These monthly newsletters aim to keep all member networks updated with news describing how to get involved, as well as information of relevant events, services and new initiatives from the RSC Networks team. If you require further information about any of the items in the newsletter, or have any comments or ideas for content please contact the Networks team.

Committee members and representatives are encouraged to disseminate this information, as appropriate, to colleagues and other members. E-alert request forms can be downloaded from the Useful Forms and Documents page. Up to date lists of members can be obtained by emailing the Networks Team.
 

Networks Newsletter April 2018

Dear all,
Welcome to the April edition of the networks newsletter. It was great to meet so many of you at the Regional Meetings and hope you enjoyed them as much as we did.
 
Upcoming Administration Deadlines
3 April               Interest Group Top up fund application deadline
10 April             Deadline for E-alerts going out on 19th April to additional networks
12 April             Deadline for E-alerts going out on 19th April
24 April             Deadline for E-alerts going out on 3rd May to additional networks
26 April             Deadline for E-alerts going out on 3rd May
8 May               Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17th May to additional networks
10 May             Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17th May
 
Upcoming Events
1 May                 Member Networks Committee meeting, Burlington House, London
18 June              New Officers’ Briefing Day, Burlington House, London
11 July               Royal Society of Chemistry AGM, Burlington House, London
18 July               RSC Summer Party, Royal Academy of Arts, London
26-30 August      7th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress, Liverpool
30-31 August      RSC Early Career symposium, Liverpool
 
 
Communications from across the RSC
GDPR – Toolkit for Member Networks
As you are all probably aware the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is coming into force on 25 May 2018. The rules, in general, are very similar to the current Data Protection Act but there will be a much higher penalty, both for the organisation and individuals, involved in a breach of data protection.
We will be providing all of our member networks with a toolkit to support your compliance with the new regulation – we hope to have this sent to all committee members in April. We would like to emphasise that the reason this is coming to you so close to the compliance deadline is that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has still not finalised some details of the regulation so we are waiting for some vital pieces of information to ensure that you are sent the correct details.
Please delete any old data lists, delegate lists, contact details from your computers which you may have saved from past RSC business.
We will, of course, do our best to offer you all of the support you need to remain compliant but we do need your cooperation in adhering to the new law.
If you have any questions please email networks@rsc.org.
 
Rules for Member Networks – Update
Please note that in February the Membership and Qualifications Board approved an update to the rules for member networks to include the following:
3.5: All members must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
The rules are updated online here.
 
Expenses Forms
Please be aware that our Finance Team can no longer process expenses submitted on hard copy forms or the old electronic forms. Please use the form available online here (http://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/FormsDocuments.asp) for all expenses in the future.
 
Communicating with Member Networks Committee
As you know the Member Networks Committee (MNC) is responsible for overseeing the activities and support of all of our member networks. We hope that you receive the support you need from the Networks Team to fulfil your roles as volunteers but we would like to remind you that you should also feel able to submit any discussion points or issues to your relevant Regional Steering Group (RSG) through the appropriate representative. Often issues or questions can be answered by other volunteers or staff as part of the RSG meeting but if this is not possible then it will be escalated to MNC by the RSG Chair.
  • Local Sections – this is your main route to raise concerns regarding the governance of your network
  • Interest Groups – if your issue is not appropriate to raise through an RSG then you can raise it with one of our two Interest Group Representatives on MNC (Helen Ryder (Formulation Science and Technology Group) and Rachel Evans – Photochemistry Group) who can be reached by emailing networks@rsc.org.
  • AD and ED Regions – although you have direct reporting lines to your Divisions please feel free to also use this route for communication, we will always share any concerns with the relevant Division Council.
 
Please remember that you can contact the Networks Team at any time for support or guidance at any time.
 
 
Chemistry Week
19 - 25 November 2018
The theme for 2018 is ‘Community Outreach – Chemistry for Everyone’ (http://www.rsc.org/campaigning-outreach/outreach/everyone/) and we want to support you with activities and events that inspire the next generation, reach under-represented audiences and celebrate the diversity within our own community. Grants of up to £750 are now available and all applications will be considered whether you need £50 to purchase consumables or £500 for venue hire and catering. Apply using the following link Chemistry Week grants (http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Y465T/) or contact outreach@rsc.org for further information.
 
The deadlines to apply for funding to support your planned activities are 14 May 2018 and 10 September 2018.
 
Outreach Fund – Small and Large Grants
14 May 2018
Our Outreach Fund is currently open to applications for small grants (up to £2,000) and large grants (£2,000 to £10,000) to support schools and public engagement projects. If you have a new idea or have been developing a project that centres around enriching students’ chemistry education,  increasing public confidence to communicate chemistry or supporting members to get involved in outreach then please do get in touch or make an application for funding. For more information and to make an applications please use the following link to the Outreach pages on our website (http://www.rsc.org/awards-funding/funding/outreach-fund/)
 
Most recent publication on Brexit
Read an opinion piece by our Director for Science & Communities, Dr Jo Reynolds (link to come on Thursday)  to mark one year since article 50 was triggered –summarising the RSC’s policy asks on Brexit and also giving details on what we are doing.
Find out more (http://www.rsc.org/campaigning-outreach/campaigning/science-and-the-uks-exit-from-the-eu/) on how we are working to understand the possible effects on our community and to inform and influence the science and innovation element of the exit negotiations.
 
 
 
This newsletter including additional information from other departments is also available online (http://my.rsc.org/blogs/81/1839). Please feel free to encourage other members of your committee to read the newsletter online.
We welcome any feedback you have on what you would like included in this newsletter; please email any suggestions to networks@rsc.org.
Kind regards,
The Networks Team
Fiona, Nic & Stephanie



 
Posted by Fiona McMillan on Apr 30, 2018 10:57 AM Europe/London

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