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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Archive for April, 2021
This month in the Spotlight Camilla Alexander-White, Senior Policy Advisor for Environment & Regulation, explains some of the recent work we're doing on UK chemicals policy. You can contact Cam or any member of the Policy & Evidence Team at policy@rsc.org with any comments or questions.


It is important for citizens to know and trust how chemicals are managed in everyday life. Now that the UK has left the European Union as of 1 January 2021, UK government is responsible for all matters relating to chemicals management in industrial processes, the products we consume and the chemicals present in the environment.

UK REACH is now operating in Great Britain (Northern Ireland continues to follow EU REACH as per the Northern Ireland protocol). The Health & Safety Executive are acting as the regulatory ‘Agency’ for chemicals and are recruiting 60 new staff members now, and also for expert scientists to join the REACH Independent Science Expert Pool (RISEP). At the RSC, we have continuously called for independent scientific advice to be a core part of UK REACH, and we are pleased that the HSE have established a strong mechanism for science advice.

If you would like to join RISEP, the deadline for applications is 4 April 2021https://careers.hse.gov.uk/job/reach-independent-scientific-expert-pool-risep/

On 23 March, Defra announced the first programme for UK REACH restrictions, with lead in ammunition, chemicals in tattoo inks/ permanent make up, and PFAS chemicals included. We convened a science-policy round table on 30 March to begin looking at the topic of PFAS in more detail and will share these outcomes in the coming weeks.

Chemicals policy is also important at the international level, and we have been working with the United Nations Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) programme ‘Beyond 2020’. We are campaigning for the establishment of an intergovernmental panel for chemicals and waste; you can read our policy position on the RSC website.
 
Posted by Aurora Walshe on Apr 1, 2021 11:00 AM BST
Dear colleague,

Welcome to the April 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: The RSC’s work on Chemicals Policy
  • Communications from across the RSC
  • Latest updates on our policy work
 
Upcoming Deadlines
 
01 April
06 April
06 April
08 April
19 April
26 April
28 April
30 April

04 May
17 May
Deadline for Local Section and Interest Group Top-Up Fund applications
April deadline for Outreach Fund small grants
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 15 April to additional networks
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 15 April
Deadline for Inclusion & Diversity Fund applications
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 6 May to additional networks
Deadline for e-alerts going out on 6 May
Deadline for April Research Development Grant applications
May deadline for Outreach Fund small grants
Deadline for Research Fund applications
 
Upcoming Events
 
01 April
08 April
13 April
14 April
15 April
21 April
23 April
23 April

29 April
06 May
Member e-alerts
2021 Senedd Elections Virtual Science Hustings
2021 Holyrood Elections Virtual Science Hustings
ES: Atmospheres Desktop Seminars featuring inaugural issue researchers
Member e-alerts
ES: Atmospheres Desktop Seminars featuring inaugural issue researchers
Should we design biodegradable plastics? 12 midday UK time
Dalton Transactions New Talent: Europe seminar, 14:00 UK time

Resilience and Adaptability Workshop (from CCF), 17:00 UK time
Member e-alerts
 
Spotlight: The RSC’s work on Chemicals Policy

Now that the UK has left the European Union, as of 1 January 2021 the UK government is responsible for all matters relating to chemicals management in industrial processes, the products we consume and the chemicals present in the environment.

Read about our ongoing work on chemicals policy on the Networks Newsletter blog, and contact the Policy & Evidence Team with any comments or questions.

Read about our recent policy activities on the Newsletter blog

 
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.

Bullying and harassment support service
The Royal Society of Chemistry is committed to tackling and removing bullying and harassing behaviours from the community. All our members commit to our Code of Conduct which outlines the need to respect others and protect the dignity and welfare of the community. We treat any breaches seriously and others can contact us at any time ipdp@rsc.org.

Our bullying and harassment support service is available to provide impartial support for anyone affected or concerned by bullying and harassing behaviour in the UK chemical sciences and our members worldwide.

This service, managed by the Inclusion and Diversity team and supported by the Chemists’ Community Fund, is being provided by a third party on behalf of the Royal Society of Chemistry. The support service is accompanied by the associated web pages and a bespoke video animation.

The RSC’s support line can be reached on 0800 5200115 (UK Freephone), +44 1223 624606 (International), from 8am–8pm (UK time) Monday–Friday.

Visit rsc.li/support for further advice or to email the team



Next round of Research Enablement Grants opens on 12 April
Our Research Enablement Grant provides up to £10,000 for new projects and to continue those disrupted by COVID-19, and can include funding for consumables, equipment and a salary contribution for a group member.

The Grant is open for applications from Monday 12 April to Tuesday 25 May.

Find out more and apply online by 25 May



Help make the chemical sciences more inclusive
Our Inclusion & Diversity Fund welcomes applications from individuals and organisations, including members and non-members. In the past we’ve funded projects focusing on gender, disability, socio-economic background, language, race and ethnicity, the LGBT+ community and more.

You could get up to £5,000 towards making your inclusion and diversity project a reality.

Applications to the general call for projects are always open and are assessed twice a year. Apply by 19 April for your project to be considered for funding in the upcoming round.

Please note, the Inclusion & Diversity Fund is intended for projects that directly investigate or address inclusion and diversity issues in the chemical sciences. The Inclusion & Diversity Fund is not intended to fund chemistry research.


Learn more and apply on our website



Applications open for the Emerging Technologies Competition
We have launched our 2021 Emerging Technologies Competition, an annual initiative for tech innovators, spin outs and start-ups from across the UK and Europe who are developing chemistry-driven technologies that are tackling the world’s most pressing issues.

Entering the competition provides the opportunity to pitch your technology to a panel of expert judges including: AstraZeneca, Boots, Croda, Eli Lilly, Givaudan, Marks & Spencer, PepsiCo, PETRONAS, Reckitt Benckiser, RSSL, Scott Bader and Unilever – giving you valuable exposure, publicity and validation. Winners receive a share of the £160,000 prize fund and a RSC mentor for one year.

There is just over two weeks to submit an application or spread the word to colleagues and peers – don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!


Find out more and apply online by 18 April



Save the date: Mental Health Awareness Week 10-16 May
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is coming up on the week of 10-16 May.

The theme for MHAW is nature and the RSC Inclusion and Diversity team will organise a webinar to discuss the connection between nature and mental health, in collaboration with Chemistry World as part of the Building a better chemistry culture webinar series.

Look out for more information on this and other MHAW activities in future communications including this newsletter!




Standing up for Science
The RSC is partnering with the Voice of Young Science programme 2021 to offer Standing Up For Science workshops to the early career community, to help make early career voices heard in public debates about science. There are four of these free workshops taking place in 2021 and you can keep up to date with these opportunities here or by signing up to the Voice of Young Science network.

The second of the these workshops is now open to applications and takes place online on Thursday 13 May. This session will feature contributions from Professor Dr Hannah Cloke (Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading), Dr Jo Hale (Research Fellow, UCL), George Freeman MP and James Clarke (Head of Communications, Rothamsted Research).

Please share this opportunity with your early career networks or colleagues, or apply using the link below.


Complete the application form by 5pm on Monday 19 April



Latest issue of Analytical Matters now available online
Find out about the latest Analytical Division activities including:
  • Opportunities to get involved with this year’s online Analytical Research Forum
  • Celebrating the100th Analytical Methods Committee Technical Brief
  • Funding opportunities including new Researcher Development Grants
  • CPD Resources
If you have any items you wish to be included in the next newsletter please email analyticalmatters@rsc.org by 31 May 2021.

Read the newsletter here



 
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.


Virtual Science Hustings events in Scotland and Wales
Ahead of the upcoming elections in Scotland and Wales we have been working with a range of partners to deliver virtual science hustings events.

The events take place on 8 April (Wales) and 13 April (Scotland) and will bring together candidates from across the political parties. They will give the scientific community the opportunity to quiz the political parties on what steps they will take to put science at the forefront of their work in the next term.

Covering the topics that matter most to the scientific community event attendees will be able to put their questions directly to the party spokespeople.

Members are encouraged to sign up to these events and ask questions. For more information contact Niall Sommerville, our Public Affairs Manager for the devolved nations.


Register for the 2021 Senedd Elections Science Hustings on 8 April

Register for the 2021 Holyrood Elections Science Hustings on 13 April



Policy discussion: Should we design biodegradable plastics?
Friday 23 April, 12 midday–12.45

Join us in the first of a series of free events throughout 2021 developed by our Science Policy Unit to explore current issues around plastic production, use, reuse and disposal.

During this webinar we want to find out how chemists design plastics for biodegradability, and discuss the opportunities and challenges that these new materials present on our journey to a more sustainable future.

BSL interpretation will be provided by Rachael Dance from Cambridgeshire Deaf Association.

Register here and join the conversation



 
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

Stay safe,

The Networks Team
Fiona, Aurora and Debbie

 
Posted by Aurora Walshe on Apr 1, 2021 11:00 AM BST