Networks Newsletter - February 2022
Dear colleague,Welcome to the February 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
- 2021 activity and reporting
- Communications from across the RSC
07 February
07 February
08 February
10 February
21 February
22 February
24 February
07 March
08 March
10 March |
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Deadline for submission of 2021 annual accounts
February deadline for Outreach Fund
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17 February to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17 February
Deadline for applications for the 2022 Undergraduate Research Bursaries
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 3 March to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 3 March
March deadline for Outreach Fund
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17 March to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 17 March |
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03 February
09 February
09 February
16 February
17 February
22 February
01-02 March
03 March
09 March
17 March
22 March
29 March |
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| 2021 activity and reporting |
Thank you to all of the committees who have submitted the 2021 Annual Report. We've been looking at the data from the reports received to date and it's clear that 2021 was another difficult year for our volunteers. You planned over 300 events in 2021, but several of these were cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. 15 committees did not plan any events, and a further 27 organised a single event in 2021. So far 104 committees have returned their 2021 Annual Reports (out of 129). The 2021 Cashbook and 2022 budget is due by Monday 7 February. The Annual Report and Financial Report are the formal reporting mechanisms for member network activity and accounts. All member networks must submit an Annual Report and Financial Report each year, even if you have no activity or expenditure to report. Please note, under rule 7.9 of the Rules for Member Networks, we will not release the 2022 grant for your committee until we have received both the Annual Report and Financial Report. The Networks Team will use the information in these reports to develop resources and support for member network volunteers. We will also present the data from these reports to Member Communities Board and our Board of Trustees and share a summary with members during the AGM to demonstrate the reach and impact of our member networks. All member network accounts are consolidated into the RSC's year-end financial statements, in line with our legal obligation to report how we use charitable funds.We appreciate that you may have other pressures on your time at the moment, please let us know if your committee needs additional support to complete the 2021 reports. For our international representatives, please let us know if you planned or hosted activities for RSC members in your region that you would like to be included in our analysis and shared with the members.Contact the Networks Team for reporting information or support
| 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.RSC Elections: Nominate by 7 February We are currently accepting nominations for our next RSC President, Member Communities Board, Professional Standards Board, Inclusion and Diversity Committee, and new Subject Communities. Those elected will serve from the AGM in July 2022.If you are interested in one of the roles or know a potential candidate, you can put yourself forward or propose a member for the role through the online nomination form. Nominations require the names of two additional RSC members who are willing to second your nomination; these members will be contacted to provide a short supporting statement. All nominations will be evaluated by the Nominations Committee who will prepare a shortlist of successful candidates who meet the requirements to fulfil the role to be put forward for election.Read the role descriptorsLearn more about the vacanciesHybrid events drop in: slides and resourcesFor those of you who couldn't make the drop in session on hybrid activities on 25 January, you can watch the recording online and download the slides from the session:
We would also like to share these resources for committees planning events in 2022:
Free platforms and resources – when a tick box is actually a contractIf you are organising an activity, please ensure that any contracts are reviewed by the RSC legal team by completing and returning the contract and MCB approval form along with the contracts.All contracts must be signed by the RSC and not a member of the committee – this ensures that our volunteers are protected from any legal issues or liability.Some networks have asked about using platforms that are free, often only requiring your name and email address and to tick a box agreeing to a user agreement. Before you sign up, please look at the terms and conditions which are usually shown as a link below the sign-up form. Please check where the data is transferred: if the data remains in Europe, then it is acceptable, but if the data is transferred outside of Europe, then we need to involve the RSC legal team. The RSC legal team are always happy to review terms and conditions, please contact networks@rsc.org.If in doubt, email the Networks Team for guidance New call for committees templateWe are updating the process for member network elections in response to recent changes to the rules for member networks. We are introducing an online form to standardise supporting statements for nominees and have created a new template for calls for nominations for committee members that includes information about current committee members and criteria for new members.Download the new call for committee members templateSustainability speakersAs part of our Chemistry, Sustainability & Circular Economy (CSCE) campaign, the Member Engagement Team has begun to curate a list of individuals who would be suitable and willing to be approached to deliver lectures, demonstrations and /or careers talks on a sustainability related theme to a range of audiences, including schools, the public and academia. We hope that this list will help to support our Member Networks with CSCE related activity.Email outreach@rsc.org for a copy of the listInterest Group membership up over 20%The membership of Interest Groups rose by more than 20% over 2021. We think the increase is due to the brilliant work by the Interest Group committees running activities and encouraging membership, but this may also be related to the development of the membership area of the RSC website that now allows members to easily choose which Interest Groups they would like to join. E-alerts to members: As there are so many new members in our Interest Groups you might want to send an e-alert to your membership to explain how they can keep up to date with the network (maybe via e-alerts, social media, own website etc), explain who is on the committee, what future activities you have planned and how to get involved as a volunteer.Demographic report: With the increase in members, you can learn more about your members by requesting a demographic report from the Networks Team. The anonymised report contains information on your members such as the number, age, gender, location, membership type, job type, etc.Contact the Networks Team for support getting to know your members#RSCPoster: 1 March 2022 12:00 UTC – 2 March 2022, 12:00 UTCGet ready for another 24 hours of sharing, networking, and engaging with the global chemistry community!This first of its kind virtual poster event was founded by the analytical chemistry community back in 2015 as an exciting way for researchers to present their scientific findings. Since then, the conference has evolved to invite posters from all topics within the chemical sciences and to encompass new directions we are adding a new Digital Chemistry category for the 2022 event. Following on from 2021, to provide a more immersive virtual experience, we are continuing with #RSCPosterPitch and #RSCPosterLive webinar series as part of our #RSCPoster Twitter conference.Learn more and register now at rsc.li/posterWork Life Blend webinar with the Chemists’ Community FundThe Chemists’ Community Fund is hosting a free wellbeing webinar this month to help you balance your responsibilities and find the time for what’s important.
Our speaker is Lucy Whitehall from Transform and Thrive, and she is a positive psychology coach and wellbeing trainer. Join us to explore the concept of balance, gain clarity on your current position, and take steps towards achieving the work-life blend you want.Please do share this within your networks.Find out more and register onlineNew gold open access journals publish their first issuesLooking for the latest innovative Open Access research on energy science, environmental research or sensors, sensing devices and systems?
Read the first advance articles in our new journals:• Energy Advances
• Environmental Science: Advances
• Sensors & DiagnosticsThe RSC is covering authors’ APC charges to publish in these journals until mid-2024, making all three currently free to publish in.See all of our Open Access journalsChanges to the Researcher Development GrantsThe Researcher Development Grants now formally supports travel to conferences and other in-person activities, though applicants are still advised to exercise caution. We have also doubled the maximum grant amount to £500 to reflect the additional costs associated with in-person activities. Applications are processed monthly.Learn more or apply at rsc.li/researcher-development-grantChemCareers webinar series: Job searching and disabilityThis three-part webinar series is designed to support disabled people, or those who support disabled people by providing practical advice and information around job searching, understanding disclosure, access requirements and highlighting support available to employers to support disabled employees. Our panel will include specialists from RNIB, Dyslexia Scotland, the National Autistic Society, Shaw Trust, Leonard Cheshire and more. BSL interpretation and live captions will be available, and recording will be available to view afterwards.Sign up for the seriesStanding up for ScienceIn partnership with the Voice of Young Science programme 2022, we’re offering Standing Up For Science workshops to our early career community, helping you to make your voice heard in public debates about science. The first workshop of 2022 will be taking place in person in Manchester on 1 April 2022. Learn more and apply by 17:00 UK time, Monday 21 February 2021
This Newsletter has been tailored to you, but the full version can be found on the Networks Newsletter blog. Please read the online version and 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
