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.

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.

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'.

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.

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

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

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.

Asphalt that included recycled material used to be seen as inferior because it contained 'second-hand' material. But it can be equal to anything produced with all-new materials.

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.

Adrian Blacker has been a member of SCI since 2004. He is involved in the Construction Materials Committee and continuously contributes towards the organisation of conferences and events.

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

Geosynthetics and Steel Meshes for Longer Lasting Roads was held on 12 May at SCI HQ, London.

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

Mark Tyrer hopes that young people will join the Construction Materials Group committee

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

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.

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.

Britain no longer meets its own needs in terms of metal extraction and its ability to recycle the metals it has used has declined considerably in recent years.

A full day Seminar on Road Maintenance Treatments was held on 18 March 2010 by the SCI Construction Materials Group in partnership with the Institute of Asphalt Technology and the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation at SCI International HQ at 14/15 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PS, UK.

A look at roofing materials that not only reduce energy consumption, but also provide a natural habitat for flora and fauna.

SCI has awarded the 2010 Lampitt Medal to Professor John Bensted for his outstanding contribution to the work of the Society, specifically for his work within the Construction Materials Group.

Dr Jasbir Singh Lota was nominated to receive the Distinguished Service Award by the Construction Materials Group, in gratitude for his work on behalf of the Group and his activities as liaison with the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining and the RSC.

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.

Low Carbon Cements: recent research and developments on alternatives to Portland Cement Past Conference Papers was held on 25 November 2010 at SCI HQ, London.

Organised by SCI’s Construction Materials and Horticulture Groups, in association with Safeguard Europe Ltd and Cityroofs Ltd UK & Ireland, 'Green Roofs' was held on 29 April 2010 at SCI HQ, London, UK.

Organised by SCI’s Construction Materials Group, 'Cases for and against hot mix road surfacings' was held on 15 October at SCI HQ, London and was well attended.

Organised by SCI’s Construction Materials Group in proud partnership with the Institute of Asphalt Technology and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, 'Road Maintenance Treatments' was held on Thursday 18 March 2010, SCI HQ, London, UK.

It has become a tradition for the Construction Materials Group to arrange a general interest building or transportation evening meeting each December, as far as possible with a London emphasis, to which members, partners and other Society guests are cordially invited.

Experts will be gathering at the Road Drainage seminar, organised by the Construction Materials Group, on 16 October 2008 to look at the latest methods and techniques to contain and minimise damage caused by flooding.

In recent years, additional generic types of asphalt surfacing materials have become available for use on road and airfield pavements.

After several decades of preparation, the CEN package of asphalt standards has been published.

The Taylor & Francis Group have received a request from the Chinese authorities to publish a Chinese language version of the second edition of Structure and Performance of Cements.

The Building Crafts College was founded in 1893 by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters as the Trades Training School in the City of London.

Green issues are one of the most topical issues in the sector, from dealing with the negative effects of run-off water into the environment from newly constructed or repaired roads and using industrial by-product materials like slag, fly ash and microsilica to produce ‘extended cements’.

This seminar analysed carbon footprints, ways of measuring that footprint, the footprint incurred by asphalt components and construction, examples of means to reduce the footprint, how the industry can improve its performance and how it can enhance its reputation where it currently performs well.

The UK's carbon footprint is over 500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. How much of that footprint is made by the travel industry? And how much by industries that build transport infrastructure?

Risk management is becoming increasingly important in managing construction projects. Innovation and invention are very prevalent in the construction sector, particularly relating to new products.

Dr Nigel Knee of British Energy, and also a graduate of Bristol University, gave a fascinating and comprehensive lecture on the future of the nuclear power industry in the UK.

The 2009 George Bessey Award celebrates the contributions made to SCI by Ron Stephenson, whose industrial R&D career had a wide span across disinfectants and road construction materials

A total of 54 members and guests attended the traditional pre-Christmas evening meeting held on 6 December 2007.