Vol.
28 No. 1
January-February 2006
IUPAC IN BEIJING—Division Roundups Part II
—Division V. Analytical Chemistry
—Division VI. Chemistry and the Environment
—Division VII. Chemistry and Human Health
—Interdivisional Subcommittee on Materials Chemistry
—Committee on Chemistry Education
—Committee on Chemistry and Industry
Interdivisional Subcommittee on Materials Chemistry
John Corish, Chairman
The project to define “materials chemistry” has received IUPAC approval, with Peter Day as project leader. In his absence, Dr. Graham McCann of the Royal Society of Chemistry updated the subcommittee on the project’s progress. The objective of the project, which will run for two years, is to produce a statement showing how materials chemistry can fit within the overall IUPAC structure. (See Sept.-Oct. 2005 CI, p. 22 in print).
Following discussion, it was agreed that materials chemistry is clearly an interdisciplinary area that crosses the borders of several divisions within IUPAC, although Inorganic is its current principal home. To promote discussion, McCann presented the following first draft of a definition of materials chemistry based on his experience as editor of the Journal of Materials Chemistry:
“The synthesis, processing, characterization, and exploitation of compounds that have useful, or potentially useful, properties and applications. The focus of the research is the creation, understanding, and development of substances or systems with improved properties that will impact positively on business and personal life. To use chemistry to create compounds that may lead to new technological opportunities or significant improvements in existing technology.”
As expected and hoped, this generated a considerable amount of positive discussion.
Interested In Hosting
WAM IV in 2008?
Contact the subcommittee chairman:
Prof. John Corish
University of Dublin, Chemistry Department
Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
TEL: +[353] (1) 608 1776
FAX: +[353] (1) 671 2826
E-MAIL: [email protected] www.iupac.org/divisions/II/205 |
Another hot topic during the meeting was a proposal by Sanjay Mathur to produce a glossary of nano-related terminology. This suggestion was received with much enthusiasm from the subcommittee; in particular, such a project it was thought could perhaps form the first step in a much wider glossary of terminology in materials chemistry. Considerable helpful discussion followed concerning how to establish an agreed terminology in an emerging area such as this.
As reported in Conference Call, the very successful IUPAC New Directions in Chemistry—Workshop in Advanced Materials (WAM III) attracted more than 150 participants to South Africa on 4–9 September 2005.
It was noted that several of the subcommittee members have continued membership in Division II and therefore the immediate future is assured. However, new recruits are certainly needed.
Page
last modified 29 December 2005.
Copyright © 2003-2006 International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry.
Questions regarding the website, please contact [email protected]
|