March Networks Newsletter
Teacher Training Scholarships - next deadline for applications 16th March 2014
Do you have the potential to be an exceptional chemistry teacher? In partnership with the Department for Education, we are offering 180 scholarships for the training year 2014/2015, worth £25,000 (tax free). Each scholarship also provides a support package including:
Develop faster, travel further and collaborate more with Researcher Mobility Fellowships for young researchers
We are offering Researcher Mobility Fellowships to fund scientific visits to UK or international organisations to strengthen research collaborations and networking. These are aimed at top young chemical scientists who wish to build relationships in the early stages of their career.
Open to PhD students, Masters students and early career researchers, the Fellowships provide funding of £3,000-£15,000 for national or international scientific visits of up to 2 years.
Apply by 1st June 2014.
Want to know more? Click here.
Bill Bryson Prize 2014 – closing date 31st March
Are your students good communicators?
Encourage them to enter for the Bill Bryson Prize, our competition for students aged 5 – 18 that recognises and encourages excellent science communication. This year the theme is art and science.
We are welcoming creative entries in any format, from posters to puzzles to podcasts, as long as the content accurately communicates science and answers one or both of these questions:
Where is the science in art? Where is the art in science?
We’ll be judging in three categories: primary school, secondary school and international. We accept both individual and group entries.
If your students' entry is judged best in its category, they’ll win £100 to share and £500 for your school. Bill Bryson will present UK winners with their prizes in the Houses of Parliament.
Find out more and enter
National Chemical Database Service News
The National Chemical Database Service (NCDS) is currently trialling ARChem, a retrosynthetic analysis tool. We would like to know what you think of it - if you are affiliated with a UK academic institution please try it out here and send us any feedback.
We have recently compiled a list of external online resources that we think may be of use to scientists, have you any suggestions of resources that we should link to?
Let us know of any ARChem feedback or external resource suggestions at cds@rsc.org, and sign-up for the NCDS newsletter.
Colourful chemistry at the National Big Bang Fair
Life isn’t black and white, and neither is chemistry.
If you are attending the National Big Bang Fair at the NEC Birmingham from 13-16th March, bring your class to our stand and discover why things are coloured, why they change colour and how we harness this to create useful products.
We will be in the ALIVE zone at stand AL7 with hands-on activities, colourful demonstrations and high-tech kit.
Find out more about the Big Bang Fair and register for free.
Chemistry of water article collection – free access until 23rd March
We’ve collected together some of the best research on the fundamental chemistry of water – including its interfacial behaviour and thermodynamics – from across our journals. And until 23rd March 2014 you can read all these articles for free.
Find out more.
Recognising teachers’ expertise and commitment with CSciTeach
We are pleased to announce that we have gained a licence to award Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach) status. If you are a Royal Society of Chemistry member at MRSC or FRSC level with a minimum of four years’ teaching experience, you can apply for CSciTeach from April 2014.
Contact our membership team for more information.
Westminster Policy Fellowship
Want to take on the challenge of getting science onto the political agenda?
Any Royal Society of Chemistry member with, or currently working towards, their PhD can apply to get directly involved in communicating science to parliamentarians through the Westminster Fellowship scheme. Brief MPs on science and technology issues, aid scientific research into public policy areas and experience the inner workings of Parliament during this three month secondment, funded by a £5,000 bursary from the RSC.
Find out more and apply.
Newcastle Careers Hub 17th – 19th March, Hilton Hotel Gateshead
Considering your next career move or thinking about a change of direction? An appointment with the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Careers Consultant at your forthcoming local careers hub in Newcastle offers the opportunity to discuss:
All consultations are free and are completely confidential. We are offering a selection of sessions including:
If you are interested in attending please send us an email with your name and membership number, as well as details of what you would like to cover in the consultation, to careers@rsc.org. One of our specialist careers advisers will be in touch to determine which option will be most beneficial to you.
I don’t need careers advice, is there anything else happening?
We would like to invite you to a Profiles in Chemistry talk by local member Remya Norris, Senior Development Technologist, Worldwide Marine Foul Release, International Paint, Felling, (part of AkzoNobel), entitled ‘Watching Paint Dry’. The talk will start at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 18th March and is scheduled for 30 – 45 minutes. Profiles in Chemistry sessions showcase the variety of jobs there are in chemistry and introduce local employers. The session is free of charge and open to members and non-members. To register for the talk please select the 'Industry Hour talk' box when you register for the Mixer Meeting online (see below).
‘Mixer Meetings’ are fun, informal events where you can meet new people, make new contacts and learn more about local Royal Society of Chemistry activities in a sociable and relaxed environment. Attendance is free and a buffet and drinks are provided.
The Newcastle Mixer Meeting is on Tuesday 18th March, 7.30 pm – 9.00pm. Members are encouraged to invite non-members who are interested in finding out more about us. You can register for the Profiles in Chemistry talk and the Mixer Meeting here.
The places on these events are limited, so book soon to avoid disappointment.
Member Event: Interface between experimental and theoretical approaches to energy-related enzyme catalysis
Date: 4-6th June 2014
Venue: G06 "Sir Ambrose Fleming" LT, Roberts Building, University College London, Gower Street, London
Early bird (£200 regular/£100 student) deadline: 10th March
Final deadline (£250 regular/£150 student) deadline: 18th May
Find out more.
Chemistry Technician of the Year Award and *NEW for 2014* Chemical Sciences Apprentice of the Year Award
Do you work with an outstanding technician or an exceptional apprentice? Nominate them now for one of our prestigious awards.
Our Chemistry Technician of the Year award recognises technical support in three categories: education and further education (with special reference to chemistry), higher education and research, and industry. The winner of each category will receive £2000, a certificate and a medal. Find out more.
Our Chemical Sciences Apprentice of the Year award acknowledges and celebrates the contribution of an advanced or higher apprentice to their workplace. The winner will receive £1000 cash, a £1000 grant to support their career development, a certificate and medal, 1 year’s free RSC membership and professional registration fees, if eligible. Find out more.
Nominations for both awards are open from 3rd March to 31st May 2014.
Staff members of the month
This month features our Member Networks Specialist Marie Chapman and Graduate Stephen McCarthy.
Marie Chapman |
After completing a Chemistry degree at Nottingham University, Marie joined us as a Publishing Editor in the Bio team. After learning the ins and outs of proofreading, editing and peer review, Marie was accepted on to the RSC Graduate Scheme, and learned new skills as part of the Communications and Business Development teams. She started as part of the Member Networks team in January, and is really enjoying getting out there and meeting our members! Outside of work, Marie enjoys reading, socialising and volunteering at TEDx events. |
Stephen McCarthy |
Stephen is part of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s graduate scheme and will spend his second rotation with Member Services after six months in the Higher Education, Business and Industry team. He is also the newest addition to the team, having started only a couple of days ago! More information about the RSC’s graduate scheme can be found here. Picking up where Jenifer left off, Stephen is looking forward to managing the 175 Faces of Chemistry project and hearing about the many and varied people and careers that the project covers. Stephen studied Chemistry as an undergraduate, and worked briefly as a publisher and writer before joining the RSC. |
RSC Events Deadlines
Major deadlines coming up – check out the individual websites for more details and all the key dates.
EVENT | DEADLINE |
Astrochemistry of Dust, Ice and Gas (FD168) 7-9 April 2014 Leiden, The Netherlands |
Registration deadline: 10 March 2014 |
2nd International Conference on Clean Energy Science (ICCES2) 13-16 April 2014 Qingdao, China |
Registration deadline: 14 March 2014 |
Dalton 2014: Joint Interest Groups Meeting 15-17 April 2014 University of Warwick, UK |
Oral abstract deadline: 16 March 2014 Poster and registration deadline: 30 March 2014 |
Molecular Simulations and Visualization (FD169) 7-9 May 2014 Nottingham, UK |
Poster abstract deadline: 10 March 2014 |
Mechanochemistry: from Functional Solids to Single Molecules (FD170) 21-13 May 2014 Montreal, Canada |
Poster abstract deadline: 10 March 2014 |
Analytical Research Forum 2014 (ARF14) 7 July 2014 London, UK |
Oral abstract deadline: 24 March 2014 |