Helvetica Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society 2025

On the occasion of the SCS Fall Meeting 2025, Helvetica, represented by its editors in chief, Prof. Eva Hevia and Prof. Jérôme Waser, as well als Helvetica Executive Editor Dr. Richard Smith, will award the Helvetica Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society for the best published papers of PhD/Postdocs 2023/24 in Helvetica Chimica Acta. The prize is endowed with CHF 1'000 for the winner and CHF 500 for the runner-up.

Dr. Richard Smith, Executive Editor of Helvetica, will hand over the certificates to the winners on September 4, 2025, at 17.45h in the afternoon plenary session. The winners will present their research in a flash talk of 3min each.

1^st Price 2025: Rahul Giri, University of Bern, Group of Prof. Dmitry Katayev
‘Divergent Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Ketones via Photoredox Activation of Halotrifluoroacetones’

2^nd Price 2024: Alain Baiyoumy, University of Basel, Group of Prof. Thomas R. Ward
‘The Two Janus Faces of CpRu-Based Deallylation Catalysts and Their Application for in Cellulo Prodrug Uncaging’

We congratulate the winners and are looking forward to the ceremony on September 4.

We hope this motivates many of our members to hand in their next manuscript to Helvetica, a journal of the SCS.

The SCS Helvetica Prize

Since 2019, Helvetica Chimica Acta awards the 'Helvetica Prize' on the occasion of the Fall Meeting of the Swiss Chemical Society to honor outstanding publications of young researchers in Switzerland. The prize is addressed to the best published papers of PhD/Postdocs in Helvetica. The award winners present their work in a short talk at the Fall Meeting. The prize is endowed with CHF 1'000 for the winner and CHF 500 for the runner up.

Past Winners of the Prize

Winners of the prize 2024
Winners of the prize 2023
Winners of the prize 2022
Winners of the prize 2021
Winners of the prize 2020
Winners of the prize 2019

Céline Wittwer, SCS
01.09.2025

EuChemS Magazine: August 2025

Policy, research and community perspectives on chemistry in Europe and beyond

Explore our monthly compilation of science-related policy developments in Europe and the latest EuChemS news in this newsletter. Check out our headline stories or read the EuChemS Magazine Online

EuChemS News

• EuChemS congratulates the 2024 Lecture and 2026 Gold Medal awardees
• Blue Colour Works in Modum recognised with 2023 EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award
• Strengthening global cooperation: EuChemS at IUPAC 2025 in Kuala Lumpur

Policy News

• Denmark’s EU Council Presidency focuses on a green and competitive Europe
• The future EU Framework Programme for R&I with new strategic focus
• EuChemS supports TIER’s response to the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030 consultation

Read the full magazine on: https://www.magazine.euchems.eu/

David Spichiger, SCS
20.08.2025

Update of the SCS IT systems on August 7 and 8, 2025

Dear Members,

SCG will be updating its IT systems on August 7 and 8 to keep pace with the latest technologies and ensure the security of data and content.

Member data will also be migrated to the new system, which may result in a request to activate your profile. If you receive such an email on August 7 or 8, this is OK and should be processed. Please make sure that the URL always starts with https://scg.ch.

We thank you for your understanding and look forward to serving you in the future with a uniform and modern IT platform.
With kind regards, 
David Spichiger,
Executive Director
Swiss Chemical Society

Open Position: Director of the SCS Foundation, 30%

The SCS Foundation supports and promotes research and education in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry and runs three programs to achieve these goals:

• Alfred Werner Excellence Scholarship Program for master students from abroad
• Mentoring program in collaboration with the youngSCS
• Best Presentation Award Program at the SCS Fall Meeting

As of October 1, or according to agreement, we are looking for a successor to the current

Director of the Foundation, 30%

Tasks

• Managing the business and supervising the programs in accordance with the guidelines of the foundation board
• Organizing meetings of the foundation board
• Cooperation with the allocation and steering committees of the foundation programs
• Negotiating and renewing contracts with the supporters
• Attracting new donors from industry, the foundation sector and private individuals (in collaboration with the foundation board)
• Preparation of the annual report and accounts for the foundation board and the FDHA Foundation Supervisory Authority

Candidate’s Profile

• Good networking within the Swiss academic and industrial chemistry and life sciences community
• Motivation to actively support the younger generation of chemists
• Experienced fundraising skills, especially from industry
• Business communication skills in German and English

Application

Applications should include a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, and a certificate of the highest degree as well as additional documents that underlines the candidate’s skills.
The dossier should be addressed to the President of the SCS Foundation, Prof. Christian Bochet ()

SCS Foundation
c/o Swiss Chemical Society
Haus der Akademien
Laupenstrasse 7
3008 Bern

www.scs-foundation.ch

David Spichiger, SCS
23.07.2025