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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.

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Networks Newsletter - March 2022

Dear colleague,

Welcome to the March 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
Would you like a team member to attend your meeting?
Communications from across the RSC

Upcoming Deadlines

07 March
08 March
10 March
21 March
29 March
31 March
01 April
04 April
08 April
12 April

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
Abstract submission deadline for Analytical Research Forum 2022
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 7 April to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 7 April
Deadline for Local Section and Interest Group Top-Up Fund applications
April deadline for Outreach Fund
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 21 April to additional networks
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 21 April

Upcoming Events

03 March
09 March
17 March
22 March
29 March
07 April
20 April
21 April

Member e-alerts
Redundancy Support Workshop from the CCF, 17:00 UK time
Member e-alerts
Public Engagement Workshops – How to be Engaging 1, 12:00 UK time
Public Engagement Workshops – How to be Engaging 2, 12:00 UK time
Member e-alerts
Helping with Debt Webinar from the CCF, 17:00 UK time
Member e-alerts

Would you like a team member to attend your meeting?

Online meetings have made the Networks Team more accessible to our committees.

We are happy to attend virtual committee meetings to answer questions, share best practice, or outline support available to you and your members.

Let us know if you want us to attend your next virtual committee meeting

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.

Changing faces in the Networks Team

One of our Networks Specialists, Aurora Walshe, is moving to our External Relations Team to take on the role of Programme Manager Commonwealth Chemistry as maternity cover. As a result, we are currently advertising for someone to cover her role.

During this time we ask for your patience as we recruit a new member of the team and they get settled in, things might take a little longer than normal but we'll still do our best to support you.

Share the ad and help us find our next team member

How can the RSC Careers Team support your upcoming events?

Our qualified career and professional development advisers frequently speak at conferences and events for RSC networks and divisions where we also provide one-to-one CV advice. The RSC careers support and talks brochure contains further information about career topics that the team can speak on, with approximate timings and who they are suitable for. If you would like us to speak at any of your network’s events, please contact careers@rsc.org.

Download the Careers Team brochure to see how we can support your events

Connecting chemistry outreach and Heritage Open Days

Do you have connections with an inventive local industry? Do you know of local chemistry businesses that could open their doors for their community to find out about inventive chemistry on their doorstep? Then perhaps you would like to be part of Heritage Open Days 2022!

The 2022 theme is ‘Astounding Inventions’. Registration is open from March to August and you can add the detail of your planned event after registering. Your idea might even be eligible for one of our Outreach Fund grants - the team are always happy to discuss application ideas at outreach@rsc.org.

Many thanks go to Julia Hatto for sharing her inspiring idea. Julia is planning to work with her Local Section to highlight pharmaceutical inventions by scientists in her area with engagement activities for schools and families that links to an RSC blue plaque.

Learn more and apply for Heritage Open Days 2022 online

Supporting WorldSkills UK Laboratory Technician competition

WorldSkills offers young people of all backgrounds and abilities the opportunity to show off their professional attributes and exhibit their technical skills on a national stage. Designed by industry experts, the competition assesses knowledge and practical skills against set criteria in a timed environment, with 90% of previous entrants saying their career progression improved after taking part and 86% saying their personal and employability skills improved. We are sponsoring the lab technician competition this year, along with the Science Council.

Registration for this year’s WorldSkills UK Laboratory Technician competition opens on Monday 28 February and closes Friday 1 April 2022. Registrants will be entered into the first stage, which is an online test, followed by the National Qualifiers, which are held regionally at colleges, training provider centres or workplaces (dates and locations to be confirmed). Those who excel in the National Qualifiers will be invited to take part in the National Finals, taking place in November 2022, with the winners crowned the UK’s best in their chosen skill.

This is a great chance for apprentices and vocational qualification holders to show off and develop their skills. Winners from the UK competition could even be selected for the UK squad training and development programme, with a chance to represent the UK at the international finals.

If you know anyone who is currently on an apprenticeship or has recently finished one, please share this information with them and encourage them to register.

Learn more and register online

Announcing Analytical Research Forum 2022

The Analytical Research Forum 2022 will be taking place on 13-14 June 2022 as a hybrid event in Burlington House and online.

Abstracts are welcome from PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and early career scientists, and submission is encouraged from all areas of analytical research across all applications.

Please share with colleagues and encourage early career scientists looking for opportunities to present to apply.

Submit your abstract by 21 March 2022

Thank you for reading

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 feedback

Kind regards,

The Networks Team
Fiona, Aurora and Debbie

Posted by Aurora Walshe on Nov 30, 2002 5:00 PM GMT

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Networks Newsletter: February 2023

Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the February Networks Newsletter, our way to provide key dates for RSC activities, services and new initiatives to our member network committee members and representatives.

This month’s Newsletter contains:

Upcoming Deadline
Upcoming Events
Spotlight: Don’t forget to renew your RSC membership
Video: Local Section Day 2022
Video: Interest Group Forum 2022
RSC Prize Lecture Tours
Communications from across the RSC

Upcoming Deadlines

03 February
07 February
08 February
12 February
20 February
21 February
28 February
28 February
28 February
06 March
07 March
31 March
17 April

Deadline for UK-based networks’ financial reports
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 16 February to additional Networks
Poster abstract deadline for Applied Catalysis in the Circular Economy
Deadline for Applied Catalysis in the Circular Economy registration
Deadline for Undergraduate Research Bursary applications
Deadline for e-alerts going out to additional Networks on 2 March
Deadline for Polymer Chemistry Lectureship nominations
Deadline for Soft Matter Lectureship nominations
Deadline for Researcher Development Grant applications
March deadline for Outreach Fund applications
Deadline for e-alerts going out to additional Networks on 16 March
Deadline for Chemical Sciences in Sustainability essay competition
Deadline for Emerging Technologies Competition entries

Upcoming Events

08 February
16 February
23 February
28 February
07 March
30 March

Navigating imposter syndrome and its impact on confidence in careers webinar
RSC’s science culture vision for the chemical sciences focus group
From Goodwill to equitable and inclusive practice online workshop
RSC Mentoring training
Managing career setbacks and redefining success in your career webinar
Chemists in the Museum: Novel Spaces for public engagement workshop

Spotlight: Don’t forget to renew your RSC membership

In this month’s spotlight we want to remind you to renew your RSC membership as a requirement for volunteering with us.
With the new year ticking over it is membership renewal time! Regardless of when in the year you signed up to membership with the RSC, you will need to renew your payment from the end of the calendar year (31 December). This is crucial for you all as volunteers one qualifier is for you to be an active member. This will also affect your ability to run for future committee positions this year.
You can check and renew your membership by visiting the members’ portal and clicking the box titled “Renew Your Membership” and following the instructions.
Should you have any other questions about member renewal, feel free to get in touch at membership@rsc.org.

Video: Local Section Day

Thank you to those who could attend Local Section Day both virtually and at Burlington House on 16 November. Interesting discussions were had around events planning post-pandemic and engaging network members.

We recorded the talks from our staff, which is available to you via the links below, starting with Jo Reynolds, (Director, Science & Communities) talking about our overall RSC strategy:

Watch Jo Reynold’s talk on RSC strategy
We also had Amanda Bailey (Manager, Education Strategic Programmes) talk about the RSC Education strategy:
Watch Amanda Bailey’s Talk on Education
Finally we had Anna Dearden (Manager, Chemists' Community Fund) talking about progress and next steps for the CCF
Watch Anna Dearden’s talk on CCF

Video: Interest Group Forum

Thank you to those who could attend our virtual Interest Group Forum on 8 December. We mainly focussed on the changes to how you can communicate with your members in 2023, and answered your questions.

The meeting was recorded and can be viewed through the link below.

Watch the Video

RSC Prize Lecture Tours

As part of their prize, many RSC prize-winners deliver lectures across the UK and Ireland, providing an opportunity for winners to share their outstanding work, and in turn, for members of the community to hear about and discuss that work, meet with winners and develop new connections
At the end of 2022 we have launched a new web page that lists upcoming dates and venues for our prize lectures with the aim to increase accessibility and transparency.
Please feel free to use this page to find lecture tours near you and to advertise to your networks, the page will be constantly updated as the prize team organises more lectures.
See Prize Lecture Tours

Communications from across the RSC

Here are updates about events and activities from our Chemist Community Fund, Publishing, Industry, Careers, Outreach and Policy teams. Please pass on to your networks where relevant.

Confidential addiction support now available

If you have concerns about a family member, colleague, or yourself relating to dependencies and addiction a confidential addiction support service is now available through your RSC membership.

We’ve partnered with leading specialist service provider, Rightsteps, to provide this confidential addiction service with online resources covering a wide range of dependencies, counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy sessions.

Find out more

Essay competition on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability

The International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD), in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), is launching an annual essay competition on the role of the chemical sciences in sustainability, open globally to entrants under 35 years of age.
The theme for 2023 is “How can the chemical sciences lead the stewardship of the Earth's element resources?” Winning entries will be published in RSC Sustainability.
Essays must be submitted in English as a Word document, by 12am (UK time) on 31 March 2023 to essay@iocd.org accompanied by a completed Entry Form, which is available on IOCD's website.
Find out more

Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C celebrate their 10th anniversary

2023 marks the beginning of the tenth anniversary year of Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C as three separate titles. Get in touch with the editorial office if you have any ideas of how you can help us celebrate!
Get in touch with the editorial office

Emerging Technologies Competition 2023

The 2023 Emerging Technologies Competition is seeking agile innovators, start-ups and spin-outs across Enabling Technologies, Health, Energy and Environment categories who are ready to catapult their novel ideas to the next level and win £25,000 and post-event publicity and exposure.

Applications will open on 20 February and close 17 April 2023.

Find out more and apply

Sustainable composites report launches in February

In February we are launching a report on sustainable Fibre Reinforced Composites, a £4bn market in the UK, for applications in automotive, aerospace, wind energy, hydrogen, defence, marine, construction and infrastructure, rail and oil and gas. In collaboration with the Sustainable Composites (a partnership between the National Composites Centre and CPI), we consulted with key academic and industry experts to provide an overview of the key challenges facing the sector in their production and manufacture, use and end-of-life and the opportunities for chemistry to move towards a sustainable future. This report raises awareness of the opportunities for chemistry research, innovation and collaboration in the UK, with key insights that are relevant to the global chemistry community.
Keep an eye out on the RSC website for the report launch.

Mentoring training 28 February, 11.00am – 1.00pm (UK time)

Mentors find the experience of helping another member rewarding as they help them to grow and 'address their own challenges, considering their relationships at work and thinking of the future.’

Members (MRSC) and Fellows (FRSC) are eligible to sign up to become a mentor on our mentoring scheme. There is a mentoring training session scheduled 28 February.

Find out more

Chemists in the Museum: Novel Spaces for Public Engagement
Would you or your committee like to learn about public engagement with science in museums? Are your committee interested in novel and inclusive forms of science communication?
Join Nuzhat Tabassum from the Natural History Museum and Science London for an in-person workshop at Burlington House, London on science communication and public engagement in museum spaces from 11am-1pm (UK time) on 30 March.
Find out more and register

RSC attending meeting on UN Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Prevention of Pollution

The RSC is attending the first in person meeting of the Open Ended Working Group for the establishment of a UN panel on chemicals, waste, and the prevention of pollution. Taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, this meeting will bring together member nations and UNEP-accredited stakeholders to discuss the scope and function of the new panel. The RSC is also participating in the Technical Advisory Group to provide specialist scientific expertise.

Read more on the RSC work with the UN panel process

Thank you for reading!

Posted by Barnaby Slater on Nov 30, 2001 12:00 PM GMT

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Networks Newsletter- January 2023

Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the January Networks Newsletter, our way to provide key dates for RSC activities, services and new initiatives to our member network committee members and representatives.

This month’s Newsletter contains:

Upcoming Deadlines
Upcoming Events
Spotlight: Results of the Networks Newsletter survey
Changes to the e-alert process
Communications from across the RSC

Upcoming Deadlines

01 January
10 January
12 January
16 January
18 January
24 January
25 January
26 January
31 January
31 January
03 February
07 February
13 February
28 February
28 February

Deadline for Local Section and Interest Group Top-Up Fund applications
e-alerts to additional networks on 19 January 2023
e-alerts to own networks on 19 January 2023
January deadline for Outreach Fund applications
Deadline for Industry Technician of the Year nominations
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 2 February to additional Networks
Register interest for RSC’s science culture vision for the chemical sciences
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 2 February
Deadline for Local Section inserts into March Chemistry World
Deadline for Researcher Development Grant applications
Deadline for UK-based networks’ financial reports
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 16 February to additional Networks
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 16 February
Deadline for Polymer Chemistry Lectureship nominations
Deadline for Soft Matter Lectureship nominations

Upcoming Events

11 January
25 January
26 January
01 February
08 February
16 February
22 February
23 February

Managing anxiety whilst job searching and making career choices webinar
Disclosure & Reasonable adjustments for job seekers & employees webinar
Chemistry and Plants: Creative Forms of Public Engagement online workshop
RSC’s science culture vision for the chemical sciences focus group
Navigating imposter syndrome and its impact on confidence in careers webinar
RSC’s science culture vision for the chemical sciences focus group
What is Burnout? What to do about it and how to avoid it webinar
From Goodwill to equitable and inclusive practice online workshop

Spotlight: Results of the Networks Newsletter survey

In the first Spotlight of 2023 we discuss the feedback from the October Networks Newsletter Survey and look at how the newsletter will improve in the new year.
In the November networks newsletter, we sent you a survey to get an idea of newsletter engagement and to receive feedback on the communication. This newsletter contains key information for our volunteers from the RSC and therefore is essential reading for all volunteers.
We’d like to thank all of you who filled in the survey, the feedback has been crucial in helping us understand how best to contact our volunteers. The key outcomes of the survey were:

The Member Networks Newsletter will not be changing its name.
The Newsletter cannot be used for network-organised events, but the RSC Events website has a list of these for members to check.
We will try and get more lead in time for announcing the dates of our bigger RSC-led events.
We have rephrased the preview line and opening paragraph of the newsletter to make the importance and purpose of the newsletter more clear.

Read the full report on the newsletter on our MyRSC blog. Should you have any other feedback than what was in the survey responses, feel free to get in touch at networks@rsc.org.

Changes to the e-alert process

We have heard feedback from our volunteers that you are frustrated by the limitations of our e-alert system and the difficulties in contacting all of your members and this was highlighted in our volunteer survey as one of the top challenges experienced by our committee members. This has been largely due to the number of members who have either purposefully or inadvertently unsubscribed from email communications and how this is then handled on our email platform to meet our data protection processes.

In 2020, we upgraded our membership database, and this new system allowed members to more actively manage their group preferences. This system now allows us to send targeted emails to members of Interest Groups, Subject Community Regions or Local Sections. We are therefore taking this opportunity to change our e-alert process so that all members of your Local Section will be sent your emails as part of their membership.

This essentially overrides the previous unsubscribe options with the rationale that Interest Group and Subject Community Region activities are part of the overall membership offering. If a member no longer wishes to receive any messages related to their Interest Group or Subject Community Region, they will be directed to instructions on how to change this – this will involve logging into the website.
In addition to ensuring that all of your members receive your emails, other changes include:

We have heard from volunteers that the sending of e-alerts bi-monthly was causing some frustration so, from the end of January 2023, e-alerts to a single Interest Group or Subject Community Region will now be sent weekly on Thursdays through the new system – all committees are still limited to one e-alert per month. There is a still a multi-team process involved in sending e-alerts so they will be processed as quickly as possible but there will still be a few days needed to process them.

Because of the justification we are using to override the unsubscribe data, we can now only send information about events to members of the group or groups hosting events. We would not have sufficient justification under GPDR to send these as separate emails to members of other groups.
- We therefore encourage committees running events of interest to members of other groups to consider formally collaborating on or co-badging these events, when relevant, to engage with a wider community to whom we can then justifiably promote the event or activity.
All messages will contain a footer with links directing members to find more events in their field or local area.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact Fiona McMillan, Member Networks Manager.

Communications from across the RSC

Here are updates about events and activities from our Chemist Community Fund, Global Inclusion, Publishing, Outreach and Policy teams. Please pass on to your networks where relevant.

Receive help with the rising cost of living: confidential support from the Chemists’ Community Fund
With energy and fuel bills and the cost of living continuing to rise, we are here to support members and their family to navigate through financial and well-being challenges. Awards can include-one off grants up to £1,500, or a regular monthly payment to help cover everyday living costs.

Contact us for confidential financial support: 0800 084 3451 (UK Freephone) +44 1223 853549 (International) or email.

From Goodwill to Equitable and Inclusive Practice: 23 February
This online workshop will discuss and reflect on what inclusion and equity mean in science engagement contexts. Led by Vanessa Mignan Jenkins, we will explore the key challenges of reaching diverse audiences and look critically at our practice.
Join our interactive session and bring along some of the challenges you are facing when trying to achieve inclusivity in science engagement. We will use a peer-consultation approach to identify practical actions for change.
Takes place on 23 February from 11am-1pm (GMT).
Register

Four new Open Access journals publish first articles
Four of our newly-launched open access journals have published their first articles, and will publish Issue 1 in January. These journals form part of our ongoing commitment to support the chemical sciences in facing up to global sustainability challenges.
EES Catalysis
Industrial Chemistry & Materials
RSC Sustainability
Sustainable Food Technology

Polymer Chemistry and Soft Matter Lectureships open for nominations
The Polymer Chemistry Lectureship honours and early-stage career scientist who has made a significant contribution to the polymers field. Nominations close 28 February 2023.

Find out more and nominate

The Soft Matter Lectureship honours and early-stage career scientist who has made a significant contribution to the soft matter field. Nominations close 28 February 2023.

Find out more and nominate

Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship winner announced
We are delighted to announce that Professor Sahika Inal has been selected as the winner of the Journal of Materials Chemistry Lectureship 2022. In addition, to recognise the diversity of the three journals, overall community and candidates nominated each year, going forward we have decided to recognise two runners-up for the Journal of Materials Chemistry lectureship. This year’s runners up are Professor Luisa Whittaker-Brooks and Dr Jessica Wade.

Find out more

2022 Outreach Fund Round-Up and 2023 applications
In 2022, the Outreach Fund offered grants to 70 applicants across the UK and Ireland supporting the promotion of chemistry to the public in exciting and engaging ways.
Read a summary of the 2022 Outreach Fund

The Outreach Fund is now open for applications in 2023. Deadlines are throughout the year – the next deadline is Monday 16 January 2023.
Find out more

Share your views on the RSC’s science culture vision for the chemical sciences
Building on RSC activities exploring the cultural conditions that will best enable quality science and taking inspiration from good practice examples in the science community, we have started to develop a science culture vision for the chemical sciences. As we develop this vision, we are seeking your views.

Join one of our focus groups on:
Wednesday 1 February 2023 10.30 - 12.30 or
Thursday 16 February 2023 14.00 - 16.00

Science culture encompasses the behaviours, values, expectations, attitudes and norms of our science communities and influences science career paths. Themes under the science culture umbrella, that will feature during the focus groups, include inclusion & diversity; research integrity; open science; career development; and recognition of scientists.

Registration closes 25 January.

Express your interest

Thank you for reading!

Posted by Barnaby Slater on Nov 30, 2000 12:00 PM GMT

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