Group News

A number of events are being set up by SCI's Regional and Technical Groups for Early Career Scientists. Keep an eye on our events calendar and make the most of support being offered to PhD students, postdocs, and those starting out in industry or academia.

We look forward to putting our 2012-14 strategy into place, with the support of our members and partners. For more information on the SCI's priority objectives, see the About Us page below.

Getting too many e-mails from us? You may belong to too many technical groups. We'd recommend you limit your choice to just a couple, and one regional group.

Please tell us what you think of SCI's services

As voted by Members at the 2011 Annual General Meeting, annual membership fees are now £90 for Standard Membership and £25 for Student Membership.

At the Board's annual planning day on 21 September 2011, we reviewed our strategic direction and rolling three-year plan, and realigned our priorities for the future.

My research is about increasing our understanding, and improving the chemistry needed, to be able to convert natural gas and biomass feeds into more useful commodities, such as transport fuels, by reactions of carbon monoxide and hydrogen

SCI's Board of Trustees has decided that SCI should undertake a thorough review of its awards programme. During 2012, we are therefore cutting back the distribution of awards to a minimum until the review is completed.

'Innovation in Colloid Formulation: Secrets of Formulation III' was held on Wednesday 16 November 2011 at SCI HQ, London, UK.

I always felt the drive to understand why things are the way they are. So many things can be explained by chemistry - the way our bodies work, cooking, medicines, love, electronics... I knew I had to study chemistry and I never regretted my decision!

When your Board of Trustees last met on 16 November 2011, the key priority was to agree the rolling business plan for 2012-14 and the budget to implement this.

On 17 November at SCI HQ, Professor Subhash Anand, from the University of Bolton, presented a Public Evening Lecture on Nonwoven Fabrics in Healthcare and Medical Devices, where he reminded us that 'life often hangs by a thread'.

The Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group and the RSC Colloid and Interface Chemistry Group have awarded the 2011 McBain Medal to Prof Adam Lee.

Water use to grow and process biomass feedstocks for fuels has recently emerged as an important controversy. In a world where several countries already face water stress – and where over 70% of global freshwater use takes place in the agricultural sector – bioenergy development might present considerable challenges, from the perspective of water quantity as well as water quality.

The title of my oral presentation was ‘Measuring the stability of responsive nanocapsules in a gel’.

Read the Members' Code of Ethics, which is available online below.

EUREKA runs the Eurostars SME Programme to co-fund R&D and innovation projects in research-intensive SMEs, which have an ambition to develop ground-breaking new products, processes and services for the world market.

There have been a number of changes to tenancies at our London Belgrave Square headquarters recently.

Can you think of a fellow member worth their weight in gold? Nominate them to receive the Lampitt Medal or a Distinguished Service Award

Bookings are now being taken for Catalysis and Synthesis using Cheaper Metals taking place on Wednesday, 18 April, 2012.

Julian Perfect has kindly volunteered to take up the role of Hon Librarian. SCI will continue to seek additional volunteers to support Julian and to help us to ensure continuity.

On 17 November 2011, Prof Subhash Anand delivered an SCI Public Evening Lecture on 'Non-woven fabrics in healthcare and medical devices'

Andrew Ladds (CEO of SCI, 2005 - 2010) has resigned as an SCI trustee, effective 1 September 2011, citing the growing demands of his chemical-using business activities

Nominations are now invited for the Sir Eric Rideal Lecture 2013. All members of the Combined Group may nominate, although the candidates need not themselves be members.

Dame Sue Ion has been a prominent figure in the UK nuclear industry for decades, and is internationally recognised as an expert in nuclear fuels.

We have definitive legal advice on the subject of sending 'unsolicited direct marketing emails' and a few suggestions on how to guard against breach of the legislation are also set out below.

The Rideal Lecture 2011 was a one-day meeting held at SCI HQ, London on Friday 15 April 2011, organised by SCI's Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group and RSC's Colloid & Interface Science Group.

Leverhulme bursar Dale Brownson reports on the 11th International Conference on Frontiers of Polymers and Advanced Materials (Incorporating Biomaterials Africa) which took place in Pretoria, South Africa on 22 - 27 May 2011.

Dr Claire Adjiman presented the 2011 Henry Armstrong Memorial Lecture on 21 June.

Distinguished Service Awards are presented annually at the Society's AGM. The awards celebrate the hard work and goodwill of longer-serving Members of all component parts of the Society

6-12 June 2011 sees the return of the Food Group's popular 'Ask A Food Scientist': your chance to ask an expert any food-related question!

Three top UK scientists were recognised at SCI's International Honours Presentation on 12 November 2009.

'Ask a Horticultural Scientist' ran from 15-22 May 2011, and was your chance to ask your questions on professional crop production and protection and other horticultural issues via the SCI forums.

Is there a scientific basis for concern over human-induced climate change? This was the subject of the first Public Evening Lecture of 2011, entitled 'The challenge of climate change', given by Sir Brian Hoskins. A soundtrack of the lecture is now available

Dr Robert Thomas is a fellow of University College, Oxford. He works in the field of soft condensed matter and is a pioneer in the development of neutron scattering and reflectivity techniques. This year, the Colloids Group has elected him the recipient of the Rideal Lecture for pioneering work in his field.

The College of Scholars was established to help current SCI scholars make the most of the opportunities the SCI scholarships provide

On 16 September 2010, SCI hosted a free Public Evening Lecture featuring Fred Pearce, who is currently the environment consultant of New Scientist magazine and a regular contributor to British newspapers.

Prof David Philips presented a lecture on the subject of light - from sun damage to photo-medicine as part of SCI's Public Lecture Series. The overheads can be downloaded here, and you can also listen to audio.

Dr Rhodes joined SCI in 2007 and has worked for British Steel and the Atomic Energy Authority.

A profile of the newest members of SCI's governance: Dr Brian Iddon, Professor K Clive Thompson and Dr Roger Gilmour

SCI provides opportunities for some of the brightest people in the world to exchange ideas and gain new perspectives on markets, technology, and people, SCI Honorary President Dr Stephanie Burns says in a video shown at the 7 July 2010 AGM.

GM Food was the subject of the third in the SCI's series of public lectures and took place on 2 December 2010.

Dr Geoff Fowler reports

In the six months since Joanne Lyall was appointed Executive Director of SCI, she has launched a new business plan for 2011-13.

Joanne Lyall joined SCI as Executive Director on 21 June 2010

On 9 November 2010, the Membership Advisory Committee held its annual Members' Forum, chaired by Dr Geoff Fowler

SCI members are not impressed with the BBC's coverage of science and think it is neither impartial nor accurate, according to a survey carried out in September 2010.

In this period of substantial public sector cuts the Chancellor has recognised the fundamental role science will play in economic recovery.

Horticulture, BioResources, and Food Commodities and Ingredients Groups have all recently launched Facebook Groups.

Food scientists from the Food Commodities and Ingredients Group answer questions from SCI members and the general public on subjects ranging from cooking and nutrition, to vegetarianism and food safety.

Researcher and physical chemistry lecturer Dr Alison Paul joined SCI in 1998. She is a member of the Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group and jointly runs the Cardiff University Soft Matter Research Group with Dr Peter Griffiths.

Prof Tom Healy, of the University of Melbourne, reflects on a lifetime of achievements as he prepares to deliver the 2010 Rideal Lecture

Catheline Colard is currently approaching the end of her PhD studies in the University of Warwick, working on the edge of new technologies/advanced materials. She has been an SCI member since 2008, and received a Rideal Travel Bursary to attend the IPCG conference on Polymer Colloids Il Ciocco, Italy in 2009.

Dr Eliana Fissore received a Seligman Fellowship to investigate the chemical characterisation of pectins extracted from beetroot and butternut squash

Rideal Bursar Yue Long reports from New York

Rideal Travel Bursar Karen Wilson reports from the ACS Fall 2010 National Meeting and Exposition in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, USA from 22-26 August 2010

Rideal bursar John Watkins presented a poster entitled 'Synthesis, characterisation and applications of cationic carbon nanoparticles'.

Rideal Bursar Paola Occhipinti reports from Almeria

Rideal Bursar Lisa Teece reports from New York

As one of the biggest meetings in Surface and Vacuum Science, IVC brings together researchers and students from all over the world, thus promoting communication and collaboration among different groups.

This was a five day conference, which covered an array of subjects, including colloids, polymers, polyelectrolyte solutions, concentrated systems, gels, phase transitions, wetting phenomena, functional materials, biologically important and bio-inspired systems, and pharmaceutical applications.

Rideal Bursar Catheline Colard reports from Il Ciocco

Rideal Bursar Alison Paul reports from Portugal

Rideal Bursar Ben Cheesman reports from Washington

Dr Alex Routh delivers the 2010 McBain Lecture and receives the McBain Medal in recognition of his contribution to colloid and surface chemistry. Dr Routh is a lecturer at Cambridge University's BP Institute.

Biological aerosol work wins Beilby Medal

Educationalist Sir David Harrison, SCI member and former chairman of the Awards Committee, talks about his perception of science in education, the media and today’s quality of teaching

REACH is an EU-led initiative to test all chemical substances imported or manufactured in quantities of over one ton in the EU by 2018.

Diane Wood started out as an SCI Member and now works for the Society providing support and customer care.

The global financial crisis has reduced access to credit, combined with a sharp decline in demand for durable goods – both of which have impacted the chemical industry.

SCI, the society established nearly 140 years ago to link science with business in the application of scientific innovation, has recognised three top UK scientists in the International Honours announced on 12 November 2009.

In July 2009, SCI entered into a broader strategic alliance with the American Chemical Society (ACS) to advance chemistry-based knowledge and address global issues of mutual interest and benefit to our members.

SCI provided very valuable resources for my career, Dr Melling tells Members News

More than 50 SCI members attended the Members’ Forum held on Wednesday 25 November 2009

SCI and its publishing partner John Wiley and Sons are launching a new range of books.

SCI’s website now features a poll on the homepage, where users can vote to express their opinions on a variety of issues.

It could be said that this waving, drowning or emerging figure represents the global chemical industry as delegates heard at the SCI Summit, since some companies are suffering badly while others are making the best they can, and others even seeing some improvement.

The Young Chemist in Industry symposium is an annual, one-day meeting, which represents a unique opportunity for younger chemists to showcase their industrial research to an external audience.

Stephanie Burns, CEO and Chairman of Dow Corning and new Honorary President of SCI, talks about her experience leading a corporation where innovation is paramount. She also discusses SCI's role in driving knowledge transference in the chemical industry, CSR initiatives and innovative ideas for the future of SCI involving community engagement and mentoring of young scientists.

Have you ever read a news story based on science that concerns you?

Sue talks about her experiences with teaching science to boys and girls, and particularly about her efforts to encourage girls into the field.

An alliance between SCI, the Society of Dyers and Colourists and the Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association will deliver reciprocal benefits to members of all three organisations

SCI is always happy to welcome new volunteers and members to the Society.

On Thursday 11 and Friday 12 September 2008, SCI ran two ‘workshop and best practice sharing’ events, open to all Treasurers, Secretaries and Chairs of Regional Interest (RIG) and Technical Interest Groups (TIG).

The main aim of SCI is to bring members together and an online forum can help us do this through the web.

The third SCI Members' Forum 2009 took place on 25 November at SCI HQ, London.

On Monday, 28 September 2009, SCI will be hosting a one-day ‘Volunteer Workshop and Best Practice’ day for the Honorary Chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers of all its UK-based Interest Groups.

Separation technology is fundamental to all chemical production processes. The separation techniques used are common to a range of industries and are continuously developing.

Organised by SCI’s Colloid & Surface Chemistry Group in association with the RSC's Colloid & Interface Science Group, 'McBain Medal Award Lecture' was held on Wednesday 8 December at SCI HQ, London, UK.

Organised by SCI’s Colloid & Surface Chemistry Group and the RSC's Colloid & Interface Science Group, 'Rideal Lecture: Controlling the Properties of Aqueous Interfaces' was held on Wednesday 10 March 2010, SCI HQ, London, UK.

SCI has always recognised the benefits and value of working together with similar bodies.

Organised by SCI’s Colloid & Surface Chemistry Group in association with the RSC's Colloid & Interface Science Group, 'McBain Medal Award Lecture' was held on Friday 11 December at SCI HQ, London, UK.

A two-day conference, ‘New Frontiers in Colloid Science’, was held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 1-2 April 2008. This meeting was jointly organised by the RSC Colloid and Interface Science Group and the SCI Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group to celebrate the career of Professor Brian Vincent.

This two day meeting brought together a range of top speakers showcasing state of the art approaches to nanoparticle science and applications.

This two and a half day meeting was held at the University of Liverpool on 2-4 September 2009 and attracted 100 delegates.

Dr Malcolm Faers, SCI’s Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group Secretary and formulation scientist at Bayer CropScience, is currently involved in an exciting new research project, funded by the EU and led by the University of Manchester, which will encourage the transfer of ideas and knowledge between top scientists around the world.

Rideal Travel Bursar John Thrower reports from Italy

Rideal Travel Bursar Zaheer Ahmad Nasar reports

Rideal Travel Bursar Mr Khai Siang Lee reports from Berlin

The Rideal lecture is an annual award given by SCI’s Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group and the RSC’s Colloid and Interface Science Group.

Rideal Travel Bursar Phil King reports from Montreux, Switzerland

Rideal Travel Bursar Lauro Oliver Paz Borbon reports from Spain

Dr Fernando Bresme’s research focuses on the investigation of complex interfaces, such as those appearing in nanoparticle and colloidal suspensions and soft matter materials (membranes and bio-molecules).

Dr Peter Dowding has been chosen to receive the 2009 McBain Medal

Dr Caroline Cordery is to receive the 2005 Lampitt Medal, it was announced by the SCI Awards Committee.

Dr Griffiths is currently chair of the SCI element of the combined SCI/RSC Colloid and Surface Chemistry Technical Interest Group, and from April 2009, joint Chair of the combined groups;

Dr Peter Griffiths has been recognised by his colleagues in the Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group with a Distinguished Service Award.

Distinguished Service Award for Colloid Group's Andrew Howe

Dr Andrew Howe, who has been a member of the SCI Colloid and Surface Chemistry Group Committee is given the Distinguished Service Award