International Year of Chemistry kicks off

World-wide celebrations will be held in public

Sinochem New Network News From January 27 to 28, the opening ceremony of the International Year of Chemistry 2011 was held in Paris, France, with the headquarters of UNESCO. Approximately 1,000 representatives from more than 60 countries attended the ceremony. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, stressed in his speech: "Our goal is not just touting chemistry. We want to make the public aware of the true chemistry - pros and cons, opportunities and risks."

The International Conference on Pure and Applied Chemistry, Nicole Morrow, stated that chemistry will play an important role in solving the major global challenges, including human health, food security, energy, and sustainable development. In the International Year of Chemistry, she hopes to change the "bad image" of chemistry in people's minds through public information campaigns.

Madame Curie’s granddaughter, the nuclear physicist Hélène Langevin-Joliot of the Orsay Institute of Nuclear Physics in France, told the opening ceremony of the era in which the female’s scientific achievements were neglected. The lady's real life and achievements. Bokova points out that another goal of the International Year of Chemistry is to increase female chemists’ determination to overcome difficulties. Female chemists are still faced with difficult research environments. Women engaged in chemical research globally account for only 30% of chemical workers, and only 4 female chemists have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The 2009 Nobel Laureate in chemistry Ada Jonat, the Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 1987 Jean-Marie Ryan and the 1986 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry respectively expressed their congratulations on the International Year of Chemistry. During the two-day opening ceremony, a series of lectures were held to share with the public the important role played by chemistry in the development of global medicine, agriculture, and energy.

The American Chemical Society** Nancy Jackson said: “The opening of the International Year of Chemistry has excited chemists around the world. Young chemical workers and educators in many chemistry meetings have arrived in Paris. I hope to experience in Paris. It will help them to set off the climax of the commemoration of the Chemical Year after returning home.”

With the opening of the International Year of Chemistry, a series of popular science lectures, academic seminars and chemical exhibitions will be held in public. Matthew Platz, director of the National Science and Technology Commission of the United States, said off-field that the International Year of Chemistry is a wonderful opportunity to publicize and guide people to realize that chemistry involves all aspects of daily life. “We are also particularly proud to participate in the International Year of Chemistry series with many wise and energetic young people.”