Celebrating the IYPT2019 also means looking at what the chemical elements mean to us today. EuChemS recently developed and unveiled a unique Periodic Table which depicts the abundance (on a logarithmic scale) of chemical elements. The table shows the abundance of elements under serious threat in the next 100 years, those under increasing threat due to their increasing use, those with limited availability, as well as those coming from conflict zones. Finally, a smartphone symbol was added to the Periodic Table to show which chemical elements are used to make our phones – many of which are come from areas of conflict or under serious threat.
On 22 January, EuChemS will present and discuss this new Periodic Table at an event in the European Parliament, titled ‘The Periodic Table and us: its history, meaning and element scarcity’, chaired by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Catherine Stihler. The event will feature opening talks from MEP Catherine Stihler and EuChemS President Pilar Goya. David Cole-Hamilton, EuChemS Vice-President will unveil the Periodic Table and discuss element scarcity and our role in protecting endangered elements. Natalia Tarasova, IUPAC Past President will in turn discuss the IYPT2019; Brigitte Van Tiggelen, science historian and Chair of the EuChemS Working Party on the History of Chemistry, will look at the history surrounding the Periodic Table as we now know it; M. Pilar Gil, University of St Andrews, will present oldest known Periodic Table wallchart. The event will also include presentations from Peter Handley, Head of the Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Growth who will discuss critical raw materials in the circular economy and strategic value chains and Horizon 2020/Europe; as well as Andreea Strachinescu, Head of Unit of the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, who will discuss ocean resources. MEP Clare Moody will make the closing remarks.
More information on the event available here: https://www.euchems.eu/periodic-table-and-us/
More information on elements in danger is available here