RSC News - pp7-14 - Royal Society of Chemistry

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NEWS RSC to consult members on new governing body WELCOME TO THE February issue of RSC News. This month, members are invited to participate in a review of the RSC governance structure (see right). While this may at first seem rather inward looking, it is a logical and necessary consequence of the successful reforms of the RSC’s membership structure. The broadening of the chemical sciences and increasing diversity of professional practice is evident in members joining the RSC. Their influence is hugely positive and we need to make sure the RSC is structured to take advantage. A quick flick through these pages illustrates the extraordinary diversity within a modern professional society. The front page article on outreach exemplifies our support for the core of our discipline, while the announcement about Chartered Scientist illustrates our wider role in qualifying and professional standards across science. The articles on RSC involvement with REACH and with the establishment of a European Research Council demonstrate the need to be increasingly active in policy matters on an international scale. Balancing loyalty to our roots while changing and extending influence is an ever-present challenge for governance and staff alike. TONY ASHMORE REGISTRAR Contact the editor at Thomas Graham House (address on page 16) or call 01223 432265 or email rscnews@rsc.org AS REPORTED IN last month’s RSC News, the RSC’s Council has established a steering group, led by President Elect Simon Campbell, to consult the membership on a new governing body for the RSC. The structure of the current Council was devised in the late 1970s as a means of unifying the RSC’s four predecessor bodies. It has about 50 members – some directly elected, some representing interest groups, some nominated by local sections and others appointed to chair the RSC’s Boards. Council’s view is that its current membership is neither sufficiently diverse to represent the now very wide ranging scientific and professional interests of chemical scientists, nor is it sufficiently small and cohesive to provide strategic direction to the RSC in the rapidly changing environment advice on the overall direction of the RSC and its major programmes. The membership of such a body would be drawn from across the full spectrum of the RSC’s membership and various groupings; ● a smaller Trustee Body to provide strategic direction, discharge the legal and other responsibilities of a governing body and to act as Trustees to the Charity. When the steering group has finished its work, Council will put any proposed changes to a vote of the membership. Consultation with members will be essential. Further details will appear in future issues of RSC News. The proposals will also be discussed during the 2004 series of regional meetings, which will be held before the meeting of Council in May. Details of these meetings are given below. in which the RSC operates. Having taken advice from the Charity Commission and reviewed current practice in related Learned and Professional societies, Council has asked the steering group to consult and bring forward plans for: ● a general assembly of members to give ● If you would like to be invited to one of these meetings, please contact David Lindores by email at lindoresd@rsc.org Comments on Council’s proposals are welcome and should be sent to Tony Ashmore at ashmorea@rsc.org Region Place Date Ireland Dublin 19 February North East Huddersfield 10 March Midlands Leicester 18 March Scotland Stirling 23 March North West Liverpool 1 April South West Bristol 15 April Wales Aberystwyth 29 April Eastern Cambridge 4 May A meeting in the South East region was held in London on 20 January. Younger members are the Voice of the Future THE RSC IS TO HOST Voice of the Future 2004, the third annual meeting in this unique series of events for younger scientists. This is an exciting opportunity for all scientists, under the age of 35, to voice their concerns and to share their ideas with members of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. Voice of the Future 2004 will take place on Monday 22 March at Portcullis House, Westminster, London. ● If you would like to take part, contact Julie Smart at Burlington House (address on page 16) or email smartj@rsc.org For more information go to www.rsc.org/lap/parliament/vof04.htm 2 RSC NEWS WWW.RSC.ORG
RSC rewards exam success EACH YEAR THE RSC awards prizes to those students achieving the highest mark in A-level, Higher and Advanced Higher examinations in the UK. This year a prize was also awarded for the best chemistry investigation at Advanced Higher in Scotland. This was awarded in memory of the science education researcher Craig Gray. Each student receives a cheque for £100 and a copy of the RSC publication Cutting Edge Chemistry. The prizes are presented by the appropriate Local Section. All the winners are listed on page 15. Left to right Fred Wildridge, head teacher at Grange Academy; Ben Hall; Councillor Tommy Farrell, chair of the Education Committee; John Mulgrew, director Of education and social services, East Ayrshire Council THE RSC WAS awarded Licensed Body status of the Science Council in December 2003. Commencing 1 January 2004, the RSC is able to award Chartered Scientist (CSci) to appropriately qualified RSC members. In the future, those applying for Chartered Chemist (CChem) will be able to apply for CSci at the same time. The RSC has also been given permission to ‘grandparent’ suitably qualified existing RSC members; further details will be announced in the near future. Becoming Chartered sends a clear signal to future employers, colleagues and the public about the quality of an individual’s scientific BNFL first again with accredited training A BNFL SELLAFIELD graduate trainee has become the first RSC member to be awarded CChem under the new regulations through RSC accredited training. The company is also the first to have a group of trainees successfully complete the initial stage of the accreditation scheme (admission to MRSC). BNFL has enjoyed great success with RSC accreditation. In 1990, it was the first company to achieve RSC accreditation of its graduate training. In 2001, it was first to achieve re-accreditation under the revised membership structure. The latest success was achieved following an assessment visit in November 2003, hosted by Chris Boulden of West Buckland School, receives his award Science Council names RSC as Licensed Body knowledge, application and professionalism. The award of CSci and CChem sets the individual practitioner at a high level within their profession. Both awards not only demonstrate the achievement of a high-level education, but also the ability to practice the profession at a high level, and the maintenance and continued progression of scientific competencies and abilities. The award of CSci requires revalidation every five years via submission of a continuing professional development (CPD) report. ● For further information contact David Barr at Thomas Graham House or email barrd@rsc.org Clare Sharpe, graduate development manager, and Graham Hutson, senior chemistry mentor, with Professor Derek Nowell representing the RSC. The BNFL accredited scheme is flourishing. It currently has 17 graduates registered, with plans for a further seven candidates. RSC accreditation is regarded as a considerable asset by BNFL both to demonstrate its status as a world class company and to recruit and retain top quality chemistry graduates. ● If your organisation is interested in achieving accreditation of its company training, contact David Barr at Thomas Graham House or email barrd@rsc.org Towards a European Research Council? THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH Council Expert Group (ERCEG), under the chairmanship of Professor Federico Mayor, has published its report on the need for a new European dimension to research funding. The report states that a European Fund for Research Excellence should be established by the EU and a European Research Council (ERC) should be created to manage the Fund. Dr John Taylor, Director General of the Research Councils, UK, was a member of ERCEG. The ERC is seen as supporting ‘investigator-driven’ research with the aim of encouraging interdisciplinary and risk-taking projects, especially in emerging research areas. At least €2 billion per annum should be available from the Fund during its initial stages. The intention of the ERCEG is that the Fund should be financed out of an increased European R&D budget and not at the expense of existing national activities. The European Science Foundation (ESF), which earlier published a position paper, New structures for the support of highquality research in Europe, by a group led by Sir Richard Sykes, has stated that it is willing to play a prominent role in building up the ERC. The ERCEG now submits its report to the Danish Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Helge Sander, who was responsible for ERCEG’s establishment. If the Fund is to be operational in time for the seventh Research Framework Programme a political commitment needs to be made by the EU by the end of this year. Professor Dave Garner, chair of the RSC International Affairs Advisory Group, welcomes the proposals to establish a European Research Council. The RSC will join forces with the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) and other members of the Federation of European Chemical Societies (FECS) in discussions concerning the establishment of the ERC, to ensure that chemistry and its associated scientific disciplines derive benefit from the new funding opportunities that will arise from this initiative. ● The full ERCEG report is available at www.ercexpertgroup.org/finalreport.asp WWW.RSC.ORG RSC NEWS 3
Page 1: FEBRUARY 2004 Outreach brings educa
Page 5 and 6: EU proposal on chemicals puts the o
Page 7 and 8: DIARY Your guide to RSC events in t
Page 9 and 10: Your guide to RSC events in the com
Page 11 and 12: EVENTS Key speakers lined up for el
Page 13 and 14: MBERSHIP Wanted: an enthusiastic yo
Page 15 and 16: RSC awards research fund grants THE

RSC News - pp7-14 - Royal Society of Chemistry

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