OPCW’S Centre for Chemistry and Technology opened

EuChemS President Floris Rutjes was present at the inauguration ceremony of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)'s Centre for Chemistry and Technology. EuChemS was one of the organisations providing funding for the realisation of the centre.
Marton Kottmayer,
EuChemS

OPCW‘s Centre for Chemistry and Technology, located in Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Netherlands, near the Hague, was bustling with international high profile guests on 12 May, the day of its opening ceremony. All guests – amongst many others, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, as well as high-level representatives of OPCW member countries and organisations, including Floris Rutjes – were committed to a world without chemical weapons. Therefore, the opening of the centre was indeed cause for celebration, as it marked a significant milestone on the path towards achieving this goal. According to the OPCW, the 5,700m² centre will provide a platform to coordinate efforts between scientists, academia, civil society, industry, and relevant international organisations. Equipped with, amongst others, the OPCW Laboratory, a Technology and Training Hub, an instruction space, and advanced training facilities, spread out on 5,700m² of floorspace, it is considered an important extension of the capacities of OPCW.

As one of the contributors of the project, funded entirely by voluntary contributions, EuChemS was present since it’s inception – Floris Rutjes was also invited to represent EuChemS at the centre’s “First Pillar ceremony”. Alongside the Centre for Chemistry and Technology, EuChemS is involved with the OPCW in a number other areas. Most importantly, EuChemS continues to strongly support the OPCW’s key mission of prohibition of chemical weapons and practising ethical, responsible science. In addition, a speaker representing the OPCW Associate Programme participated in the recent EuChemS Global Womens’ Breakfast.

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