EuChemS was once again pleased to have been able to attend the European Chemistry Thematic Network Association (ECTN) General Assembly in Krakow, Poland in April. Discussions focused on the recent developments regarding the Eurolabels® as well as the EChemTest®. Collaboration between EuChemS and ECTN is also set to continue, notably with the next joint project for the Employment Survey of European Chemists.   

The European Commission appointed on 14 May, Mauro Ferrari, an Italian nanoscientist known for his leadership role in the founding of the field of nanomedicine, as the next President of the European Research Council (ERC). He will take up his new role in January 2020 for a 4-year term of office, replacing the current President, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon.

Read the European Commission’s press release here.

Planning for the implementation of the 9^th research framework programme, Horizon Europe, officially began early May with a meeting of the shadow programme committee, responsible for supervising the preparation of the implementation plan.

The initial meeting aimed at finding agreements on the ‘goals, method and steps for the strategic plan’ as well as on how the proposed Missions (high-ambition, high-impact initiatives on challenges that European citizens face), will be run and how the selection process for mission board members will be put into place. The results of the meeting will then be shared with EU national governments after which public drafts will be released from June to October, when they will be open to feedback from stakeholders.

EuChemS has closely followed the negotiations surrounding Horizon Europe, publishing a comprehensive position paper that emphasised the need to maintain excellence as a core criterion, boost the budgets for the European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) as well as ensure that third countries can continue to take part in the programme. You can read our position paper here.

The latest edition of our quarterly newsletter Chemistry in Europe, prepared with contributions from our team, members, professional networks and invited guests is now available. Take a look for an editorial by IUPAC Past President Natalia Tarasova, an interesting insight into EuChemS’ analysis of the transition to Open Access publishing and the contentious Plan S, as well as news from our young chemists’ network (EYCN), EuChemS’ recent overseas meeting with the American Chemical Society, and plenty more besides. Want to receive the next Chemistry in Europe directly in your inbox? Subscribe here!

Famous for being linked to the discovery site of some eight chemical elements, Ytterby mine, deep in the Stockholm archipelago, celebrated the unveiling of the EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award plaque in recognition of the role it played in the history of Chemistry and shared European cultural heritage.

The mine was awarded the 2018 EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award at the European level following the recommendations of the Landmark Selection Committee and the decision of the EuChemS Executive Board.

The celebration, which took place on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 April included an excellent symposium on the history of the mine and its discoveries, as well as the pivotal role it played in the history of Chemistry. Over 100 people attended the symposium and the ceremony, including representatives from the Swedish Chemical Society, the local municipality, Ytterby town, the Ytterby Gruva Foundation, as well as from EuChemS.

EuChemS President Pilar Goya, together with Malin Forsbrand, Municipality Chairman, unveiled the plaque at the entrance of the mine.

Many rare earth elements were discovered in the mine, including yttrium (discovered in 1794), erbium (1842), terbium (1842), ytterbium (1878). The discovery of gadolinium, scandium, thulium, and holmium are also linked to the Ytterby mine.

The mine and the elements discovered there drew many scientists from Sweden, as well as from across the Nordic countries, and from further afield in Europe, making it a unique historical and scientific site of centuries worth of international collaboration and ventures.

The mine was officially closed in the early 1930s, and was subsequently used as a military storage facility for fuel, food and water during the Cold War. The programme was stopped in the mid-90s, after which the mine was emptied of fuel. Scientists have more recently begun studying the inside of the mine again, noting the existence of unique bacterial life forms on the walls. There are hopes that by 2025, the tunnels and the inside of the mine will be made open to visits by the public.

Read more about the EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award here.