Welcome from the President of Commonwealth Chemistry
It is our honour and pleasure to welcome you to Trinidad and Tobago for 2nd the Commonwealth Chemistry Congress – the first in-person event since the founding of Commonwealth Chemistry. Commonwealth Chemistry started as a meeting in London in June 2018. Participants from 24 countries representing more than 20 chemistry societies, scientific academies and federations across the Commonwealth met in Burlington House, London hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The unique opportunities for collaboration offered by the Commonwealth were immediately evident, including the sharing of common values by bringing together developed and developing regions. The appeal of inclusive gatherings at which no one country or group of countries dominate the proceedings was central to discussions from the outset. Participants concluded that there are distinctive and significant opportunities to create an inclusive federation of Commonwealth chemistry societies, and to organise a series of conferences featuring policy debates, inspiring role models, and celebrating the contribution of chemistry to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This would be a federation distinct from other umbrella organisations by its diversity, its worldwide footprint, links to governments and commitment to chemistry education and research. At its heart the promotion of the interests of smaller countries, especially those that do not have their own chemistry societies, highlighting policy and influence for the chemical sciences, and nurturing the next generation of talent.
An image capturing the discussions and outputs of the June 2018 meeting
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