The first couple of days of the IUPAC congress have flown by, with some fantastic events and speakers really making this conference one to remember.
Monday afternoon’s plenary lecture was given by Prof. Dame Louise Johnson, who after her talk was awarded an honourary fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Professor Dame Louise Johnson receives her Royal Society of Chemistry honourary fellowship from RSC President Dave Garner
In the evening Harry Kroto led a great Café Scientifique, talking about what he calls the “GooYouWiki World”, and a lot else besides! The house was full (sorry to those we had to turn away!) and everyone was up for questions and debate in the relaxed atmosphere of the Tron Theatre.
Café Scientifique at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, with Harry Kroto
We talked a lot about education, particularly in the context of getting the best teaching resources to the teachers that need them most. Harry was keen to explain the benefits of the GeoSet project, too, where students can upload videos and synchronised presentations. “I’ve revolutionised marking,” Harry proudly proclaimed. “While other teachers have a huge stack of essays or papers to mark, I’m sitting at my table with a coffee watching the students on my laptop.”
Harry Kroto at the Tron Theatre
The 42nd IUPAC Congress got off to a great start yesterday, with the opening ceremony and civic reception going down extremely well. Opening remarks from the IUPAC Secretary General Chris Black, IUPAC President Jung-Il Jin, Royal Society of Chemistry President Dave Garner, Chair of the 42nd IUPAC Congress Paul O’Brien and were well received. The Clyde Auditorium looked stunning, by the way:
42nd IUPAC Congress Opening Ceremony, The Clyde Auditorium, SECC
Awards were made, by President Jin, to the winners of the IUPAC Prizes for Young Chemists from 2008 and 2009. Congratulations to Emilie Banide, Christopher Thomas Rodgers, Akinori Saeki, Andrea Rae Tao and Scott Warren (2008), and to Faisal Aldaye, Christopher Bettinger, Xinliang Feng, Xing Yi Ling and Shengqian Ma (2009).
The 2008 and 2009 winners of the IUPAC Prizes for Young Chemists
The bit that really stole the show, however, was when we were asked to follow the piper to the reception. Baffled looks abound, but the unmistakable sound came hauntingly through the curtains, and out stepped a kilted piper to lead us to the Glasgow Science Centre.
A traditionally-dressed piper leads the chemist congregation from the Clyde Auditorium
That was yesterday… this morning we had the pleasure and honour of being addressed by the inimitable Sir Harry Kroto. His enthusiastic, heartfelt talks are always a highlight, and today he discussed (among much else) his concept of “three senses”: common sense, uncommon sense (science) and nonsense (too common). And as he said himself: “common sense has been replaced by common NONsense – what we need is UNcommon sense, ie science!”
Sir Harry greets the adoring crowd
The scientific legacy of Scotland is awe-inspiring. As I hurtle down the East Coast line to the 42nd IUPAC Congress in Glasgow, which is being hosted by the RSC from today until Friday, I’m taking time to acquaint myself with a few of the many great scientists, engineers and inventors the country has produced. I may fling out a few Scottish science facts throughout the week on the official IUPAC Twitter stream, twitter.com/IUPAC2009.
We’re so taken with the prodigious scientific output of Scotland that we want to celebrate it by giving away a new Apple iPhone 3GS – the latest and greatest incarnation of Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone. He’s Scottish too. All you have to do is tell us (in 140 chars or fewer, naturally) the reason Scotland produces so many great scientists (via email, blog comment or preferably Tweet). More on Scottish scientists and full competweetion rules later in the post. (more…)
