SusChem Espana Celebrates Young Researchers

SusChem Spain has launched its Young Chemists Awards for 2012. This is the fourth year that the Spanish National Technology Platform has organised these awards and for 2012 there are four different categories that aim to give public recognition to research by younger chemists working in Spain.

SusChem Spain launched the awards in early March with the main objective of recognising, encouraging and promoting scientific activity among young researchers in Spain. The closing date for nominations is April 9. All documentation, participation rules and conditions for the awards can be found on the SusChem Espana website.

The four award categories are called Innova, Predoc, Postdoc and Futura. The awards are promoted jointly by SusChem Spain, the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ), Specialized RSEQ Young Chemists Group, the Chemistry & Society Forum, National Chemists Association (ANQUE), General Counsel of Chemists and the Spanish Chemical Industry Federation (FEIQUE). The overall aim of the initiative is to foster, develop and promote chemistry both as an essential and applied science.

The 2011 Awards were an official activity of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011) and were a major success not only for the excellent quality of the work submitted but for the high rate of participation with 47 candidates showing the remarkable potential of the current generation of young Spanish researchers.

Prize categories
SusChem Awards are open to Chemists under the age of 36 and winners will recieve €1 500 each. The four awards categories are:

• INNOVA for the best work (patent, scientific publication and/or final degree or master’s Project) developed after collaboration between one or more companies and any agent of the technology system (Public Research Institutes, Universities or RTOs). The candidate work must have been developed in the last two years in one or several of the following areas related to sustainable chemistry: Industrial Biotechnology, Reaction and Process Design, New Materials & Nanotechnologies and Waste Valourisation.
• PREDOC for the author of the best scientific paper in any area of chemistry published during 2011 where the author had not yet finished their PhD.
• POSTDOC for the author of the best scientific paper published in any area of chemistry during 2011 where the author had already been awarded their PhD.
• FUTURA for the best academic record in Chemistry, or related Sciences, obtained in 2011.

Nominations in all four categories will be considered by a panel comprising members from each of the promoting organisations. The Jury’s decision will be announced before 31 May 2012.

For more information on the awards contact More information Cristina González at the Technical Secretariat of SusChem-Spain.

European Sustainable Chemistry Award

Nominations for the second EuCheMS European Sustainable Chemistry Award are open until 1 March 2012. The award is an initiative of EuCheMS (the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences) and is supported by SusChem, Cefic and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The Award, which includes a €10 000 prize, will be presented to the winner at the 4^th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress that takes place in Prague, Czech Republic from 26 – 30 August.

SusChem board member Prof Matthias Beller (right) was the first ever recipient of the European Sustainable Chemistry Award in 2010. He was recognised for his exceptional research in the field of homogeneous catalysis for the environmentally sustainable conversion of small molecules into recyclable or reusable materials.

Rationale
The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is designed to:

• Recognise individuals or small research groups which make an outstanding contribution to sustainable development by applying green and sustainable chemistry
• Promote innovation in chemistry and chemicals that will deliver clear improvements in the sustainable production and use of chemicals and chemical products
• Demonstrate that chemistry and chemicals can play a central role in delivering society’s needs, while minimizing and solving environmental problems

Successful national green and sustainable chemistry award schemes have been in place for some years in several European countries and outside Europe and a recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit points to the value of awards as demand side solutions as a key element in pushing the EU further up the global innovation rankings. The European Sustainable Chemistry Award is intended to be a prestigious scheme that will raise the profile of sustainable chemistry and be a spur to innovation and competitiveness.

More information
The Award is open to individuals or teams of up to three persons working at an institution in a country where there is a EuCheMS member society. For more information and the application forms visit the EuCheMS website or contact Nineta Majcen, EuCheMS General Secretary.

Cefic Responsible Care Awards 2011

The closing date for entries to the Cefic Responsible Care Awards 2011 is fast approaching. The final date for reciept of entries is 24 June.

The awards are open to companies to showcase their projects or achievements under Responsible Care - the chemical industry's commitement to sustainability - and share their effective and innovative approaches. In celebration of the International Year of Chemistry 2011, a Special Award is dedicated to outstanding community outreach projects. Business federations are eligible to receive this Special Award.

High recognition
The Awards will be presented by the Cefic President during the Global Chemical Industry European Convention in Madrid on 30 September 2011. Winners will be invited to attend the event and receive their Awards. Award winners will feature in a Cefic film that is widely used by Cefic at conferences, on YouTube and on the Cefic website. You can watch the 2010 Award winners film here! All entries commended by the independent jury will be published in Cefic’s Annual Report on Responsible Care and on the Cefic website.

Easy to apply
Just fill in the application form on the Cefic website, submit a short project summary on one page and add any further documentation available. For more information read the application form or contact Bernhard Thier, Manager Responsible Care at Cefic.

European Sustainable Chemistry Award 2010

SusChem is supporting the European Sustainable Chemistry Award (ESCA) recently launched by the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS).

The €10 000 first prize will be awarded at the 3rd EuCheMS Chemistry Congress that will take place in Nürnberg Germany from 29 August to 2 September 2010. The award is designed to:

• recognize individuals or small research groups who make an outstanding contribution to sustainable development by applying sustainable chemistry
• promote innovation in chemistry and chemical products that deliver clear sustainable improvements
• demonstrate that chemistry is playing a central role in delivering sustainable solutions to society

The deadline for submission of applications is 15 February 2010. For more information visit the EuCheMS website or contact the EuCheMS secretariat. Good luck!