Hello and welcome to the December edition of Brussels News Updates, the monthly EuChemS newsletter keeping you up to date on the latest chemistry related science-policy issues, news and upcoming events and awards.
2019 is coming to an end and with it the International Year of the Periodic Table and EuChemS numerous activities for the IYPT2019, which will continue to shape future of Chemistry in Europe as well as next year, when we will be celebrating 50 years anniversary of EuChemS. You are all kindly invited to join our 2020 celebrations and before reading on we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
You can read the full newsletter online here.
European Highlights, Research, Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship
The International Year of the Periodic Table is coming to an end
On December 5, the Official Closing Ceremony for the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT) took place in Tokyo, Japan. Professor David Cole-Hamilton, EuChemS Vice-President, attended the ceremony on behalf of EuChemS.
150 years after the discovery of periodicity by Mendeleev, 2019 was selected to be the year-long celebration of the universally known symbol of science. The IYPT2019 permitted to put chemistry under the spotlights for a whole year, enhancing initiatives for a better communication among the different fields of the discipline. Events were organised all year-long, in Europe and beyond.
For the full story, click here.
Latest ECHA Committee for microplastics restriction
EuChemS attended the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) meeting of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in November which addressed several pressing issues. Significant topics under discussion included that of biodegrability, microplastics restrictions and its critical applications for human and environmental exposure caused by infill material for synthetic pitches.
Read the full article here.
EuChemS attending Primo Levi Award
On December 6, Professor Emeritus Vincenzo Balzani has been awarded Primo Levi Award which is jointly granted by the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) and the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI). EuChemS President, Pilar Goya Laza, and EuChemS Secretary General Nineta Hrastelj, were invited to joint the celebration hosted by Società Chimica Italiana in Rome.
Read more here.
Quality Chemistry Education in Europe
The Council of the European Chemistry Thematic Network Association (ECTN) met in Rome in the first week of December. N. Hrastelj, EuChemS Secretary General, attended the meeting in her role as advisor. Read more about it here.
New European Commission launches European Green Deal
EuChemS congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on her position as the new Commission President and wishes her all the very best in her endeavors.
During her first speech as the new Commission President at the global climate conference COP25 in Madrid, Spain, Ursula von der Leyen relaunched discussions on budget matters for research. Read more here.
Horizon Europe: towards the implementation of the programme
On November 26, the EU released the final report on the Horizon Europe implementation co-design exercise with the results of the online consultation that were collected between July 31 and October 4. The report also considers the conclusions drawn from the European Research and Innovation Days.
Read our full debrief here.
Consultations & Roadmap
European Food Safety Authority consultations
A number of consultations put forward by the European Food Safety Authority are currently open. You can take a look at them here.
If you would like to contribute to an EuChemS response, please drop us a line.
‘EU food quality schemes’ consultation
‘EU food quality schemes’ consultation, put forward by the European Commission, is currently open.
Deadline: 27 January 2020
You can take a look at it here.
‘Origin – labelling for meat’ consultation
‘Origin – labelling for meat’ consultation, put forward by the European Commission, is currently open.
Deadline: 2 March 2020
You can take a look at it here.
Fundings, Nominations & Awards
ERC consolidator grants open call
Deadline: 04 February 2020
ERC Consolidator Grants are designed to support scientists wishing to consolidate their own independent research team or programme in Europe.
Website: https://bit.ly/2LZnhAO
Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) open calls
Currently two calls are open: Innovative Training Networks 2020 and the European Researcher's Night. The deadline is in January, check details here:
Website: http://bit.ly/2Kxavc8
EuChemS Events
Chemistry Conference for Young Scientists 2020 (ChemCYS 2020)
19 – 21 February 2020 Blankenberge, Netherlands
Website: http://bit.ly/2MyB5Sk
Food Contamination and Traceability Summit
26 – 27 May 2020
Erding, Germany
Website: http://bit.ly/35Aw18I
European Conference of Research in Chemistry Education (ECRICE 2020)
6 – 8 July 2020
Rehovot, Israel
Website: http://bit.ly/2OLs2jR
25th Conference on Isoprenoids
9 - 11 September 2020
Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Website: http://bit.ly/2Oi8IJd
Other Events
Food for the Future: Accelerating the Protein Transition
29 January 2020
Brussels, Belgium
Website: https://bit.ly/2Pt8MI1
Innovation 2050: Towards a greener, smarter world
04 February 2020
Brussels, Belgium
Website: https://bit.ly/2PTnWVG
ENRICH Entrepreneurial Skills Development Program (ESDP)
19 – 24 March 2020
Philadelphia, USA
Website: https://bit.ly/2RVNap3
Read the full BNU newsletter here
EuChemS aisbl - Rue du Trône 62, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; www.euchems.eu. Produced for EuChemS by Nineta Hrastelj, Alex Schiphorst and Marta Kucza. This newsletter has been carefully prepared and only contains correct information to the best of EuChemS´ knowledge, however this does not exclude the possibility of existence of incorrect information. EuChemS cannot be liable for the use or misuse of any information, whether correct or incorrect, present at this newsletter. Intellectual property belongs to its rightful owners, always explicitly traceable on each article. Compilation Copyright © 2019 EuChemS
David Spichiger, SCS
17.12.2019