RSCNEWS JULY 2015 www.rsc.org The case for chemistry What comes next for science funding? A better future for Kibera p10 Chemophobia, a chemists’ construct p13 Students from 15 schools across the northwest attended the Basil McCrea MLA joins students at the Salters’ Festival event at Salters’ Festival event at Liverpool JMU. (© Matt Thomas) Queen’s University Belfast. (© Queen’s University Belfast) Students enjoy solving puzzles with chemistry at Aberystwyth Patiently waiting for results at Aberystwyth University. University. (© Centre for Widening Participation and Social (© Centre for Widening Participation and Social Inclusion, Inclusion, Aberystwyth University) Aberystwyth University) Aoife Nash and Maeve Stillman from St Mary’s College Derry at the Salters’ Festival of Chemistry at North West Regional College. (© North West Regional College) Flash and bang demo at Queen’s University Belfast. (© Queen’s University Belfast) Level 3 forensic science student Dillon Donaghey offers some advice to some Thornhill College pupils during the Salters’ Festival of Chemistry at North West Regional College. (© North West Regional College) See more about the Salters’ Festival on p19. WEBSITE Find all the latest news at www.rsc.org/news/ Contents JULY 2015 Editor: Edwin Silvester Design and production: REGULARS Vivienne Brar 4 Contact us: Snapshot 7 RSC News editorial office News and updates from around Thomas Graham House Science Park, Milton Road the organisation Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK 6 Tel: +44 (0)1223 432294 One to one Email: [email protected] How networks can help you Burlington House, Piccadilly London W1J 0BA, UK 7 Tel: +44 (0)20 7437 8656 Profile Emma Sackville talks about fuel for the future and sharing enthusiasm for chemistry @RSC_Newsroom 13 Opinion facebook.com/RoyalSocietyofChemistry 8 A new way for chemists to think about Photography: the public © Shutterstock (cover) FEATURES 8 The case for chemistry What political change may mean for science funding 10 Collaboration for a better future 10 Chemistry in action in Kibera DIARY 14 Conferences Upcoming meetings and deadlines 15 Events Your guide to events by region and section 13 17 Notices Exciting events from our community 21 Admissions © Royal Society of Chemistry 2015 Registered charity number 207890 Welcome to our newest members Snapshot A look at the latest news from around the world INBRIEF 2015 RSC Elections Royal Society of Chemistry The results of the 2015 Royal Society of Elected member of the Science, Chemistry elections are as follows: Education and Industry Board wins prestigious Membership Pooja Panchmatia awards The president elect, Sir John Holman, was Elected members of Analytical Division We scooped two awards and were elected with 58.4% of the vote, 3,930 votes. Richard Catlow received 2,802 votes. Council highly commended in a third Sara Evans, Steven Lancaster category at the 10th Annual MemCom Sir John said: “I’ve been an enthusiast for Elected members of Chemistry Biology Membership Awards. The prestigious chemistry from the age of about 10, and Interface Division Council awards, announced in May, are very my enthusiasm is undiminished today, so Laura Barter, Rebecca Goss competitive and recognise excellence and imagine how honoured I am to be elected President elect of Dalton Division (without achievement in the membership sector. President of the world’s premier chemistry a ballot) community. There should be no limit to The A Future in Chemistry website Emma Raven was the Outright Winner in the Digital/ what the RSC can achieve in advancing chemical science in industry, academia Elected members of Dalton Division Council Online Communications Microsite (without a ballot) and the public realm.” category. The site was launched a year Scott Dalgarno, James Wilton-Ely These results will be formally announced at ago to provide careers information and Elected members of Education Division guidance to school students who are our Annual General Meeting in Burlington Council (without a ballot) considering a career in the chemical House on 8 July 2015 at 5pm. Peter Banks, Karen Buck sciences. The judges noted that the site Elected members of Environment, President elect is ‘demonstrably different from the main Sustainability and Energy Division Council Sir John Holman site; it offers the target audience a visually Carole Llewellyn, Andy Rudge engaging, responsive and mobile friendly Elected members of Faraday Division experience.’ Council Our International Accreditation Carmen Domene, Katherine Holt programme, which included an Elected member of Industry and international ChemCareers event, was Technology Division Council Outright Winner in the International (without a ballot) Development category. The RSC success Mark Gronnow in taking degree accreditation worldwide Elected members of Materials Chemistry impressed the judges. Since 2010 we Division Council have accredited 16 degree programmes Ordinary members of Council Graeme Cooke, Sarah Staniland across five regions around the world and Polly Arnold, Sabine Flitsch, Melissa Hanna- President elect of Organic Division supported this with ChemCareers events Brown, David Rees, Janette Waterhouse Alison Hulme in India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Elected member of the Membership Elected members of Organic Division We were also Highly Commended in the and Qualifications Board Council Product/Service Development category Elizabeth Page David Alker, Paul Davies for our ChemNet community. ChemNet supports a wide range of students studying chemistry across the UK. The judges felt that it was ‘a great learning Outreach Conference resource for 14-18 year olds with an interest in Chemistry, it was inclusive, On 5 June, over 50 members from Local considered how the findings from Public live, dynamic and engaging’. Sections and RSC Networks across the Attitudes to Chemistry may affect planning UK and Ireland joined the Outreach Team events for Chemistry Week, 14-22 November. at the Museum of Science and Industry This year the theme for Chemistry Week is in Manchester, to celebrate and share ‘new audiences’, the 10 days will be centred experiences in outreach. The event saw Dr on building opportunities for members to Marieke Navin, Tim Harrison, and Dr Mark deliver outreach activities to audiences that Lorch share their experiences of success and they have not previously engaged with. Many failure in engaging hard to reach audiences, of the themes discussed in the workshop followed by a presentation and workshop considered how we find these audiences, detailing the Public Attitudes to Chemistry whether that means embedding chemistry in Robert Bowles accepts the award research. This stimulated a discussion existing events or creating new interactions for Digital/Online Communications amongst the delegates about the different with children through primary schools or Microsite from Anne Godfrey, Chief audiences with whom we currently interact. families. Chemistry Week grants are open now Executive, Chartered Institute Chemistry Week: The afternoon saw a change to all RSC members and will close on 24 July. of Marketing. IMAGE COURTESY OF MEMCOM FACEBOOK ACCOUNT FACEBOOK OF MEMCOM COURTESY IMAGE in pace as we looked towards the future and Apply at http://rsc.li/ChemWeekGrants15 4 RSC NEWS JULY 2015 Science and the Assembly 2015 INBRIEF Science and the Assembly drew a large In his speech to the event, Plaid Cymru Chemistry in Health Symposium audience to its eleventh annual event at the Shadow Minister for Education Simon On 26 May we welcomed five world- Senedd and Pierhead buildings in Cardiff Bay Thomas highlighted the need for Wales to leading scientists to Burlington House on 19 May. The theme for the day was Energy obtain extra money for science research: to present at the Chemistry in Health and the Environment, with a distinguished “The percentage of research money from the Symposium and receive one of our array of speakers drawn from academia research councils to Wales has stayed the prestigious Prizes or Awards announced and business. same for Science, Technology, Engineering in 2014. The day also attracted a capacity exhibition, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects over the The symposium’s programme was with 25 science societies and professional last 20 years. particularly apposite, resonating with the bodies taking part. “We have to look again at the research theme of developing new therapeutics, The event was sponsored by David Rees AM, councils to agree a way of raising the and coinciding with the release of Eluned Parrott AM, Nick Ramsay AM, and percentage of research from Wales, including the third report from the Review of Simon Thomas AM. investment in improving the capacity of our Antimicrobial Resistance and agreement Opening the event, our immediate past universities to bid for research money.” on the World Health Organization’s president Professor Lesley Yellowlees The Royal Society of Chemistry organises global action plan on tackling reflected on Wales’s proud history in fuel Science and the Assembly on behalf of, antimicrobial resistance. cell development and looked ahead to and in cooperation with, the scientific David Spring (University of Cambridge) how Wales would continue to innovate, and engineering community in Wales. spoke on the challenge of developing while also protecting the environment. The event was held in association with drugs for ‘undruggable’ targets; Edward Council member Peter Knowles chaired The Royal Society, Institute of Physics, Tate (Imperial College London) outlined the afternoon