RSCNEWS OCTOBER 2015 www.rsc.org The results are in – our pay and reward survey Creating researcher links around the world p10 A summer of chemistry p12 Festivals Honorary FRSCs Our Education Coordinators spread the positive message of Two Nobel Laureates for the price of one…. There’s more about chemistry all year – see p12 for the full story of their summer Eric Betzig and William E Moerner’s involvement with our of festivals. Faraday Discussion and poster session in the Snapshot on p4. WEBSITE Find all the latest news at www.rsc.org/news/ Contents OCTOBER 2015 Editor: Edwin Silvester Deputy editor: Ruth McAvinia REGULARS Design and production: Vivienne Brar 4 Snapshot 7 Contact us: News and updates from around RSC News editorial office the organisation Thomas Graham House Science Park, Milton Road 6 Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK One to one Tel: +44 (0)1223 432294 Supporting professional development Email: [email protected] with Online Career Management Burlington House, Piccadilly London W1J 0BA, UK 7 Profile Tel: +44 (0)20 7437 8656 Jack Heal: stand-up meets science at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe @RSC_Newsroom 14 8 Opinion facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofChemistry Fracking: an objective view Photography: Cover: © Shutterstock Left: Festivals top right image FEATURES © JA Bos / University of Edinburgh. Honorary FRSCs images © Royal 8 Society of Chemistry / John Rogers. The results are in All other images © Royal Society Presenting the findings from our pay and of Chemistry. reward survey 10 Creating researcher links Supporting the Newton Fund to foster new 10 ideas and international scientific exchanges 12 A summer of chemistry Our education coordinators taking chemistry to festivals around the country DIARY 16 Conferences Upcoming meetings and deadlines 12 17 Events Your guide to events by region and section © Royal Society of Chemistry 2015 22 Notices Registered charity number 207890 A tribute, some analytical award winners and a call for nominations Snapshot A look at the latest news from around the world INBRIEF Faraday Discussion welcomes Open House 2015 Nobel Laureates On 19 September, the Royal Society We welcomed two of 2014’s Chemistry He noted that as a Nobel Laureate there of Chemistry greeted 2,319 visitors at Nobel Prize winners at our latest Faraday are more opportunities to both influence Burlington House as part of London’s Discussion, on Single-Molecule Microscopy decision makers and to explain scientific Open House event. Open House London and Spectroscopy. concepts, such as climate change, to broader encourages people to appreciate the audiences. “We as scientists have to be able architecture and design of the city, and Both William E Moerner (Stanford University) to explain our work to the broader public for allows rare access to many buildings that and Eric Betzig (Howard Hughes Medical many, many reasons – not just for support, are typically closed to the public. Institute), who alongside Stefan W Hell (Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry) but to raise people’s awareness of what Enthusiasts of architecture, art, and won the prestigious award “for the science can do,” said Moerner. “The RSC chemistry were among the guests, as development of super-resolved fluorescence honorary fellowship is an exciting recognition well as those who had just happened microscopy” last October, offered their and I’m very happy to receive it.” across the building on the day. They perspectives on the field and highlighted Eric Betzig, who spoke about the challenges were welcomed by our volunteers who recent developments, at the three-day event and trade-offs in live cell super-resolution explained the different features of the at Burlington House. imaging, said winning the Nobel Prize was building, its art, and its history. Chemistry testament to his team’s work and all those had pride of place, as colleagues The Nobel Prize winners were also presented who have supported him over the years. demonstrated oxidation of methylene with Honorary Fellowships by our President He said: “I’m very happy for the honorary blue, and indigo carmine, in colour Dominic Tildesley, who recognised their fellowship and honoured to get it. I work change experiments. The visitors also significant contributions to the field of with some good chemists who get me what learned how lemon juice can be used as microscopy. I need, so I’d like to feel whatever awards an invisible ink. Moerner, who opened the event, spoke I get in chemistry are a reflection of that about his work in single-cell microscopy, The history of the Royal Society of team effort and recognition of what they’ve describing how his life had changed Chemistry was also popular with visitors also contributed to it too.” who observed the bust of Robert Boyle by since winning the prize.“My life has The Faraday discussions have been run by Giovanni Baltista Guelfi, Priestly’s pump, changed significantly with so many new the Faraday Division of the Royal Society of the stained glass windows on the main responsibilities and invitations to speak at Chemistry for more than 100 years, with staircase, and the RSC war memorial. many places all over the world,” he said a focus on rapidly developing areas of Our collection of paintings and books Moerner, while attending his first Faraday physical chemistry. drew lots of attention – from the 1855 Discussion. “The original work was done rendering of Michael Faraday’s Royal 26 years ago, and since then there have not Institution Christmas Lecture to the more been many advances and discoveries of Our president, Dominic Tildesley, contemporary 2012 portrait of Lesley different properties of singular molecules, presenting the Nobel laureates with their Yellowlees, president from 2012 to 2014. which are very exciting.” honorary fellowships at Burlington House. Event organiser Carrie Boyce from our SOCIETY / JOHN ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY OF CHEMISTRY © ROYAL Outreach team said: “Burlington House provides a great range of attractions for visitors, and the volunteers from RSC staff really see the building with fresh eyes as they have a chance to explain the different rooms, as well as our activities promoting the chemical sciences. It’s an amazingly busy day but we see plenty of smiles to make it all worthwhile.” Volunteers gather in the Library at the start of Open House London on 19 September. © ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY © ROYAL 4 RSC NEWS OCTOBER 2015 Chemical Landmark for Penzance’s INBRIEF most famous son Inspirational Member and Committee Awards We unveiled our latest blue Chemical Pneumatic Institution in Bristol. In 1801, Davy Landmark plaque – celebrating the enduring moved from Bristol to the Royal Institution These awards recognise the inspirational influence of Sir Humphry Davy – in Penzance in London and became one of the great efforts of members supporting our on 17 September. Professor Jim Feast CBE, scientists of his time, applying the recently community through member-led our past president, presented the plaque to discovered electric battery to isolate, for the activities. The awards recognise Mr Jon Symons JP, representing the Symons first time, six metallic elements including committees that have initiated novel family who have occupied or owned 1 Market sodium, potassium, and calcium. activities or approaches in order to engage Place for most of the period since Davy’s life. At the presentation, Frank James, professor or provide services for their communities. Mayor of Penzance, David Nebesnuick, Derek of the history of science at the Royal This might include initiatives to make Thomas MP, and Lord St Levan of St Michael’s Institution, gave a lecture on the role of the committee or events more inclusive Mount were among the attendees. Cornwall in Davy’s life, said: “Humphry Davy to engage new members, an activity Professor Feast said: “As the world’s leading formed his Romantic approach towards which has had a significant demonstrable chemistry community, we want to help nature and exploring it experimentally during impact in the community, or other everybody appreciate why chemistry matters his teenage years in Cornwall, which never activity which demonstrably supports our – from the 26,000 students who attended a really left him in his later career.” wider strategy. The award for individuals Royal Society of Chemistry event last year, to The award of our distinctive blue plaques recognises those who have been the 1.6 million visitors to our award-winning emphasises public visibility, in addition to instrumental in driving and delivering free education website, Learn Chemistry. recognising sites where the chemical sciences activities that have had a demonstrable “Our Chemical Landmarks are a great way have made a significant contribution to impact on their community. of helping people discover the history of society. In doing so, we hope to give everyone Nominations are invited annually from chemistry in their daily lives. I am delighted an insight into the relevance of chemistry in representatives of all of our member their everyday lives. Ranging from sites where we are recognising Sir Humphry Davy, one of networks although any member of the important chemists were born, lived or died the most inspiring chemists of the nineteenth Royal Society of Chemistry may also to those where major discoveries were made, century, here in Penzance where he began make a nomination. his illustrious career.” these might include schools, town centres or even holiday cottages. Humphry Davy is possibly one of the few Inspirational Member Award © ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY © ROYAL historic scientists to be widely known to the Professor Adrian Dobbs in recognition general public. Many people would know of his championing diversity and him primarily through his invention, two international collaboration as part of hundred years ago this year, of a miner’s the Heterocyclic and Synthesis Group safety lamp, which in contrast to previous oil committee. lamps did not explosively ignite ‘fire-damp’ Dr Ann Hubbard in recognition of her (methane) in mines.