Practical Guide to Sustainable Research Data

Science Europe launched its Practical Guide to Sustainable Research Data and provides guidance on how to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of research data.

The publication lays out three complementary maturity matrices for funders, performers, and data infrastructures to help create a common understanding of the approaches needed by the different stakeholders involved.

The matrices will allow organisations to evaluate the current status of their policies and practices, support the development of organisational ‘agendas for research data’ to ensure data sustainability, and encourage the alignment of policies with those of other organisations. Aligned approaches towards sustainable research data will provide a framework for researchers to share their data in a sustainable way and further support Open Science in becoming the ‘new normal’ in research.  

“Open Science builds on the fundamental features of research and innovation: transparency, openness, verification, and reproducibility. It should be deeply embedded within the practice of research but to achieve such change, appropriate policies and practices must be in place throughout the whole research and innovation system” explained Professor Melanie Welham, Executive Chair UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Science Europe Governing Board Member, in the guide’s foreword.

“The matrices presented in this guide support organisations to develop and enhance their own policies and practices towards the sustainability and openness of research data, and encourage dialogue and collaboration with like-minded organisations. This directly supports the advancement of Open Science as a whole and helps it become an increasing part of a shared research culture” added Professor Roland Fischer, Vice-President of German Research Foundation (DFG) and Science Europe Governing Board Member.

Visit the website for more information and to download the guide as PDF file

David Spichiger, SCS
02.06.2021

Geneva Chemistry & Biochemistry Days: January 14-15, 2021

The Section de chimie et biochimie, University of Geneva, has the pleasure to announce the 11^th edition of its “Geneva Chemistry & Biochemistry Days”. Due to the sanitary situation, the event will be held at distance, via the Zoom interface (https://unige.zoom.us/j/92682442652 + code GCBD2021 or directly https://bit.ly/2KTSpEU;  but we are convinced that the spirit of the event will not be impaired by this mishap.

The vocation of the event is to give our students who are close to finishing their PhD studies the opportunity to present their research as attractive speed talks to an audience from academia and industry, and the steering committee is glad to welcome you in this context.

Four distinguished lecturers further enrich the programme. Our four departments have invited them, and they will illustrate the extent and the quality of top-level fundamental research in chemistry and biochemistry today.

• Yves Barral, ETH Zürich
  «Ageing: Insights from a good old fungal friend»
• Jonathan Clayden, University of Bristol
  «Exploiting molecular conformation for biomimetic function and reactivity»
• Ivano Tavernelli, IBM Quantum, IBM Research Zürich
  «Quantum computing and its applications in chemistry and physics»
• Oliver Wenger, University of Basel
  «Photoactive coordination compounds based on Earth-abundant metals»

We expect that the event will catalyse fruitful discussions between young and advanced researchers, and give our students an opportunity to get ready for their professional career, yet offering our guests an overview of the quality of the fundamental research performed in our School.

Looking forward to welcoming you at this event, we hope that you will enjoy the lectures and interactions!

Prof. Thomas Bürgi
Président de la Section de chimie et biochimie

David Spichiger, SCS
06.01.2021

Open Position @ETHZ: Assistant Professor of Digital Chemistry

Assistant Professor of Digital Chemistry

→ The Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (www.chab.ethz.ch) at ETH Zürich invites applications for the above-mentioned position within the Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering (www.icb.ethz.ch). The successful candidate should demonstrate experience in data science, artificial intelligence and data analytics, with a clear emphasis on their application to guide experimental research in chemical science and engineering and the potential to develop an ambitious, innovative programme within these areas. 

→ The recently established National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Catalysis will actively support this position. It aims to create new value chains to enable the manufacture of a broad portfolio of chemicals from renewable feedstocks. The ultimate goal is to underpin sustainable growth, secure energy supplies, and safe­guard clean air, water, and soil. The NCCR will offer an extensive collaborative framework with a large experimental community embedding academic and industrial partners, as well as dedicated funds for personnel and running expenses. 

→ Candidates should have a Ph.D. degree in natural sciences, computer science, or engineering, with a strong interest in the application of data science to chemical reactions and/or processes, and an excellent international record of accomplishments. At the assistant professor level, commitment to teaching and the ability to lead a research group are expected. She or he should be motivated and committed to teaching graduate-level courses (English or German) in chemistry and (bio)chemical engineering. 

→  Assistant professorships have been established to promote the careers of younger scientists. The initial appointment is for four years with the possibility of renewal for a two-year period. 

→ Please apply online: www.facultyaffairs.ethz.ch

→ Applications should include a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, a statement of future research and teaching interests, and a description of the three most important achievements. The letter of application should be addres­sed to the President of ETH Zurich, Prof. Dr. Joël Mesot. The closing date for applications is 28 February 2021. ETH Zurich is an equal opportunity and family friendly employer, strives to increase the number of women pro­fessors, and is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

SACC Spring Meeting 2021: Call for Abstracts

SACC Spring Meeting 2021
February 12, 2021 - 13.00-16.45h
Online Symposium
https://sacc2021.epfl.ch

Information about the Event
The spring meeting 2021 is targeted towards computational scientists and interested members of the academic and industrial chemistry community in Switzerland and neighboring countries.
The event is organized by PhD students and Postdocs in the Swiss Association of Computational Chemists (SACC). 
More information: https://sacc2021.epfl.ch

Format
The spring meeting will be a virtual half-day event, taking place on Friday, 12 February 2021 in the afternoon.
The meeting will consist of:

David Spichiger, SCS
03.12.2020