Chemistry International
Vol. 21, No.1, January 1999

1999, Vol. 21
No. 1 (January)
..Chemistry in Africa
..News from IUPAC
..Other Societies
..Reports from Symposia
..Provisional Recommendations
..New Books
..Conference Announcements

..Conferences


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Chemistry International
Vol. 21, No. 1
January 1999

 

News and Notices from Other Societies and Unions

News from the Federation of European Chemical Societies (FECS) General Assembly

Istanbul Turkey,
17-18 September 1998

Millennium Celebrations
100 Distinguished European Chemists
The President informed the General Assembly that the project had been approved by the Executive Committee in March and that in August member societies had been sent a letter inviting them to submit nominations by the closing date of 26 February 1999.

Guidelines for considering the nominations would be approved by the Executive Committee in October. The Working Party on the History of Chemistry would be involved in the selection process, the final decision to be taken by a selection committee

FECS Calendar
The President informed the General Assembly that plans for a calendar to mark the Millennium had been approved by the Executive Committee, although the question of the necessary funding had not been resolved.

FECS Web Pages
The President urged member societies to develop their own web pages, if they did not already exist, and use the help that was available from the Royal Society of Chemistry. He urged member societies to make use of the opportunities provided by Chemsoc for the use of chemical societies and their members, the alternative being commercially provided sites. Dr Gagan added that the Chemsoc web site was a valuable service for Divisions. The General Assembly noted the development of the IUPAC and ACS web sites.

Dr. Inch commended in particular the developing conference database within Chemsoc, and encouraged member societies to contribute information.

The European Chemist Magazine
Dr. Inch drew attention to the first issue published in May and urged member societies to provide information that could help create future issues, the next one being expected in November/December. He explained that a major problem was to assemble a number of people who are able to provide information from different countries which could be analysed for its European significance. Until the quality of the magazine meets the required standards, he is not planning to approach industry for sponsorship. Approaches to member societies for firm commitments to purchase the magazine will be made in due course.

Future Direction of FECS
Divisional Status
The General Assembly considered the circulated papers. Dr. Jensen and Professor Pasynkiewicz presented the applications of the Working Parties on Chemistry and the Environment and Organometallic Chemistry for Divisional status. The General Assembly noted that the Working Parties met the required criteria concerning membership and level of activities and accepted the recommendations from the Executive Committee.

Green Chemistry
Dr. Jensen reported that the European Environment Agency (EEA) had invited FECS to help organize a European Green Chemistry Award similar to the U.S. Green Chemistry Award. The EEA expected that funding would be available via the European Commission, and planned to publicize the award in the summer of 1999, with the first awards (possibly one academic and one industrial) being made in the year 2000.

There was some discussion of the use of the word 'green', which was not well accepted in all European countries, although it was possible that the U.S. influence would eventually prevail. Dr. Inch reported that in considering the terms 'sustainable' and 'green', the RSC had concluded that sustainable chemistry went beyond green chemistry. It was noted that the preliminary proposal was for the FECS to appoint and oversee the work of an awarding panel and that the Green Chemistry Network in York University might be asked to be the administrative body.

The General Assembly gave approval in principle to the proposal to work with the EEA in organising a European Green Chemistry Award and agreed that the Division of Chemistry and the Environment should be authorized to continue the discussions and act on behalf of FECS. Dr. Darms urged that efforts should be made to ensure the right amount of visibility for the FECS name in association with the award.

Dr. Malin gave a presentation highlighting the many international activities of the ACS which incorporated green chemistry. The ACS Committee on Environmental Improvement was actively involved in the U.S. Green Chemistry Award. Much staff activity was devoted to, for example, the organisation of workshops in collaboration with other bodies.

Dr. Czedik Eysenberg reported that the Austrian Chemical Society had a working party looking at life cycle questions.

Dr. Inch reported on the arrangements to establish the Green Chemistry Network at the University of York, financed by the RSC, and the plans to publish a green chemistry journal/magazine.

Dr. Jensen invited representatives to send him by post any further information that was available.

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