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
International
Chemistry Celebration 1999
Dr. Malin
circulated information about the plans for the International Chemistry
Celebration in 1999. He urged FECS member societies to inform the ACS
of any national activity, e.g. national chemistry day, in order to have
it included in the diary of events worldwide. The website is http://www.acs.org/memgen/meetings/ichc/ichc.htm.
The General Assembly delegates indicated that about half of the member
societies present had submitted registration forms.
Dr. Walter drew attention to the creation of International
Landmark Sites and said he would welcome information to help select
other joint activities that could receive this designation.
European
Communities Chemistry Council
The General Assembly noted the minutes of the meeting held in March
1998. Professor Alderweireldt drew attention to the European Chemist
(EurChem) designation, involvement in which is no longer restricted
to ECCC member societies. The EurChem designation is available to members
of all FECS member societies who can meet the criteria for membership
of the European Chemist Registration Board.
IUPAC
Dr. Hayes,
VicePresident of IUPAC, gave an outline of the structure of IUPAC and
presented the circulated document on future strategy. He then highlighted
his desire for a clearer view of the respective roles of, and links
between, the IUPAC as a global organisation, the regional organisations
such as FECS, and the national organisations, in order to avoid duplication
of effort. He referred to the problems caused by the fact that funding
via national adhering organisations left many national chemical societies
not directly involved in IUPAC. He also reported that improved links
with industry will be pursued, and the Associate Member scheme is shrinking.
The General Assembly noted that decisions on future action
would be put on the IUPAC website [http:\\www.iupac.org].
Future
Strategies of Divisions and Working Parties
Division of Analytical Chemistry: The President, as interim
Chairman of the Division, following the death of Professor Robert Kellner,
reported the appointment of a new Chairman, Professor M. Valcarcel,
Spain and a new Secretary, Professor Korte, Germany. He stated that
a report from Euroanalysis 10 in Basel will be published. The next two
Euroanalysis meetings will be in Lisbon in 2000 and Dortmund in 2002.
The publication of the 2nd edition of the 900-page analytical
chemistry textbook based on the Eurocurriculum is a major project and
it is expected that this edition would be more widely applicable to
university chemistry teaching worldwide.
Division of Food Chemistry: Dr.
Battaglia reported that, in the light of his appointment as FECS
President Elect, the Division would need to appoint a new Chairman.
The Division's links with the European Commission were developing well
and he hoped in time that the Division would be accepted as the body
of reference to the European Union. He commended to other Divisions
the strategy of having individuals formally recognized as experts. The
General Assembly supported the Division's efforts to influence Springer
to use the English name International Journal of Food Research
, instead of the German title Zeitschrift für Lebensmittel Untersuchung
und Forschung, to promote wider circulation. He reported collaboration
with the medical community in the Symposium on Food Allergenicity in
Taormina. The 10th Eurofoodchem will be held in Budapest.
Division of Chemical Education: Dr. Gagan
reported that this was the Division's 25th anniversary year. A special
edition of the International Journal of Science Education had
been prepared by the Division. The first European Conference on Chemical
Education, in Budapest in August, had been attended by 200 Hungarian
teachers of chemistry and 150 participants from 30 other countries.
The FECS Lecture had been given by Professor A. Johnstone, University
of Glasgow. The next European Conference would be held in 2001 in Portugal,
avoiding overlap with the International Conference held in alternate
years. The 5th ECRICE, in Greece later in 1998, included a workshop
for young researchers.
Division of Chemistry and the Environment: Dr.
Jensen reported on the success of the recent Conference on Atmospheric
Chemistry and Air Pollution in Copenhagen. Following the conversion
to a Division, the next business meeting will consider the establishment
of subgroups. The next Euroenvironment Conference will be held in Oporto
in 2000. A venue for the 25th anniversary conference in 2002 will be
sought. The Division was actively cooperating with the European Chemistry
Thematic Network activity and Dr. Jensen planned to develop links with
IUPAC.
Division of Organometallic Chemistry: Professor
Pasynkiewicz reported plans for the XIIIth FECHEM Conference on Organometallic
Chemistry on 29 August-3 September l999 in Lisbon. The Division supported
local activity in Poland and Germany and held regional seminars for
Ph.D. students. The web site listed the names, together with fields
of interest, of those members working in organometallic chemistry
Working Party on Computational Chemistry:
Dr. Naray Szabo reported that the next conference will be in Italy
in 2000. A directory of European computational chemists is being compiled
for publication on the Internet. Summer schools, mostly in Italy, are
being organized. He added that the longterm aim is to become a Division.
Working Party on History of Chemistry: In
the absence of Dr. Deelstra, the President reported that, in addition
to the Guide to Museums, the Working Party is planning a history
of chemical societies. Another in the series of lists of important events
in the history of chemistry, giving anniversaries for 1999 and 2000,
is expected.
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