 August 1995, were IMEP round 11—Trace Elements in Car Catalysts adopted as distributed. The agenda of the 6th meeting This programme and a previously announced pro- was adopted without amendments. New officers were gramme for trace elements in soils are both delayed and elected with Prof. K. Okamoto assuming the position of are not given in the current IUPAC Programme Informa- Chairman. Dr J. Moody will continue service for two tion Files. more years as Secretary in order to assure a smooth transition. Prof. Z. Motion of China and Dr H. Felber of Future rounds under consideration Switzerland were nominated as titular members. All Action on these items is deferred until the special meet- members were asked about their eligibility status. A new ing to be held in Tsukuba in 1998. member list will be circulated after the Geneva meeting. The next meeting of the Commission will be held in With the new Commission leadership, a special meeting Berlin in 1999. A special meeting of the major pro- in Tsukuba, Japan hosted by Prof. Okamoto was pro- gramme ‘certifiers’ will be held in Tsukuba, Japan in posed for 1998. This meeting will serve to bring together 1998. the new titular members and officers to discuss and plan the future work of the Commission. With at least four Final report of the Working Party on laboratories participating as certifying laboratories, Recycling of Polymers close communication and planning is vital for the pro- grammes in progress. In addition, the newer members The Working Party on Recycling of Polymers, consist- will be assuming more leadership roles and thus will ing of 12 experts from 7 countries, was created by the need the advice and guidance of previous officers. A Macromolecular Division (IV) in 1993. It held three special budget request will be prepared for this meeting. meetings, produced 10 papers describing various as- pects of the current state of polymer recycling, spon- sored a Microsymposium on the same subject that took Review of the current rounds of the Interna- place in Prague in July 1997, and formulated a set of tional Measurement Evaluation Programmes recommendations. The Working Party concluded its fi- (IMEPs) nal work by correspondence. IMEP round 6—Trace Elements in Water The recommendations of the Working Party were The active portion of this programme concluded in adopted unanimously by the Macromolecular Division 1995. In addition to the previous publication, the results on 26 August 1997 at the IUPAC General Assembly in have been prepared for submission to ‘Accreditation Geneva. The papers and the recommendations will be and Quality Assurance.’ published together with the proceedings of the Prague Microsymposium on Polymer Recycling in

14 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 Macromolecular Symposia. On the recommendation of these have been moved to the new IUPAC web site at its chairman, the Working Party was then disbanded, http://www.iupac.org). An introductory page was written having accomplished its assigned task. containing the links to the various recommendations Norbert M. Bikales and provisional recommendations. As these are stored Chairman of the Working Party in PDF format, Acrobat Reader (available free) allows easy printing as originally published and complete text searching. Summary Minutes—Commission on Thirdly, a number of relevant journal editors were ap- Spectrochemical and other Optical Pro- proached to advertise the presence of the web site and cedures for Analysis (V.4), of the Gen- the electronic forms of our documents, as well as to eral Assembly meeting, Geneva, Swit- place a link to the site in their own web pages if they had zerland, 23–27 August 1997 them. All were extremely happy to do so. To produce useful documents that meet real needs, the pulse of Alignment for change technology-driven advances in optical methods for What is relevance? In terms of spectrochemical analy- analysis continues to be taken by the members of V.4 sis, it means recommendations that get used and docu- and their contacts and colleagues. Yearly meetings and ments that meet real needs. To bring some of the many other venues are used to brainstorm about new projects recommendations from V.4 into the light, several tactics deemed to meet some of these needs. Whether these were taken. First, our venerable chair Tuan Vo-Dinh, be nomenclature documents to sort out confusion in and John Bertie, the chair of I.5, wrote an article for Ap- newly developing fields or critical assessments to help plied Spectroscopy, which presented the products of researchers and analysts evaluate competing new both commissions and described the objectives of the technologies, the high energy of commission members ongoing work. There has been strong positive response is used to rapidly produce appropriate publications. to the article, especially in the number of inquiries for Next meeting: Commission members will convene at reprints and preprints. a mini-meeting during Europtode in Münster, Germany, Secondly, all our documents were placed on the 20 March 1998. Internet at the IUPAC site on the RSC server (Eds note: D.S. Moore, Secretary V.4 Conferences

100th Anniversary of the Serbian Chemi- cal Society II. Immediately after the war, the work of SCS and the publication of the journal Bulletin de la Societe The Serbian Chemical Society (SCS) was, founded on Chimique were renewed; since 1985, the name was 27 November 1897 in Belgrade as the 10th oldest changed to Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, chemical society in the world. The initial task of the soci- published in English. ety included the exchange of Information and reporting Current activities of SCS, with a membership ap- on innovations and new developments in all areas of proaching 3000 and 15 affiliations in all major cities, are chemistry, presentation of original research results by mainly concerned with the organization of national and society members, consultation on practical problems in international scientific meetings in different areas of chemistry, the use of chemical knowledge for the benefit chemistry, chemical technology and metallurgy (19 sec- of national economy, problems in chemical education tions), specialized seminars in chemical education, and efforts to improve the status of chemists in Serbia The activity of SCS was temporary interrupted by World War 1 but was continued soon after so that, in 1927, in the new state, the society war able to transform into ‘The Chemical Society of the Kingdom of Yugosla- via’. The publication of the Journal of the society, Bulletin de la Societe Chimique du Royaume de Yugoslavie, commenced In 1930 but was put to a stop by World War

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 15 summer schools, the invitation of the Geselischaft Osterreichischer lectures by promi- Chemiker. Local arrangements were made by Dr P. nent scientists and Czedik Eysenberg. The President, Prof. Lauri Niinisto the publication of (Association of Finnish Chemical Societies), was in the the official journal chair and delegates from 24 member societies at- (12 issues of the tended, together with representatives of FECS Divi- 61st volume in sions and Working Parties. 1996) and the The President of the GÖCh, Dr W. Unger, welcomed Chemical Review the delegates to Vienna on the occasion of the 100th (31st volume), the anniversary of the Gesellschaft Österreichischer latter primarily in- Chemiker. A scroll conveying greetings from FECS to tended for stu- mark the GÖCh 100th anniversary had been presented dents. at an earlier celebratory meeting. At the celebration of the Centennial, 23–27 Septem- ber, these and other achievements wore presented in FECS Lecture detail by the presidents of SCS and the organizational committee, Professors J. Jovanovic and Z. Cekovic. Professor Dieter Oesterhelt, Max-Planck-Institute für The festivity also offered an opportunity to reaffirm inter- Biochemie, delivered the 1997 FECS Lecture on the national relations and the position of the society. At the subject of ‘Farbenspiel einer lonenpumpe’—’Colour official Assembly ceremony, SCS was offered best changes of an ion pump’ on 8 September at the celebra- wishes and received congratulations by Sir Derek tory meeting marking the occasion of the GÖCh 100th Barton, representing IUPAC, and by delegates and anniversary. members of numerous chemical societies (Richard R. The 1998 Lecture will be given by Professor Alex Ernst, Ronald Breslow, Pierre Potier etc.). Johnstone, University of Glasgow, at the First European In the scientific programme, plenary lectures were Conference on Chemical Education in Budapest in Au- delivered by the following speakers from abroad: gust 1998. Ronald Breslow (USA), John H. Beynon (UK), Richard R. Ernst (Switzerland), Armin de Meijere (Germany), FECS Award Norman L. Allinger (USA), Derek H.R. Barton (UK), Pierre Potier (France), Keith Bowden (UK), Michael The FECS President, Professor L Niinisto, presented Smith (Canada), Lev Aleksandrovich Gribov (Russia) the FECS Award for 1997 to Professor Ernö Pungor, and Eberhard Schurmann (Germany). one of the founders of the former Working Party on Ana- Plenary lectures were also delivered by Radoslav lytical Chemistry, for his very valuable contribution to Adzic, Slobodan Macura and Gordana the work of FECS over many years. Professor Pungor Vunjak-Novakovic, members of SCS working currently (b. 1923) has had an extensive university career, having abroad, and by Aleksandar R. Despic (Belgrade), Ivan been first Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Tech- Gutman (Kragujevac) and Miroslav J. Gasic (Belgrade). nical University in Veszprem and then in a similar posi- The programme of the Anniversary included the pres- tion in Budapest. He has also served as Minister for entation of several SCS special publications and of the Science and Technology and is currently Director Gen- jubilee post stamp, the exhibition ‘The World of Chemis- eral of Bay Zoltán Foundation for Applied Research. try’ and various Social events. Within FECS, he served as Chairman for the Working Party on Analytical Chemistry in 1981–87 and organ- Miroslav J. Gasic ized the 2nd Euroanalysis Conference in Budapest in Serbian Chemical Society, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 1975. His best known research Belgrade, Yugoslavia 4, Tel./fax: +381 11 337 04 67, accomplishments involve the e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http:// theory and applications of ihtmceh4.tmf.bg.ac.yu/htdocs/shd100.htm ion-selective electrodes.

Federation of European Chemical Socie- Chemistry and the envi- ties ronment FECS General Assembly meeting The FECS Working Party on Chemistry and the Environ- The General Assembly of the Federation of European ment, under its new chairman Chemical Societies was held on 11–12 September Prof. A. Astrup Jensen, Danish Chemical Society, is de- 1997 at the Technical University of Vienna, Austria, at veloping a major action programme with a number of

16 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 new activities, including aspects of water chemistry. Euchem The Working Party aims to create subgroups in special- FECS believes there is an urgent need to improve its ist areas which will help to strengthen networks and in- approach to promoting conference activity, bearing in volve other existing European groupings. Contact with mind the variety of activity carried out by, for example, the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen is Euchem, Euresco, NATO Workshops and Gordon Con- being developed. The involvement of all FECS member ferences in Europe. For some years, the Euchem Com- societies is strongly encouraged. mittee has been an integral part of FECS and therefore has a remit to operate on a pan-European basis. Some Younger chemists encouragement will be given to the Euchem Committee to help it develop the involvement of a greater number of An enthusiastic welcome was given to proposals that FECS member societies and thus more visibly repre- the FECS should take a greater responsibility for meet- sent the aims and objectives of FECS. (A link between ing the needs of younger members of national chemical the Euchem Committee and Euresco already exists.) societies and clearly demonstrate to them an interest in helping to promote their ideas. In the first place, statis- Guide of European Museums with collections on the tics and other information on the levels of involvement of History of Chemistry. The Guide, which is produced younger chemists in national chemical societies will be by the FECS Working Party on History of Chemistry, is collected and a report produced for wide circulation and being updated and reprinted. Further information on the discussion. At the same time, ways of promoting new issue is available from Prof. H.A. Deelstra, Univer- internet discussion groups will be explored and a small sity of Antwerp (UIA), Tel.: +32 3 820 2715, fax: +32 3 group of younger chemist representatives from national 820 2734, e-mail: [email protected] societies will assist in this project. Conference Calendar

1998 6154, 13081-970, Campinas, Bra- 1129, D-85758 Oberschelißheim, zil. Tel.: +55 192397881, fax: +55 Germany. Tel.: +49 89 3187 3030, 192393805, e-mail: fax: +49 89 3187 3362. Environmental Chemistry [email protected], Web Page: 15–20 March1998 http://circe.iqm.unicamp.br/~whol/ CHEMRAWN XIˇ—Latin American conf Automation and new technol- ogy for the clinical laboratory Symposium on Environmental Chemistry, 15–20 March 1998, Trace element speciation in 24–27 May 1998 Montevideo, Uruguay biomedical, nutritional and International Congress on Automa- Prof. Patrick Moyna, Decano, environmental sciences tion and New Technology for the Facultad de Quimica, Avda. Gen- Clinical Laboratory, Santiago de 4–7 May 1998 eral Flores 2124, Montevideo, Uru- Compostela, Spain. 1st International Conference on guay. Tel.: 598 2 924 18 84, fax: 598 Dr Ramon Galimany, Sociedad Trace Element Speciation in Bio- 2 924 19 06, email: Espanola de Bioquimica Clinica y medical, Nutritional and Environ- [email protected], Web Page: Patalogica Molecular, Padilla mental Sciences, Neuherberg, http://bilbo.edu.uy/reunion98 323-325 Desp 68, ES 08025 Barce- Munich, Germany. lona, Spain. Tel.: +34 3 446 26 70, Prof. Dr Peter Schramel, fax: +34 3 446 26 72. Chemical thermodynamics GSF-Forschungszentrum fur, and calorimetry Urnwelt und Gesundhuit GmbH, 5–9 April 1998 Institut fur Okologische Chemie, Degradation processes in the environment International Conference on Chemi- Neuherberg, D-85758 Obersch- cal Thermodynamics and leissheim, Germany. Tel.: 24–28 May 1998 Calorimetry, Campinas, Brazil. +08931874062. Measuring, Modelling, and Predict- Watson Loh, Instituto de Secretariat: Ulla Schrödel, GSF- ing Degradation Processes in the Quimica-UNICAMP, Caixa Postal Forschungszentrum, Postfach Environment, Dubronik (Cavtat),

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 17 Croatia. [email protected] Chemical thermodynamics Dr Aleksandar Sabijic, Institute 26 July–1 August 1998 Rudjer Boskovic, PO Box 1016, Chemistry in Africa 15th International Conference on HR-10001 Zagreb, Croatia. Tel.: Chemical Thermodynamics, Porto, 6–10 July 1998 +385 1 456 1089, fax: +385 1 272 Portugal. 7th International Conference on 648, e-mail: [email protected] Prof. Manuel A.V. Riberio da Silva, Chemistry in Africa, South Africa. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Prof. T. M. Letcher, Department of Organic synthesis Science, Rua do Campo Allegre, Chemistry & Applied Chemistry, 687, P-4150 Porto. Tel.: +35 12 28 June–2 July 1998 University of Natal, Durban 4041, 6082821, fax: +35 12 2008628, e- 12th International Conference on South Africa. Tel.: +31 260 3090, mail: [email protected] Organic Synthesis (12-ICOS), Ven- fax: +31 260 3091, e-mail: ice, Italy. [email protected] Prof. Carlo Scolastico, Dip.to di Novel aromatic compounds Chimica Organica e Industiale, Macromolecules 2–7 August 1998 Università di Milano, Via G. 9th International Symposium on 13–17 July 1998 Venezian 21, I-20133 Milano, Italy. Novel Aromatic Compounds 37th International Conference on Tel.: +39 2 236 7613, fax: +39 2 236 (ISNA-9), Hong Kong. Macromolecules (MACRO ‘98), 4369, e-mail: Prof. Henry N.C. Wong, Department Gold Coast, Australia. [email protected] of Chemistry, The Chinese Univer- Prof. R. Gilbert, Chemistry School, sity of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Ter- Sydney University, NSW 2006, Heteroatom chemistry ritories, Hong Kong. Tel.: +852 Australia. Tel.: +612 9351 3366, 2609 6344, fax: +852 2603 5057, e- 5–11 July 1998 fax: +612 9351 3329 mail: [email protected] Fifth International Conference on Heteroatom Chemistry, London, Photochemistry Ontario, Canada. Pesticide chemistry Prof. Kim M. Baines, Department of 19–24 July 1998 2–7 August 1998 Chemistry, University of Western XVII IUPAC Symposium on Photo- 9th International Congress on Pesti- Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, chemistry, Sitges, Spain. cide Chemistry, London London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada. Prof. Josep Font i Cierco, Dr John F. Gibson, Scientific Secre- Tel.: (519) 661-2166, fax: (519) Departament de Quimica, tary, The Royal Society of Chemis- 661-3022, e-mail: Universitàt Autonoma de Barce- try, Burlington House, London W1V lona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, 0BN. Spain. Tel.: +34 3 581 1255, fax: +34 3 581 1265, e-mail: How to apply for IUPAC [email protected] Solubility phenomena sponsorship 5–8 August 1998 To apply for IUPAC sponsor- Polymeric materials Eighth International Symposium on ship, conference organizers Solubility Phenomena, Niigata, Ja- 20–23 July 1998 should write to the IUPAC pan. Mechanical Behaviour of Polymeric Secretariat (see inside back Kiyoshi Sawada, General Secretary Materials, 18th Discussion Confer- cover for address) requesting of the 8th ISSP, Department of ence. an Advanced Information Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Dr Jaroslav Kahovec, Institute of Questionnaire (AIQ). Com- Niigata University, Niigata 950-21, Macromolecular Chemistry, Acad- pleted AIQs should be re- Japan. Tel.: +81 25 262 6265, fax: emy of Sciences of the Czech Re- turned to the Secretariat +81 25 262 6116, e-mail: public, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 preferably 2 YEARS and at [email protected] least 12 months before the Prague 6 - Petriny, Czech Republic. conference. Late applications Tel.: +4202360341, fax: Chemical education will not be considered. Further +4202367981, e-mail: information on granting of [email protected] 9–14 August 1998 IUPAC sponsorship was pub- 15th International Conference on lished in Chem. Intl. 1992, 14, Chemical Education: Chemistry and 203. Global Environmental Change,

18 Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 Egypt. Prof. Erika Kalman, 1025 Budapest, of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. Prof. Saad S.M. Hassan, Depart- Central Research Institute for 30602-2451. Tel.: (706) 542-2491, ment of Chemistry, Faculty of Sci- Chemistry of the Hungarian Acad- fax: (706) 542-2492, e-mail: ence, Ain Shams University, Cairo, emy of, Sciences, Pusztaszeri út [email protected] Egypt. Fax: +20 2 831836, e-mail: 59-67, Hungary. Tel.: +36 1 325 [email protected] 7548, fax: +36 1 325 7509, e-mail: 1999 [email protected] Carbohydrate symposium Functional dyes Chemistry of germanium, tin 9–14 August 1998 and lead 31 May–4 June 1999 19th International Carbohydrate 4th International Symposium on Symposium, San Diego, CA, USA. 20–25 September 1998 Functional Dyes (I8FD4), Osaka, Prof. David A. Brant, ICS 98 Sympo- 9th International Conference on the Japan. sium Secretariat, Department of Coordination and Organometallic Prof. Yasuhiko Shirota, Osaka Uni- Chemistry, University of California, Chemistry of Germanium, Tin & versity, Faculty of Engineering, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA. Tel.: Lead (ICC0C GTL-9) Melbourne, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565, Ja- (714) 824-8976, fax: (714) Australia. pan. Tel.: 81 6 879 7364, fax 81 6 824-1372, e-mail: [email protected], Prof. Dainis Dakternieks, Deakin 877 7367, e-mail: Web Page: http:// University, Biological & Chemical [email protected] www.ics98.uci.edu Sciences, Geelong 3217, Australia. u.ac.jp

Physical organic chemistry Supramolecular science and technology CHEMRAWN 16–21 August 1998 20–25 June 1999 14th International Conference 27 September–3 October 1998 CHEMRAWN XII—African Food Physical Organic Chemistry, 1st International Conference on Security and Natural Resource Florianopolis, Brazil. Supramolecular Science & Tech- Management: The New Scientific Prof. Eduardo Humeres, Depart- nology, Zakopane, Poland. Frontiers, Nairobi, Kenya. ment of Chemistry, Universidade Marek Pietraszkiewicz, Chairman of Dr Pedro Sanchez, Director Gen- Federal de Santa Catarina, Cam- the ICSS&T, Polish Academy of pus Univeritario-Trindade, Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01224 88040-900 Florianopolis, Brazil. Warsaw. e-mail: Tel.: +55 48 231 9219, fax: +55 48 [email protected] Visas 231 9711/231 9688, e-mail: It is a condition of sponsor- [email protected] Chemistry of natural prod- ship that organizers of meet- ucts ings under the auspices of Co-ordination chemistry 11–16 October 1998 IUPAC, in considering the lo- cations of such meetings, 31 August–September 1998 21st IUPAC symposium on the should take all possible steps 33rd International Conference on Chemistry of Natural Products, to ensure the freedom of all Co-ordination Chemistry Beijing, China. bona fide chemists from Dr Ivano Bertini, Chairman, Univer- Prof. Xiao-Tian Liang Institute of throughout the world to at- sity of Florence, 33rd ICCC Secre- Materia Medica Chinese Academy tend irrespective of race, reli- tariat, Department of Chemistry, of Medical Sciences 1 Xian Nong gion, or political philosophy. FLorence 50121, Italy. Tel.: +39 55 Tan Street Beijing 100050 China. IUPAC sponsorship implies 2757 549, fax: +39 55 2757 555, e- Tel.: +86 10 6 301 3366-245, fax: that entry visas will be mail: [email protected] +86 10 6 301 7757. granted to all bona fide chem- ists provided application is Electrochemistry Excitonic processes in con- made not less than three densed matter months in advance. If a visa is 13–18 September 1998 not granted one month before International Society of 2–5 November 1998 the meeting the IUPAC Sec- Electrochemistry, Kitakyushu, Ja- Third International Conference on retariat should be notified pan. Excitonic Processes in Condensed Matter, Boston, MA, USA/ without delay by the appli- Prof. William M. Yen, Department of cant. Physics and Astronomy, University

Chemistry International, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 1 19 eral, International Center for Re- Analytical science Bio-organic chemistry search in Agroforestry, PO Box 25–30 July 1999 First quarter 2000 30677, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel.: [254] 2 Analytical Science into the Next Mil- 5th IUPAC Symposium on 521003, fax [254] 2 520023 e-mail: lennium, SAC 99, Dublin, Ireland. Bio-Organic Chemistry, (ISBOC-V), [email protected] Prof. Malcolm R. Smyth, School of New Delhi, India. Chemical Sciences, Dublin City Prof. S. Ranganathan, Polymerization methods University, Dublin 9, Ireland. Tel.: Biomolecular Research Unit, Re- +353 1 7045308, fax: +353 1 gional Research Laboratory, 12–15 July 1999 7045032, e-mail: Trivandrum 695 019, India. Tel.: Advances in Polymerization Meth- [email protected] +91 (471) 491 459, fax: +91 (471) ods, 39th Microsymposium, 490 186. Prague, Czech Republic. Dr Jaromir Lukas, Institute of Solution chemistry Macromolecules Macromolecular Chemistry, Acad- 26–31 July 1999 emy of Sciences of the Czech Re- XXVI International Conference on 9–14 July 2000 public, Heyovskeho na. 2, 162 06 Solution Chemistry, Fukuoka City, International Symposium on Macro- Praha 6-Petriny, Czech Republic. Kyushu, Japan. molecules (MACRO 2000), War- Tel.: +42 2 360341, fax: +42 2 Prof. Hitoshi Ohtaki, Department of saw, Poland. 367981, e-mail: [email protected] Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Dr Stanislaw Penczek, 90-363 Engineering, Ritsumeikan Univer- Lodz, Sienkiewicza 112, Poland. Carotenoids sity, 1-1-1 Noji-Higashi, Kusatsu Tel.: +48-42 819815, fax: +48-42 525, Japan. Tel.: +81 775 61 2777, 847126. 18–23 July 1999 fax: +81 775 61 2659, e-mail: 12th International Symposium on [email protected] Carotenoids, Cairns, Australia. Natural products Prof. George Britton, School of Bio- 1 September 2000 logical Sciences, The University of Macromolecule–metal com- 22nd International Symposium on Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, plexes Chemistry of Natural Products, Sao L69 3BX, UK. Tel.: +44 (151) 794, 6–10 September 1999 Paulo, Brazil. fax: +44 (151) 794 4349. 8th International Symposium on Prof. Dr Otto R. Gottlieb Rua 5 de Macromolecule–Metal Complexes julho 323, Apt. 1001, 22051-030, Rheology of polymer systems (MWIC–VIII) Tokyo, Japan. Rio de Janeiro 22051-030, Brazil. Prof. Eishun Tsuchida, Waseda 19–22 July 1999 University, Tokyo 169, Japan. Tel.: 19th Discussion Conference on the Biotechnology 81 3 5286 3120, fax: 81 3 3209 Rheology of Polymer Systems, 5522. 3–8 September 2000 Prague, Czech Republic. 11th International Biotechnology Dr Jaromir Lukas, Institute of Symposium, Berlin, Germany. Macromolecular Chemistry, Acad- 2000 Prof. G. Kreysa, DECHEMA eV, emy of Sciences of the Czech Re- Postfach 150104, Theodor-Heuss public, Heyovskeho na. 2, 162 06 High temperature materials Allee 25, D-60061 Frankfurt/Main, Praha 6-Petriny, Czech Republic. chemistry Germany. Tel.: +49 (69) 7564 205, Tel.: +42 2 360341, fax: +42 2 1 January 2000 fax: +49 (69) 7564 302. 367981, e-mail: [email protected] International Conference on High Temperature Materials Chemistry, Ionic polymerization Aachen, Germany. Prof. K. Hilpert, Forschungszentrum 19–23 July 1999 Julich GmbH, Institut fur Werkstoffe International Symposium on Ionic der Energietechnik (IWE 1), Polymerization, Kyoto, Japan. D-52425 Julich, Germany. Tel.: +49 Dr Shiro Kobayashi, Department of 2461 61 3280, fax: +49 2461 61 Materials Chemistry, Graduate 3699, e-mail: School of Engineering, Sendai 606- [email protected] 01, Japan. Tel.: +81 75 753 5608, fax: +81 75 753 4911, e-mail: [email protected] u.ac.jp

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