The 66th Polish Chemical Society Conference,organised jointly with the 11th Congress of Chemical Technology was held on 15-20 September, in Poznan, Poland. EuChemS Secretary General Nineta Hrastelj attended the event, which had prestigious speakers invited, including chemistry Nobel prize lauerate Ben Feringa. Izabela Nowak, President of the Polish Chemical Society invited Nineta Hrastelj to a meeting with Ukrainian Colleagues, who expressed interest in joining EuChemS.
Parallel to the Polish conference, the youth division of the Swiss Chemical Society organised an online workshop on science policy, to which EuChemS Science Communication and Policy officer Marton Kottmayer was invited as a speaker, alongside Jovana Milic SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellow. At the workshop, challenges in science policy, and its place in the EU’s structure were presented, followed by discussions on a case study and effective communication between scientists and policymakers.
Nineta Hrastelj also travelled to Graz, Austria, to bring science-policy perspectives to the roundtable discussion “Circular Bio economy; Sustainable Usability of the Biomass”, which was part of the 20th Austrian Chemistry Days, held in Graz on 23-25 September. At the event, organised by the Austrian Chemical Society (GÖCH), she emphasised that understanding the policy landscape is essential for researchers and she highlighted the issues innovation may face due to over-regulation.
On 25-28, the 23rd Panhellenic Chemistry Conference was organised by the Association of Greek Chemists, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year. On this special occasion a wide range of scientists and policymakers as well as other guests were present. EuChemS President Angela Agostiano welcomed all attendees on behalf of EuChemS. The association’s President, and former member of the EuChemS Executive Board Ioannis Katsoyannis was co-organising the event. He also contributed to an article released in the prestigious Greek publication Economia, where, in response to being asked about rare materials, he highlighted EuChemS’ role at the Zero Pollution Stakeholder Platform of the European Commission.
