January 2013 RSC News - Royal Society of Chemistry

RSC NEWS 

JANUARY 2013 

www.rsc.org 

Opening 

doors 

Enabling drug discovery 

researchers to work 

across boundaries 

CHEMISTS 

IN THE 

PARLIAMENT 

p8 

THE ROLE OF 

CHEMICAL 

BIOLOGY 

p15

Championing female role models in science 

was the theme at Burlington House on 

23 November when it played host to the National 

Youth Theatre performing an adapted version 

of the play If Chloe Can..., turning the Chemistry 

Centre into a theatre for the first time ever. 

Panel discussions at the International Symposium on Silicones and Polymers 

featured leading figures from academia and industry, who spoke about career 

development within multinational companies. The symposium was spread over 

two meetings in Shanghai (pictured) and Beijing, and was jointly organised by the 

RSC and Wacker, a multinational with strong presence in the polymer industry. 

Nearly 250 delegates attended the meetings, including 70 poster participants from 

universities in China. 

Dr Neil Robertson from the University of 

Edinburgh delivered the Materials Chemistry 

Division (MCD) schools lecture to a packed 

library of 16- to 18-year students at the 

Chemistry Centre in London. In the picture, 

with MCD president Professor Howard 

Colquhoun, he demonstrates the idea of an 

“energy slave” to help students appreciate the 

amount of energy needed to power our daily 

lives. He is pedalling a bike to operate an iPod 

and speakers.

NEW LINKS 

Find out why our web short links are changing 

to rsc.li http://rsc.li/web-links 

WEBSITE 

Find all the latest news at 

www.rsc.org/rscnews 

contents 

JANUARY 2013 

Editor: Jon Edwards 

Deputy Editor: Akshat Rathi 

Assistant Editors: 

Lynsey Thorpe, Chiara Ceci 

Annika Schüller, Emma Stoye 

Production: 

Dale Dawson, Jenny Silventoinen 

Contact us: 

RSC News editorial office 

Thomas Graham House 

Science Park, Milton Road 

Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK 

Tel: +44 (0)1223 432460 

Email: rscnews@rsc.org 

Burlington House, Piccadilly 

London W1J 0BA 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7437 8656 

Photography: 

© Royal Society of Chemistry 

© Shutterstock (p8, 10, 22) 

© Ramon Andrade 3Dciencia/Science 

Photo Library (p15) 

REGULARS 

4 

Snapshot 

The latest news from the RSC 

6 

One to One 

The library and information centre 

7 

Profile 

Paul Workman–cancer drug researcher 

and entrepreneur 

15 

Opinion 

Ben Davis on how researchers can deal with 

challenges faced by those at the chemistry 

and biology interface 

FEATURES 

8 

Westminster fellowship 

RSC fellowships enable members to 

influence policy 

10 

Healthcare innovation 

Easing the movement of drug discovery 

researchers across boundaries 

12 

CChem revalidation 

Why the process is worth your time 

07 

08 

10 

© Royal Society of Chemistry 2013 

Registered charity number 207890 

DIARY 

16 

Conferences 

Upcoming meetings and events 

17 

Events 

Your guide to events by region and section 

21 

People and notices 

Including vacancies for council, boards and 

divisions 

12 

JANUARY 2013 RSC NEWS 3

snapshot 

RSC acquires The Merck Index 

A look at the latest news from around the world 

The famous ‘bible’ of 

chemistry, The Merck 

Index, is to join the highly 

acclaimed publishing 

portfolio of the RSC. 

In buying the rights to the 

iconic reference book, where 

generations of professionals 

look for comprehensive 

information on chemicals, 

drugs and biologicals, the 

RSC gains a globally-used 

reference tool with a 120-year history. 

The RSC already plans significant 

development of The Merck Index online and 

will continue to develop and update The 

Merck Index to provide a valuable, trusted 

and relevant resource for scientists and 

researchers. 

In the agreement with Merck, the RSC will 

take over publication by launching the 15th 

edition, due out in April. The new edition has 

been extensively revised and updated. 

James Milne, RSC Executive Director, 

publishing, said “The Merck Index is a 

quality product with a peerless pedigree 

but, being familiar to the scientific 

community worldwide, it is also emblematic 

of our organisation’s rapidly expanding 

international presence and influence.” 

The single-volume encyclopaedia—also 

known as Chemistry’s Constant Companion 

and first published in 1889—is about 

to publish its 15th edition, with sales 

and distribution being handled by RSC 

Publishing. 

It has been considered the standard 

chemistry reference work for generations of 

professionals and has sold more than one 

million copies worldwide. 

Milne added, “We are very excited to be 

welcoming a title as prestigious as 

The Merck Index to the RSC portfolio. 

It makes an excellent strategic fit 

with our current publishing activities, 

complementing existing services such as 

ChemSpider, the award-winning 

free database of chemical 

structures. 

“We know it will be a valuable 

addition to the products and 

services the RSC offers its 

customers. Now we are looking 

forward eagerly to developing 

The Merck Index for the digital 

future.” 

Matt Cahill, Associate Vice 

President of Merck Global Scientific 

and Medical Publications said, “We are 

very pleased to have the opportunity to 

transition ownership to the RSC, the largest 

organisation in Europe for advancing 

the chemical sciences. The RSC has the 

credibility, resources and capabilities to 

produce and advance the high quality 

information chemists have come to expect 

from The Merck Index.” 

Further information about the publication of 

the 15th edition can be found at 

www.rsc.org/merckindex 

The name THE MERCK INDEX is owned by 

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of 

Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 

U.S.A., and is licensed to The Royal Society of 

Chemistry for use in the U.S.A. and Canada. 

INBRIEF 

GOLD FOR GOLD GOES GLOBAL 

Following its success in the UK in July, 

the Gold for Gold scheme from the RSC 

will now be rolled out globally (p23). 

The scheme provides researchers with 

credits equal in value to their subscription 

payment to make their papers available 

through RSC’s Gold Open Access option. 

The global initiative will credit universities 

worldwide with over £5 million worth of 

voucher codes for open access publishing 

in RSC journals. 

Celebrating 

50 years of EiC 

This year sees the 50th anniversary of the 

chemistry teachers’ magazine Education in 

Chemistry (EiC). It is one of only a few RSC 

publications to reach the milestone. 

EiC is unique in providing support to 

teachers of chemistry across secondary, 

further and higher education. The idea 

for such a publication was conceived in 

1962 at a meeting of the Chemical Society 

council. By June 1963 the name, editorial 

advisory board and editor had been agreed 

and Education in Chemistry was born. 

Fast forward 50 years and EiC continues to 

thrive. The bi-monthly print magazine is 

distributed free of charge to all secondary 

schools, further education colleges and 

university chemistry departments in 

the UK. It also reaches thousands of 

international readers via the website. 

With the overall aim of helping teachers 

inspire the next generation of chemists, 

EiC covers news and topical issues in both 

education and chemistry research. 

It also features regular contributions from 

leading chemistry educators. For many 

readers it is not only an excellent teaching 

resource, but also a way to keep up to date 

with current developments in chemistry 

and chemistry education. 

The EiC team will celebrate the 

anniversary with a new website, a 

redesign for the print version and new 

article series. Festivities will peak at a 

special anniversary event to be held in 

autumn 2013 at the Chemistry Centre in 

London for readers, sponsors and special 

guests. 

4 RSC NEWS JANUARY 2013

Chemists in the horn of Africa Investment in 

UK science 

Participants sharing ideas at the post-congress scientific writing workshop in Ethiopia 

The fifth Pan Africa Chemistry Network congress 

held in Ethiopia focussed on agricultural productivity 

The 2012 Pan Africa Chemistry Network 

congress on Agricultural Productivity, 

Water and Waste took place in Addis Ababa, 

Ethiopia on 26 and 27 November, bringing 

together over 120 participants from 20 

countries to discuss their current research 

in the agricultural sciences. There were 

over 30 presentations covering a diverse 

range of topics, from the photo-catalysed 

purification of water to the production of 

biobutanol from agricultural waste. It is 

clear that scientists have a vital role to play 

in increasing understanding of the processes 

affecting agricultural productivity, water 

provision and waste management, and also 

in finding novel solutions to the challenges 

in these areas. The congress aimed to 

facilitate collaborations between scientists 

within and outside Africa to foster scientific 

research that is for Africa and by Africans. 

For selected participants, the congress was 

followed by a scientific writing workshop, 

providing training in some of the key 

elements of writing scientific papers, 

preparing poster presentations and writing 

grant proposals. A participant told RSC 

News, “We have been inspired to share and 

use the knowledge when we return to our 

research institutes.” This training is vital in 

supporting African researchers to publish 

their work and to increase its visibility and 

influence. 

INBRIEF 

BYE BYE BOBBITT 

On 19 November Bobbitt shattered into 

many pieces. For many years Bobbitt, 

a glass baby, helped former RSC 

president David Phillips, a specialist in 

photodynamic therapy, to demonstrate 

the treatment of neonatal jaundice 

with blue light in medicinal chemistry 

lectures. 

In the 2012 Autumn Statement the UK 

Chancellor George Osborne announced 

plans to invest an additional £600 million 

in research infrastructure. This is a 

welcome follow-up to his earlier speech at 

the Royal Society, in which he stressed the 

importance of UK science and technology 

research as a driver for economic growth. 

“At the last comprehensive spending 

review, capital spending was not included 

within the science budget ring-fence, 

effectively leading to a 40% cut—so this 

extra investment will be well-received,” said 

Robert Parker, chief executive of the RSC. 

The government also plans to spend an 

additional £980 million on building and 

improving schools, and £270 million on 

improving further education colleges. 

Parker said, “We welcome the support that 

modern laboratory facilities and improved 

teaching spaces in schools and colleges will 

provide for teachers to engage students in 

science and in particular, chemistry.” 

But he also voiced concern at further budget 

cuts to government departments. 

“This extra cash for science comes at the 

expense of department budgets that are 

already stretched,” he said, “and a number 

of those departments who support science 

have already unevenly cut their spending in 

this area.” 


onetoone 

Take advantage of a wide range of member services 

Since its foundation the Library and Information Centre has had an important 

role in the dissemination of chemical knowledge among RSC members. 

Over the years its collections have grown dramatically and they are now 

accessible to many around the globe 

On 23 February 1841, some 

of London’s most eminent 

chemists came together at 

the Society of Arts with the 

intention of founding a society 

for chemists. At this meeting they 

agreed that the newly formed 

Chemical Society’s aims would 

be “the promotion of Chemistry 

and those branches of Science 

immediately connected with it, 

by the reading, discussion and 

subsequent publication of original 

communication… Also the formation 

of a chemical library and museum”. 

The museum was sadly dropped, 

but the library became integral 

to the Chemical Society by 

providing members with access 

to valuable information. It had 

a rather inauspicious start as a 

single bookcase purchased by the 

secretary, but it grew quickly. 

By 1855 the services of a 

permanent librarian and many 

more bookcases had been 

procured. Today we hold over 

35,000 journals, books, images 

and artefacts. Having moved on 

from the card catalogues of yester 

year, our online catalogue makes 

short work of sifting through the 

collections; search by subject to 

find exactly what you need. 

In the early years of the society 

fellows were appealed to for 

donations, and to think of the 

library “as a place of deposit for 

curious works upon chemistry, 

and for pamphlets upon chemical 

subjects, which, collected are of great 

interest, but separately are often of 

little or no value to the possessor”. 

These early donations have 

formed the basis of the library’s 

historical collection. Included 

in the collection is a bequest of 

books, posters and pamphlets 

from Colonel Sir Frederick 

Nathan (1861-1933), a renowned 

explosives expert. The image 

illustrating this article is taken 

from one of his sets of Victorian 

pop-up posters, and shows the 

Fusil Modèle 1888, a French 

service rifle. 

From the beginning the Chemical 

Society “regarded the formation of 

a library of chemical works as one 

of the most important objects to 

which the funds of the Society could 

be devoted, and they are especially 

desirous to render it at all times 

accessible and serviceable to all the 

Fellows”. 

Since 1861 any RSC member 

in the UK can loan a book from 

the library. And from 2006 

the introduction of the virtual 

library allows any member with 

an internet connection to freely 

access a wide variety of high 

quality chemistry information. 

GET INVOLVED 

RSC members are welcome to view the historical collection by appointment. 

Visit us at www.rsc.org/library or email library@rsc.org 

Members have free worldwide access to online books, journals and databases through the virtual library. 

Discover how at www.rsc.org/virtuallibrary 

We are happy to post books (at the librarian’s discretion and subject to some terms and conditions), 

so please get in touch even if you live outside London. Our borrowable books are issued for eight weeks 

at a time. Visit www.rsc.org/opac to check availability. 


A closer look at our members and their interests 

60 

seconds 

with... 

PAUL WORKMAN FRSC 

Professor Paul Workman is a 

world leader in the discovery 

of molecularly targeted 

cancer drugs, a passionate 

advocate of personalised 

cancer medicine and a serial 

scientific entrepreneur. 

He is currently Deputy Chief 

Executive of the Institute of 

Cancer Research, Director 

of its Cancer Research 

UK Cancer Therapeutics 

Unit and Harrap Professor 

of Pharmacology and 

Therapeutics. 

“I am very driven 

by the science 

of cancer drug 

discovery and 

by the benefit 

we can bring to 

patients through 

this discovery 

science.” 

Paul Workman 

Q How did you first become interested in 

chemistry? 

A I was always curious about science and 

mechanisms. What really inspired me at school 

was reading extraordinary stories about the 

pioneers who worked on the understanding 

and treatment of infectious diseases, scientists 

like Pasteur, Koch and Erlich. At university I 

developed this passion for understanding how 

life processes are controlled by small molecules 

interacting with proteins and DNA and similarly 

how those small molecules can be instead used 

to treat disease. I got very excited by doing 

an undergraduate project about quantitative 

enzymology in intact cells. And then I got 

hooked on cancer drugs while doing my 

PhD and have focused on this ever since. 

Q How do you take pioneering drugs 

out of the laboratory and develop them 

commercially? 

A My Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics 

Unit at the Institute of Cancer Research, London 

is pretty unique in being a large nonprofit 

cancer drug discovery group. Academic research 

commonly stops at basic biological discoveries 

but we go beyond and discover not only the first 

prototype drug molecules but also the fully 

optimised drug candidates. With our clinical 

colleagues at the ICR and the Royal Marsden 

Hospital we then take these drugs into the 

first clinical studies in cancer patients. This 

has required the build-up of a highly talented, 

professional and effective multidisciplinary 

team involving molecular, structural and 

tumour biologists, medicinal chemists, 

pharmacokineticists, pharmacologists and 

clinicians. 

Being non-profit and driven only by science 

and patient benefit we can take more earlyrisk 

and progress high-risk pioneering projects 

through to key proof of concept. However, we 

do collaborate a lot with colleagues in industry, 

and in two cases—Piramed Pharma and Chroma 

Therapeutics—I have been the founder of spinout 

companies that have helped us move our 

projects forward faster. 

Q Is being entrepreneurial in cancer drug 

discovery and development important to turn 

discoveries into innovative applications? 

A It’s incredibly important. There is this 

innovation gap, chasm really, between basic 

science and commercial innovation and patient 

benefit. This needs to be bridged by innovative 

and entrepreneurial scientists who see the 

opportunities and really go for it, without being 

deterred by old thinking or inappropriate cultural 

attitudes about who should do what and how. 

It’s amazing what can be achieved with 

imagination, creativity, passion, hard work and 

teamwork. Since 2005 we have discovered, by 

ourselves and with our multiple industry partners, 

16 drug candidates. 

Q What would be your advice to young 

researchers that want to commercialise their 

ideas? 

A To do the science that you are really passionate 

about. If you’re interested in doing science that 

is not only excellent in its own right but also of 

practical benefit to society then then just do it. The 

opportunities in cancer research and the potential 

to transform the lives of cancer patients are really 

extraordinary now. You may need to be creative 

about your career path because the routes are no 

longer as regimented and predicable as before. 

Q What’s the future of drug discovery? 

A Despite the doom and gloom we hear, drug 

discovery has a fantastic future, especially in 

cancer. Of course the pharmaceutical and biotech 

industry is going through a hard time with the 

economic downturn, the demise of the one-sizefits-all 

blockbuster, downsizing and so on. But 

just look at the fantastic opportunities created 

by our incredible understanding of the cancer 

genome. One-size-fits-all cytotoxic drugs are being 

replaced by personalised precision medicines that 

are precisely targeted to cancers with particular 

genetic features. This is the way forward, no 

question. It leads to more effective drugs that are 

better tolerated. The potential to transform the 

lives of cancer patients through research is very 

exciting and we must not miss this opportunity. 


Chemists 

in Westminster 

A place in the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology supported 

by the RSC helps chemists make a mark on government’s policies 

WORDS 

EMMA STOYE 

In some ways science and politics seem worlds apart, 

but they are often united by shared goals. Politicians 

recognise that advances in science and technology are 

becoming increasingly important as we seek to address 

grand challenges such as food security, climate change 

and renewable energy. Science also generates wealth 

and boosts quality of life in the UK, so it is crucial that 

political decisions are underpinned by robust scientific 

evidence. The RSC actively engages with policymakers 

by publishing reports, responding to consultations 

and running events. But our nearly 50,000 members 

are arguably our biggest asset, an enormous pool of 

expertise spanning a variety of disciplines within the 

chemical sciences. Through the Westminster Fellowship 

Scheme, members are given the opportunity to make 

a contribution to policy working in the Parliamentary 

Office for Science and Technology (POST). 

The POST is an office of the Houses of Parliament 

responsible for providing balanced and objective 

analysis of science and technology based issues relevant 

to Parliament. 


Clare Dyer-Smith 

Jennie Dodson 

Ben O’Driscoll 

Alexandra Ferguson 

It was established in 1989 and generates briefing 

material for members of the House of Commons 

(MPs) and members of the House of Lords (Peers), the 

majority of whom do not have a scientific background. 

Each year the RSC funds two of its members in 

collaboration with the POST for a three-month 

placement. 

During the placement fellows experience the inner 

workings of the Parliament through researching and 

writing POSTnotes, which are four-page briefs for 

parliamentarians on issues they may have to vote on. 

These summaries are also made available to the public 

via the POST website.* 

“It’s an incredible opportunity 

to work in such an iconic location 

and see how the Parliament works, 

especially for scientists who can be 

quite removed from policymaking.” 

“My task was to write a POSTnote on biofuels from 

algae,” explains Clare Dyer-Smith, a postdoctoral 

researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer 

Research in Frankfurt and a 2011 POST fellow. “From 

my first day I conducted research and interviews, taking 

in information from journal articles, government 

reports and the European Union energy legislation.” 

She interviewed leading academics, consultants and 

representatives from campaign groups, and says 

converting such large amounts of information into 

a form easily digestible by a busy MP or Peer was 

challenging but rewarding. 

Writing a POSTnote, which must take the (often 

conflicting) views of at least 15 experts into account, is 

quite different to working on a PhD thesis, says Jennie 

Dodson, an RSC fellow who worked on a POSTnote 

about microbial anaerobic digestion in 2011, now a 

postdoctoral researcher at the Federal University of Rio 

de Janeiro. “Having the POSTnote peer-reviewed by 

20 of my interviewees as well as the POST staff was a 

lesson in patience,” she says, “but learning from experts 

from many disciplines made up for hours of tinkering 

with words and structure.” 

Ben O’Driscoll, a postdoctoral researcher at the 

University of Reading and a 2012 POST fellow, had 

a similar experience. “I looked at unconventional 

gas supplies in the UK, which was both fascinating 

and topical,” he says. “This was not something I was 

particularly familiar with, but what I could offer was 

scientific rationalism, a rigorous approach to problem 

solving that is at the heart of scientific work.” 

This is very much why the POST was established: to 

bridge the gap between scientists and politicians. 

Such collaborative schemes ensure that sound science 

continues to inform policy. Other professional bodies 

and research councils support similar fellowship and 

internship schemes, and their participants make up 

around half the POST staff at any one time. 

It is clear that the work of the POST depends on this 

support, but what do the fellows themselves get out 

of it? There are perks to working in Westminster, 

including subsidised bars and restaurants, and the 

ability to jump the three month queue to see Big Ben, 

but for these fellows the experience is about a lot more. 

“Working at the POST through the Westminster 

Fellowship Scheme was one of the most unique and 

enriching experiences of my PhD,” says Dodson. 

“I still have an interest in science policy, particularly in 

relation to developing countries, which I hope I will be 

able to continue to nurture over the coming years.” 

Alexandra Ferguson, student at Imperial College 

London started the fellowship in October, and has 

gained valuable insights researching a POSTnote 

on drug driving limits. She says, “It’s an incredible 

opportunity to work in such an iconic location and see 

how the parliament works, especially for scientists 

who can be quite removed from policymaking.” She 

highly recommends the scheme to other RSC members, 

especially those who would like to network. 

“POST’s work helps bring a scientific approach to 

political decision making,” says O’Driscoll. “By 

providing the opportunity for its members to 

work with POST, the RSC has established another 

direct connection between the scientific world and 

government.” 

* Link to POSTnotes: http://bit.ly/UBMEId 

Get Involved 

The RSC offers two of its members £5,000 and 

a chance to spend three months in the POST. 

Applications for the 2013 Westminster Fellowship 

Scheme are now open. To find out more, visit 

http://rsc.li/westminster-fellowship or contact 

Lorraine Martin at martinlo@rsc.org 


WORDS 

AKSHAT RATHI 

Removing 

boundaries 

Enabling the movement of researchers across disciplines and 

the industry-academia interface 

The downsizing of Big Pharma in the UK in recent 

years should not mean a loss in global competitiveness 

for a country that has led the world in drug discovery. 

Over the past two years the RSC has been working 

on a Healthcare Innovation Action Plan (RSC News, 

September 2011 and May 2012) to help ensure the UK’s 

world class drug discovery expertise is brought to bear 

on translating fundamental scientific discoveries into 

safe and effective medicines that ultimately make a real 

difference to patients’ lives. “Much of the early effort 

was about communicating the critical role chemists 

play at all stages of drug discovery, from selection of 

the target, through to invention of the medicine and 

helping to inform the design of clinical trials,” says 

David Fox, science associate at the RSC and an ex-senior 

director at Pfizer, UK. 

These plans were initiated by Simon Campbell 

CBE, a past president of the RSC and ex-senior vice 

president of Worldwide Discovery at Pfizer, and taken 

forward with help from Fox. Until the closures started 

happening in large Pharma, the link between the RSC 

and the medicinal chemistry community was not 

particularly strong. However, the recent site closures 

have highlighted that the RSC can play in promoting 

the importance of industry sectors as well as supporting 

individuals within those sectors. 

A common message 

Campbell, a former medicinal chemist himself, was 

keen to champion the cause of these displaced chemists. 

“Drug discovery is one of the UK’s global research 

strengths, and it is currently at risk,” says Fox. 


Fundamental 

research 

Universities and 

institutes 

Experimental 

medicine 

Clinical 

research 

Drug 

discovery 

expertise 

Patient benefit and 

economic return 

“The RSC is rightly at the forefront of the efforts to 

ensure this critical skillset is not irrevocably lost.” 

“The roadmap for chemical sciences was launched in 

2009 by the RSC and with healthcare emerging as a key 

theme, there was a clear opportunity to take forward 

this strategic imperative,” says Fox. Since then, the RSC 

has worked closely with other learned societies in the 

life sciences area (notably Society of Biology, British 

Pharmacological Society, Biochemical Society and the 

Academy of Medical Science) to formulate common 

messages and work streams in the area of life sciences 

and drug discovery. “The group, which we have called the 

Drug Discovery Pathways Group (DDPG) has been a very 

effective way of developing a single voice and reaching a 

much wider audience. Recently the DDPG met with 

Sir John Bell, the government’s life sciences champion, 

to discuss aspects of the Healthcare Innovation plan.” 

“We believe such centres will not only help 

contribute to the pipeline of new medicines in 

key areas of medical need but will also have 

the critical mass of expertise to train the next 

generation of drug discovery scientists.” 

Collective consultations such as this have been important 

in helping to deliver on our promises to the community. 

For example, the RSC has been advocating the creation 

of a network of Therapeutic Centres of Excellence where 

drug discovery experts are embedded in academic groups 

that work alongside disease specialists and clinicians and 

partner with industry, to ensure there is a clear, coherent 

line of sight from idea through to the patient. 

“We believe such centres will not only help contribute 

to the pipeline of new medicines in key areas of medical 

need, but will also have the critical mass of expertise to 

train the next generation of drug discovery scientists,” 

Fox adds. While such centres are unlikely to be funded 

through government schemes, there is a clear role for 

the RSC to work with the community to help identify 

potential opportunities as well as respond to calls for 

proposals that might arise from other sources. Notably 

there are currently calls for drug discovery centres 

in antibacterials and prostate cancer, funded by the 

EU Innovative Medicines Initiative (8th call) and 

Prostate Cancer UK in association with the Movember 

Foundation* respectively. The RSC is actively engaged 

with groups who are looking to pull together proposals 

for these opportunities. 

Skills development and “permeability” 

Reflecting on the meeting with Sir John Bell, Fox adds, 

“A key message that emerged was that we need to focus 

much of our effort on developing the networks, skills 

and cross-discipline understanding within the life 

sciences community to help groups identify partnership 

opportunities.” While a number of schemes exist to 

support such permeability – the movement of researchers 

across disciplines and sectors – there is a great deal that 

the RSC can do alongside the other learned societies 

to help find funding schemes and to build a research 

Academia 

Systems 

biology 

Clinical 

research 

Industrial 

researcher 

CRO 

Biotech 

Toxicology 

Cross sector 

Cross discipline 

environment where such mobility is encouraged and 

valued. Fox told RSC News, “This is a key piece of work 

that the RSC will be working on over the next year with 

a view to developing specific exchange programmes that 

address this issue.” 

Another major area of focus for the DDPG will be 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for life 

sciences where the RSC can build upon the strong 

foundations provided by the Chartered Chemist (CChem) 

scheme (see p12). Fox is keen to highlight the range of 

knowledge and skills that chemists working in the field of 

drug discovery need to be able to draw upon. “Discipline 

excellence is as important as ever, but it is also important 

researchers have a working knowledge of adjacent 

disciplines (for example: toxicology, biochemistry) as 

well as the behaviours to be able to function effectively 

in teams that may span across geographical, cultural and 

organisational boundaries.” 

Also a workshop on target validation will be hosted by 

the RSC in March, in partnership with the BPS – this 

will bring researchers together to learn about the latest 

advances in this key area of early drug discovery as well as 

to explore opportunities for precompetitive collaboration. 

Working together with the group of learned societies and 

drawing upon existing schemes such as EMTRAIN, the 

Europe-wide platform for CPD in medicines research, the 

RSC will play an active part in helping chemists working 

in drug discovery to make the most of the opportunities 

that will emerge over the coming years, to make a 

meaningful and lasting contribution to patients’ lives. 

* The Movember Foundation is a charity organisation 

that raises money to support prostate and testicular 

cancer initiatives. 

Get Involved 

January 2013: Spinks Symposium: Regenerative 

Medicine in London http://rsc.li/spinks-2013 

April 2013: Joint BPS-RSC Target Validation 

Workshop in London 

June 2013: Medicinal Chemistry Residential 

School at Loughborough University 

http://rsc.li/med-chem-school-13 

David Fox 

Science Associate, RSC 


“ Having a professionally 

recognised qualification 

will build my external 

credibility.” 

Elaine Baxter BSc PhD MRSC, Procter & Gamble 

Simple and valuable 

Why the Chartered Chemist revalidation is easy and 

worth your time 

WORDS 

ANDREA MCGHEE 

One of the goals of the RSC is to ensure that enough people are equipped to practise chemistry competently at all 

levels. Chartered Chemist (CChem status) is one such way to further that goal. The status, held by over 17,000 RSC 

members, recognises a high level of competency and professionalism in the chemical sciences. 

The requirements for holding chartered status include a commitment to continuing professional development 

(CPD), and maintaining CChem status is subject to annual revalidation. In most cases this takes the form of a simple 

declaration as part of RSC membership renewal. But some CChem members, picked at random, may be asked to 

provide supporting information about CPD. Members are selected and contacted in April of that year with a request to 

provide additional information. This exercise is only to ensure that the quality of the CChem status is maintained, the 

model used parallels that for Chartered Scientist revalidation, established by the Science Council. 

Those selected are asked to provide details of how they are maintaining their professional knowledge and skills. 

Specifically, they are asked to address three out of five key areas: work-based learning; professional activity; formal/ 

educational activity; self-directed learning; and other activity (see box). A small number of these members may 

additionally be asked to provide primary evidence (like training certificates, report summaries and such) regarding 

the activities they have described. In the case of retired members only two of the five key areas need be addressed. 

Recording CPD regularly allows professionals to reflect on their training, development and experience in the 

workplace and outside, and this can lead to new ideas, improved efficiency and better ways of working. Many members 

that have been asked to provide details for revalidation have responded enthusiastically and feel it adds additional 

value to the award. 


Dr David Billett CChem FRSC 

Retired teacher 

I found the revalidation process very straightforward, 

though I was initially uncertain what the outcome may 

be. Since retiring from school teaching nine years ago 

(from Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire) my principal 

continuing professional involvement is as a moderator 

and examiner in A-level chemistry, and as a regular 

contributor of pedagogical articles to Chemistry Review. 

I also cited reading RSC and other journals and literature 

as evidence of a continuing interest and awareness in 

chemistry, the environment, materials and science 

education (I am a member of IOM3 and ASE), and the 

history of science. I was pleased to be informed within 

two weeks of submitting my summary of evidence that 

my revalidation had been approved. 

Dr Caroline Bell CChem MRSC 

Quality Laboratory Manager, 

3M Health Care Ltd 

Initially I found the form a little daunting, however 

once I got started it was fairly straightforward to 

complete. It turned out to be an interesting process, as 

it made me think about what I do on a day to day basis 

and how I actually use my chemistry knowledge and 

other skills. As it was the first time I had been asked to 

do the revalidation I was a little apprehensive about the 

outcome, but happily my continuing CChem status was 

confirmed soon after submission of the forms. 

Evaluation 

Reflection 

Outcomes 

Planning 

Actions 

Professional practice 

CPD and 

reflective practice 

Code of ethics 

and conduct 

Standards of knowledge 

and practice 

Dr Adrian Adamson CChem MRSC 

Senior Development Chemist, Plaxica Ltd 

When requested to provide details of how I was 

maintaining my professional knowledge and skills 

through CPD activities, it initially appeared to be quite 

a daunting task. I looked at the template supplied and 

wondered “just how do I complete this?” It actually 

turned out to be easier than it appeared. 

I compiled a report listing evidence for the 12 attributes 

for CChem using my CV; reports and papers I had 

read or written; training I had completed and given; 

apparatus and chemicals I had used; appraisals I had 

got and people I had worked with. I noted down any 

good reports I had received, positive comments, new 

discoveries and things I had learned, basically anything 

where I had had an involvement in the advancement of 

chemical knowledge, however small. 

Once this list was compiled, fitting each of the activities 

into the CPD revalidation template was relatively 

straightforward, and my CChem revalidation was 

successfully completed. Some of the detail in this 

template was quite useful when later updating and 

improving my CV. 

CPD is the means by which professionals maintain, 

improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and 

develop the personal qualities required in their working 

lives. There are 5 categories of learning activities that 

can constitute: 

Work-based learning, professional activity, formal/ 

educational activity, self-directed learning and other 

activity (volunteering or public service). 

New CPD online tool 

Members can now record their CPD online using a 

new tool designed to support the CChem process 

and revalidation. Simple and quick to use, the RSC 

online CPD tool encourages members to think about 

development objectives in advance and to map training 

and activities to record progress. 

Visit www.rsc.org/cpd for further details. 

Get in touch 

Staff in the Accreditation and Qualifications team are 

on hand and happy to help and give advice at any 

point in the process. 

Visit cchem@rsc.org 


opinion 

Letters and comments on RSC activities and issues 

For many the new year 

starts with making 

resolutions. And so it 

does for us too. 

We promise to help our 

members help MPs and 

Peers base their policy 

decisions on scientific 

evidence (p8). We intend 

to ensure that critical needs of chemists in 

all areas are met, especially in a difficult 

economic climate (p10). We are determined 

to support those professionals who already 

do an excellent job to do an even better 

one (p12). 

And finally, as we have done for many years, 

in 2013 we intend to bring you the very best 

of the activities of the RSC. We promise to 

strive harder to make our communications 

to you clearer and more enjoyable. And we 

are determined to find the best means of 

reaching you. 

To do all this will mean making some 

changes to RSC News. At the core we will 

remain the go-to publication to know the 

latest from the RSC. And these changes we 

will make through a readership survey. After 

all who else would have a better idea of your 

needs and wishes. 

We wish you and your family a happy new 

year. And we hope that you will join us in 

making it a grand success for yourself and 

for the chemical sciences. 

Akshat Rathi 

RSCNews@rsc.org 

On Audrey Cameron and the 

GCSE reform 

As my mother and her siblings spent most of their adulthood being 

very deaf, I can appreciate and value of what Audrey (Profile, December 

2012, RSC News) has achieved. But, also we chemists should not forget 

the achievements of the late Dr Alison Macdonald CChem FRSC, 

senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham, who became deaf as a 

teenager after meningitis, and went on to get a PhD. 

She came from Aberdeen and moved with the late Ronald Belcher to 

the University of Birmingham. She was also for many years editor 

of Analytica Chimica Acta. Alison was a great communicator with her 

‘erasable pad’ for the ‘speaker’ to write out statements to which she 

could reply. Facsimile technology was a blessing for Alison. 

I often had my telephone ringing in the middle of the night to a 

FAX ‘call’ from Alison. 

JDR Thomas CChem FRSC 

Gresford, Wrexham 

I was moved by the account of Audrey Cameron’s ‘life and times’ 

(Profile, December 2012, RSC News) and I am filled with admiration. 

I expect she is aware of Sir John Cornforth, an organic chemist who 

received a Nobel Prize in 1975, who is totally deaf and has been so 

since boyhood. 

Clifford Jones FRSC 

University of Aberdeen 

The two letters about the GCSE reform (RSC News, December 2012) are 

very timely, especially the references to concerns about practical work 

when judged in the context of the article (Simply the best, December 

2012, RSC News). I have already seen some advertisements for this 

programme both on hoardings and in newspapers. The advertisements 

I have seen show two people discussing the results of what appears to 

be a titration. Prominent in the foreground is a burette – with a funnel 

still in the top. If even the RSC is perpetrating such bad practice we 

really do need to do something about practical work at GCSE-level, 

A-level and degree-level. 

Peter Borrows CSci CChem FRSC 

Amersham, Buckinghamshire 

Thank you for spotting the mistake in the advertisement. Unfortunately, 

that photo shoot was commissioned by the government’s Teaching Agency 

and not the RSC. But we will take this matter up with them. 

Rio Hutchings MRSC 

Education executive 

RSC News welcomes letters to rscnews@rsc.org, which should be 

concise (about 300 words) and timely. Those selected for publication 

are subject to editing for clarity and length. Letters should be marked 

“for publication”. 


How to deal with challenges faced by those 

at the chemistry and biology interface 

The field of chemical biology is not 

new; those who practise it know 

that its roots lie firmly embedded 

in the fundamentals of chemistry 

directed with sharp focus towards 

elucidation of mechanisms. Such 

elucidations, especially those 

shedding light on the complexity 

of biology, have remained the most 

fascinating area of chemistry. 

Therefore arguments about identity 

and tiring cynicism about the 

nature of the phrase “chemical 

biology” do not preoccupy those 

trying to make a difference with 

the science. 

The UK has an inspiring history 

in the area, although sometimes 

its firm installation within key 

institutions has led to this being 

overlooked. It could be argued 

that the recommendation of the 

Whitesides report, a 2003 report 

co-ordinated by the RSC on behalf 

of EPSRC, to expand chemical 

biology was, in part, a result of the 

narrow tour by that review team of 

only certain sites. 

Nonetheless, while we should 

celebrate the Robinsons, Baldwins, 

Knowleses, and Bayleys, we should 

also understand the challenges 

that currently face this creative 

community. The RSC’s Chemistry 

Biology Interface Division (CBID) 

through its council has identified 

three primary issues that are 

curtailing opportunity. While 

learned societies can often end up 

generating “talking shops”, we aim 

to actively address these issues. 

These issues are not at all new. 

Our division commissioned a wellresearched 

report Face to Face: 

UK Chemistry-Biology Interface that 

reached out to our peers in 2008. 

This was done with the express 

intention of getting a mandate 

for change. Although it is easy to 

dismiss academics as “moaners”, 

we found that these issues are 

genuinely felt and perceived. 

The architecture of support: 

This does not equate to levels 

of support but rather the way in 

which it is applied. The silos of 

the research councils do not cope 

well with our discipline, despite 

their protestations. It is ironic 

that measures over the last few 

years have led to the disbanding 

of possible solutions such as the 

jointly funded BBSRC Biomolecular 

Sciences committee, the loss of 

the EPSRC Life Science Interface 

programme and the failure of 

the MRC to generate an effective 

Chemical Biology call. The 

increasing erosion of responsive 

mode only exacerbates the issue; 

top-down calls are by their very 

nature too distant from the 

creative protagonists–witness the 

recent call in Chemical Biology 

Networks for a discipline that is 

in many respects well established 

(The journal Current Opinion in 

Chemical Biology is 16 years old). 

The architecture of 

organisation: Those involved in 

these networks and in the Division 

have shown what can be done when 

we are not limited by antiquated 

remit boundaries. The engagement 

with industrial partners who may 

be quite rightly frustrated by these 

artificial boundaries certainly helps 

illustrate institutional dumbness 

(I write as one whose own 

institution has chemistry in one 

division and biochemistry in 

another). However, shuffling people 

around buildings is not really 

the issue. I would contend that 

we chemical biologists may truly 

be uniquely placed to prosecute 

the molecular world. Let us pick 

“big problems” and test “grand 

hypotheses”–I perhaps naively 

believe that this will cut through 

the organisational rot. 

Ben Davis is professor 

of chemistry at 

the University of 

Oxford and fellow of 

Pembroke College. 

He is also the 

President of the RSC’s 

Chemistry Biology 

Interface Division. 

The architecture of 

dissemination: It is our ethical 

and moral duty to get this right. 

Honest peer review must be at the 

heart of all science whether in print, 

electronically or verbally. This 

should be based on expert opinion 

and not on the “blog-wisdom of 

virtual crowds”. Only by defending 

the value of expertise will we 

properly contribute to the society 

that depends on us. While papers 

remain our current controlled and 

verified “units of science” we must 

seek to make their quality, review 

and utilisation of the highest value. 

An overwhelmingly clear response 

to our survey in Face to Face: 

UK Chemistry-Biology Interface 

was that there was no need for 

additional journals or publication 

vehicles. 

Yet since then many new journals in 

our field have popped up, seemingly 

driven by the need to create 

revenues. I would argue that many 

of these wrongly create a haven 

for poor or incomplete studies; the 

argument that all should be able 

to publish is facetious. Why? How 

would science be harmed by driving 

people to “do better”? 

The prospect of chemical 

understanding of biology is now 

at the heart of more disciplines 

than ever. The RSC’s white paper 

on Chemistry for Better Health 

highlights that well. Those without 

chemical or molecular skills cry out 

for help. If we get these things right 

then some of the greatest questions 

will be addressed in this way. If you 

build it, they will come. 


diaryYOUR GUIDE TO 

ALL IMPORTANT EVENTS 

▲ 

in the diary 

Conferences 16 

Events 17 

Scotland 17 

Wales 17 

Midlands 18 

Eastern 18 

North East 18 

North West 18 

South East 19 

South West 20 

Ireland 20 

International 20 

Vacancies 21 

Notices 22 

Major conferences 

ISACS10 

Challenges in Organic Materials 

& Supramolecular Chemistry 

18 - 21 June 2013, Kyoto, Japan 

Call for abstracts – submit now 

Following a highly successful launch in 2010 and celebrated 

growth year-on-year, we are proud to confirm that the significant 

International Symposia on Advancing the Chemical Sciences 

(ISACS) series will return in 2013 to include Challenges in Organic 

Materials & Supramolecular Chemistry (ISACS10). 

This conference, to be held on 18-21 June at Kyoto University 

(Japan), will bring together outstanding researchers from across the 

globe to explore the following themes: 

• Self-assembly and self-assembled materials 

• Imaging and sensing 

• Medicinal and chemical biology aspects of supramolecular 

chemistry 

• Organic materials 

• Porous Materials 

Submit your abstract today for the opportunity to be a part of 

the contributed talks and extensive poster sessions which will 

complement this stimulating event. 

Visit http://rsc.li/isacs10 for more information. 

Dalton Discussion 14 

Advancing the Chemistry of the Actinides 

16 - 18 September 2013 

University of Edinburgh, UK 

Oral abstract submission deadline – 15 February 2013 

The chemistry of the actinides has the potential to impact upon 

many of the 21st century chemical challenges requisite for a secure 

and sustainable future. 

This Dalton Discussion aims to highlight the burgeoning role, and 

exciting prospects for actinides in modern, metal-based chemistry 

within these themes: 

• Probing structure and bonding in actinide compounds 

• Actinide properties and materials applications 

• Advances in actinide reactivity and catalysis 

• Actinides in the environment 

Join this discussion to explore the recent significant advances in 

theoretical tools which have allowed many aspects of molecular 

actinide chemistry to be modelled for the first time. 

Visit http://rsc.li/dd14 for more information. 

DATES AND 

DEADLINES 

Spinks Symposium: 

Regenerative Medicine 

28 January 2013 

The Chemistry Centre 

London, UK 

Registration deadline 

18 January 2013 

http://rsc.li/spinks-2013 

Fabrication, Structure and 

Reactivity of Anchored 

Nanoparticles: FD162 

10- 12 April 2013 

Berlin, Germany 

Poster abstracts & 

early bird - deadline 

15 February 2013 

www.rsc.org/FD162 

Analytical Research Forum 

8-10 July 2013 

Hertfordshire, UK 

Poster abstracts 

& early bird deadline 

15 February 2013 

www.rsc.org/ARF13 

Self-Assembly of 

Biopolymers: Faraday 

Discussion 166 

16-18 September 2013 

Bristol, UK 

Oral abstract submissions 

still accepted in January 

www.rsc.org/FD166 

MORE INFORMATION 

To find out more about any 

event on this page, see 

www.rsc.org/events 

Call +44 (0) 1223 432254/ 

2380 

or email events@rsc.org 


DIARY 

RSC Teacher Training 

Scholarships 

Do you have the potential to become an 

exceptional chemistry teacher? 

Apply for an RSC Teacher Training 

Scholarship worth £20,000. 

Find out if you have what it takes, visit: 

http://rsc.li/teacher-scholarships 

Events 

FURTHER INFORMATION 

The RSC News Diary this month lists RSC events that 

are held on the RSC conference database. Further 

details on any of these meetings can be obtained from 

the named contact or from the conference website at 

www.rsc.org/ConferencesAndEvents/conference 

Type in the specific ID number for each event in the 

search box. You can also browse events by type, 

organiser or region. 

SCOTLAND 

Mid-Scotland 

Section 

Primary School Outreach 

1 January-31 March 

ID=111845 

Local Primary Schools 

Our annual exercise 

in taking science, 

especially chemistry, 

into local primary 

schools to enthuse 

budding chemists of the 

next generation. 

Contact Terry Howe 

t 01786 451740 

e tvhowe@lineone.net 

Whisky Aroma-ology 

8 February at 19:00 

ID=111782 

Linlithgow Union Canal 

Society, Linlithgow 

•Mark Davidson 

An evening looking at 

the science of whisky 

flavour, taste and 

smell with appropriate 

practical opportunities. 

Contact Scott Jackson 

t 01324 475173 

e scott.jackson@ineos. 

com 

Tayside 

Section 

Top of the Bench Final 

22 January at 18:00 

ID=112200 

University of St Andrews, 

Fife 

Contact Alan Aitken 

e raa@st-and.ac.uk 

Annual General Meeting 


ID=112201 

Discovery Point, Dundee 

Annual General Meeting, 

followed by dinner. 

Contact Alan Aitken 

e raa@st-and.ac.uk 

Other 

Events 

Scottish Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112367 

Glasgow Marriott Hotel 

Regional Meetings 

are open to all RSC 

members. The agenda 

is based upon current 

RSC goals and objectives 

and is aligned with the 

strategic plan. 

Contact Fiona McMillan, 

RSC 

t 01223 432269 

e Networks@rsc.org 

WALES 

North Wales 

Section 

Lecture Series 


ID=112382 

Bangor University 

•Dr Zoltan Takats, 

Imperial College London 

In association with the 

School of Chemistry, 


Contact Honguyn Tai 

e h.tai@bangor.ac.uk 

South East Wales 

Section 

Analytical and Forensic 

Toxicology 


ID=111690 

University of Glamorgan 

•Dr Bob Flanagan, 

Kings College Hospital 

NHS Foundation Trust, 

London 

Will be of interest to 

undergraduate and 

postgraduate students 

and those with a general 

interest in the subject 

area. 

Contact Paul Jones 

e pwjones@glam.ac.uk 

Sulfoximines – Ligands 

for Asymmetric Metal 

Catalysis, Syntheses 

and Bioactivities 


ID=111661 

Cardiff University, School 

of Chemistry 

•Prof Carsten Bolm, 

RWTH Aachen University 

Contact James Redman 

t 029 20876273 

e redmanje@cardiff. 

ac.uk 

Molecular Editing with 

Fluorine 


ID=112113 

Cardiff University 

•Prof Véronique 

Gouverneur, University 

of Oxford 

Contact James Redman 

t 02920876273 

e redmanje@cardiff. 

ac.uk 

South Wales West 

Section 

Organic Division 

South West Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112189 

Cardiff University 

Contact Thomas Wirth 

t 02920876968 

e wirth@cf.ac.uk 

Drug Testing and the 

Olympics 


ID=111470 

Swansea University 

•Prof David Cowan, 

King’s College London 

Contact Bill Griffiths 

t 01792 295274 

e w.j.griffiths@swansea. 

ac.uk 

Other 

Events 

RSC/ERDF Lecture 


ID=112373 


•Dr Paul A Clarke, 

University of York 

Total Synthesis of 

Tetrahydropyrancontaining 

Natural 

Products. 

Contact Hongyun Tai 

t 01248 382383 

e h.tai@bangor.ac.uk 

MIDLANDS 

Birmingham and West 

Midlands Section 

Nanotechnology 


ID=112058 

University of Birmingham 

•Prof Jon Preece, 


A lecture for sixth 

form students. 

Nanotechnology is 

the science of the 

infinitely small and is 

likely to be increasingly 

important in the future 

as it allows materials 

to be built up atom by 

atom. The technology 

is leading to significant 

developments in 

medicine, manufacturing 

and computing. 

In association with West 

Midlands Chemistry 

Teachers’ Centre. 

Contact Nigel Briggs 

t 01827 311205 

e briggswmctc@ 

btinternet.com 

Discovering New 

Medicines – The Role of 

The Chemist 


ID=112059 


•Dr John Snaith, 


A lecture for sixth form 

students. Chemistry is 

the cornerstone in the 

continuing search for 

new medicines. After 

a brief review of the 

treatment of ailments 

through the ages the 


DIARY 

lecture will look at the 

many roles played by 

chemists in the modern 

drug discovery process. 

In association with West 

Midlands Chemistry 

Teachers’ Centre. 

Contact Nigel Briggs 

t 01827 311205 

e briggswmctc@ 


Other 

Events 

Molten Salts Discussion 

Groups Students’ 

Research Meeting 


ID=112210 

University of Leicester 

This meeting provides an 

opportunity for students 

to present and discuss 

their research work in ILs 

and MSs. 

Contact Andrew Doherty 

e a.p.doherty@qub.ac.uk 

Molten Salt Discussion 

Groups Students’ 

Research Meeting 

Student Chemical 

Society, Younger 

Members Network 


ID=112311 

University of Leicester 

A Research Meeting 

exclusively for the 

participation of research 

students. This event 

is FREE. Please visit 

http://www.ch.qub. 

ac.uk/msdg/2013-01- 

students.html. 

Contact Andy Ballantyne 

e adb27@le.ac.uk 

Midlands Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112365 

Holiday Inn, Leicester 

City 








Contact Fiona McMillan 

t 01223 432269 


Molecular Spectroscopy 

Group, NMR Discussion 

Group 

Structure 2013 

26-27 February 

ID=112335 

University of 

Loughborough 

Two day meeting 

showcasing new and 

evolving techniques, 

workflows and 

applications in the broad 

framework of molecular 

structure elucidation of 

‘small’ molecules. 

In association with 

the British Mass 

Spectrometry Society 

(BMSS). 

Contact Steve Coombes 

e structure2013@gmail. 

com 

EASTERN 

East Anglia 

Section 

Gourmet Dinner 


ID=112377 

City College, Norwich 

•Prof Cathie Martin, 

John Innes Centre 

A talk given by Prof 

Martin, ‘Tackling 

Chronic Disease – the 

Potential of Preventative 

Medicine through 

Dietary Improvement’, 

followed by dinner in 

the City College Debut 

Restaurant. 

Contact Janet Hubbard 

t 01603 742933 

e tshubbard@btinternet. 

com 

Other 

Events 

Eastern Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112363 

RSC Cambridge, Thomas 

Graham House 










t 01223 432269 


NORTH EAST 

Hull and East Yorkshire 

Section 

Café Scientifique 


ID=112381 

King’s Head, Beverley 

•Dr Mark Howard, 

University of Kent on 

what magnets can tell 

us about the structure of 

nature’s robots. 

Contact Mark Lorch 

e m.lorch@hull.ac.uk 

Café Scientifique 


ID=111329 

King’s Head, Beverley 

•Dr Jez Wells, University 

of York 

“Sounds good? The 

Science of Audio 

Engineering” 

Dr Wells is a lecturer in 

music technology and 

a freelance recording 

engineer. His research 

interests include 

spectral modelling 

of sound, physical 

modelling for room 

acoustics simulation 

and intelligent realtime 

processing for the 

recording studio. 

Contact Mark Lorch 

e science.cafe.beverley@ 

gmail.com 

Other 

Events 

Faraday Division 

Spectroscopy and 

Dynamics Group 

Meeting 

7-9 January 

ID=111807 

University of Durham 

The annual conference 

will be five invited 

lectures, with the 

remainder of the 

programme reserved for 

talks and posters. 

Contact Dr Jan Verlet 

e j.r.r.verlet@durham. 

ac.uk 

Analytical Biosciences 

Group, Biomaterials 

Chemistry Group 

Annual Meeting 


ID=111239 

Sheffield Hallam 

University 

The RSC BMC Group 

provides a focus for 

groups in UK universities 

and industry working 

on the synthesis and 

characterisation of 

biomaterials. 


the UK Society for 

Biomaterials. 

Contact Chris Sammon 

t 0114 2253069 

e c.sammon@shu.ac.uk 

North East Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112364 

Hilton Sheffield Hotel 










t 01223 432269 


Central Yorkshire 

Section 

Top of the Bench School 

Competition Heat 


ID=112150 

University of York 

A local heat to select the 

school to represent the 

Central Yorkshire Section 

in the national final of 

the Top of the Bench 

competition. 

Contact Brian Grievson 

t 01904 324543 

e brian.grievson@york. 

ac.uk 

Exceptional Women and 

Scientific Success 


ID=112303 

University of Bradford 

•Georgina Ferry, Oxford 

Brookes University. 

Ms Ferry specializes in 

the history of science 

and biographies of 

extraordinary scientists. 


Yorkshire Branch of the 

Institute of Physics. 

Contact Derry Jones 

t 01535 273963 

e d.jones217@btinternet 

NORTH WEST 

Cumbria 

Section 

Test the Chemist Pub 

Quiz 


ID=112146 

The Chase Hotel, 

Whitehaven 

•Richard Evans, quiz 

master, will host the 

devilishly hard annual 

quiz to get the grey 

matter warmed up as 

we head into the new 

year. Free to enter, food 

available and a prize for 

the winning team! 

Contact Mark Gibson 

t 019467 87908 

e mag7@sellafieldsites. 

com 

Lancaster and District 

Section 

Annual General Meeting 

and Lecture 


ID=112250 

Preston College 

•Dr Jim Wild, Lancaster 

University 

An illustrated lecture 

with an explanation 

of the fantastic 

phenomenon. 

Contact Harry Clarke 

t 01995 640003 

e hclarke906@ 


Other 

Events 

Quiz Night 


ID=112248 

Preston College 

•Terry Howe, Mid 

Scotland Section 

A light-hearted quiz 

followed by a good 

supper. 

Contact Harry Clarke 

t 01995 640003 

e hclarke906@ 



DIARY 

North West Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112366 

Liverpool Marriott City 

Centre Hotel 










t 01223 432269 


SOUTH EAST 

Downland 

Section 

Top of the Bench 


ID=111767 

Charterhouse School, 

Godalming 

Top of the Bench is a 

national competition 

run by the RSC for 14-16 

year old students. Teams 

should consist of two 

students from Year 9, 

one from Year 10 and 

one from Year 11. 

Contact Chris 

Williamson 

t 01372 451499 

e chris_williamson@ 

btopenworld.com 

Top of the Bench 


ID=111768 

Roedean School, 

Brighton 

Top of the Bench is a 

national competition 

run by the RSC for 14-16 

year old students. Teams 

should consist of two 

students from Year 9, 

one from Year 10 and 

one from Year 11. 

Contact Chris 

Williamson 

t 01372 451499 

e chris_williamson@ 

btopenworld.com 

Quantum Chemists 

without Lab Coats 


ID=111692 

Charterhouse, 

Godalming 

•Prof Paul Popelier, 

University of Manchester 

This talk will give a 

flavour of quantum 

chemistry and zoom in 

on the so-called electron 

density. Can we define 

atoms and bonds from 

the electron density, in a 

modern way? 


Society of Chemical 

Industry. 

Contact Oliver Choroba 

e owc@charterhouse. 

org.uk 

Order, Disorder, 

Flexibility, Function 


ID=112052 

Charterhouse School, 

Godalming 

•Dr Andrew Goodwin, 

University of Oxford 

A talk into the nature of 

materials and how their 

crystallography relates 

to their properties 

including magnetism, 

optics and negative 

thermal expansion. 



Industry 

Contact Oliver Choroba 

e owc@charterhouse. 

org.uk 

Thames Valley Local 

Section 

Family Lecture – As If By 

Magic 


ID=112403 

University of Reading 

•Dr Andrew Szydlo, 

Highgate School 

Contact David Knox 

e knoxy1986@hotmail. 

com 

Other 

Events 

Organic Division 

Heterocyclic and 

Synthesis Group 

Meeting 


ID=111335 

Queen Mary University 

of London, Arts 2 Lecture 

Theatre 

What better way to start 

the new year, than with 

this traditional fixture! 

The January meeting of 

the group is always held 

in London on the first 

Friday and also includes, 

during the lunch break, 

the Annual General 

Meeting. 

Contact Adrian Dobbs 

e a.dobbs@qmul.ac.uk 

Colloid and Interface 

Science Group 

McBain Medal 

Symposium 


ID=111986 


Industry, London 

Nanomedicine, the 

medical application 

of nanotechnology, 

is a new, diverse and 

rapidly growing field. 

The colloid, polymer 

and interface sciences 

have their part to play, 

in areas like drug, 

protein, gene and 

peptide targeting and 

delivery, nanoparticle 

targeting, and the 

control of bioadhesion 

for delivery at mucous 

membranes. Many soft 

matter scientists are now 

involved in developing 

new concepts and 

materials applicable to 

nanomedicine in one 

way or another and 

the symposium will 

showcase some of the 

latest work. 



Industry. 

Contact Patricia Cornell 

t 0207598 1566 

e patricia.cornell@soci. 

org 

Making Sense of Scents 


ID=112309 

The Chemistry Centre, 

RSC London 

A ‘scent’-sory question 

time with a fragrant 

panel of experts. 

Contact Pauline 

Meakins, RSC 

t 01223 432266 

e meakinsp@rsc.org 

South East Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112362 












t 01223 432269 


Biological and Medicinal 

Chemistry Sector 

Protein-Protein 

Interactions – Emerging 

Science and Therapeutic 

Potential 


ID=111214 

The Royal Society, 

London 

An international 

multidisciplinary 

two-day conference. In 

association with Protein- 

Protein Interactions 

Network, Molecular 

Graphics Modelling 

Group and the Society of 

Chemical Industry Fine 

Chemicals Group. 

Contact Maggi 

Churchouse 

t 01359 221004 

e conference@ppi-net. 

org 

Innovative Soil 

Erosion Control and 

Management Methods 


ID=112291 



•Prof Jane Rickson, 

Cranfield University 

Prof Rickson, who 

has had many years 

of experience of 

management of soil 

erosion in many parts 

of the world will explain 

some of the techniques, 

including the use of 

geotextile materials. 


Management interest 

group. 

Contact Mark 

Scudamore 

e markscudamore@ 

blueyonder.co.uk 

Materials Chemistry 

Division – 

Electrochemistry Group, 

Applied Materials 


Organic Electronics – 

State of the Art 


ID=112143 

Brunel University, 

Middlesex 

A one day event to 

review the state-of-theart 

of organic lighting 

displays (OLEDs), OLED 

lighting and organic 

photovoltaics (OPV). 



Industry. 

Contact Poopathy 

Kathirgamanathan 

t 1895 265094 

e P.Kathir@Brunel.ac.uk 

Biological and Medicinal 

Chemistry Sector 

Spinks Symposium 

2013 – Regenerative 

Medicine 


ID=112299 



The therapeutic 

promise of regenerative 

medicine, as a way 

to restore aging or 

damaged tissues and 

organs, is one of the 

most exciting areas 

of medical research. 

This full-day workshop 

will bring together 

researchers who work 

in industry, academia 

and the wider life and 

health sciences sectors. 

Critical issues that 

underpin developments 

in regenerative medicine 

will be explored 

through a series of 

oral presentations, 

case studies, flash 

presentations and 

discussion sessions 

dispersed through out 

the day. 

Contact Anne Horan, 


t 01223432699 

e science@rsc.org 


DIARY 

Joint Pharmaceutical 

Analysis Group 

Assuring The Quality of 

Medicines 


ID=111741 



This symposium 

examines the critical role 

that QPs have in batch 

release and their need 

for a full understanding 

of analytical and 

regulatory developments 

involved. 

Contact Amy Le Vannais 

t 0207572 2326 

e events@jpag.org 

Separation Science 

Group, Environmental 


Recent Advances in the 

Analysis of Complex 

Environmental Matrices 


ID=112128 



A joint meeting between 

the RSC Analytical 

Division Separation 

Science Group and the 

RSC Environmental 

Chemistry Group. 

It aims to cover 

the developments 

in analytical 

instrumentation, which 

now make it possible to 

simultaneously analyse 

numerous pollutants in 

complex environmental 

matrices with minimal 

sample clean up. 

Contact Graham Mills 

t +044 02392 84 2115 

e graham.mills@port. 

ac.uk 

SOUTH WEST 

Bristol and District 

Section 

Retired Members’ Lunch 


ID=111570 

Westbury Park Tavern, 

Bristol 

Contact Pam Day 

t 01179701860 

e pamday_rsc@ 


The Science of Fireworks 


ID=111569 

University of Bristol 

•Matthew Tosh, 

Skyburst Firework 

Company 

Free buffet after the 

lecture if booked in 

advance with Mr Kitchen 

at papahil@blueyonder. 

co.uk. 



Industry and the British 

Science Association. 

Contact Andy Tubb 

t 01173282487 

e andy.tubb@uwe.ac.uk 

33rd Annual General 

Meeting 


ID=111566 

BAWA Healthcare and 

Leisure, Bristol 

Free Buffet after the 




co.uk. 

Contact Hilary Kitchen 

t 01179392563 

e papahil@blueyonder. 

co.uk 

Energy from Gas – Some 

Chemical Aspects 


ID=111567 

BAWA Healthcare and 

Leisure, Bristol 

•Anthony Gilbert, 

Seabank Power Limited 

Free buffet after the 




co.uk. 


Energy Institute, Society 

of Chemical Industry 

and the British Science 

Association. 

Contact Colin Chapman 

t 01453547531 

e crc@lochin.fsnet.co.uk 

A Pollutant’s Tale 


ID=111568 

Swindon Academy 

Tim Harrison, University 

of Bristol 

Contact Tim Harrison 

t 01179288663 

e t.g.harrison@bristol. 

ac.uk 

Mid-Southern Counties 

Section 

RSC Family Lecture 


ID=111382 

University of 

Southampton 

•Prof Andrea Sella, 

University College 

London 

Continuing the series 

of family lectures to 

present chemistry in 

an entertaining and 

educational way. 

Contact Gill Reid 

t (023) 8059 3609 

e G.Reid@soton.ac.uk 

Peninsula 

Section 

Analytical Division – 

Western 

RSC Lecture – 

Geochemistry 


ID=112080 

Plymouth University 

•Kyle Taylor, University 

of Bristol 

Contact Hywel Evans 

e hevans@plymouth. 

ac.uk 


Western 

RSC Lecture – Isotopes 

and Climate 


ID=112081 


•Prof Gideon 

Henderson, Oxford 

University 



ac.uk 


Western 

Prize and Award Winners 

Symposium 


ID=112082 




ac.uk 

IRELAND 

Northern Ireland 

Section 


Northern Ireland 

The Railway Chemists 


ID=112247 

Queens University 

Belfast 

•Dr John Hudson 

This lecture describes 

the role chemists played 

in the development and 

running of the railway 

system in Britain. 


Northern Ireland Local 

Section & Analytical 

Division, Northern 

Ireland 

Contact Dermot Hanna 

t 07894309840 

e hughdiarmaid@ 


Republic of Ireland 

Section 

Tilden Prize Lecture 


ID=111981 

Trinity College Dublin, 

School of Chemistry 

Prof Harry Anderson, 

University of Oxford 

Contact Rachel Evans 

e raevans@tcd.ie 

Other 

Events 

Ireland Regional 

Meeting 


ID=112368 

Radisson Blu Royal 

Hotel, Dublin 










t 01223 432269 


INTERNATIONAL 

INDIA 

7th CRSI-RSC Joint 

Symposium in 

Chemistry 


ID=112283 

Banaras Hindu 

University, Varanasi, 

India 

Annual joint meeting of 

CRSI-RSC. 


Chemical Research 

Society of India 

Contact Rajesh 

Parishwad 

t +91 0804211 0385 

e parishwadr@rsc.org 

MALAYSIA 

International Conference 

For Young Chemists 

(ICYC 2013) 

30 January-2 February 

ID=111027 

City Bayview Hotel, 

Penang 

Chemistry, Empowering 

Science Beyond 

Boundaries. 

Contact Faheem Amir 

t +604-6534024 

e icychemist@gmail.com 

SINGAPORE 

Singapore Networking 

Event 

January 

ID=112314 

An informal networking 

event will be held in 

Singapore in January. 

Contact Gary Breen 

e rsc.singapore. 

section@gmail.com 


VACANCIES 

VACANCIES FOR ELECTED POSITIONS ON 

COUNCIL, BOARDS AND DIVISIONS 

At the Annual General Meeting to be held in London on 10 July 2013, vacancies will be filled in accordance 

with the By-laws and the Electoral Regulations approved by Council. Members are invited to make 

nominations to fill the following vacancies. 

• President Elect 

(to become President in 2014) 

The RSC President is an advocate for the 

chemical sciences, ambassador for the RSC, 

and trustee of the charity. 

Council’s nominee is Professor Dominic 

Tildesley recently retired from Unilever, will 

soon take up a new role as Director of CECAM 

(Centre Européen de Catcul Atomique et 

Moléculaire), Switzerland. 

Dominic’s work in industry has enabled him to 

create interdisciplinary innovations involving 

chemistry, materials science, life sciences 

and engineering. He has encouraged strong 

programmes of external research working 

with universities and SMEs in an open and 

long-term way and has tried to stay close to 

his academic roots by teaching and working 

with chemistry departmental advisory 

boards. Dominic has previously served as Vice 

President of the Faraday Division Council and 

currently serves on RSC Council. 

• Honorary Treasurer 

Honorary Treasurer will be a trustee and 

council member and will serve for a four-year 

term of office. 

• Ordinary Members of Council 

Council encourages a good balance with 

reference to industry and academic 

background, geographical spread, gender, 

ethnicity and age range, and the breadth of the 

chemical sciences. Ordinary members of the 

council are trustees of the charity. There are 

four vacancies. 

Council’s nominees are 

Professor Peter Knowles: Head of School and 

Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, Cardiff 

University 

Professor Tom Welton: Head of Department 

and Professor of Sustainable Chemistry, 

Imperial College, London 

Professor Alison Rodger: Professor of 

Biophysical Chemistry, Department of 

Chemistry, University of Warwick 

Dr Helen Neville: Vice President, Corporate 

Functions, Procter & Gamble, Germany 

• Elected Member of Boards 

Vacancy for one elected member of 

Membership and Qualifications Board (MQB) 

and Science, Education & Industry Board 

(SEIB). 

For further information go to 

www.rsc.org/vacanciesandelections 

• President Elect and 

Elected Members of Divisions 

Analytical 

Vacancy for President Elect to become 

President in 2014. 

Vacancy for Honorary Treasurer to serve for a 

three-year term of office. 

Vacancies for two elected members of the 

Division Council 

www.rsc.org/AnalyticalDivisionCouncil 

Chemistry Biology Interface 




Division Council. 

www.rsc.org/cbidexecutive 

Dalton 



www.rsc.org/DDCouncil 

Education 



Professor Gareth Price: Department of 

Chemistry, University of Bath. 



www.rsc.org/EducationDivisionCouncil 

Environment, Sustainability and 

Energy 



Division Council nominee is Professor 

Brendan Keely, Department of Chemistry, 

University of York. 



www.rsc.org/ESEFExecutive 

Faraday 



www.rsc.org/FaradayDivisionCouncil 

Industry and Technology 





www.rsc.org/ITDExecutive 

Materials Chemistry 



www.rsc.org/MaterialsChemistry 

DivisionCouncil 

Organic 



www.rsc.org/OrganicDivisionExecutive 

Nomination forms, electoral regulations and 

guidance for candidates are available at the web 

links shown above and general information on 

RSC governance at www.rsc.org/governance 

Election Procedure 

You are asked to submit your nomination 

using the correct form, available from 

the RSC website, which incorporates a 

signed declaration by the nominee that 

he/she is willing to make the necessary 

commitments if elected. A nomination 

must also be supported by the number 

of members specified. Members can only 

support the nomination of one candidate. 

Members may also request a nomination 

form and additional information by 

email to election@rsc.org or by post to 

Hilary Beckett, RSC, Burlington House, 

Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BA 

or phone 020 7440 3341. 

Nominations must be received by the 

closing date, 4 March 2013. 

RSC will contract with an external 

provider to run elections. 


NOTICES 

Science policy 

writing course 

There is an increasing need for scientists to get 

involved in the formation of policy. Politicians 

are infrequently versed in science, but likewise 

scientists often lack the skills required to clearly 

communicate their research to a policy-literate 

audience. 

We want to get our members involved with 

science policymaking and have produced a 

science policy writing course for political 

engagement. The course covers science policy in 

detail and offers many helpful links to learn 

more about the policymaking process. 

The course will provide advice on how to 

maximise the impact of scientific writing with a 

policy audience, communicating your message 

in the most simple and clear manner for people 

with little scientific understanding and very little 

time. It also introduces the ‘inverted pyramid’ 

style of writing, which starts with your 

conclusion, followed by all the supporting 

information—a reverse approach to how PhD 

students write their theses. 

For more information see feature in RSC News 

October 2012 (Policy doesn’t just happen). 

http://rsc.li/science-policy-course 

Deaths 

Mr Thomas Vincent 

Blackburn MRSC Formerly 

chief chemist, Turtle Wax 

Manufacturing Ltd. Died 11 

February 2012, aged 65 

Mr John Brian Bush CChem 

MRSC Retired development 

technician, Shell Chemicals 

Ltd. Died 26 May 2012, 

aged 74 

Dr Peter Clarke CBE CChem 

FRSC Retired appointed 

chairman, Scottish 

Vocational Education 

Council. Died 26 October 

2012, aged 90 

Dr Rita Harriet Cornforth 

MRSC Retired. Died 6 

November 2012, aged 97 

Dr Kenneth George Crush 

CChem FRSC Retired. Died 6 

October 2012, aged 85 

Mr Peter Maurice Davison 

CChem MRSC Retired 

chairman, PM Davison & 

Associates. Died 30 April 

2012, aged 83 

Professor Xavier De 

Hemptinne MRSC Retired 

professor, Catholic 

University of Leuven, 

Belgium. 

Died 19 January 2012 

Professor Donald Trevor 

Elmore FRSC Retired 

professor of biochemistry, 

Queen’s University Belfast. 

Died 31 May 2012, aged 88 

Mr William Bryan 

Emery CChem FRSC 

Retired consultant, Glaxo 

Operations UK Ltd. Died 29 


Dr Gerald Henry 

Hargreaves CChem FRSC 

Retired chartered patent 

agent, Unilever Ltd. 

Died 6 May 2012, aged 88 

Mr Ian Carey Hilton CChem 

MRSC Retired lecturer in 

civil engineering, University 

of Manchester Institute of 

Science and Technology. 

Died 18 August 2012, 

aged 77 

Professor John Homer 

CChem FRSC Retired 

professor of physical 

chemistry, Aston University. 

Died 10 July 2012, aged 74 

Dr Paley Johnson MRSC 

Retired. 

Date of death not supplied 

Dr Yashodharan 

Kumarasamy MRSC 

Formerly senior lecturer, 

Robert Gordon University. 

Died 22 July 2012, aged 41 

Mr Harold Alexander 

Lawton MRSC Retired 

chemist, Texas Instruments 

Ltd. Died 28 August 2012, 

aged 67 

Dr Sidney Linton MRSC 

Retired. Died 11 October 

2012, aged 92 

Dr Antony Francis 

McDonagh MRSC Emeritus 

adjunct professor, University 

of California, San Francisco. 

Died 22 October 2012, 

aged 74 

Mr Terence Michael 

Murdoch MRSC Retired. 


aged 69 

Mr Thomas Nash CChem 

FRSC Retired. 


aged 91 

Mr Richard Colin Norris 

CChem FRSC Retired 

analyst, Australian 

Government Analytical 

Laboratories. Died 3 


Mr Brian Eric Charles 

Ridgeway FRSC Retired 

joint managing director, 

Discovery Foods Ltd. 

Died May 2012, aged 46 

Dr George Frederick 

Shanks MRSC Retired 

technical consultant. 


Mr Raymond George Smith 


industrial consultant, 

Smithkline Beecham 

Consumer Brands. 

Died 4 November 2012, 

aged 85 

Mr David Herbert Sydney 

Swain MRSC Retired 

technical controller, 

Medway Sacks. Died 18 


Dr John William Wallis 


lecturer, Erith College of 

Technology. Died 13 October 

2012, aged 83 

Dr Raymond Frederick 

Martin White CChem MRSC 

Retired reader in chemical 

spectroscopy, City of London 

Polytechnic. 

Died 8 April 2012, aged 85 

Mr John Alan Willey 

CChem MRSC Retired group 

planning manager, Berger 

Jenson & Nicholson Ltd. 


aged 87 

Dr Wilfrid Eric Willmott 

CChem FRSC Retired. 



NOTICES 

EPSRC drops national 

importance requirement 

for its grants 

Poster prize winners and judges. Back (left to right): David O’Hagan, 

Andrew Thomas, Rebecca Maksymowicz, David Rees and John Clough. 

Front (left to right): Diego Ghislieri, Malcolm Spain, Christopher Spicer and 

Vincent Gray 

The 2012 RSC organic chemistry 

poster symposium 

The prestigious RSC Organic Division poster symposium, was held at the 

Chemistry Centre in London on 3 December. This year, 120 abstracts were 

received and following a pre-selection 33 students were short-listed to 

present their work on the day on diverse topics: from total synthesis, novel 

synthetic methodologies and cutting-edge medicinal chemistry. 

The symposium was attended by delegates from academia and from a 

wide range of companies that rely on the skills and dedication of organic 

chemists. The exceptional entries were judged by Dr John Clough 

(Syngenta) and Professor David O’Hagan (University of St. Andrews). The 

prize winners were: Christopher Spicer (1st prize, University of Oxford), 

Malcolm Spain (runner up prize, University of Manchester) and Rebecca 

Maksymowicz (runner up prize, University of Oxford). 

The participant’s prize was awarded to Vincent Gray (University College 

London). This year, for the first time, there was also an industry prize. 

Selected by industry delegates and overseen by Dr Andrew Thomas 

(Roche), it went to Diego Ghislieri (University of Manchester). Active 

participation from students and between delegates was a key element of 

success for this event. The RSC Organic Division would like to thank the 

symposium major sponsor F. Hoffmann-La Roche alongside Evotec and 

Pfizer Neusentis for their willingness to support the symposium. Thanks is 

also extended to the judges, the scientific committee and the large 

number of academic supervisors and their research groups who supported 

this year’s event. 

The EPSRC has dropped the requirement for 

grant applicants to identify the national 

importance of their proposal over a 10- to 

50-year time frame. 

Those seeking public funding for research are 

still encouraged to justify why the research is of 

national significance, but no longer need to 

assign a timescale. EPSRC Chair Paul Golby 

admitted that the original wording of the 

requirement was ‘misleading’. 

The RSC’s Executive Director of Science and 

Education Jim Iley welcomed the change, saying 

“It is sensible to drop the timescale aspect 

from the EPSRC criterion, given the difficulty 

and complexity of predicting when any 

applicable outcome will result from research 

that is being undertaken.” 

Chemical landmark to 

honour Lord Porter 

A decade after his death, the RSC has honoured 

the man who revolutionised the study of 

photochemistry with the presentation of an RSC 

Chemical Landmark at Imperial College London. 

George Porter’s work enormously enhanced 

scientific knowledge over the last 50 years, 

enabling scientists to visualise molecular 

change in chemical reactions lasting only a few 

millionths of a second. After visiting a lamp 

factory in Preston on an errand for his 

supervisor, Porter came up with the idea of 

using a flash bulb to initiate a chemical 

reaction. This later became known as “flash 

photolysis” and earned him the 1967 Nobel 

Prize in Chemistry. Porter’s method enabled 

researchers to study light-induced processes in 

organic molecules, polymers, nanoparticles, 

semiconductors, photosynthesis, signalling 

and light-induced changes in biological 

systems. 

Gold for Gold global 

Following an exceedingly successful pilot in the UK, the RSC is 

now rolling out its Gold for Gold open access initiative worldwide. 

Gold for Gold was launched in July, as an innovative experiment to 

support British researchers as they begin the funder led transition 

to open access. 

UK research institutions who are RSC Gold customers were 

provided with credits equal in value to their subscription payment 

to make their papers available via the RSC’s Gold Open Access 

option. 

This Gold for Gold initiative equated to the RSC donating over 

£1 million worth of Gold Open Access article publication fees to 

the UK research community during 2012. The response from the 

community has been excellent, with the number of universities 

from across the UK signing up to Gold for Gold approaching sixty. 

Following positive feedback from UK researchers—and 

responding to enquiries from the US, Japan, Australia, Denmark, 

and many other nations—the RSC is now rolling Gold for Gold out 

across the world. 


Stay Connected 

to the RSC in 2013 

Don’t forget to renew now to keep taking advantage of 

the benefits your membership brings you... 

Continue to receive the latest news and support… 

Chemistry World and RSC News 

Grapevine electronic newsletter 

Careers advice and guidance 

Maintain your professional status… 

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Prestigious prizes and awards 

Network with fellow scientists… 

MyRSC online community 

Divisions and Specialist Interest Groups 

Local and international sections 

Search for trustworthy information… 

Premium chemical science e-books, journals and databases 

Chemistry Search Service 

Increased access to RSC Publishing content in 2013 

Save money when attending scientific events… 

Reduced fees at RSC conferences 

Conference bursaries and travel grants 

Subsidised training courses 

For information on these and other member benefits visit www.rsc.org/memberbenefits 

Renew your membership by either setting up a Direct Debit 

or making a payment online at www.rsc.org/renew 

121104R 

Payment can also be made by returning your renewal form or by calling +44 (0)1223 432141 

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Registered Charity Number 207890

January 2013 RSC News - Royal Society of Chemistry

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