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RSC Networks Newsletter

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 September, 2022
Networks Newsletter- October 2022
Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the September 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: Meet your Member Networks Committee
  • New Officer Drop-in Recording (video)
  • Early Career Chemists needed to attend the 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress
  • Communications from across the RSC
 
Upcoming Deadlines
 
01 October
03 October
10 October
11 October
13 October
25 October
27 October
31 October
07 November
28 November
30 November
Deadline for Local Section and Interest Group Top-Up Fund applications
October deadline for Outreach Fund
Deadline for Research Enablement Grant applications
E-alerts to go out to additional networks on 20 October
E-alerts to go out to own network on 20 October
E-alerts to go out to additional networks on 3 November
E-alerts to go out to own network on 3 November
Deadline for Researcher Development Grant applications
November Deadline for Outreach Fund
Deadline for STEM for Britain applications
Deadline for Local Section inserts into January Chemistry World
 
Upcoming Events
 
04 October
05 October
18 October
20 October
10 November
16 November
16 November
18 November
22 November
8 December

South East Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Good foundations careers webinar
Scotland Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Eastern Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Inclusion & Diversity in Public Engagement Workshop
Local Section Day 2022
Careers in agricultural production and food products webinar
PRIDE in STEM Community & Careers Conference and Community Workshop
Careers mentoring training session
Interest Group Forum
 
Spotlight: Meet your Member Networks Committee
In this month's Spotlight we explain the role of the Member Networks Committee and give a brief bio on its current members.
The Member Networks Committee (MNC) is a committee which reports to Member Communities Board (MCB) and are the connection between our network volunteers and the governance of the RSC. The responsibility for our member networks is delegated from our Board of Trustees (the Board formerly known as Council) to MCB.


MNC report to MCB on matters relating to member networks, such as activities, engagement and funding. The committee work with staff on any amendments and the implementation of the rules, new resources and support (including financial support) for our networks. They also provide a route to disseminate information on RSC strategy to our member networks through the Regional Steering Groups (RSGs) and the Interest Group Forum.

The discussions from the RSGs are reported to MNC highlighting regional activities and any issues for discussion. MNC then escalates any issues as necessary to MCB.

MNC consists of the Chair (from and appointed by the MCB), the Chairs of the 9 Regional Steering Groups (UK and ROI), 1 international Local Section Representative and 2 Interest Group Representatives. Your current Member Networks Committee is:
  • Dr Ellen Norman (Chair)
  • Dr Mark Gray
  • Dr Inmaculada Andres
  • Professor Sylvia Draper
  • Professor Patricia Forbes
  • Emeritus Professor Steven Hill
  • Dr Andrew Logsdail
  • Dr Sarah Myers
  • Dr Helen Ryder
  • Dr Fraser Scott
  • Dr Atualla Shegiwal
  • Dr Rehana Sidat
Read the full article with biographies on each MNC member on the Networks Newsletter blog, and if you have any questions or suggestions for public engagement activities please contact the Networks Team!
 
New Officer Drop-in Recording (video)

On 12 August we hosted a drop-in for committee officers explaining how the governance, individual roles, communication and legal responsibilities function.

Watch the presentation. Please feel free to pass this video on to any committee members considering an officer position.

Further guidance and resources for officers can be found on our website.  

 
Early Career Chemists needed to attend 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress

Please distribute this call out to all relevant within your networks:
Are you an early career chemist in the UK? Does your work or research contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
We are looking for five early career chemists to represent the UK and present their work at the 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress  in Trinidad and Tobago, 23–25 May 2023. Successful candidates will receive funding to attend the Congress and present a poster on their research, related to one of the three scientific themes:
  • Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
    Topics include biodiversity, natural products, food chemistry and security, agriculture, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and good health and well-being
 
  • Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
    Topics include sustainable energy solutions, new materials, biofuels, green chemistry, and catalysis
 
  • Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)
    Topics include water treatment and supply, tackling pollution and contamination, and environmental chemistry

Applicants must complete and return the application form to international@rsc.org by midnight UK time Sunday 23 October. We will notify successful candidates by 18 November.
Apply for the conference


 
Communications from across the RSC

Here are updates about events and activities from our Inclusion & Diversity, Prizes, Publishing, Careers, Outreach and Policy and Evidence teams. Please pass on to your networks where relevant.

LGBTQ+ Community Workshop and Celebration 18 November
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Institute of Physics (IOP) invite members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies within the physical sciences to join us for our Community Workshop & Celebration this November. This workshop will follow the PRIDE in STEM Community & Careers Conference at the RSC’s Burlington House (18 November), as part of a suite of events to celebrate LGBTQ+ in STEM Day.

This event is open to both in-person and online attendees. All attendees will have opportunities to share and celebrate good practice from the LGBTQ+ community, discuss the changing landscape for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the physical sciences, and network with LGBTQ+ scientists and allies.
Please do pass this on to any colleagues whom you think might be interested.

Contact diversity@rsc.org for more information or if you would like to reserve a space


RSC Prize Lecture Tours

As part of their prize, many of the RSC’s Prize winners deliver lectures across the UK and Ireland.
Details of upcoming lecture tours can be found of on the Prize Lecture Tour Webpage.

Read details of the tour


New RSC journals now open for submissions
We are excited to announce our new journals are now open for submissions: All three of these new journals are gold open access. Plus, we are paying for any article processing charges (APCs) until mid-2025, so you can initially read and publish for free.


RSC Advances Outstanding student paper award 2021

We are delighted to announce our winners for the RSC Advances Outstanding Student Paper Awards 2021.

These awards recognise outstanding work published in the journal in 2021, for which a substantial component of the research was conducted by a student. We received over 900 nominations, which were shortlisted, and the winning papers were then selected by our Editorial Board and Associate Editors. Below, we highlighted the winner of each subject category, and highlight the research paper that won them the award.

See the winners


Chemical Science symposium 2022: Sustainable synthesis and catalysis
 Under the banner of our flagship diamond open access journal, Chemical Science, we’ll be shining a spotlight on cutting-edge chemistry research and giving it the sort of attention that drives scientific progress and makes a difference.

This hybrid meeting is the next iteration in the Chemical Science symposia series hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry.  We’re excited to welcome delegates back face to face at the home of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and look forward to a conversation enriched by the online participation of our international community.

We warmly invite you to join us in London, or online, on  November 2022, for the fourth Chemical Science symposium, and look forward to welcoming you to the discussion.
 
Paolo Melchiorre, Ning Jiao and Andrei Yudin
Conference co-chairs
On behalf of the Chemical Science Editorial Board

Find out more


ChemCareers: Careers in agricultural production and food products, 16 November 12.30 (UK time)

This webinar will cover opportunities available to chemical scientists from ensuring people have access to a plentiful supply of safe and nutritious food to cutting food waste. Experts working within the sector will be on hand to answer questions. Run by the Career Management team, ChemCareers is a monthly webinar series providing advice, access to experts and career inspiration – available for all membership categories.

You can register for this webinar below and find recordings of previous webinars in our ChemCareers library.

Find out more


Mentoring opportunities for members

Associate members (AMRSC), Members (MRSC) and Fellows (FRSC), as well as anyone with RSciTech or RSci status, have the chance to become a mentee, working alongside an experienced mentor in their field.
Benefits of being a mentee include:
• greater clarity around career goals and how to achieve them.
• gaining practical advice, encouragement and support.
• learning from the experiences of others.
• acquiring greater self-confidence and self-belief.
• pursuing personal and professional development and practical learning.
If you are interested in having a mentor, please refer to the mentoring webpage for further information and instructions on how to sign up.
Find out more


Mentoring training 22 November, 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 22 November. Our mentoring page contains further information about how to sign up to become a mentor.

Find out more



Outreach Fund and Chemistry Week – final call for 2022 applications

The final application deadlines this year are:
Outreach Fund – Monday 7 November
Chemistry Week – Monday 3 October
If you have any questions, get in touch with Geri Kitley via outreach@rsc.org

Find out more about funding


STEM for Britain
 STEM for Britain is an annual poster competition ran by the Parliamentary Scientific Committee, is open to early career researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. The event is run by aims to promote and celebrate the work of early career researchers.
Winners receive Gold (£1000), Silver (£750) or Bronze (£500).
Applications close on 12 noon on Monday 28th November 2022
Find out more

 
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, Debbie, Claire and Barney
Posted by Barnaby Slater on Sep 29, 2022 3:25 PM BST
Networks Newsletter- Sepember 2022
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
  • RSC Policy team:  Priority issues for assessment by the Science-Policy Panel and how best to involve stakeholders’ expertise (Burlington Consensus 2)
  • A Sense of Belonging in the Chemical Sciences (video)
  • Communications from across the RSC
 
Upcoming Deadlines
 
05 September
05 September
06 September
08 September
19 September
30 September
30 September
01 October
03 October
03 October
September deadline for Chemistry Week Sustainability funding
September Deadline for Outreach Fund
Deadline for E-alerts going out to additional networks 15 September
Deadline for E-alerts going out on 15 September
Deadline for Inclusion & Diversity Fund
Deadline for Researcher Development Grant applications
Deadline for RSC Blue Plaque applications
Deadline for Local Section and Interest Group Top-Up Fund applications
Deadline for Research Enablement Grant applications
October deadline for Outreach Fund
 
Upcoming Events
 
06 September
12 September
14 September
14 September
20 September
21 September
21 September
21 September
21 September
26 September
28-29 September
04 October
05 October
18 October
20 October
North West Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Burlington Consensus 2 (see below)
Wales Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Mentoring Training
North East Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Ireland Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Volunteer Survey Drop-In (08:00 – 09:00 BST and 14:00 – 15:00 BST)
National Conference for Science Technicians
Careers in pharmaceuticals panel
South West Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Poster event
South East Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Good foundations careers webinar
Scotland Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
Eastern Regional Steering Group Autumn Meeting
 
Priority issues for assessment by the Science-Policy Panel and how best to involve stakeholders’ expertise (Burlington Consensus 2)

We invite you to join us on Monday 12 September 2022 from 10am-2pm  to help us inform and influence the development of a new United Nations Science Policy Panel (SPP) on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention – calling on your expertise. Please pass this on to your network as this is a top policy priority for the RSC.
 
In March 2022, the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) 5.2 passed a resolution initiating the establishment of a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution. The RSC was key in influencing this outcome, with the UK an early co-sponsoring country.  
 
Following on from the success of the Burlington Consensus in January, at which the scientific community called strongly for the establishment of such a panel, the RSC and Defra are now hosting another open and interactive hybrid webinar session with UK and international participants. The aim of the discussion is to provide background and perspectives from the broad scientific community on how to incorporate international knowledge from all regions and the current issues of international importance that could be prioritised by the panel. The objective of the event is to garner ideas that can contribute to the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) tasked with developing the processes and mechanisms of the panel, with the goal to officially establish it in 2024.

It is hoped that a new UN independent intergovernmental science-policy platform for chemicals, waste and pollution prevention can provide the formal processes required to build relationships and foster trust between the scientific and policymaking communities around the world to create impactful action on pollution prevention. If possible, we would appreciate if you could discuss the following issues with your networks before the workshop to ensure full representation of views and concerns: 
 
  • Current knowledge gaps in your field/sector?
  • Issues that need public/policymaker attention? 
  • How would you be involved in such a panel? Have you been involved in similar science panels in which case how were you involved?
  • What information about the authors of a report would be needed, including conflict of interest procedures, in order for the report to be credible to all?
  • How could reports from a panel benefit your field/sector? 
We are aiming to create a diverse group of stakeholders from all areas of chemicals, waste and pollution, and we would very much value your input.

Please let us know if you are available to attend by the 9th of September.

 Read more and register.

Please feel free to get in contact at policy@rsc.org with any questions.
 
A Sense of Belonging in the Chemical Sciences (video)

Earlier in 2022 the RSC published a report on “A Sense of Belonging in the Chemical Sciences”. Based on surveys and interviews with chemists, the report identifies the aspects, barriers and enablers of belonging in the chemical sciences as well as outlining the RSC’s commitments to improving belonging going forwards.

Senior Programme Manager in Inclusion & Diversity Lauren Crawford presents the report in a new video available on our YouTube channel.

Watch the presentation.

You can also read the original report.


 
Communications from across the RSC

Here are updates about events and activities from our Careers, Inclusion & Diversity and Outreach teams. Please pass on to your networks where relevant.

Mentoring training 14 September, 2.00pm – 4.00pm (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 14 September. Our mentoring page contains further information about how to sign up to become a mentor.

Find out more


ChemCareers 2022: Careers in pharmaceuticals, 21 September 12.30pm (UK time) 
There are a broad range of job roles available in pharmaceuticals for chemists both inside and outside the lab, in R&D, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, quality assurance, quality control, validation all the way through to marketing, and sales. Our panel of experts will discuss their roles where the growth areas are and opportunities. Open to all RSC members.

Find out more


Apply by 19 September for the RSC’s Inclusion & Diversity Fund
The Royal Society of Chemistry’s Inclusion & Diversity Fund offers grants to individuals and organisations, including members and non-members, for projects focusing on gender, disability, socio-economic background, language, race and ethnicity, the LGBT+ community, and more.

The deadline for our Inclusion & Diversity Fund is approaching. Help make the chemical sciences more inclusive and diverse and apply to our Inclusion & Diversity Fund for up to £5,000 before 19 September to help make your project a reality.
Find out more and apply


National Chemical Landmarks Scheme (RSC Blue Plaques) – last chance to apply for the 2022 round

Would you like to celebrate a person, team, organisation, innovation or discovery in the chemical sciences? Our Chemical Landmarks – awarded as distinctive blue plaques – celebrate impactful chemical science that is helping to make the world a better place. If you have an idea for a Blue Plaque you can apply until the end of September this year. Latest information and application guidance on our website.

Find out more and apply

You can also drop us a line: outreach@rsc.org for an informal chat about any nomination idea.


Chemistry Week 7 – 13 November 2022

Apply for a grant of up to £500 to run a Sustainability themed activity in Chemistry Week 2022.
Please also pass this on to your networks of people who might be interested. This year it is open to all in UK and ROI so do consider if, for example, there are any local community groups to you that might be interested in applying. The final two deadlines are 5 September and 3 October.

Find out more and apply


 
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, Debbie, Claire and Barney
Posted by Barnaby Slater on Sep 1, 2022 3:02 PM BST