With the objective of sharing knowledge with non-experts, the ECC6 created masterclasses which were presented while lunch was served. Prof. Ulrich Schubert, EuCheMS Vice-President, was one of the Prof. delivering one of these innovative masterclasses.

The European Research Council (ERC), responsible for the Horizon 2020 funding grants for top researchers in frontier, excellent research had a session entitled “Funding Opportunities for Creative Minds”. During this session chaired by EuCheMS President Prof. David Cole-Hamilton, ERC starting, consolidator, advanced and proof of concept grants were presented in detail by Monica Favaro (ERC Research Programme Expert). The evaluators´ point of view and was presented by evaluators Ib Chorkendorff (Technical University of Denmark), and Luis Liz-Marzan (Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials-CIC biomaGUNE). This was followed by the experiences of successful ERC grantees Peter H. Seeberger (Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces), and Elisabetta Collini (University of Padova). Following the presentations, the many attendants had the opportunity to pose their own questions about ERC funding to the panel of speakers.

Following the debate on Chemistry and Society, the Seville International Chemistry Declaration 2016 (SICD2016), was presented and signed by its panellists.

“In spite of the fact that chemistry is invisible to most, it is the basis for practically all the scientific, technological and innovation advances that enable humankind to progress. Without chemistry’s important and continuous contribution, we would not have been able to achieve the life expectancy and quality of life we have today.

In a world that is becoming increasingly populated and urbanized, and which will require 30% more water and 40% more energy by 2030, we are faced with innumerable social challenges that require a firm commitment to research and innovation for their resolution. It will be chemistry as a discipline, with the fundamental and necessary support of other sciences and areas of knowledge, which will continue to assume the responsibility of addressing most of these challenges and to offer sustainable solutions.

There are many issues facing today’s society, such as energy, water and food supply for demographic growth, universal access to healthcare and medical treatment, the environment and the battle against climate change. Resolving these issues requires the efforts of the scientific community and the industrial sector to develop globally accessible products, technologies and processes and to promote a model of sustainable growth based on a rational use of the planet’s resources.

Through the scientists, researchers, teachers, professionals and business people dedicated to this discipline, chemistry will inevitably play a major role in providing suitable solutions to these and many other challenges in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the UN. This will only be possible if we establish the necessary collaboration channels between these key players, with the support of society and its competent authorities and bodies.

For the above reasons, we state that:

It is necessary to promote social awareness of the invaluable contributions of science in general, and chemistry in particular, to all areas of our everyday life. These contributions have enabled us to enjoy an unprecedented quality of life and wellbeing thanks to the advances achieved.

It is necessary for the scientific community and the political stakeholders to constantly foster social trust and public support for science as a source of knowledge that has allowed humanity to advance, as opposed to some unfounded beliefs and arguments that lack a logical or rational basis supported by scientific evidence.

In order to increase this social recognition it is necessary for governments, public administrations, political and business leaders and civil society as a whole to promote excellence in scientific education, research and technological innovation, as well to disseminate objective, accurate information about chemical science and its applications.

It is necessary to recognise, value and support the fundamental contribution of scientists who research and develop products and applications; the work of teachers and professors in the education of future generations from the early to the most specialised stages, and the contribution of companies, professionals and workers who, after all, generate the products and economic and social benefits that citizens need. Without all of them, chemistry would not be able to resolve global challenges.

Through their activity, it is necessary for authorities and public administrations to foster the industrial development of chemistry and the competitiveness of the sector, allowing new developments in the laboratory to be applied in people’s everyday lives and advances in research to be transferred to our citizens. The global dissemination of these advances and discoveries must be a priority.

Scientific knowledge must form the basis of regulatory decision-making to ensure that the design and implementation of policies and legislation aimed at guaranteeing the protection of people and the environment are always based and implemented in accordance with scientific rigour.

It is necessary for both public and private sectors to continuously support R&D+I (Research, Development and Innovation) and to consider it not only a fundamental tool for creating sustainable, competitive advantages but also as a commitment to future generations to whom we want to leave as a legacy a more balanced and sustainable world.

It is necessary to value the contribution of chemistry to a new model of circular economy that will form part of the solution to the continuous growth of the planet’s population, enabling waste to be converted into new products in order to rationalise the use of resources.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the UN, chemistry through those that apply it and use it will continue to be committed to protecting the planet and its natural resources. Building fairer and more inclusive societies requires a sustainable economic growth based on efficiency and the responsible use of resources, which chemistry can provide through its applications and innovative products.”

Website: http://www.quimicaysociedad.org/

“We, the Member Societies of the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS), deplore the use of chlorine in the Syrian conflict or any other and call upon the international community to bring to justice those responsible for the misuse of chlorine.”

It was with these very concrete words that 36 Chemical Societies in Europe deplored the use of Chemical weapons in Syria and called for the misusers of chlorine to be brought to justice.
After the use of chemical weapons in Syria in 2012, Syria signed the Chemical Weapons Convention and their stockpiles of chemical weapons were removed for destruction. However, chlorine is still being used in the conflict as a chemical weapon. Chlorine has many benign uses and saves billions of lives every year because it is used, for instance, to ensure water supplies are free of pathogens. It is also used as a bleach and in making a variety of household chemicals. Nevertheless, some stocks of chlorine that are kept for benign purposes have been hijacked for use in warfare. If chlorine is breathed in, it attacks the mucous membranes and respiratory system because it forms hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids on contact with water. This causes blistering, great difficulties with breathing and intense pain. It is essential that everyone who uses chlorine for benign purposes should keep their supplies in secure sites where they cannot be taken for use in warfare.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/