No Added Chemicals

A Message to the World's Chemists from IUPAC President Nicole Moreau Jan 14, 2010 Our two-year wait is over: the International Year of Chemistry is upon us! Although the official launch has not occurred—that will happen on 27 January in Paris—it is certainly time to start celebrating our beautiful science. One of the best ways I can think of to start observing IYC is by contemplating what chemistry means to you personally and how best to explain this to others. As more of your friends, family, and acquaintances hear about IYC , you may be responding to more questions (or opinions) about chemistry. So, why not be prepared to countenance a false impression about chemistry. But be assured, I am not advocating that we, as chemists, be defensive. Instead, let’s make a collective New Year’s resolution to mount a “positive offensive” on behalf of chemistry.

In Nature Chemistry and Chem Ed, on YouTube and Facebook, and in Finland, IYC is generating buzz!! Dec 20, 2010 Before the calendar page shows 1 January, the IYC 2011 is already getting noticed. The editorial of Nature Chemistry, published online on 15 December 2010, is devoted to IYC . It reminds its readers that under the IYC banner, chemists should seize the opportunity to highlight the rich history and successes of our subject to a much broader audience and explain how it can help to solve the global challenges we face today and in the future. “The IYC provides a focal point for the past successes of our subject to be celebrated and its future potential to be emphasized—but we should be wary of simply preaching to the choir” wrote the editor. “As chemists, we have a pretty good grasp of how important our subject is and where it sits in the grand scheme of science itself. The biggest impact of the IYC shoul...