19 Dec 2014
At the Materials Chemistry Group's recent AGM, Dr David Birkett announced his intention to stand down as group Chair. David served as Chair of the group since March 2012, having previously held the roles of Treasurer to the Materials Chemistry Group and Chair of the All-Ireland Regional Group.
I am sure that everyone who has had the pleasure of working with David during his tenure as Chair will join with me in thanking him for his collegiality, his willingness to share his expertise readily, and his constant encouragement of younger members to become actively involved in the group. Since joining the Materials Chemistry Group himself, David has led the organisation of numerous specialist conferences and meetings, often in collaboration with other like-minded SCI groups and sister societies. With topics chosen in direct response to members' interests, it is to his great credit that not only have many of these events been repeated due to demand, but that participation in them has grown year on year. For example, 'IASSCO', the Irish Adhesion, Surface Science and Composites meeting he initiated as a small one-day event in 2011 has grown into a two-day conference encompassing all aspects of polymers and materials science activity in Ireland. Special thanks are also due to SCI's Membership Executive for their support and practical assistance in organising these activities throughout David's time as Chair.
Finally, we are very pleased to welcome Prof Bob Bradley of Oxford University Materials Department who has now taken over the role of Chairman - Bob previously served as Chair until 2012, and has been an active member of the group for more than fifteen years. Throughout that time, he has been instrumental in developing close links between the Materials Chemistry Group, the British Carbon Group, the Institute of Physics and the Scotland regional Group among others. The committee looks forward to working with him to build further on these links and develop new activities in the years ahead.
Gordon Armstrong,
Secretary, Materials Chemistry Group
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