Hello and welcome to the June edition of Brussels News Updates, the monthly EuChemS newsletter keeping you up-to-date on the latest science-policy issues, news and upcoming events and awards.
What a few last weeks it has been! Now that the dust has somewhat settled after the EU elections and the surge in voter participation, we can start looking ahead at what the future European Parliament will look like, and what lies in store for EU science, research, innovation and education.
Parallel to the political tremors, the research community has been presented with cOAlition S’ updated implementation guidelines for Plan S, a plan aimed at rapidly rolling out open access publishing.
Time to scroll down and read our take on the latest policy developments impacting science and chemistry!
You can read the full newsletter online here.
European Highlights, Research, Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship
Plan S: updated guidelines published, EuChemS responds
Following the analysis of some 600 responses to the call for feedback on the Plan S implementation guidelines, cOAlition S (a coalition of funders with the aim of pushing through a rapid transition to open access publishing) has published its updated implementation guidelines.
EuChemS has acknowledged the work that has been done in order to evaluate the large amount of feedback received. However, many issues continue to persist, most notably the fact that cOAlition S’ stance on other forms of journals as well as on embargo periods has not changed. EuChemS is moreover concerned that the points of view of Learned Societies has not been taken into enough consideration or invited to play a greater role in the debate. Read our full response here.
EuChemS attends latest Open Science Policy Platform meeting
EuChemS attended the 3rd meeting of the second mandate of the Open Science Policy Platform (OSPP), an Expert Group that advises the European Commission on how to develop open science policy, and on which EuChemS is represented) in April in Bucharest, Romania. Read our full debrief of the meetings here.
EuChemS Executive Board met in Brussels
The EuChemS Executive Board met on 13 – 14 June in Brussels for two days of active discussions on a broad range of topics. Read all about it here.
Chemistry for the future of Europe
How will European countries successfully compete with the research and innovation capacity of such countries as the United States or China? How can European science best be supported and encouraged? What role can Chemistry play in shaping the EU’s next research framework programme Horizon Europe? EuChemS’ Science Communication & Policy Officer Alex Schiphorst delves into these questions in a recent article published in Open Access Government.
EU Elections – what does it mean for science?
Following the results of the EU elections, we take stock of what to expect for science in Europe for the next few years. Read our take on it here.
EU ministers adopt rule to ban some single use plastics
The proposal put forward by the European Commission last year to ban 10 plastic items most often found on European beaches, and which was adopted by the European Parliament, has now been officially adopted by EU ministers. The new rules, which also aim to tackle abandoned fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics, focus on items such as plastic cutlery, plates and straws – all of which have alternatives that can be made easily available and affordable. Read the European Council press release here.
World Environmental Day focuses on ways to reduce the health threat of air pollution
On 5 June 2019 we celebrated the United Nations World Environment Day, aimed an encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. Organised since 1974, the day focuses around a specific theme to draw attention to a particularly pressing environmental concern, with this year looking at air pollution. Read more about it here.
EU-wide survey on Europeans’ concerns for food safety published
On the first ever World Food Safety Day, a new Eurobarometer survey by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) was published. The survey looked at how European citizens think about food safety, what their concerns are, and how it impacts their consumption. More information available here.
Consultations & Roadmap
EU-wide assessment on the occurrence of mircoplastics in wastewater
What's the extent of microplastics in urban wastewater? Time until 30 June for water utilities or expert labs to join the campaign for EU-wide assessment on the occurrence of microplastics in wastewater https://t.co/irYbWTC6KC
Fundings, Nominations & Awards
European Chemistry Gold Medal
Every two years, the exceptional achievements of one scientist working in the field of chemistry in Europe are rewarded. The winner is awarded a gold medal and the opportunity to give the opening lecture at the next EuChemS Chemistry Congress (ECC). Deadline: 30 September 2019
Website: https://www.euchems.eu/awards/european-chemistry-gold-medal/
Horizon 2020: Support for the opening of low-carbon energy research databases in Europe
The challenge is to promote the opening of research databases for low-carbon energy in Europe.
Deadline: 27 August 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2Kn6qcm
EuChemS Events
1st International Meeting on Deep Eutectic Systems
Lisbon, Portugal, 24 – 27 June 2019
Website: https://bit.ly/2Z8iBgn
5th EuChemS Inorganic Chemistry Conference (EICC – 5)
Moscow, Russia, 24 – 28 June 2019
Website: https://bit.ly/2QQwugj
11th Symposium in Vino Analytica Scientia & 11thinternational symposium of Enology of Bordeaux (Oeno/IVAS 2019)
Bordeaux, France, 25 – 28 June 2019
Website: https://bit.ly/31hLUPi
International Summer School on Natural Products (ISSNP)
Naples, Italy, 1 – 5 July 2019
Website: https://bit.ly/2X1E6lF
World Chemistry Congress – International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC 2019)
Paris, France, 5 – 12 July 2019
Website: https://bit.ly/2wPSjU0
European Symposium on Organic Chemistry (ESOC 2019)
Vienna, Austria, 14 – 18 July 2019
Website: https://bit.ly/2Kfc0Ny
Other Events
High-Level conference on EU Chemicals Policy 2030
27 – 28 June 2019, Brussels, Belgium
Website: https://bit.ly/1huyy3x
New Frontiers in Structure-Based Drug Discovery
23 – 25 September 2019, Florence, Italy
Website: https://bit.ly/31l7O4e
European Research and Innovation Days
24 – 26 September 2019, Brussels, Belgium
Website: https://bit.ly/2uNYJBS
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