May-June 2004 Volume 26 No
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Contents CHEMISTRY International May-June 2004 Volume 26 No. 3 Vice President’s Column 2 Features 2003—The Year of Chemistry in Germany by Holger Bengs and Wolfram Koch 4 Frontiers of Chemical Sciences: Research and Education in the Middle East by John M. Malin 7 Chemistry Society of Mauritius: A New Society Aims High for its Island Nation and the Indian Ocean Region by Dhanjay Jhurry 10 The IUPAC Solubility Data Project: A Brief History by Larry Clever 12 CCE seeks expressions of 15 interest for the ICCE 2008 IUPAC Wire 2004 Thieme—IUPAC Prize in Synthetic Organic Chemistry 16 Strong Science and Technology Capacity 16 New Best Estimates of the Values of the Fundamental Constants by Ian Mills 17 Up for Discussion Chemistry in Japan—A Report from the National Committee for Chemistry by Akio Yamamoto 20 The Placement of Hydrogen in the Periodic Table 21 The Project Place Standard Definitions of Terms Related to Mass Spectrometry 23 Terminology, Quantities, and Units Concerning Production and Applications of Radionuclides in Radiopharmaceutical and Radioanalytical Chemistry 23 Toward a Core Organic Chemistry Curriculum for Latin American Universities 24 Provisional Recommendations IUPAC Seeks Your Comments 26 Numbering of Fullerenes Making an imPACt Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Poly (α-Methylstyrene-co-acrylonitrile)/Poly (Methylacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) Blends 27 Determination of Trace Elements Bound to Soils and Sediment Fractions 27 Terminology for Analytical Capillary Electromigration Techniques 28 Bookworm Structure and Dynamics in Liquids 29 The Red Book II in Hungarian 30 Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Pseudohalides 30 Special Topic Articles Featuring the 2003 Winners of the IUPAC Prize for Young Chemists 31 IUPAC Handbook 2004–2005 31 Conference Call Emerging Issues in Analytical Chemistry by Ryszard Lobinski 32 XVII Mendeleev Congress on General and Applied Chemistry by Oleg Nefedov and Oleg Sinyashin 33 Joint Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry—Kraków 2003 by Barbara Malawska and Katarzyna Kiec-Kononowicz 35 Enclosed with this issue is the Where 2B & Y 32 IUPAC Biennial Report 2002-2003 Mark Your Calendar 34 Vice President’s Column Extending the Role of nium. What is working well? Where are the problems? IUPAC Within the How can any difficulties be addressed? I have read some reports of division activities and Worldwide Chemistry minutes of the division Community presidents’ meetings. While the current This material has been project system may very helpful in giving a be more versatile and by Bryan R. Henry picture of the chal- lenges faced by the adaptable, we must Divisions in imple- maintain the s this is the first opportunity that I have to menting the new proj- address the entire IUPAC community, please ect system. However I opportunity for Aallow me to begin with an expression of sin- believe that I need to face-to-face cere gratitude. The opportunity to be involved with listen and learn communication . IUPAC at the executive level is a great privilege. It is directly from the divi- also a daunting challenge, especially when one con- sions and their officers. siders the list of past executive members and reflects They are in the best position to identify problems and upon their very successful contributions over the last to suggest remedies. To that end, I have begun to several years. IUPAC is a dynamic, successful, and sig- attend some of the Division meetings in 2004. Issues nificant organization that effectively such as project generation, monitor- serves the worldwide chemistry com- ing and evaluation, personnel, fund- munity, and this is due in no small ing, and dissemination have already measure to their collective efforts. been identified by many divisions as However, credit for the success of critical to a successful system. As an IUPAC certainly does not end at the organization, I believe that we need executive level, but extends through- to be flexible in our approach. While out the organization to the countless the current project system may be volunteers who unselfishly give so more versatile and adaptable, we many hours of their valuable time. My must maintain the opportunity for challenge is to try to make some con- face-to-face communication where tributions that will allow us to that is the most efficient path to a improve upon our success. desired goal. We need input, particu- larly from the divisions, as we try to Bryan R. Henry The first task for the vice president identify the appropriate balance in IUPAC Vice President is to prepare “a critical assessment of 2004–2005 our endeavors. the programs and the projects of all Beyond the divisions, how can the IUPAC bodies.” The quote refers to our Statutes. Here project system help with other activities such as the I will follow the lead of past VPs and not attempt what work of CCE, COCI, CHEMRAWN, and our attempts to would seem to be a virtually undoable task in the reach out to the developing world? CCE has had a allotted time. Rather I will focus on a few aspects of marked increase in their activities and we need to IUPAC activities. In particular, I propose to make a facilitate their full involvement in the project system. critical review of the current project system. Another COCI is involved in a number of new initiatives and we area that deserves attention is examining ways to need to determine if the project system can be used improve the involvement of chemical industry in to better serve the needs of industry. CHEMRAWN is IUPAC activities. an important part of our outreach to the developing The project system is at the very heart of the activ- world, and over the years they have organized a series ities of IUPAC. Our new method of operation was of very successful conferences. In many cases these passed by the Bureau in 1998, approved by Council in conferences have been followed by future action 1999, and fully implemented in the 2002–2003 bien- committees. Can we use the project system more fully 2 CHEMISTRY International May-June 2004 to capitalize on these successes and initiate projects endocrine disruptors are just the kind of material that devoted to concrete actions that will make the world can be used by industry in influencing decision mak- a better place. ers and bringing rationality to chemical issues that are If IUPAC is to continue to prosper and take on an often clouded by emotion. Industry can help us and ever-increasing diversity of worldwide activities, we can promote their own interests by guiding IUPAC to must ensure that all of the various components work further areas in which we can play a constructive role. cooperatively towards our common goals. Increased Much of what appears in this article has been dialog between officers, staff, divisions, and commit- gleaned from my discussions with IUPAC friends and tees will be critically important as we move away from colleagues, and from reading what others have writ- some of our long held traditions, and more of our ten. My hope is that, with the continuation of a little work is done outside of the General Assembly. In that help from my friends, I can assist IUPAC to play an sense, hopefully the visits to gather data for the vice even larger positive role in the worldwide chemistry president’s critical assessment will contribute to that community. desirable integration. In a recent column in CI (May-June 2003, p. 2), Ed Bryan Henry <[email protected]> became IUPAC vice president (president Przybylowicz challenged IUPAC to find ways to elect) on 1 January 2004. increase the contributions of science to world peace and prosperity. As Ed pointed out, we have had many Short Bio on Bryan Henry notable successes but how can we move forward. Often our successes have arisen through cooperation Bryan Henry began his two-year term as IUPAC with other agencies. For example we have had partic- president elect and vice president on 1 January ularly fruitful collaborations over the years with 2004. In 1963, Prof. Henry received his bachelor’s UNESCO. In addition, it may be possible to broaden degree from the University of British Columbia; he our collaborations and to explore closer ties with later earned his doctorate at Florida State organizations such as the International Council for University, USA. Between 1969 and 1986, Prof. Science, United Nations International Development Henry was an associate professor, a professor, and Organization, and International Atomic Energy Department of Chemistry head at the University of Agency. Manitoba. Currently, Bryan Henry is a professor of Finally, beyond the project system I believe we chemistry at the Department of Chemistry and need to look at other ways of improving our useful- Biochemistry at the University of Guelph. ness to the chemical industry and involving it more Bryan Henry has served as vice president and closely in our activities. president of the Canadian Society for Chemistry, Is it possible to make inroads with the pharmaceu- and as chair and vice chair of the Chemical Institute tical and small chemical process industries? Can we of Canada. A member of the Canadian Section of use the trade associa- the Society of Chemical Industry since 1992, he has One area I believe we tions to help us in this been both chair and vice chair. He was also a mem- need to exploit is our process? What can we ber of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Canadian role as an do about getting sug- Journal of Chemistry (1996–1998). Additionally, he gestions for continuing was part of the Selection Committee for the internationally based, contacts to provide Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame independent better service to our from 1996 to 2000.