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Hello and welcome to the March edition of Brussels News Updates, the EuChemS newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest developments on the chemical sciences, as well as our news, activities and upcoming events!

On 8 March, we celebrated International Women’s day, which once more spotlighted the continuing gender inequality within society, but also within the scientific arena more specifically. Data indeed shows that whilst some progress has been made in reducing discrimination and encouraging equal opportunities for women, progress remains too slow and unequal across countries.

EuChemS broached the subject in a workshop organised on 7 March in the European Parliament on education, employability and EU research funding. The event was hosted by Member of the European Parliament van Nistelrooij, and featured a panel of speakers representing European institutions, academia and industry. You’ll find our full debrief below!

You can read the full newsletter online here.


European Highlights, Research, Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship

Bridging education, employability and EU research funding
How are education, employability and research funding linked, and how can we ensure they are connected in a way that encourages equal opportunities for European chemical scientists? This was the topic for discussion at the EuChemS workshop ‘‘Chemical sciences for Horizon Europe, education and employability’’ in the European Parliament on 7 March, hosted by MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij. Read our top take-aways from the session! 

Women in science
The new edition of the She Figures reportprepared by the European Commission puts into focus a clear message: women continue to be under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read our full debrief! 

Horizon Europe: deal on time?
Members of the European Parliament have urged that a preliminary deal on Horizon Europe be made ahead of the May European elections, even if some matters, including the budget, would have to be settled after the new Parliament reports ScienceBusiness. Read the full story here.

Executive Board meeting in Lisbon
On 18 -19 February, the EuChemS Executive Board met in Lisbon, Portugal for the first Executive Board meeting of the year. Discussions focused on a wide range of issues, including upcoming activities and initiatives for the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT2019), as well as next year’s 50-year anniversary of EuChemS (initially known as FECS). Following discussions, the Executive Board was given the opportunity of visiting the congress centre which will host the 8th EuChemS Chemistry Congress in 2020!

‘’Is anyone reading our work?’’
The European Commission is currently preparing a project know as the “Knowledge4Policy” (K4P) platform, a set-up that aims to enable more fluid exchanges between scientists, policymakers and journalists. Beginning of March, the first focus group was held in which several scientists were asked to discuss their worries and their perception of how decision-makers access and use their research findings. Read the full debrief here. 

Antimicrobial resistance: no signs of slowing down
A recent report released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reveals that antimicrobials used to treat a variety of diseases continue to witness a drop in their effectiveness. Click for the full story.


Consultation and Roadmaps

Public consultation: Gender Equality in the EU
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather opinions on the current situation regarding gender equality in the EU and the priorities for the next 5 years.
Drop us a line if you would like to contribute to an EuChemS response!
Deadline to send us feedback: 20 May 2019

Public consultation: EFSA draft assessment of five phthalates used in plastic food contact materials
EFSA's Food Ingredients and Packaging (FIP) has launched an open consultation on five phthalates used in plastic food contact materials
Drop us a line if you would like to contribute to an EuChemS response! 
Deadline to send us feedback: 1 April 2019


Funding, Nominations and 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). The call for nominations was opened on 1 March and will be open until 30 September 2019. Submissions can be made here.
Deadline: 30 September 2019
Website: https://www.euchems.eu/awards/european-chemistry-gold-medal/


EuChemS Events

EYCN Delegate Assembly, 21st JCF Frühjahrs­symposium and 2nd European Young Chemists' Meeting
Bremen, Germany, 17 – 23 March
Website: http://bit.ly/2HwNXHV

1st GHI World Congress on Food Safety and Security (GHI2019)
Leiden, Netherlands, 24 – 28 March 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2PrzhL8

6th European Chemical Biology Symposium / Meeting of EuChemS Division “Chemistry in Life Sciences”
Madrid, Spain, 3 – 5 April 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2E7ojHD

37th Biennial Meeting of the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry
San Sebastian, Spain, 26 – 30 May 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2UUxfWe

14th International Symposium on Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry (ISMSC2019)
Lecce, Italy, 2 – 6 June 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2yaNa9V

Organic Battery Days 2019 (OBD 2019)
Jena, Germany, 3 – 5 June 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2F9UGGi


Other Events

Food Safety in the EU: Maintaining High Standards and Ensuring Transparency of Information 
Brussels, Belgium, 11 April 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2HmPcdC

European Chemistry Thematic Network (ECTN) General Assembly
Krakow, Poland, 12 – 14 April 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2F5oGlm

11th Annual International Symposium on University Rankings and Quality Assurance 2019
Brussels, Belgium, 20 June 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2TPd8vH 

IUPAC 50th General Assembly, 47th IUPAC World Chemistry Congress, and Centenary
Paris, France, 5 – 12 July 2019
Website: http://bit.ly/2F8hhS3  


EuChemS News

The 1st  edition of Chemistry in Europe 2019 is available online.
The newsletter includes a number of interesting and highly relevant contributions, news, and upcoming events, such as an editorial by Pilar Goya, EuChemS President; an analysis on the survey on the employability of European chemists; input from the European Young Chemists’ Network and Members; well as news concerning the IYPT2019, and more!

EuChemS Year Book 2018 recently published
Read our recently published Year Book for an insightful overview of the many activities and initiatives EuChemS has been a part of over 2018. You can download it here.


Read the full BNU newsletter here