Hello and welcome to the first edition of the 2021 Chemistry in Europe - the newsletter mainly intended for an audience of chemists, but everyone is welcome to subscribe. The Chemistry in Europe newsletter includes contributions from our team, Members, Professional Networks and more. It informs you about research in Europe, provides updates from EuChemS Member Organisations, and looks into policy-related developments.

Access the full online newsletter by clicking here.

What to expect in this issue:

Editorial
Light at the end of the tunnel

Focus
EuChemS at #GWB2021
Together for more Chemistry
Year Book 2020

Policy
Prosciutto pizza for vegans: haute cuisine?
How can plants become sensors of toxic chemicals?

Research
Recovering non-conventional water sources to combat water scarcity

Members' Perspectives
GDCh and ACS panel discussion about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
News from the Hungarian Chemical Society
Bridging Christmas Traditions

Meet...
Welcome in your new role at EuChemS!
Pilar Goya awarded the HonFRSC designation

Networks
EYCN Podcast – Chemistry to your ears

Chemistry Talks NEW
A European Chemist, If Not A World Citizen

Calendar

Colophon

Happy Reading,
CiE Editorial Board

Hey, welcome to the Brussels News Updates (BNU), EuChemS newsletter for policy makers, chemists, entrepreneurs and citizens with an interest in chemistry. The BNU newsletter will keep you up to date on the latest chemistry-related and science-policy news, awards, consultations and upcoming events in Europe and beyond.

In this issue, we share with you many news, such as:
- our first Global Women’s Breakfast to address diversity and inclusion in the chemical sciences;
- EuChemS Year Book 2020;
- the launch of Horizon Europe, and of the new ERA Forum for Transition;
- the ISE’s report on the Precarity of Academic Careers.

Is there anything that you would like to read about in the next issue of the BNU? Let us know!
Is this your first BNU reading? Subscribe now to our BNU for your monthly updates!

You can read the full newsletter online here!

European Highlights, Research, Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship

First EuChemS @Global Women's Breakfast 2021
On the occasion of the Global Women’s Breakfast 2021 #GWB2021, an IUPAC initiative, the European Chemical Society (EuChemS) organised its first own event on Tuesday, 9 February 2021, from 10:00 to 11:00 CET.

An impressive line-up of speakers from the European Chemistry community  engaged with more than 150 attendees on various inclusion-related topics, including work-life balance, building professional networks and STEM education for school-age kids. The recording of the online breakfast is now available on the EuChemS YouTube channel.

Read our full debrief here.

2020: a year to remember or a year to forget? 
The EuChemS Year Book 2020 is now available online!

The 2020 Yearbook is a form of a EuChemS annual report which looks back at the activities and achievements carried out by the European Chemical Society and its community over the year. It also offers an insightful overview of EuChemS Professional Networks and their work. Divided between chapters, the Yearbook explores the 2020 initiatives and actions in policy areas, meetings, events and webinars, as well as awards and the activities related to the 50thanniversary celebration of the European Chemical Society.

Read more about it here.

The launch of 'Horizon Europe' strengthens EU R&I goals
On 2 February 2021, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission hosted the launch event of ‘Horizon Europe’, the European Union’s most ambitious Research and Innovation framework programme for the 2021-2027 period.

During this online event, the European Commission reaffirmed the important role of ‘Horizon Europe’ for Research and Innovation: the next seven-year framework programme will focus on societal challenges, including public health, population aging, security and defence, as well as pollution and climate change.

Read the full article here.

 

New ERA Forum for Transition
On 4 February 2021, the European Commission launched the new European Research Area (ERA) Forum for Transition. It is composed of EU Member States’ representatives, and it also includes one representative from each EEA/EFTA country.

The main goal of the ERA Forum for Transition is to provide recommendations to the Directorate-General Research and Innovation (DG-RTD) on the governance structure of the ERA, and on the development of the first ERA policy agenda.

Read the full article here.

 

Delays to ERC 2021 Work programme and first calls
With the transition from ‘Horizon 2020’ to ‘Horizon Europe’, the new seven-year framework programme for Research and Innovation, the European Research Council (ERC) postponed the publication of the first ‘Horizon Europe’ calls, until the programme is adopted by the European Commission.

Read our full debrief here.

 

EIC Innovation Launchpad call: €3.5 million awarded to 35 projects
On 5 February, the European Innovation Council (EIC) announced that 35 projects from 10 European countries were selected in its last Innovation Launchpad call. In total, 118 proposals were submitted for this Innovation Launchpad call.

The selected projects include innovations in various sectors, such as railways, artificial intelligence, energy, and much more.

Read the full article here.

 

ISE’s report on the Precarity of Academic Careers
Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) released a report on the precarity of academic careers in Europe. As ISE considers that precarity of academic careers is one of the most pressing issues of the research system, the ISE Researchers’ Careers Task Force focused its reflection on the causes for precarity in the academic sector:

  • Funding of academic careers;
  • Research assessment practices;
  • Research grant evaluation.

Read our full debrief here.

 

 

2021 IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Awards
On 11 February 2021, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) announced the 12 awardees of the IUPAC 2021 Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering.

EuChemS is proud to see Dr Rachel Mamlok-Naaman, the Chair of the EuChemS Division of Chemical Education, as one of the awardees. On behalf of all of us at EuChemS, we congratulate Rachel Mamlok-Naaman on her award!

Read the full article here.

Consultations & Roadmap

European Commission Public Consultations and Roadmaps
A number of consultations and roadmaps put forward by the European Commission are currently open:

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) public consultations
A number of consultations put forward by ECHA are currently open.
You can take a look at them here.

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) public consultations
A number of consultations put forward by EFSA are currently open.
You can take a look at them here.

Public consultation on the active substance Limestone
17 March 2021

Public consultation on the active substance Hydrolysed proteins
31 March 2021

Public consultation on the active substance asulam as regards the assessments following the clock stop on endocrine properties in the context of the pesticides peer review following a mandate from the Commission
3 April 2021

Fundings, Nominations & Awards

EURAMET Call for Needs 2021 
The European Association of National Metrology Institutes (EURAMET) announced the launch of the 2021 Call for Needs for several topic areas, within the potential European Partnership on Metrology.

Deadline: 22 February 2021, 23:59 CET

Website: https://bit.ly/3jBEtvT

RawMaterials Accelerator
RawMaterials Accelerator introduces start-up teams to potential customers from the EIT RawMaterials partner networks willing to adopt innovations. The programme connects local and national ecosystems to the pan-European network of a pilot and test infrastructure facilities, as well as potential customers.

Deadline (phase 1): 1 March 2021

Website: https://bit.ly/3qhofe1

Call for applications for the ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2021 on Sustainable Chemistry and Renewable Energies
The International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) Innovation Challenge 2020/2021 addresses innovators from around the world which are active in developing sustainable chemistry solutions linked to renewable energies.

Deadline: 1 April 2021, 12:00 am CEST

Website: https://bit.ly/373FgAG

EuChemS Events

In the current environment and status of COVID-19, some events recognised by EuChemS are being postponed or cancelled.
EuChemS Events calendar is being updated on a regular basis.
If you planned to attend an event, you can check more about it here.

Sustainable Chemistry Lecture Series - SCLS
2 March 2021
Online
Visit the website! 

EuSamplePrep Conference
11-12 March 2021
Online event 
Visit the website!

Eurovariety 2021
7-9 July 2021
Ljublijana, Slovenia & online
Visit the website!

 

OTHER EVENTS

18th Hellenic Symposium on Medicinal Chemistry
25 – 27 February 2021
Online
Website: https://bit.ly/3pnQZjQ

Research assessment practices – Precarity in academia webinar series 
4 March 2021, 14:00 – 15:30 CET
Online
Website : https://bit.ly/3rThJdR

Research grant evaluation– Precarity in academia webinar series
18 March 2021, 14:00 – 15:30 CET
Online
Website: https://bit.ly/3qm5zKh

ONE – Health, Environment, Society – Conference 2022
21 – 24 June 2022
Hybrid: Brussels, Belgium & online
Website: https://bit.ly/2N6MCga

Read the full BNU newsletter here

EuChemS aisbl - Rue du Trône 62, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; www.euchems.eu. Produced for EuChemS by Nineta Hrastelj, Laura Jousset and Jelena Lazić. 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 © 2020 EuChemS

Céline Wittwer, SCS
18.02.2021

2020: a year to remember or a year to forget?

The EuChemS Year Book 2020 is now available online!

The 2020 Yearbook is a form of a EuChemS annual report which looks back at the activities and achievements carried out by the European Chemical Society and its community over the year. It also offers an insightful overview of EuChemS Professional Networks and their work. Divided between chapters, the Yearbook explores the 2020 initiatives and actions in policy areas, meetings, events and webinars, as well as awards and the activities related to the 50thanniversary celebration of the European Chemical Society.

Read more about it here.

 

Angewandte Chemie and Chemistry Europe are pleased to announce the upcoming Virtual Symposium on "Empowering Diversity in Science: Gender in Academia and Publishing" as part of the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast initiative.

When: Thursday, 25th of February at 15:00 CET (UTC+1)

This exciting event will be moderated by Sandra González Gallardo (Chemistry Europe) and Lisa Pecher (Angewandte Chemie) and will feature a wonderful lineup of speakers:

  • Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede (Professor, Chalmers University of Technology and Head of Genie Gender Initiative for Excellence, Sweden) - “Female faculty: Why so few and why care?”
  • Julia Trattnig (Consultant, Convelop, Cooperative Knowledge Design GmbH, Austria) - “Who cites whom? Tackling biases in academia”
  • Mia Ricci (Publisher, Wiley, USA) – “Committing to a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive publishing environment”

To register for this free event, please click here. We encourage you to save the date in your calendar. For more upcoming virtual events from Chemistry Europe please visit the Chemistry Europe Hub or Chemistry Views.

Céline Wittwer, SCS
01.02.2021

Through the «Chemistry Travel Award», contributions towards the cost of participation at an international conference in the chemical sciences are granted to selected PhD students. The award is sponsored by the Platform Chemistry of the SCNAT and the Swiss Chemical Society. The registrations for the awards are now open.

The deadline is March 31st 2021. All the informations are available on the website chem.scnat.ch/travel_award.

 

Céline Wittwer, SCS
01.02.2021

  1. SCNAT Newsletter, January 2021
  2. ILMAC 2021 shifted to 19.-21. October 2021
  3. Brussels News Update, Jannuary 2021
  4. Launch of the new SCS Website

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