Dear all,

 

Welcome to the September edition of the networks newsletter. Apologies for the lack of an August newsletter - due to long term staff absence and other leave we have been trying our best to keep up. We're looking forward to both the Local Section Day and the Interest Group Forum.

 

For those of you worried about Stéphanie as she has been off for a number of weeks - we're delighted to say that we've seen her today and she'll hopefully be back with us soon.

 

Upcoming Administration Deadlines

 

Upcoming Events

 

Communications from across the RSC

 

Rules for Member Networks

We would like to remind each committee that all feedback on the proposed rules for member networks must be submitted electronically by 8am on 4th September 2017 at the latest. If your committee is not meeting before the deadline we request that you share the information by email - due to the timelines for approval any feedback received after the deadline may not be taken into account. Any general themes raised will then be discussed by the Regional Steering Groups at their autumn meetings.

 

Christmas Cards

Any Local Sections wishing to order RSC Christmas cards to send out to selected members of your section the deadline for orders is 11 September 2017 and we will arrange to dispatch the cards and address labels to you at the end of October.

 

You may want to consider ordering the labels in postcode order (rather than surname order). This should help the larger Local Sections whose Volunteers are divided up and look after specific postcode areas.

 

As in 2016 the Chemists’ Community Fund would like to offer each Local Section the opportunity to reclaim their postage costs if they include information in their mailing promoting the Fund. The attached letter has been prepared by the Fund staff for inclusion although you can, of course, prepare your own letter should you wish. If you would like to reclaim the cost of postage from the Fund an expense claim with receipts should be sent to BenFund@rsc.org.

 

Please send an email request (msadmin@rsc.org ) by 11 September 2017 including:

 

• The selection criteria of the members (e.g. over 70 or retired)
• If you wish to receive the printed and pre-folded Chemists’ Community Fund letters

 

Please be aware that electronic Christmas cards are not available this year.

 

Local Section Day 2017

We are looking forward to meeting representatives from many of our Local Sections in the UK and Ireland this month. The day will start at 10am and finish at 3:30pm.  We hope to have a constructive day celebrating the wonderful activities of our Local Sections, recognising the winners of our Awards and having interesting discussions.

 

Interest Group Forum 2017

We are also looking forward to meeting representatives from many of our Interest Groups. The forum is the new governance meeting for Interest Groups and it is important that as many groups are represented as possible. We have a packed agenda and anticipate some constructive discussions.

 

Chemistry Week (http://www.rsc.org/campaigning-outreach/outreach/everyone/)

20 – 26 November 2017

We want to support you with activities and events in Chemistry Week, from inspiring the next generation, with personal stories about where chemistry has taken you, to celebrating the diversity of discovery within our 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, simply apply using the following link Chemistry Week grants (http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Y465T/).

 

The final deadline to apply for funding to support your planned activities is 27 September 2017.

  

Outreach Fund – Small Grants

2 October 2017

Our Outreach Fund is currently open to applications for small grants up to £2,000 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/)

 

 

Recognising our members

We were delighted to present all of our Inspirational Member Award winners and four of our Award for Service winners with their awards at the Summer Party in London. Futher information about the event is on our website: http://www.rsc.org/news-events/features/2017/jul/summer-party/

 

Upcoming Local to You Career Consultations

Are you looking to speak to a Career Specialist about anything related to your career? During September, October and November the Career Management team will be travelling across the UK to hold one-to-one career consultations for members. There are still appointments available for Lincoln, Belfast, Birmingham and many more. You can find out more and book here. We also hold regular appointments at our offices in London and Cambridge so if you’d like to speak to someone or find out more about the Career Management team then please email us careers@rsc.org.

 

GDPR

This is a change in law and we are asking for the following information so that we can support you as volunteers.

 

The Networks Team is here to offer support, guidance and help to all Interest Groups and as part of this would like to highlight the changes in the data protection law, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), coming into place next year. In order to help you deliver events, communications, and services to your members  we wanted to address the changes with you to help ensure that we are all in line with the new regulations. The new regulations are coming into place in May 2018, with much of the focus around consent:

 

• Consent under the GDPR requires some form of clear affirmative action. For non-RSC members pre-ticked boxes or inactivity does not constitute on going consent.
• For non-RSC members, consent must be verifiable. This means that some form of record must be kept of how and when consent was given.
• Individuals (non-RSC members) have a right to withdraw consent at any time.
• Remember that you can rely on alternative legal bases to consent – for example, where processing is necessary for the purposes of your group’s legitimate interests.
• If you should use a third party to deliver some of your groups work, then you will need to have a data processing agreement in place. This is currently being updated and will be in place in good time for May.
• Where you already rely on consent that was sought under the existing DPA, you will not be required to obtain fresh consent from individuals if the standard of that consent meets the new requirements under the GDPR (see Recital 171). Implementation of the GDPR will require a review of consent mechanisms to ensure they meet the standards required under the legislation.
• If you cannot reach the GDPR standard of consent then you must find an alternative legal basis or cease or not start the processing in question. Please do get in touch with the Networks Team at networks@rsc.org if you have any questions or concerns in the first instance.

As part of the preparation for these new regulations we feel it would be timely to audit the information on members that our Interest Groups hold and request your assistance by answering the questions in the attached form so we can identify where we need to offer support to you, so we can be in accordance with the changes.

 

It is important that you send the appropriate information Friday, 6th October.

 

Should you wish to discuss this further on the phone or in person, or should you have any questions or concerns, please do contact us (networks@rsc.org).

 

This newsletter including additional information from other departments is also available online(http://my.rsc.org/blogs/81).

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

 

 

Additional information from other departments

 

Royal Society – Royal Society of Chemistry Funding available

The Newton Mobility Grants (Brazil, Mexico and South Africa) programme is intended to stimulate collaborations between scientists in the UK and overseas partner countries. This must result in the training and transferring knowledge as well as skills to help strengthen research capabilities of the overseas partner. The applicant can apply up to £3,000 for 3 months, up to £6,000 for 1 year or up to £12,000 for 2 years duration project. The application deadline is 10 October 2017 15:00 UK time. Further details can be found on their webpage https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/newton-mobility-grants/

 

Pan Africa Chemistry Network Congress 2017: Sustainable Agriculture

This year's Congress will take place in Accra, Ghana and is expected to attract 200-300 delegates from Africa, UK and globally, including many leading researchers and policy-makers, to discuss current research, challenges, new developments and crucial issues on the topic of Sustainable Agriculture. The PACN Congress is our flagship annual event for the African chemical sciences community and consists of 3 days of lectures, discussions, exhibitions, posters and networking.  Abstract deadline 24th September.

http://www.rsc.org/events/detail/28432/pan-africa-chemistry-network-congress-2017-sustainable-agriculture-how-the-chemical-sciences-can-contribute-to-food-security-for-a-growing-population

 

Dear all,

Welcome to the July edition of the networks newsletter.  If you haven’t yet registered for the New Officer’s Briefing Day, now is the time to get in touch. It is a great opportunity to meet and network with fellow officers and the networks team.  
Communications from across the RSC
  This newsletter including additional information from other departments is also available online (http://my.rsc.org/blogs/81).
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

 
Mythbusting
Did you know?
We currently have over 1’240 individual members on the committees of our member networks worldwide?
They are all part of one of our 35 Local Sections in the UK and Ireland, 23 int. Local Sections, 71 Interest Groups, 8 Analytical Division Regions and 2 Education Division Regions.
In addition we have many more active members in our Early Career Network and our governance boards and committees too.
 
 
Additional information from other departments

Dear all,

Thank you to all of those who attended this year’s Regional Meetings; it was lovely to get to see so many of you. We hope you enjoyed the meetings and found them useful. We will shortly be sending out a survey and it would be greatly appreciated if you could spare a few minutes to feedback to us.
     
Communications from across the RSC
 

• past Chair – Professor John Spencer MRSC
• Secretary – Dr Vladimir Golovko MRSC
• Treasurer – Dr Jóhannes Reynisson FRSC

 

• Dr Kathryn Bell MRSC
  Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Sector
  Teacher – Forest Lane Community School

• Dr Sarah Myers MRSC
  East Midlands Local Section committee
  STEMNET Regional Networks Manager

• Dr Hooshang Zavareh CChem FRSC
  Consultancy Group committee
  Consultant

 
 
This newsletter including additional information from other departments is also available online (http://my.rsc.org/blogs/81).
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

 
Mythbusting
Did you know?
The Royal Society of Chemistry covers expenses for committee members attending events that are organised centrally (e.g. New Officers Briefing Day, Regional Meeting…). The expense form is available on the RSC website (http://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/FormsDocuments.asp) and should be sent to networks@rsc.org.
Expenses for events run by a member network should be claimed via the group treasurer.
 
Additional information from other departments
 

• Find out more about academic research careers and the different ways to access them 
• Get information and support on issues affecting career progression in academic research 
• Develop communication skills and gain confidence when talking about and presenting research 
• Access support during the event through targeted group discussions and one-to-one sessions.

 

• Ghana: 7-11^th August, KNUST, Kumasi (deadline for applications is 11^th June).
  http://www.rsc.org/events/detail/25410/gc-ms-training-a-hands-on-approach-ghana
• Kenya: 28^th August -1^st September, JKUAT, Nairobi (deadline for applications is 18^th June).
  http://www.rsc.org/events/detail/25408/gc-ms-training-a-hands-on-approach-kenya

Dear all,
Over the next 3 weeks we will be out of the office meeting as many members as possible at our regional meetings – do come and say hello!
 
Upcoming Administration Deadlines  
Upcoming Events  
Communications from across the RSC
 

• We’ll share realistic ways of dealing with the challenges you might encounter along the way.
• You’ll hear from a Royal Society of Chemistry member who’s navigated long-term unemployment and is ready to share useful advice and tips that led to him finding work again.
• And we’ll tell you more about the support we offer to all of our members and their families.

 
This newsletter including additional information from other departments is also available online (http://my.rsc.org/blogs/81).
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

Dear all,

We’re getting ready for the regional meetings and regional steering group meetings – hopefully with the move to May we’ll have better weather for everyone travelling this year. We’re looking forward to catching up with everyone and meeting our newest members in each region.
 
 
Upcoming Administration Deadlines  
Upcoming Events  
Communications from across the RSC
 

• Glasgow, Scotland – 2^nd May
  ABode Hotel Glasgow
   
• Newcastle, North East – 3^rd May
  International Centre for Life
   
• Manchester, North West – 4^th May
  Midland Hotel
   
• Brighton, South East – 9^th May
  Hilton Brighton Metropole
   
• Cambridge, Eastern – 10^th May
  Hughes Hall
   
• Nottingham, Midlands – 11^th May
  East Midlands Conference Centre
   
• Bristol, South West – 16^th May
  Armada House
   
• Swansea, Wales – 17^th May
  Brangwyn Hall
   
• Dublin, Ireland – 18^th May
  Hilton Dublin City Centre

 

• Awards for Service
• Inspirational Member and Inspirational Committee Awards

   

• Encourage communication and collaboration between all of our member networks on a regional basis
• Ensure that all geographical networks are encouraged to consider the needs of the full breadth of our community
• To act as a conduit for communication between our member networks and the governance structure
• To discuss and inform staff on matters of regional importance

• Representatives of all member networks committees in the region.
• Representatives of specific sectors of our membership (Early Career, Academic, Industry and Interest Group) – these members are not representing any network but are asked to present their own opinion as a member of their sector.
• Chemists’ Community Fund Regional Volunteer Coordinator

   
 
This newsletter including additional information from other departments is also available online. 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

 
Mythbusting
Did you know?
While our Education Coordinators cannot be part of any of our member networks committees they are experts who are happy to be invited to attend a committee meeting to offer advice on any education or outreach matters.
 

Additional information from other departments

Dear All,

Here in Cambridge the snowdrops are abundant and the crocuses are beginning to appear. Spring is here and we are looking forward to our regional meetings in May.

Upcoming Administration Deadlines  
Upcoming Events  
Communications from across the RSC
 

• Awards for Service
• Inspirational Member and Inspirational Committee Awards

 

• Completed electronic financial report signed by the auditor, Chair and Treasurer
• Bank statement
• A hardcopy financial report signed by the auditor, Chair and Treasurer

 

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

 
Mythbusting
Did you know?
Our Media Team are keen to have reports and photographs from your events to be featured as news items both on our website (http://www.rsc.org/news-events/) and in the quarterly RSC News. For more information see the website or contact the team via email (pressoffice@rsc.org)


Additional information from other departments
 
 

Dear all,

We are happy to inform you that both Fiona and Nic are back from maternity leave and are getting back into the swing of things. Due to the changes in the team in the last year we can now clarify that while all team members are happy to help with all enquiries the main points of contact for each network are as follows:

Local Sections (Worldwide) and International Representatives – Stephanie Comte
Interest Groups and Early Career Network – Nic Bygrave
Regional structure and governance – Fiona McMillan
 
You can still contact all of us by emailing networks@rsc.org.
 
Upcoming Administration Deadlines
   
Upcoming Events
   
Communications from across the RSC
 

• Scotland Regional Meeting, Glasgow, 02 May 2017
• North East Regional Meeting, Newcastle, 03 May 2017
• North West Regional Meeting, Manchester, 04 May 2017
• South East Regional Meeting, Brighton, 09 May 2017
• Eastern Regional Meeting, Cambridge, 10 May 2017
• Midlands Regional Meeting, Nottingham, 11 May 2017
• South West Regional Meeting, Bristol, 16 May 2017
• Wales Regional Meeting, Swansea, 17 May 2017
• Ireland Regional Meeting, Dublin, 18 May 2017

   
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

 
Mythbusting
Did you know?
Due to the Governance review the General Assembly is being paused for 2017. However, following the regional structure review, there will be two new member events in 2017; a celebration day of Local Section activities and the Interest Group Forum. Further information will be forthcoming.

Networks Newsletter July 2015

Dear all,

We welcome any feedback you have on what you would like included in this newsletter; please email any suggestions to networks@rsc.org.

Upcoming Administration Deadlines
8 July – RSC AGM, Burlington House, London
16 July – RSC Summer Party, London
30 July – Deadline for September Chemistry World inserts and programme cards (for Local Sections only, and these must now be produced by using the brand centre)

Communications from across the RSC
Don’t forget to take part in our Pay and Reward survey
Please look out for a recent email from us, containing your personal link to the survey. We run this survey every two years to provide an authoritative report on salaries, employment benefits and career satisfaction in the chemical sciences. The results are an extremely useful tool for career management and we appreciate your contribution to help us provide members with high quality information. Find out more about the survey here: http://rsc.li/1JWGsFF

Brand Centre
Our new brand centre, which allows committees to order literature and create marketing materials through predesigned templates, has now been launched to our Interest Groups and Local Sections and it will shortly be launched to our Analytical Division Regions. We hope you like it and find it useful.

Wikipedia Editathons: Widnes and London
Two events to bring more chemistry content to Wikipedia will be held at Catalyst [Sat 8 August] and at Burlington House [Wed 29 July]. For more info contact our Wikipedian in Residence, Andy Mabbett mabbetta@rsc.org

Kind regards,
Marie
On behalf of the Networks Team

Networks Newsletter June 2015
 
Dear all,

Upcoming Administration Deadlines
•    8 -10 June - Belfast Careers Hub
•    16 June – Mentor training session, Bristol
•    20 June – Meet the Universities (South, Burlington House, London)
•    22 - 23 June – Schools Analyst National Final, Aberdeen
•    23 - 25 June - Bath Careers Hub
•    27 June – Meet the Universities (North, Sheffield Hallam University

Don't forget that to be included in the Diary section of RSC News, your event has to be listed on our events website two months before the event is due to take place.

Communications from across the RSC

Early Career Network Committee nominations are open
We are looking for three members to join our Early Career Network Committee. The committee will meet at least once a year, and has the following remit; to have oversight on activities that support members in the early stages of their career, suggest and support potential activities, agree funding levels and identify areas of development for the Early Career Network.

For more information on the role and the network please go to rsc.li/early-career-network.

If you are interested in joining our committee please contact Marie Chapman by 1 July 2015, attaching a short personal statement outlining why you would like the role.

Faraday Discussions – New proposals welcome & view our upcoming meetings

We encourage you to consider attending one of our upcoming Faraday Discussions meetings - our current programme is more diverse than ever before. Discounts are available for RSC Members to attend. The Faraday Standing Committee on Conferences (FSCC) also welcomes proposals from interest groups for meetings that focus on rapidly developing areas of physical chemistry and its interfaces with other scientific disciplines. Please contact Events if you have an idea for a topic and would be willing to act as the Scientific Committee Chair, or if you would like a member of FSCC to come to your committee meeting and tell you more.

Public attitudes to chemistry in the UK

The research findings are in! Find out more about the first national, in-depth study on how the UK public thinks and feels about chemistry, chemists and chemicals at rsc.li/pac.

Free member access to our newly digitised Historical Collection archive

Members receive free access to our new digital archive, that when complete will contain nearly one million pages of content and over 3,000 unique items. This product is launching in two phases:

Society publications and minutes, 1841-2012 (currently live) – covering material published by the Chemical Society, Royal Institute of Chemistry, and Royal Society of Chemistry. This includes back copies of Chemistry in Britain (now Chemistry World), Education in Chemistry, Monographs for Teachers, Lectures, Monographs and Reports, and minutes of Council and Committees.

Historical books and papers, 1505-1991 (launching June) - over 2,000 books and letters from some of the most famous chemists in history. Extra content will be added throughout 2015.

Kind regards,

Marie
On behalf of the Networks Team

 

Networks Newsletter March 2015
Dear all,

I hope you are well. We welcome any feedback you have on what you would like included in this newsletter; please email any suggestions to networks@rsc.org.

Upcoming Administration Deadlines

5 March - Wales Regional Meeting, Cardiff (If you would like to attend please email networks@rsc.org for an invite.)

6 March - Deadline for nominations for Council, Boards and Divisions

12 March – Ireland Regional Meeting, Dublin (If you would like to attend please email networks@rsc.org for an invite.)

19 March – South West Regional Meeting, Bristol (If you would like to attend please email networks@rsc.org for an invite.)

Communications from across the RSC

Annual Report Reminder

Thank you to those Interest Groups and Local Sections who have already sent them in, however please do not forget to send us your annual reports, financial reports and data compliance forms (Local Sections only) as soon as possible. If you would like a copy of these templates, or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at networks@rsc.org.

Take part in our public attitudes to chemistry member survey!

We are conducting a quantitative, face-to-face survey with 2,000 people and as we measure public perceptions of chemistry, we also want to measure our perceptions of the public. Please help us with this short online survey. The survey is only active between 1 and 8 March 2015.

To access the survey, please follow this link - rsc.li/pac-member-survey.

All the results from this research will be presented in RSC News on 1 June 2015.

Kind regards,
Marie
On behalf of the Networks Team