ALLY... - Royal Society of Chemistry

Universities learn how
to attract more students
The first Chemistry: The Next Generation
national conference took place on 6 June,
where Higher Education Institution partners
in the project met to take stock and celebrate
successes. The event was hosted by
GlaxoSmithKline at their North Mymms training
facility.
Chemistry: The Next Generation aims to
promote the excitement of chemical sciences
as a subject and demonstrate good career
opportunities to students from schools and
colleges that are underrepresented in higher
education.
Dr Tony Ashmore, the RSC’s Director of
Education, explained that chemistry forms the
basis of a £50bn industry in the UK, yet the
proportion of students taking chemistry in
universities has decreased by 20% over the last
6 years and that more than 90% of students
taking chemistry at A Level do not go on to
study chemistry at university.
Project partners had the opportunity to
discuss a wide range of outreach activities
and to share good practice from events across
the country. Outreach deliverers representing
each region described the activities that have
been taking place, feedback from teachers and
The European Technology Platform for
Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem), in which
the RSC is a core partner, has launched the first
issue of its newsletter, SusChem Solutions, see:
www.suschem.org/content.php?pageId=2770
SusChem seeks to boost chemistry and
chemical engineering research, development
and innovation in Europe. It believes that
chemistry is vital for the quality of modern life
and that more and better use of chemistry will
enable society to become more socially and
environmentally sustainable.
SusChem is mapping out a research route
for European chemistry that will provide the
innovative solutions required to achieve it’s goal.
SusChem’s work will have a significant impact
on chemistry research in the next EC Research
Framework Programme (FP7) and beyond.
students and the challenges for the future.
Delegates then took part in a workshop
lead by Liz Blackshaw (East Midlands Regional
Coordinator), Jayne Shaw (London Regional
Coordinator) and Kate Burrell (National
Coordinator). In it they described the chemistry
content of the KS3, 4 and 5 curriculum and
suggestions of methods for communicating with
students.
Paul Cullis, co-author of the project and
Principal Investigator from the University of
Leicester, rounded off the proceedings with a
look to the future.
Kate Burrell, National Coordinator,
commented on the day’s success: “The overall
feeling of the day was one of real collaboration,
with several project partners commenting
on the increased communication within the
regions between university and industry. We’ve
had some great feedback, with the practical
aspects of the conference very well received.
“There is much work to do in the next
17 months. Along with delivering exciting
inspirational activities it remains important
to demonstrate the positive impact of the
changing student attitudes to chemistry and the
chemical sciences.”
Sustainable Chemistry newsletter seeks
feedback on research agendas
The newsletter will keep all stakeholders
up-to-date on the progress of SusChem,
seek feedback and input to its work when
appropriate, and publicise major milestones.
The first SusChem Solutions outlines the draft
Strategic Research Agendas (SRAs) for Materials
Technology, Industrial Biotechnology, and
Reaction & Process Design. Comments on these
documents are welcomed, preferably by 31
August.
A unified SRA document – including input
from SusChem’s Horizontal Issues Group – will
be presented to a SusChem Stakeholders
Workshop on 25 November 2005 in London.
■i
For further information contact
Dr Marian Mours at Cefic, email:
mms@cefic.be
Latest Travel
Grants Awarded
At the May meeting of the RSC Travel Grants
committee the following grant allocations
were made:
Journals Grants for International Authors:
Professor J Eastoe, University of Bristol to
visit Wuhan University, China; Dr R Cox,
University of Bristol to visit University of
Tokyo, Japan; Professor C Wentrup, University
of Queensland, Australia; Professor P
Metrangolo, Polytechnic of Milan, Italy;
Dr S Kazarian, Imperial College London;
Dr O Popovicheva, Moscow State University,
Russia; Dr S Nlate, University of Bordeaux,
France
JWT Jones Travelling Fellowship:
Dr C Domene, University of Oxford;
Dr TN Fasima, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Conference Grant for RSC Commonwealth
Members: Dr O B Familoni, University
of Lagos, Nigeria; Professor A De, Indian
Association for the Cultivation of Science,
Kolkata, India
Education Division Travel Grants:
GWH Potter
RSC Interest Groups: Co-ordination Chemistry
Discussion Group
■i
For more information on how to
apply for RSC travel grants, see: www.
rsc.org/travelgrants
Important news
for Library users
If you still have any of the pink LIC document
delivery vouchers could you please contact
Kate Smith immediately.
As the LIC is no longer offering a document
delivery service from its own stock these
vouchers are no longer valid.
However we will honour all requests from
members, with vouchers, up to the end of
2005. After this time the vouchers cannot be
used.
See our alternative access “Full text options
for document supply” on: www.rsc.org/library
■i
Contact Kate Smith on: 020 7440
3372; email: smithk@rsc.org
W W W . R S C . O R G
R S C N E W S | A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 5