Networks Newsletter - August 2020
Dear colleague,Welcome to the August Networks Newsletter, our way to keep our member network committee members and representatives up to date with RSC activities, services and new initiatives.
This month’s Newsletter contains:
- Upcoming Deadlines
- Upcoming Events
- Spotlight: Looking back at 2019 and where we go from here
- Communications from across the RSC
- Latest updates on our policy work
10 August
11 August
13 August
25 August
27 August
07 September
08 September
10 September
14 September |
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August deadline for Outreach Fund small grants
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 20 August to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 20 August
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 3 September to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 3 September
Deadline for Inclusion & Diversity Fund applications
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17 September to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17 September
Application deadline for the Outreach Fund small and large grants |
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06 August
06 August
11 August
13 August
19 August
20 August
26 August
28 August
03 September
17 September |
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| Spotlight: Looking back at 2019 and where we go from here |
During the RSC AGM last month, incoming President Tom Welton thanked you, our volunteers, for all of the incredible work you do. In 2019 you organised over 600 events catering to more than 45,000 members of the chemical sciences community, and it has been inspiring to see how many of you have found alternative ways to engage with your community online or on social media in the current climate.
Read about how the pandemic has changed how we engage with members, and what this means going forward, on the Networks Newsletter blog.Read the full article to see the long term effects of the recent changes
| Communications from across the RSC |
Here are updates about events and activities from our Outreach, Careers, Events, International, and Research & Innovation teams, as well as the Chemists’ Community Fund and RSC Publishing.Member network online events - new password and FAQsFor data protection reasons we will be changing the passwords for the GoToWebinar and GoToMeeting accounts this week. We will contact all event organisers with the new details in the coming days – please do not hesitate to get in touch if you are not sure if you have the correct details. Given the high number of events booked on the Networks Meetings accounts, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the booking process and protocol:
- All events must be booked through the Networks team.
For one off meetings, webinars and practice sessions, please complete the relevant booking form. If you would like to book a series of events, please contact the Networks team so that we can work with you to find a suitable time slot.
- You can log in up to 30 min before your start time
We would recommend that you log in 15-20 min before your event to ensure that there are no equipment or connectivity issues. We keep gaps between events on the calendar to facilitate this.
- The Networks team will not log in to start your meeting/ event
Due to the high volume of events we cannot log in to each one. However, we can provide training for event organisers and recommend booking a practice slot to familiarise yourself (and your speakers) with the technology.
We have created a Frequently Asked Questions document for member network committees wishing to plan and host online events for their members and the wider chemical sciences community. This and other helpful guides can be found on the Useful Forms & Documents page.Check out our FAQ for advice on planning and hosting online events2020 Regional CelebrationsWe are looking for your input in re-shaping the Regional Celebrations that were originally due to take place in June and July this year.As a team, we look forward to these events as they provide a rich touchpoint with our members and enable us to recognise the achievements of our community. Whilst our face-to-face events were unable to take place, we have been building on the opportunities that online events can bring instead. We value your feedback, so if you are interested in shaping an alternative format to our Regional Meetings this year, please complete our very short survey by clicking the button below. We will then be launching a series of online events to meet members’ preferences over the next few months.Complete our survey and help shape the online Regional CelebrationsChanges to Chartered Chemist (CChem)Over the last twelve months, a Working Party made up of members from our Professional Standards Board, Admissions Committee, CChem assessors, RSC staff and representatives of other chartered marks been conducting a review of our current CChem award. The aim of the review is to ensure that our CChem award is fit for purpose and relevant to today’s chemical scientist as well as continuing to be a high standard of professionalism for the future. Currently, some members have difficulty finding a suitable mentor due to a number of factors such as working in a small organisation. A recommendation from the review is to form a pool of mentors to support these members.In August we will be contacting all of our current CChem members to invite them to create our pool of CChem mentors. If you hold CChem status, please look out for our email. Training will be given and we will match you up with applicants. We will be in touch with all of our CChem members later in the year to let you know what other changes are taking place and how this may affect you. The revised CChem award will be launched to all of our members in early 2021 and we hope to have a pool of mentors ready for then.Contact Jonelle Harvey to learn more about chartership and the changesRetirement in sight and reducing anxiety webinarsThe Chemists’ Community Fund is hosting two series of online workshops for members to replace the highly successful wellbeing and resilience and retirement in sight workshops. These have been promoted particularly to rural Local Sections to support members who might not have made it to a physical workshop in the past.Click on the button below for more information about the webinars, or contact the Chemists’ Community Fund team directly by email at ccfund@rsc.org.Learn more about the CCF webinars hereWould your members want remote career consultation?Our Careers team are hosting remote career consultations in Newcastle, Manchester, Darlington, Bristol, Doncaster or Oxford to provide confidential professional development advice, CV reviews, redundancy support and more.Contact the Careers team if you would like to organise a virtual Careers Hub for your Local Section.Analytical Division Council ChangesAfter the RSC AGM in July, Diane Turner (Anthias Consulting Ltd), has started her three year term as Analytical President. Duncan Graham (University of Strathclyde) will remain on Council for another year as Immediate Past President.We welcome the following new appointments to Council:
- Zoë Ayres (Hach Company) - Honorary Secretary
- Melanie Bailey (University of Surrey)
- Philip Dunn (LGC)
- Karen Faulds (University of Strathclyde)
- Ruchi Gupta (University of Birmingham)
- Derek Stevenson - AMC Chair
We thank outgoing Members Perdita Barran (University of Manchester) and David Perrett (Barts Medical School) for their commitment and dedication during their time on AD Council.Read the new AD Council Member biographiesACTF Logo Competition WinnersAfter the cancellation of the Schools Analysts Competition events in March 2020, trustees of the Analytical Chemistry Trust (ACTF) launched a competition for students to design a new logo for the trust fund.
Trustees reviewed 30 entries and were very impressed with the range of logo’s submitted and the quality of the designs. Finally, they selected two winners who will both receive a prize of £300. It is hoped that these can be used as inspiration for a new logo that will be completed by a professional designer.And the winners are…
- Katie Hartwright of Comberton Sixth Form in East Anglia
- Sandali Narasinghe of Hymers College in the North East Region
Trustees also invited students to submit TikTok videos labelled #SchoolsAnalyst2020 that show them doing analytical or measurement science at home. The three winners of this competition are:
- @ktyson2 - Experiment to determine the refractive effect that concentrations of nail varnish have on water
- @im_d.prest - Can I disprove Phlogiston in my garage? Of course.
- @gjrocks17 - Combustion of cereals to get kJ energy
Many congratulations to all the prize winners!
| Latest updates on our policy work |
With a programme of activities spanning research funding, mobility of scientists, open access, chemicals regulation, teacher supply, curriculum and much more, our goal is to shape the development of policy relevant to the chemical sciences.Government Survey on Research and Development PlansFollowing the publication of the R&D Roadmap on the 1st July, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are inviting responses to their open survey on UK R&D Policy. We would encourage our members to add their voice, and contribute to development of the government R&D plan.Take the survey before 12 August
A tailored version of this Newsletter is sent to all member network committee members and International Representatives. Please get in touch with suggestions for what you would like included or feedback about what we've sent you!Send us your feedbackKind regards,
The Networks Team
Fiona, Aurora and Debbie
