Euchems Newsletter

754 CHIMIA 2011, 65, No. 9

The European Association for Chemical and Molecular EuCheMSEuCheMSSeptember 2011 Sciences 2 NEWSLETTER Eliminating chemical weapons New website: Slovak Chemical On 17 March, the Royal Society of Chemistry Chemistry for green solutions (RSC) hosted a special International Year of Society cooperates with BASF Policy Development Group Chemistry event which focused on efforts to As part of the European Commission’s Green abolish chemical weapons around the world. As part of the International Year of Chem- Week dedicated to resource efficiency, The Director General of the Organisation for istry (IYC) 2011, the Slovak Chemical Society, visits Brussels EuCheMS organised an event to underline the the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), BASF and other partners have established a critical role chemistry plays in creating a sus- Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, addressed lead- unique online chemistry knowledge base On 16 and 17 May the EuCheMS Policy EU is placing emphasis on linking research tainable future. GreenWeek is the biggest Euro- ingscientists and members of the diplomatic called Chemgeneration.com, which was Development Group visited Brussels, meet- to innovation. EuCheMS underlined that pean environment policy event of the year. It is community at the Chemistry Centre, London. successfully launched in Slovakia in April ing with officials from the European Com- chemistry was probably the most industri- organised by the European Commission's Direc- His presentation was the result of discussions 2011. The main purpose of the website is to mission’s Directorate General for Research ally relevant science and would therefore be torate General (DG) for the Environment, but in- between the RSC, the OPCW and the Foreign attract young people to chemistry and to and Innovation and the European Research critical to Europe’s ambition to become an volves many other organisations including the and Commonwealth Office (FCO). present the fundamental part chemistry Council’s Executive Agency. The main objec- “Innovation Union”. EuCheMS met with the United Nations Environment Programme The Ambassador highlighted the work of the plays in the world, with special emphasis on tive was to ensure that the decision-makers Director and senior managers of the Euro- (UNEP), non-governmental organisations and OPCW and its unique role in ensuring that its key role in the sustainable development Chemgeneration.com: The virtual chemical have a fuller understanding of the critical pean Research Council’s Executive Agency business. chemistry is used only for peaceful purposes of our future. The new website will be intro- classroom attracts young people to chemistry. role of the chemical sciences in addressing and voiced support for the European Re- Launched in February, the Commission’s Re- and in implementing the Chemical Weapons duced in all other ten countries and avail- the great challenges facing society. In partic- search Council’s work in advancing frontier source-Efficient Europe strategy is the seventh Convention, which entered into force in 1997. able in eleven languages over the next few kia. “I decided to support this project to ular, it wasanopportunitytopresent theout- research. EuCheMS would like to reinforce and last of the Europe 2020 flagship initiatives Invited guests included foreign ambassadors, months.Packedwitheye-catchingvisualele- spread good chemistry features among line of the EuCheMS Roadmap for the Chemi- the European Research Council’s commit- setting out Europe’s strategy for the next ten senior representatives from the FCO and the ments in an entertaining style, Chemgene- young people. My regret is that the virtual cal Sciences (see page 4). Officials welcomed ment to excellence and stressed the impor- years. Resource efficiency will now be the guid- Ministry of Defence (MOD) as well as industry ration.com presents history of chemistry, its classroom didn’t exist when I was at school. the EuCheMS visit and were interested to tance of basic research in the future frame- ing principle for EU policies in a wide range of ar- and academia representatives. The Ambassa- greatest achievements and influence on the I might have had a completely different rela- know more about the roadmap and the work programme. eas. Commissioner for the Environment, Janez dor said: “The science of chemistry is today or- mankind’s prosperity. tionship to chemistry,” said Zdenka. “It is a views of Europe’s single voicefor chemis- Over the coming years, EuCheMS will Potocnik, emphasized that business as usual is ganically linked to human progress. But the “The realization of the website is of great great pleasure for me that with the try. Officials said they hoped that the discus- build on the contacts made during the visit. not an option, as we will “quickly hit the physi- misuse of this same science has anguished hu- benefit not only for specialists, but also for Chemgeneration.com project we can effec- sions would be the beginning of a continu- EuCheMS needs to ensure that the role of cal limits of our planet”. He pointed out that a man conscience and tarnished the history of the general public and I believe that this vir- tively support chemistry education in Hung- ing dialogue with the chemical sciences. the chemical sciences is heard in all relevant lot of investment in research and innovation is our modern civilisation.” He explained that, to tual chemical classroom will find its fans,” ary and Central-Eastern Europe,” said Joa- As the EU defines the future of the EU’s themes in the future programme. We need needed, in order to reap the benefits that green achieve the goals of the Convention, it will re- said Viktor Milata, President of the Slovak chim Meyer, Senior Vice President of BASF Common Strategic Framework for Research to ensure that general principles are upheld, and other technologies can bring. quire international cooperation, including that Chemical Society. Zdenka Predná, the final- Business Center Europe Central. and Innovation, EuCheMS will not restrict it- such as the urgent need for simplification of At the EuCheMS event, moderated by Georges of the chemical science community: “The aspi- ist of the first Slovak Idol contest, is the am- self to highlighting the role that chemistry current processes focusing on the end user, Deschamps from the Environmental Technolo- ration of a world free from chemical weapons bassador of Chemgeneration.com in Slova- Viktor Milata, [email protected] could play. For example, whilst we welcom- the support of excellence, the increase in gies Department of DG Research and Innova- will be realised through a high degree of ed the Joint Programming Initiatives as a the overall budget allocated to research and tion, EuCheMS drew attention to the EuCheMS awareness, a shared vision and shared respon- way to allow for more effective use of re- efforts to ensure that research infrastruc- Roadmap for the Chemical Sciences (see page sibility. Scientists, chemists and chemical engi- The EurChem qualification sources and to reduce fragmentation and ture in all European countries is supported. 4) and suggested a number of areas where the neers worldwide are the first line of defence duplication, EuCheMS representatives em- Catherine Feore chemical sciences will play an important role, against abuses of knowledge and skills.” The personal quality label European Chemist phasised the need for a bottom up ap- [email protected] such as sustainable product design, conserva- The RSC is proud of its own advisory role in (EurChem) has been administered and main- proach. They also encouraged the Commis- tion of scarce natural resources, conversion of eliminating chemical weapons; its staff and tained by the EuCheMS European Chemist Re- EurChem title reflects the qualifications, prac- sion to take measures that would encour- biomass and recovery of feedstock. members have been central to international gistration Board (ECRB) since the 1990s. The tice and standards of an individual and helps age individual experts to participate from Michael Roeper, EuCheMS lead expert on re- discussions and lawmaking.To see the video of aim of the EurChem designation is to promote chemists who are moving from one employer countries which are not members of a par- source efficiency, introduced the EuCheMS the event, visit the website www.rsc.org/ the mobility of chemical scientists throughout to another in different member states to re- ticular Joint Programming Consortia ensur- Roadmap.Wim Thielemans, Green Technology chemicalweapons. Europe based on an agreed set of skills, compe- ceive equal treatmentacross Europe. ing that European expertise was repre- Group at the University of Nottingham, provid- Clare Viney, [email protected] tencies and training. The number of title hold- Anyone interested in registering or prolonging sented as comprehensively as possible. ed an overview of green chemistry. The last ers of this qualification differs very much by his or her registration should contact the Sec- The meetings helped shape the final re- speaker was Mike Pitts, Priorities Manager at country. Currently, the most registered Europe- retary of the ECRB, Helena Pokorna c/o Czech sponse of EuCheMS to the consultation on Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer an Chemists are from the UK (321), Nether- Chemical Society, Novotneho Lavka 5 CZ-116 the future of the framework programme, Network. The event made it clear that chem- Ambassador Ahmet lands (153), Spain (121), and Italy (116). Coun- 68 Praha 1, Tel.: +420 222 220 184, email: ists working with other disciplines will play a now available on the EuCheMS website Greetings from Macedonia: Üzümcü talked in tries where chemists expressed less interest [email protected]. central role in addressing resource efficiency. (www.euchems.org/binaries/green-paper- An International Year of Chemistry London on defending are Germany (33), Czech Republic and Ireland Pavel Drašar, [email protected] Catherine Feore future-framework_tcm23–202645.pdf). stamp designed by Igor Stevkovski. against chemical (both 12), Belgium (6), Greece (4), Portugal (2), Further information at www.rsc.org/ Given the economic situation in Europe, the [email protected] weapons. Norway and France (both 1). The award of the Education/Qualifications/EurChem.asp CHIMIA 2011, 65, No. 9 755

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Events 2011 14 – 16 September 2011, Rostock, Germany Distinguished women chemists 11 – 14 September 2011, Namur, Belgium 8th International Conference on History of Chemistry International Symposium on Advanced Complex “Pathways of Knowledge” and chemical engineers Inorganic Nanomaterials (ACIN 2011) www.gdch.de/ichc2011 http://webapps.fundp.ac.be/acin2011/homepage.php 5 – 7 October 2011, Milan, Italy To mark the International Year of Chemis- (United Kingdom), Novella Bridges, Joanna 11 – 15 September 2011, Belgrade, Serbia CHEM-MED 2011 Conference try, 23 women scientists will receive the Dis- Fowler, Nancy B. Jackson* and Susan M. Euroanalysis XVI, www.euroanalysis2011.rs www.artenergy.it/pages/conf_en.asp tinguished Women in Chemistry/Chemical Kauzlarich (USA). Of these women, 13 are 11 – 15 September 2011, Zurich, Switzerland Engineering Award designed to acknowl- working in Europe and several were nomi- Ulrich Schubert, one of the main speakers at EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and Events 2012 edge and promote the work of women nated by EuCheMS. the opening ceremony in Bratislava. the Environment(ICCE2011), www.icce2011.org 5 – 11 August 2012, Wales, UK chemists and chemical engineers world- Their Awards will be acknowledged at the 13 – 16 September 2011, Novara, Italy EUCHEM Conference Molten Salts and Ionic Liquids wide (*speakers at the Puerto Rico event, see IUPAC World Chemistry Congress during a EC2E2N Annual Conference & First International Congress on Cocoa, Coffee andTea Email: [email protected] below): Vanderlan Bolzani* (Brazil), Linda F. symposium entitled “Are women still under- ECTN Association Meeting www.cocotea2011.org 26 – 30 August 2012, Prague, Czech Republic Nazar (Canada), Nicole J. Moreau* (France), represented in science?” on 2 August in 14 – 16 September 2011, Madrid, Spain 4th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress Luisa De Cola and Katharina Kohse-Höing- Puerto Rico. As part of the overall project The Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty 9th Green Chemistry Conference (9GCC) www.euchems-prague2012.cz haus (Germany), Magdolna Hargittai and supported by an ACS Challenge Grant, the of Natural Sciences, together with the Slovak www.iuct.net Klára Tóth (Hungary), Ada E. Yonath* (Israel), Award recipients will share information Chemical Society organised the EC2E2N An- LesleyYellowlees will be the firstwoman Yoshie Souma (Japan), Nouria A. Al-Awadi on their research and roles in web-based nual Conference & ECTN Association Meeting Presidentof the Royal Society of Chemistry. and Faizah Mohammed Abdel Mohsin interviews. 2011 on 19 to 21 May 2011. EuCheMS Roadmap for the Women in chemistry: This meeting brought together up to 170 Al-Kharafi (Kuwait), Carolyn Ribes* (Nether- EuCheMS is very pleased to congratulate First female RSC President Chemical Sciences a book recommendation lands), Izabela Nowak* (Poland), Natalia Ta- all the Award winners. Further information chemists from Europe, Australia, South Africa, With the support of experts from its member Short profiles of over 50 remarkable European rasova * (Russia), Sara Snogerup Linse (Swe- is available at www.chemistry2011.org/ LesleyYellowlees of the University of Edin- Egypt, Canada and USA for discussions about societies, EuCheMS has identified five key ar- women chemists, from the early pioneers to den), H.R.H. Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol* participate/activities/show?id=1156. burgh will be the President-Elect of the Royal higher education in chemistry in Europe. In eas that should be priorities in the EU Research the present day, feature in the new book (Thailand), Ayse Aroguz* (Turkey), Lesley J. Society of Chemistry (RSC) from summer 2012. several working groups, participants discussed Framework Programme 8: breakthrough sci- “European Women in Chemistry”conceived by Yellowlees and Véronique Gouverneur Evelyn McEwan, [email protected] The RSC traces its roots to 1841, and in this about the topics: image of chemistry, transpar- ence, food, energy, health and resource effi- EuCheMS to mark the International Year of time neither the RSC, nor its predecessors, ency, lecturing qualifications, stu- ciency. Over recent months EuCheMS has been Chemistry 2011. The book looks at the scien- have had a woman in this honorary post. dent-centered activities, employability, virtual developing the Roadmap for the Chemical tific stories as well as the personal sacrifices Special issue: Chlorine-free synthesis for green chemistry LesleyYellowlees is a professor of inorganic campus, attractiveness, improving learning Sciences, to identify the critical areas where and societal opposition that many of these electrochemistry at the University of Edin- outcomes, interface of chemistry and chemical gaps in knowledge are limiting technological great women scientists had to overcome. The Halogens are widely used by all sectors of “Chlorine-free synthesis for green chemis- burgh. She will take up her two-year presiden- engineering, linguistic issues, E-chem tests progress and where the chemical sciences chemists range from Nobel Laureates Marie the chemical industry and chlorine stands try”. This issue (expected to be published on cy of the RSC in the summer of 2012. From July and also chemistry as central science. have a role to play in bridging these gaps. Curie, Ada Yonath and Dorothy Crowfoot as an iconic molecule. Chlorine is widely us- the firstmonths of 2012) will deal with: this year she will be President Elect, working Ulrich Schubert, President Elect of EuCheMS, A first copy of this roadmap has been put to- Hodgkin to women whose reputations are ed, despite its production by electrolysis be- • chlorine-free reagents with current President David Phillips who is de- John Cordish, deputy of IUPAC and the head of gether with input from stakeholders across Eu- not so well known but whose contributions ing energy intensive, since it allows the easy • chlorine-free catalysts lighted by the news: “Lesley Yellowlees has an the project, Anthony Smith, were the main rope and EuCheMS now welcomes the input of have been vital. manufacture of chlorinated derivatives; a • chlorine-free solvents outstanding record of contribution to our sci- speakers at the opening ceremony. Young its divisions on this document. ks Edited by Jan Apotheker and Livia Sarkadi, chain of chemical derivatives and interme- • phosgene replacement ence through her research and her teaching as chemists from the Faculty of Natural Sciences Full document at www.euchems.org/News/ the book can be ordered online at diates such as AlCl , SnCl , TiCl , SiCl , ZnCl , • thionyl chloride substitution well as her activities to promote chemistry and and the University of Palermo presented two 3 4 4 4 2 EuCheMS_Chemistry_Changing_World.asp http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/. eme PCl , PCl , POCl , COCl store and use this en- • metrics for chlorine-free reactions the RSC. Her academic and scientific record, Magic Shows and several high school students 3 5 3 2 ergy primarily produced via the initial elec- Proposals for contributions (scientific arti- combined with her profound interest in the fu- were awarded for their results at different trolysis. cles, reviews) are welcome. The Project Edi- ture of chemistry as a subject, make LesleyYel- chemistry competitions. Publisher: GesellschaftDeutscher Environmental constraints and the ener- tors are Fabio Aricò ([email protected]) lowlees an ideal choice for President. Lesley is One of the lectures was dedicated to the 225th EuCheMS Newsletter Chemiker on behalf of EuCheMS gy savings force us now to take advantage and Andrea Vavasori ([email protected]), noted for her energy, her sense of commitment anniversary of the first International Scientific Newsletter coordinator: Karin Schmitz Postfach 900440, D-60444 Frankfurtam Main of available technologies to develop a new both from Venice, and Zhimin Liu (liuzm@ and for speaking up for science.” Congress which took place in 1786 in Sklené Please send all correspondence and manu- [email protected] chemical strategy. The substitution of com- iccas.ac.cn) and Tao Jiang (Jiangt@ LesleyYellowlees said: “I am delighted to have Teplice, Slovakia. scripts to [email protected] EuCheMS General Secretary: Editors: Wolfram Koch (responsible), Evelyn McEwan, c/o RSC, Burlington House, pounds where chlorine is used in the mak- iccas.ac.cn), both from Beijing, to whom arti- been given the opportunity to become the Participants of the meeting were also welcom- Uta Neubauer, Frankfurtam Main Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA, UK ed by the mayor of the city, Milan Ftácnik. He ing, means that we will avoid electrolysis as cles and review papers should be sent. next President of the RSC. In this International Advisory board: Wolfram Koch (Chair, [email protected] primary energetic source; this however Pietro Tundo, [email protected] Year of Chemistry, during which we are cele- stressed that welcoming the participants dur- Germany), Luis Oro (Spain), Giovanni Natile www.euchems.org makes chemistry without chlorine consider- Chairman, EuCheMS WP on Green and brating the life and achievements of Marie Cu- ing the International Year of Chemistry in the (Italy), Evelyn McEwan (EuCheMS Secreta- EuCheMS is registered as “Association inter- ably more difficult and illustrates why it has Sustainable Chemistry rie, it gives me additional pleasure to realise city hall will be forever recorded in the city hall riat), Marie-Claude Vitorge (France), Paola nationale sans but lucratif”(AISBL, interna- Turano (Italy), Viktor Milata (Slovakia). tional non-profit association) notbeen adopted before. that I will be the first woman President of the annals, and in this way the participants of the Layout: Jürgen Bugler, Frankfurtam Main AISBL-Registered office: Avenue E. Van meetingwillbe part of the history of Bratislava. Recently, IUPAC decided to dedicate a spe- More information at www.dais.unive.it/ society.” Production: Nachrichten aus der Chemie Nieuwenhuyse 4, B-1160 Brussels cial issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry on documenti/Chlorine_substitution.pdf Clare Viney, [email protected] Marta Sališová CHIMIA 2011, 65, No. 9 757

Events 2011 14 – 16 September 2011, Rostock, Germany 11 – 14 September 2011, Namur, Belgium 8th International Conference on History of Chemistry International Symposium on Advanced Complex “Pathways of Knowledge” Inorganic Nanomaterials (ACIN 2011) www.gdch.de/ichc2011 http://webapps.fundp.ac.be/acin2011/homepage.php 5 – 7 October 2011, Milan, Italy 11 – 15 September 2011, Belgrade, Serbia CHEM-MED 2011 Conference Euroanalysis XVI, www.euroanalysis2011.rs www.artenergy.it/pages/conf_en.asp 11 – 15 September 2011, Zurich, Switzerland Ulrich Schubert, one of the main speakers at EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and Events 2012 the opening ceremony in Bratislava. the Environment(ICCE2011), www.icce2011.org 5 – 11 August 2012, Wales, UK 13 – 16 September 2011, Novara, Italy EUCHEM Conference Molten Salts and Ionic Liquids EC2E2N Annual Conference & First International Congress on Cocoa, Coffee andTea Email: [email protected] ECTN Association Meeting www.cocotea2011.org 26 – 30 August 2012, Prague, Czech Republic 14 – 16 September 2011, Madrid, Spain 4th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress The Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty 9th Green Chemistry Conference (9GCC) www.euchems-prague2012.cz of Natural Sciences, together with the Slovak www.iuct.net Chemical Society organised the EC2E2N An- nual Conference & ECTN Association Meeting 2011 on 19 to 21 May 2011. EuCheMS Roadmap for the Women in chemistry: This meeting brought together up to 170 Chemical Sciences a book recommendation chemists from Europe, Australia, South Africa, With the support of experts from its member Short profiles of over 50 remarkable European Egypt, Canada and USA for discussions about societies, EuCheMS has identified five key ar- women chemists, from the early pioneers to higher education in chemistry in Europe. In eas that should be priorities in the EU Research the present day, feature in the new book several working groups, participants discussed Framework Programme 8: breakthrough sci- “European Women in Chemistry”conceived by about the topics: image of chemistry, transpar- ence, food, energy, health and resource effi- EuCheMS to mark the International Year of ency, lecturing qualifications, stu- ciency. Over recent months EuCheMS has been Chemistry 2011. The book looks at the scien- dent-centered activities, employability, virtual developing the Roadmap for the Chemical tific stories as well as the personal sacrifices campus, attractiveness, improving learning Sciences, to identify the critical areas where and societal opposition that many of these outcomes, interface of chemistry and chemical gaps in knowledge are limiting technological great women scientists had to overcome. The engineering, linguistic issues, E-chem tests progress and where the chemical sciences chemists range from Nobel Laureates Marie and also chemistry as central science. have a role to play in bridging these gaps. Curie, Ada Yonath and Dorothy Crowfoot Ulrich Schubert, President Elect of EuCheMS, A first copy of this roadmap has been put to- Hodgkin to women whose reputations are John Cordish, deputy of IUPAC and the head of gether with input from stakeholders across Eu- not so well known but whose contributions the project, Anthony Smith, were the main rope and EuCheMS now welcomes the input of have been vital. speakers at the opening ceremony. Young its divisions on this document. ks Edited by Jan Apotheker and Livia Sarkadi, chemists from the Faculty of Natural Sciences Full document at www.euchems.org/News/ the book can be ordered online at and the University of Palermo presented two EuCheMS_Chemistry_Changing_World.asp http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/. eme Magic Shows and several high school students were awarded for their results at different chemistry competitions. Publisher: GesellschaftDeutscher One of the lectures was dedicated to the 225th EuCheMS Newsletter Chemiker on behalf of EuCheMS anniversary of the first International Scientific Newsletter coordinator: Karin Schmitz Postfach 900440, D-60444 Frankfurtam Main Congress which took place in 1786 in Sklené Please send all correspondence and manu- [email protected] Teplice, Slovakia. scripts to [email protected] EuCheMS General Secretary: Participants of the meeting were also welcom- Editors: Wolfram Koch (responsible), Evelyn McEwan, c/o RSC, Burlington House, Uta Neubauer, Frankfurtam Main Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA, UK ed by the mayor of the city, Milan Ftácnik. He Advisory board: Wolfram Koch (Chair, [email protected] stressed that welcoming the participants dur- Germany), Luis Oro (Spain), Giovanni Natile www.euchems.org ing the International Year of Chemistry in the (Italy), Evelyn McEwan (EuCheMS Secreta- EuCheMS is registered as “Association inter- city hall will be forever recorded in the city hall riat), Marie-Claude Vitorge (France), Paola nationale sans but lucratif”(AISBL, international non-profit association) annals, and in this way the participants of the Turano (Italy), Viktor Milata (Slovakia). Layout: Jürgen Bugler, Frankfurtam Main AISBL-Registered office: Avenue E. Van meetingwillbe part of the history of Bratislava. Production: Nachrichten aus der Chemie Nieuwenhuyse 4, B-1160 Brussels Marta Sališová