International Year of Chemistry 2011
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About the International Year of Chemistry (IYC)
For those whom are keen at science, especially in the discipline of Chemistry, perhaps should realize from different means that a global event titled ‘International Year of Chemistry’ (or IYC for short) will kick off in late January 2011. But why and how it was originated and what are currently going on with it in a macro global scale would certainly be elemental to all whom appreciate the beauties in the long history of achievements in Chemistry.
In fact, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) believe that it is time to celebrate the achievements of Chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind and under this rationale there are four core targets that ultimately led to the endorsement of IYC. Those are:-
- Increase the public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs;
- Increase interest of young people in chemistry;
- Generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry; and
- Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mme. Curie Nobel Prize and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies.
In August 2007, the IUPAC proclaimed 2011 to be the IYC and agreed by the UNESCO shortly and it led to the declaration by United Nations General Assembly in December 2008 that 2011 be the IYC with the theme “Chemistry – Our Life Our Future”.
To celebrate the IYC as a global campaign in 2011, all countries are invited to initiate whatever events in relevance but the initiatives should fulfill one or more of the following objectives:-
- To improve understanding and appreciation of chemistry among the public;
- To enhance international cooperation in the initiation of celebration activities;
- To promote the role of Chemistry as possible solutions to global challenges; and
- To build capacity among young people and equip them with elementary scientific skills.
As the IYC is a year long event, it is anticipated that at least one programme will take place spontaneously all around the world for celebration while cornerstone international programmes include (i) a publicity event at PACIFICHEM in Honolulu in December 2010, (ii) official launch of IYC with UNESCO in Paris in January 2011, (iii) IUPAC Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico in August 2011, and (iv) closing event in Brussels in December 2011.
To keep all being notified about the dynamicity of IYC, a global official website has been established with currently contacts of 4,778 regional coordinators representing 52 countries and updated list of approved programmes published. While for Hong Kong and as a cosmopolitan city with outstanding academic and research achievements, an IYC Committee has also been formed among different parties and the Hong Kong Education City Limited (HKedCity) is one of the parties among those.
In fact, to align with the coming IYC and by taking advantage of reputation and strength in online dissemination, HKedCity will take the lead to initiate online campaigns with the Committee, and establish a dedicated website for teachers, students, parents as well as public participation in Hong Kong. The website for the IYC aims to:-
- Keep all target groups informed about the latest news of local and global happenings of IYC;
- Make recommendation and list out of all programmes to be taken place in Hong Kong all along 2011;
- Facilitate online exchange of idea and information via forum and comment boxes; and
- Link to high quality resources and acknowledgement of websites in relevance.
It is hoped that via joining hand in hand among all in Hong Kong and other countries as well, the coming IYC celebration would turn to be a precedent great success!!
