Hello and welcome to the October 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.
Beginning of October, we headed to Bucharest for our General Assembly meetings where we discussed many pressing issues and upcoming initiatives and which witnessed the elections of the EuChemS President-Elect, the EuChemS Treasurer and two new elected members of the Executive Board. A partnership agreement was also signed with the American Chemical Society cementing our joint efforts in advancing Chemistry and tackling global challenges. Meanwhile, the spotlight was on EU science and research during the EU’s R&I days, a major science event aimed to launch the co-design implementation of Horizon Europe.
You can read the full newsletter online here.
European Highlights, Research, Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship
EuChemS annual meetings take place in Bucharest
The annual gathering of the EuChemS community sees several meetings taking place: its General Assembly, Executive Board meeting and Professional Networks meetings. This year’s meetings were held in Bucharest, Romania at the beginning of October.
The meetings saw wide ranging discussions, developments, decisions and elections. In the first instance, Floris Rutjes from the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society (KNCV) was elected as EuChemS President-Elect. Eckart Rühl, of the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry was re-elected as EuChemS Treasurer. Two new members of the Executive Board were also elected: Ioannis Katsoyiannis (Association of Greek Chemists) and Rinaldo Poli (French Chemical Society). Read the full debrief here.
EuChemS' video game 'Elemental Escapades!' is released in 11 languages!
The EuChemS video game ‘Elemental Escapades!’ has just been released in 11 different languages. You can now join Jan’s adventures in Croatian, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Serbian, Romanian, or Spanish. Click here for more information and here to play the game directly!
Hearing of Mariya Gabriel takes place at the European Parliament
On 30 September, Mariya Gabriel, who has been put forward by the European Commission President-Elect Ursula von der Leyen as Commissioner for ‘Innovation and Youth’ faced the hearing by the European Parliament Committees for Culture and Education and Industry, Research and Energy.
The two committees referred to the lack of reference to research, science, education and culture in the name of the Commissioner’s proposed title, something EuChemS has equally brought to the attendion of the European Commission. Read the full story here.
EU celebrates Research & Innovation
On 24 to 26 September, the European Commission launched the EU Research & Innovation Days, a three-day marathon of sessions, workshops and networking opportunities that aimed to address the key issues surrounding EU research, innovation and science. Read our debrief here.
Latest ECHA Committee for Risk Assessment meeting sees heated discussion on definition of mircoplastics
The Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) met in September to address a number of pressing issues. Microplastics once again took centre stage however. Stakeholders were invited during the meeting to better clarify the points of the proposed restriction on microplastics. A heated discussion eventually arose on the definition of microplastics given by ECHA’s proposed restriction. Click here for more.
EFSA publishes dietary reference values (DRVs) for sodium and chloride after ten year project
The European Food Safety Agency’s (EFSA) publication of dietary reference values (DRVs) for sodium and chloride marks the end of ten years of work by nutrition scientists. The work, begun in 2009 aimed to update values for macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals that were last set in the 1990s. More about this story here.
European Physical Society shows importance of physics to the economies of Europe
The European Physical Society (EPS) invited EU institution representatives and stakeholders to a session on ‘The Importance of Physics to the Economies of Europe’ on 15 October 2019. Speakers, including EPS President Petra Rudolf demonstrated the vital role physics plays in scientific research, innovation, job creation and economic resilience and prosperity. More about the meeting here.
CSIC celebrates the 30 years of its Brussels Delegation
On 14 October, EuChemS joined the celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)’s delegation in Brussels. The event looked back on 30 years-worth of science-policy interactions between Spain and the European Institutions, and highlighted the importance of partnership, cooperation and a strong science-based Europe.
Consultations & Roadmap
As part of the implementation plan of Horizon Europe, a number of consultations are currently open for feedback on different European Partnerships.
If you would like to contribute to an EuChemS respond, please drop us a line.
European Partnership for a circular bio-based Europe (Horizon Europe programme)
Deadline for feedback: 28 October 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2qd8UkB
European Partnership for innovative health (Horizon Europe programme)
Deadline for feedback: 28 October 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2qd8UkB
European Partnership on metrology (Horizon Europe programme)
Deadline for feedback: 28 October 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2pjvAPE
Fundings, Nominations & Awards
EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award
Deadline for nominations: 31 December 2019
More information available here: https://www.euchems.eu/awards/euchems-historical-landmarks/
European Lecture Award
Deadline for nominations: 31 December 2019
More information available here: https://www.euchems.eu/awards/lecture-award/
European Award for Service:
Deadline for nominations: 31 December 2019
More information available here: https://www.euchems.eu/awards/award-for-service-new1/
EuChemS Events
15th International Conference on Polysaccharides-Glycoscience (15th ICPG)
13 – 15 November 2019
Prague, Czechia
Website: https://bit.ly/2meEo7Z
3rd International Caparica Christmas Conference on Translational Chemistry
2 – 5 December 2019
Caparica, Portugal
Website: https://bit.ly/2lKzgIw
Avogadro Colloquia 2019 (AC 2019)
17 – 18 December 2019
Rome, Italy
Website: https://bit.ly/2k90TKG
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
Other Events
‘Standing up for Science’ EU workshop
30 November 2019
Barcelona, Spain
Website: http://bit.ly/2nPmIRy
EU Water Innovation Conference 2019
11 – 13 December 2019
Zaragoza, Spain
Website: http://bit.ly/2McB1ZC
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