The European Chemical Society (Euchems) David J
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DOI:10.1002/chem.201803512 Essays & Science and Society The European Chemical Society (EuChemS) David J. Cole-Hamilton[a] Abstract: The European ChemicalSociety(EuChemS) coordi- ous activities, workshops and awards. Particularly,EuChemS nates the work of almost all the European Chemical Societ- has fostered growth in its young members through the Eu- ies. As an organization,itprovides an independentand au- ropeanYoung Chemists’ Network. Beyond Europe, EuChemS thoritative voice on all matters relating to chemistry,and try has collaborated with variousorganizations in bringing to place chemistry at the heart of policy in Europe. Further- chemistry out of the lab and into society in building asus- more, EuChemS seeks to develop its members through vari- tainable future for everyone. Introduction and Structure bers) presidedover by aPresident (Pilar Goya Laza, Madrid), Vice President (David Cole-Hamilton, St. Andrews) and Treasur- The European Chemical Society,formerly (2004–2018) the Eu- er (Eckart Rühl, Berlin). All the day-to-day work is carried out ropeanAssociation for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (Eu- by aSecretariat based in Brussels consisting of the General CheMS)and before that (1970–2004)the Federation of Europe- Secretary (Nineta Hrastelj), Communication and Policy Officer an Chemical Societies (FECS), is an organisationthat coordi- (Alex Schiphorst) and Administrative Officer Marta Kucza. nates the work of almost all the European Chemical Societies. Scientifically,EuChemS covers most areas of chemistry Its aim is to provideanindependent and authoritative voice throughDivisions and Working Parties. on all mattersrelating to chemistryinthe European context and beyond and to place chemistry at the heart of policy in Activities Europe. Since chemistry impinges on everything we do, it is es- sentialthat chemical aspects be considered when drafting and EuChemS engages in awide variety of activities, including ad- debating all new legislation. vising European Institutions(science-policy communication), EuChemS has 41 Member Societies covering 32 countries in raising public awareness,conferences, science communication GeographicalEuropeand Israel.These numbersare expected to citizens and engaging with the international community. to increase by 1with the admission of Bulgaria at the General EuChemS is registered in the Transparency register and is a Assembly in August, 2018. Through these Member Societies, recognised stakeholder of ECHA and EFSA. EuChemS speaks on behalf of ~150000 professional chemists. There is an increasingnumber of carefullyselected Supporting Scientific evidence-based advice to European Institutions Members (currently 6), which are Societies, Federations, Cen- (science-policy communication) tres of Excellence, Research Networks or Institutescovering areas of chemistry,but who do not have their own individual Since many EuChemS member societies are from countries members. EuChemS collaborateswith these supporting mem- within the European Union, EuChemS lobbies the European bers in activities which are mutually beneficial such as Parlia- Parliament and Commission throughwriting to key members mentaryWorkshops, Conferences, open meetings, and Europe- of the Commission, replyingtoEuropean Commissionconsul- an Union (EU) proposals. The presidents of the Memberand tations, releasing position papers, andrunning workshops in Supporting Societies make up the General Assembly,which and for the European Parliament. EuChemS attends and con- meets annually and decides on various issues as defined by tributes to many European meetings and debates whilst two the constitution. currentExecutive Board members are members of the MEP– EuChemS activities are overseenbyanExecutive Board con- Scientist pairing scheme (MEP=Member of the European Par- sisting of elected and appointed members (currently 17 mem- liament). Pavel Drasˇer is paired with Pavel Poc,MEP and Iam paired with Catherine Stihler,MEP.This scheme allows MEPs to [a] Prof. Dr.D.J.Cole-Hamilton learn much more about science and scientists to learn much EaStChem, SchoolofChemistry,University of St. Andrews more about how the European Parliamentworks. In addition, St. Andrews, KY16 9ST,(UnitedKingdom) practical support and assistance is offered in both directions. E-mail:[email protected] Because we representalarge number of chemists, we also Part of the Special Issue for the 7th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress consisting of contributions from selected speakersand conveners.Toview the com- use our independentand authoritative voice to lobby beyond plete issue, visit Issue 46. Europe. Chem. Eur.J.2018, 24,11811–11820 11811 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim Essays Letters wept inside. One aspect where being in the EU has been hugely beneficialtothe UK and to the rest of Europe has been Recent direct approaches to the President of the European the whole area of research andinnovation, largelydelivered Commission include aletter on Scientific Advice.[1] The propos- throughthe Framework programmes. Through the European al not to have ascientific adviser, which wasopposed in the Research Council (ERC), where intensecompetition has driven letter,was dropped and aHigh-Level Group on Scientific up the qualityoffundamentalresearch, through mobility ac- Advice containing expertscovering wide areas of science now tions, which have expanded the gene pool and brought new operates. The strict regulations to limit carbon omissions ideas and ways of thinking to all European countries including agreed by the Commissionand subsequently reflected in the the UK, through collaborative projects which allow large con- Paris agreement werelargely in line with the arguments put sortia to be built between academia and industry to tackle through the EuChemS letter[2] on climatechange and we really important problemsand which give new developments strongly opposed[3] the removal of fundingfrom the Hori- for industry throughoutEuropeincluding the UK, through zon 2020 budget of money to fund the joint infrastructure major international facilities or through the emergingEurope- fund. Although this was not completely successful, the Europe- an Innovation Council (EIC), which will drive up standards in in- an Research Council, whichfunds fundamental research in novationand commercialisation just as the ERC has for funda- Europewas completely protected. mentalresearch, the quality and impact of research and inno- It would be disingenuoustoclaim that these evidence- vation has improved immeasurably more than it couldhave based letters on their own led to any change of thinking in withouttheseinstruments. The UK has been amongstthe fore- the circles of European power, but they added to the weight most countries in participation in all aspects of the Framework of evidenceupon which the Commissionmade its decisions programmes and has helped in their design and construction. and recommendations. EuChemS recognises the importance of the UK to the Outside of the EU, we have worked with Professor Ehud Framework programmesaswell as the importance of the Keinan, President of the Israeli Chemical Society, in his at- Framework programmestothe UK so it has published aposi- tempts to persuade Israel to ratify the Chemical Weapons Con- tion paper forthe European negotiators.[13] This argues strong- vention(CWC), which it has already signed. Keinanwrote to ly that the settlementbetween the EU andthe UK should give the President and then the Prime Minister of Israel but, receiv- provision for the UK to remain fully integrated into Hori- ing no response, he published an open letter to Prime Minister zon 2020 and its successors, concluding: Netanyahu.[4] EuChemS supported this activity by publicising “Research and industrial competitiveness acrossthe EU greatly the open letter,[5] publishing in English for the first time,[6] writ- benefitfrom the input of UK researchers and vice versa. With- ing ajoint article,[7] and by writing individual letters to Prime drawalofthe UK from the many funding schemes would Minister Netanyahu, as well as PresidentsObama and Trump. remove some of the key quality drivers and fundamentally We believe that awareness of this issue has been significantly damage research and innovation in Europe as well as in the raised,although we still await apositive outcome. United Kingdom…As negotiations proceed to determine the relationship between the EU and the UK followingthe latter’s withdrawal, EU scientists urge the negotiators to retain as EU Consultations strong as possible arelationship between EU and UK research- EuChemS responds to as many of the EU consultations which ers. Continued collaboration without borderswill improvere- relate to chemistry as it can. Usually we involve experts search across all European countries for the benefitofman- through our Member Societies, but increasingly throughthe kind.” Divisionsand Working Parties. The strong evidencebase for our responses meansthat often commentsmade in the Eu- ChemS submissionsare quoted directly in final reports. Very recent examples of EuChemS responses include those on Mis- sions in Horizon Europe,[8] trans fats,[9] acrylamide[10] (these last two in collaboration with our Division of Food Chemistry), anti- microbial resistance[11] (with supporting member,the European DavidCole-Hamilton is Vice-President of Eu- Federation for Medicinal Chemists), European CulturalHeritage ChemS, havingbeen President from 2013– [12] 2017. He held the Irvine Chair of Chemistryin Labels (with the Working parties on Chemistry for