Colloid and Surface Chemistry

Sir Eric Rideal, a Past President of SCI, founded the Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group in the 1950s.

Our subject area pervades virtually all areas of chemistry, and indeed science in general. It is the foundation of what is popularly called nanotechnology and finds applications across a wide range of commercial sectors. Although the colloidal properties of a particular material are rarely the driving force in product manufacture, they can shape the design of the product. In pharmaceuticals for example, it is the active drug that is the product, but it requires the skill of the colloid scientist to package the drug into an effective formulation that not only ensures that it reaches its target, but which also controls the rate of release of the drug.

Committee and website

Who's who on your committee, including biographical details, plus the Group's dedicated website

Collaborations

The Group primarily organises short conferences in its areas of interest, sometimes in conjunction with the RSC's Colloid and Interface Science Group (see below). Given the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of Colloid and Surface Science these meetings are frequently held in conjunction with other SCI Technical Interest Groups or organisations. In a major effort to present a more coherent front for Colloid Science, particularly in the UK, the Committee now meets regularly with that of its sister group in the RSC, and all meetings of either Group are now co-sponsored. The Group is keen to attract young scientists into the area of colloid science and is always looking for new initiatives in this area.

RSC Colloids and Interface Science Group

The Colloids and Interface Science Group (CISG) is one of the most active of the Royal Society of Chemistry's (RSC) subject groups. It focuses on the application of chemical sciences in the management of the water cycle and the impact of these activities on the natural environment. It attracts members, and thus expertise, from many sectors within the water community: environmental consultancies, utility companies, industrial treatment companies, academia and regulatory bodies.

The broad AIM of the CISG is to promote the professional and scientific interests of members and to advise on and influence, in the public interest, the application of colloids, nanoparticles and emulsions and formulations

CISG key objectives are:

To keep members up-to-date with current developments within the water sector and to promote Continuous Professional Development
To provide a forum for the debate of professional and scientific matters on colloids-related issues within the RSC and other relevant organisations
To provide specialist technical advice on colloid- related issues to the RSC and SCI and to assist in presenting a corporate view to national and local government
To promote research, education and specialised training in all aspects of colloids-related chemistry,

CISG achieves this by: