Young Chemists Research Articles

2019 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists—call for applicants

Abstract The 2019 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists is intended to encourage outstanding young research scientists at the beginning of their careers. The awards are given for the most outstanding Ph.D. theses in the general area of the chemical sciences, as described in a 1000-word essay. The award is generously sponsored by Solvay.

A whirlwind of science

The past few weeks have been busier than normal. At the end of August, just a couple of days after the ACS national meeting ended, I left for Liverpool, England, to attend the 7th EuChemS Chemistry Congress. I had never attended before, and I’m very glad that I decided to go this year. Despite the cold and wet weather—not unexpected for the end of August in the U.K.—the vibe at the convention center was very positive. I was impressed by the quality of the speakers—C&EN was proud to sponsor the European Young Chemists’ Network track—who covered topics as varied as amorphous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and methods to elucidate reaction mechanisms. The crowd was diverse, with the U.K., German, and Spanish contingents being the largest. Many scientific celebrities attended: Nobel laureate Ben Feringa—who was also part of the organizing committee—kicked off the event with an inspiring keynote that took us on

Winners of the 2017 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists

Winners of the 2017 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists

Pedro García Barrantes

Pedro Garcia Barrantes had never heard of Vanderbilt University until he met Joshua Bruner, a graduate student in Craig Lindsley’s lab at the Nashville institution. At a young chemists’ conference in Brazil in 2011, “everyone else from the U.S. was complaining about their adviser except for Bruner,” Garcia Barrantes says. “That struck me.” At the time, Garcia Barrantes was in a chemistry master’s degree program in his native Costa Rica. Although he’d already earned a doctor of pharmacy, he was lured back to school to chase his dream of discovering drugs. “I realized the industry in Costa Rica was very focused on generic drugs, and I wanted to discover new molecules,” he says. Emboldened by his meeting with Bruner, Garcia Barrantes applied to join Lindsley’s lab. As a grad student at Vanderbilt, he began balancing multiple projects, including the first total synthesis of a rare molecule produced by a marine

The European Chemical Society (EuChemS).

The European Chemical Society (EuChemS) coordinates the work of almost all the European Chemical Societies. As an organization, it provides an independent and authoritative voice on all matters relating to chemistry, and try to place chemistry at the heart of policy in Europe. Furthermore, EuChemS seeks to develop its members through various activities, workshops and awards. Particularly, EuChemS has fostered growth in its young members through the European Young Chemists' Network. Beyond Europe, EuChemS has collaborated with various organizations in bringing chemistry out of the lab and into society in building a sustainable future for everyone.

EuCheMS ECC7 in Liverpool: Chemistry and More!

EuCheMS ECC7 in Liverpool: Chemistry and More!

IUPAC and IYCN: Forging New Connections to Support Younger Chemists Worldwide

Abstract The International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN) is an organization that aims to connect chemists who are in the early stages of their career, including but not limited to graduate school, postdoctoral associates, chemists within five years of their terminal degree, and chemists newly transitioning into the field. Our core objective is to reach like-minded scientists globally and create a platform for scientific exchange. With a focus on building a worldwide network, we strive to spread scientific knowledge, mentorship, and encourage a passion for chemistry.

IUPAC Announces the Winners of the 2018 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists

Abstract IUPAC and Solvay announce the winners of the 2018 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists, presented for the best Ph.D. theses in the chemical sciences, as described in 1000-word essays.

REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS AS MEANS OF RAISING LEVEL OF UNIVERSITY ENTRANTS IN CHEMISTRY

In this article, the possibilities of a regional professional community of subject teachers to promote the intellectual development of schoolchildren and the formation of the common educational space “school – university” are demonstrated on the example of the Association of chemistry teachers and lecturers of Tver region. In order to achieve these goals, the Association annually conducts numerous regional open competitions, and each of them is completely free for students and their teachers. The aim of the competition “The World of Chemistry” is creating a public catalog of training presentations. The competition is held in twenty one categories (presentations on the educational topics, “Names in the history of chemistry”, “Scientists-chemists of Tver region”, “Chemical book of records”, “Chemistry and other Sciences”, “Chemistry of the future”, etc.); 997 nominations in all. Contests “Original problem” and “Chemical games store” are aimed at finding out the best authors of tasks, quizzes, and didactic games in chemistry as well as at the popularization of the Olympic movement. The selected collections of learning materials are published at the end of each contest. In order to identify and support gifted students, every year the Association of chemistry teachers and lecturers of the Tver region conducts the Regional Olympiad “Khimonya” (in Russian it is a diminutive and funny form of “Young Chemist”) for everyone wishing schoolchildren. This Olympiad is very popular. So, in 2017, more than 430 students from 16 municipalities attended this intellectual competition. The winners of “Khimonya” receive invitations to free classes at the Summer school of the Olympic reserve, which is annually organized by the Tver Association of chemistry teachers. It is shown that the activation of extracurricular activities of schoolchildren by involving them to participate in regional educational projects results to the increase in the education level of school leavers and quality of their knowledge in chemistry.Forcitation:Lutsik V.I., Sobolev A.E., Isaev D.S. Regional educational projects as means of raising level of university entrants in chemistry. Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol. 2018. V. 61. N 6. P. 103-108

David Liu’s evolution workshop

David R. Liu is an inventor on a winning streak. As a young chemist, he quickly mastered techniques for studying life’s most complex molecules and then turned to altering the building blocks of life itself. He repurposed the genetic code of DNA to create large libraries of small molecules for drug screening and created a system for engineering new proteins that’s at least 100 times as fast as previous methods. Most recently, Liu is leading the charge in conceiving improved versions of CRISPR, the gene-editing tool that is revolutionizing research. His most notable advance is a new “base editor” that can swap a single nucleotide base, or letter, of DNA for another. The invention opens the door to developing treatments for the thousands of genetic diseases caused by one small typo in DNA. “He’s going to be the godfather of CRISPR 2.0,” says Gerald Joyce, director of the Genomics Institute

Delayed Reaction: The Tardy Embrace of Physical Organic Chemistry by the German Chemical Community

The emergence of physical organic chemistry, which focuses on the mechanisms and structures of organic reactions and molecules using the tools of physical chemistry, was a major development in twentieth-century chemistry. It first flourished in the interwar period, in the UK and then in the US. Germany, by contrast, did not embrace the field until almost a half century later. The great success of classical organic chemistry, especially in synthesis, encouraged indifference to the new field among German chemists, as did their inductivist research philosophy, as enunciated by Walter Hückel’s ground-breaking textbook (1931). This author also resisted new concepts and representations, especially those of the American theoretician, Linus Pauling. The arrival of the Nazi regime reinforced such resistance. Postwar conditions initiated a reaction against this conservative, nationalistic attitude, especially in the American Occupation Zone. Exposure to American textbooks and visiting lecturers influenced attitudes of younger chemists. The accompanying shift towards a more explanatory, less hierarchical mode of pedagogy was consonant with larger social and political developments.

Keeping Momentum up and Looking Forward

Abstract At the beginning of a new biennium, the first thing is always to have a look at what we have accomplished, where we are, and to think about what to do next. I thank the volunteers and the staff of the Union for their excellent work over the last two years. Highlights include the naming of four new elements, progress on the revision of IUPAC’s “color books,” the release of several IUPAC Recommendations, the granting of many awards, the establishment of the Interdivisional Committee on Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development, and strengthened cooperation with other international organizations, including the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the International Younger Chemists Network.

Progress in the Austrian Young Chemists Network

Progress in the Austrian Young Chemists Network

Cluster Preface: C–O And Related Bond Activation

Mamoru Tobisu received his PhD from Osaka University under the direction of Prof. Shinji Murai (2001). During his PhD studies, he was a visiting scientist (1999) with Prof. Gregory C. Fu at MIT. Following a period as a scientist at the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company (2001–2005), he started his academic career at Osaka University in 2005 as an assistant professor with Prof. Naoto Chatani. He was then appointed as an associate professor at the Center for Atomic and Molecular Technologies at Osaka University (2011) and was promoted to full professor at the Department of Applied Chemistry of Osaka University (2017). He received the Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2008), the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Young Chemists (2009), the Young Scientists’ Award, a Commendation for Science and Technology from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2012), the Merck-Banyu Lectureship Award (2012), Thomson Reuters Research Front Award (2016), and the Mukaiyama Award (2018). Naoto Chatani received his PhD in 1984 under Professors Noboru Sonoda and Shinji Murai. In 1984, he joined the Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research at Osaka University as an Assistant Professor in the laboratory of Professor Terukiyo Hanafusa. After postdoctoral studies (1988–1989 under Professor Scott E. Denmark at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), he moved back to Osaka University and was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor (1992) and to Full Professor (2003). He is a recipient of The Chemical Society of Japan Award for Young Chemists (1990), The Green & Sustainable Chemistry Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2005), the Nagoya Silver Medal (2013), The Chemical Society of Japan Award (2017), a Humboldt Research Award (2017), a Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher (2017) and will be a recipient of an Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2018). Victor Snieckus was born in Kaunas, Lithuania and spent his childhood in Germany during World War II. He received training at U. Alberta, Canada, (B.Sc.), U. California, Berkeley (M.Sc. D.S. Noyce), and U. Oregon (Ph.D. Virgil Boekelheide). He returned to his adopted country for postdoctoral studies (National Research Council, Ottawa, Ted Edwards). Appointments: U. of Waterloo, Assistant (1966) to Professor (1979); Monsanto/NRC Industrial Research Chair, 1992–1998; Queen’s University, Inaugural Bader Chair in Organic Chemistry (1998–2009); Bader Chair Emeritus and Director, Snieckus Innovations, 2009-. Selective awards: A.C. Cope Scholar (2001, one of 5 Canadians), Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas (2002, from the President of Lithuania), Arvedson-Schlenk (2003, Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker), Bernard Belleau (2005, Canadian Society for Chemistry), Givaudan-Karrer Medal (2008, U. Zurich), Honoris causa (2009, Technical U. Tallinn, Estonia), Global Lithuanian Award (2012), Yoshida Lectureship (2017). He hopes that he has only temporarily discontinued playing hockey and wishes also to return to the clarinet.

IYCN and IUPAC Work Together

Abstract IYCN, the International Younger Chemists Network is now an Associated Organization of the Union. The relationship is more than a formality and both organizations are committed to partner together; while IYCN seeks to growas a global network helping to advance the voice and concerns of younger chemists worldwide, IUPAC wishes to facilitate the participation of younger chemists in IUPAC through the active integration of IYCN members into IUPAC activities. This includes programs such as conferences, committee activities, divisions, and projects.

From Young Observers to Young Actors: A Message to IUPAC from a few Young Observers

Abstract For many years, IUPAC has opened its doors to the younger chemists as observers to its activities, welcoming them in the midst of their General Assemblies. This is a unique opportunity for younger chemists to acquaint themselves with the work of the Divisions and Committees at an early stage and with limited commitment. In an article published in 2002, the Young Observers (YOs) program was characterized as “a way to seek innovative scientists” and “bring new expertise to IUPAC” [1]. Since 2013, the World Chemistry Leadership Meeting (WCLM) has invited all young observers to its symposium. In 2017, with a clever combination of “speed-networking” round tables, brainstorming and projects-crafting during the symposium, there is strong hope that a significant proportion of young observers will return as IUPAC active members during future meetings in Paris (2019) and Montréal (2021).

2018 IUPAC-Solvay International Award for Young Chemists

Abstract The 2018 IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists is intended to encourage outstanding young research scientists at the beginning of their careers. The awards are given for the most outstanding Ph.D. theses in the general area of the chemical sciences, as described in a 1000-word essay. The award is generously sponsored by Solvay.

Connecting younger chemists

The ACS Younger Chemists Committee (YCC) was formed in 1974, with much of the groundwork for the formation laid in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time of great unrest. The environment, the Vietnam War, Watergate, and women’s rights were all controversial issues for society, and chemists were in the midst of many of them. The world continues to be both challenging and exciting for chemists. Politics, science, and technology are all evolving at a rapid pace, and this transformation is creating many opportunities for chemists to make an impact on the changing world. Since its inception, YCC has been serving the needs of younger chemists, advocating and providing resources for early-career chemists and professionals in the chemical sciences to enable them to contribute to the chemical industry and to society as a whole. YCC serves as a voice for younger chemists within ACS and addresses specific issues they

254th ACS National Meeting

“Chemistry’s Impact on the Global Economy” will be the theme in Washington, D.C., this August. Many notable symposia are scheduled, including “Building a Safety Culture across the Chemical Enterprise” and “Working in the Public Sector: Running for Elected Office.” ACS President Allison A. Campbell will lead an invitation-only ACS Chemistry on the Hill Advocacy Workshop on Sunday morning, Aug. 20, to help younger chemists learn to engage with Congress. Campbell will host 29 technical divisions and five committees in original programming, including 1,035 half-day oral sessions, 146 poster sessions, and Sci-Mix. More than 9,370 papers and 2,720 posters will be presented at the meeting. In concert with the meeting theme, Campbell will sponsor several presidential events. “Science Communications: The Art of Developing a Clear Message” on Sunday, Aug. 20, will help members learn to clearly communicate research. On Tuesday, Aug. 22, “Understanding the Chemistry of Our Planet” will highlight the

254th ACSNational Meeting

“Chemistry’s Impact on the Global Economy” will be the theme in Washington, D.C., this August. Many notable symposia are scheduled, including “Building a Safety Culture Across the Chemical Enterprise” and “Working in the Public Sector: Running for Elected Office.” ACS President Allison A. Campbell will lead an invitation-only ACS Chemistry on the Hill Advocacy Workshop to help younger chemists learn to engage with Congress on Sunday morning, Aug. 20. Campbell will host 29 technical divisions and five committees in original programming over 1,035 half-day oral sessions and 146 poster sessions, including Sci-Mix. More than 9,370 papers and 2,720 posters will be presented at the meeting. In concert with the meeting theme, Campbell will sponsor several presidential events. “Science Communications: The Art of Developing a Clear Message” on Sun., Aug. 20, will help members learn to clearly communicate research. On Tuesday, Aug. 22, “Understanding the Chemistry of Our Planet” will highlight