tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36393682556985532602024-03-14T07:16:43.901+01:00RSC Belgium NewsNews and events from the Royal Society of Chemistry Belgium section.RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-16410917506310272322024-03-13T22:05:00.000+01:002024-03-13T22:05:08.733+01:00Beyond COVID-19: predictions for future pandemics<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of Thursday 7
March 2024 RSC Belgium member and friends were treated to a hugely informative and entertaining talk entitled 'Beyond COVID-19: predictions for future pandemics' at the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels</a> in Tervuren from Professor Marc Van Ranst, Professor of Virology at KULeuven and the Rega Institute
for Medical Research. Marc was a very prominent figure in the Belgian media during the COVID-19 pandemic.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxnQrMK06xs1vNSxl5a8Rwvrtyp6EqiIil0leWOMShnXH8TF9lvZne0ARx0IzVfNfLAhy-oVaYdw5ol1N5u1a5wln3ycUU6tD4W9-XXomHLFKXJ1hwcKRRf_5nTwVrJJHIeMhyphenhyphenFEKC5ASLvDisGw3a3UHM51E3oPAyumL-DA6ysyh6v10qyfTI8lGNcw/s4032/PXL_20240307_183359056.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxnQrMK06xs1vNSxl5a8Rwvrtyp6EqiIil0leWOMShnXH8TF9lvZne0ARx0IzVfNfLAhy-oVaYdw5ol1N5u1a5wln3ycUU6tD4W9-XXomHLFKXJ1hwcKRRf_5nTwVrJJHIeMhyphenhyphenFEKC5ASLvDisGw3a3UHM51E3oPAyumL-DA6ysyh6v10qyfTI8lGNcw/w400-h225/PXL_20240307_183359056.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 2007, Marc (pictured above with RSC Belgium chair Bob Crichton) had been appointed as Interministerial commissioner by the Belgian federal government to prepare Belgium for an influenza pandemic and in 2009 he was an interministerial commissary for crisis management during the Mexican flu pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Marc was a member of both the Belgian 'Risk Assessment Group' (RAG), which analysed the risks of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 for public health, and of the 'Scientific committee Coronavirus' which advised Belgian health authorities on combatting the virus and which made - and continues to make - prognoses on its evolution and spread in Belgium.</div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The emergence of future pandemics is an important concern,
given the unpredictability observed in past outbreaks. While pandemics are rare
events, several quasi-certitudes can guide our predictions Marc said. There is a high
likelihood that the next pandemic may originate in Asia, particularly in
densely populated urban centres. The role of air travel in facilitating the
rapid spread of infectious diseases cannot be underestimated. Furthermore,
zoonotic transmission, where diseases jump from animals to humans, remains a
significant risk factor for future pandemics. The likelihood that a next
pandemic will be caused by a rapidly mutating RNA virus is also very high.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The mode of transmission through respiratory droplets will be a key factor to consider when preparing for and responding to future global
health crises.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">By exploring these predictions and understanding the
commonalities among past pandemics, Marc was able to show how we can be better equipped to mitigate
risks, enhance preparedness strategies, and safeguard global health security in
the face of future infectious disease threats.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5_rvLkZmQmD0etHKjBPf_DknJFd8H9LuKfxpRyX9nv05hpKE_6j1zZr2O344UxNOIBfsHCjAqJOOOWDQhSDu5RYaCvyQIHAZsalUZNvHyPLN2ltFvdPm_z7n_DxNX_wDZnZoFzv7giy8uVm6Ia-2kmFSg6gHaCGlTIRFUkoPdJwshAcjVSTi1BWE7K4/s4032/PXL_20240307_183720744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5_rvLkZmQmD0etHKjBPf_DknJFd8H9LuKfxpRyX9nv05hpKE_6j1zZr2O344UxNOIBfsHCjAqJOOOWDQhSDu5RYaCvyQIHAZsalUZNvHyPLN2ltFvdPm_z7n_DxNX_wDZnZoFzv7giy8uVm6Ia-2kmFSg6gHaCGlTIRFUkoPdJwshAcjVSTi1BWE7K4/w400-h225/PXL_20240307_183720744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Marc indicated that the actual global death toll from the COVID pandemic was of the order of 22 million compared to the official recorded global toll of 6.5 million. He also showed, via data on COVID in wastewater, that the virus was very much still with us during winter 2023-24, with current variants being highly transmissible but not causing such serious infection in terms of admissions to intensive care and mortality. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The development and deployment of effective vaccines had been key to limiting serious infections and death: the difference in mortality between states in the US which encouraged and enabled vaccination and those that were less enthusiastic was clear. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Marc also described his personal experiences in the face of antivax campaigners - a most disturbing situation that brought threats of physical violence against him and his family quite literally to his doorstep and at one point required his family to go into close police protection. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Marc's conclusion was also just as disturbing - that we are not ready for the next, inevitable, pandemic. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Marc's presentation can be viewed below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOvUrrB-mcjohukeq7PIILbMq1vuAIMb3y7djbMeLuI8tLnEFl0nonhvygxSAbVgcS-VgXjIlfdat5g1NfKg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-2772054324141595072024-02-22T16:58:00.001+01:002024-02-22T16:58:18.850+01:00 Ninth Norman Lloyd Scholar reports in!<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Benjamin Condon (pictured below), the ninth recipient of a <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Dr Norman C. Lloyd Scholarship at Cardiff University</a> has completed the first year of his MCheM degree in Chemistry at the university and he has submitted an end of year report. The Norman Lloyd Scholarship is given to a new student in the <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/chemistry" target="_blank">Cardiff School of Chemistry</a> who is of high academic standing and resident in Wales. <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-tenth-norman-lloyd-scholar-is.html" target="_blank">The tenth recipient of the Scholarship at Cardiff has also just been announced</a>.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMkBrscxFgp4Wn6p5Tw4I5isdDD-BgFAgNyOllm4eo3lS61jWEW_xl-vlAs41d_BrLwvTnT4dRdAyFyPH4k6CSHNxj1RRXhtYfuRjbqeRr4YB1B7D_8Rg1nyX4bwoCKj3dywtZCqvCrEvABYzpejRaDOnA5lpE61QimaLMwU069UTmr3Kc60bES4As4Y/s977/Benjamin%20C%20NL.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMkBrscxFgp4Wn6p5Tw4I5isdDD-BgFAgNyOllm4eo3lS61jWEW_xl-vlAs41d_BrLwvTnT4dRdAyFyPH4k6CSHNxj1RRXhtYfuRjbqeRr4YB1B7D_8Rg1nyX4bwoCKj3dywtZCqvCrEvABYzpejRaDOnA5lpE61QimaLMwU069UTmr3Kc60bES4As4Y/w295-h400/Benjamin%20C%20NL.jpeg" width="295" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>What degree are you undertaking and why did you choose the course here?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am currently undertaking an undergraduate degree in chemistry. I chose the course as a pathway towards studying postgraduate medicine.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>What is the best thing about studying at Cardiff and how have you found your experience so far?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The best thing about studying at Cardiff University is its vibrant academic community, fostering both intellectual growth and personal development. So far, I have had various practical learning opportunities and a supportive network of staff and peers to assist me in my journey. From internships to student societies, Cardiff has offered me a diverse range of experiences that that are preparing me for academic success.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>What are your plans after you graduate?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Currently I am still aiming towards a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>What have you enjoyed most and what have you found most challenging?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have found the academic content most challenging. Specifically organic chemistry which requires highly logical thinking. However, it has been extremely gratifying to apply the theoretical knowledge I learn in practical laboratory settings.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>What do you do in your spare time/alongside your degree?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am studying financial investing alongside my degree.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>What difference has this scholarship made to you? Has it enabled you to achieve anything that you would not have been able to before?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Dr Norman Lloyd Scholarship has been massively beneficial in supporting my university journey. It has eased financial burdens, allowing me to focus on my studies. It has enabled me to give up a part-time job, which I was working for a whole semester, which allowed me far more time to revise. I directly attribute some of my success in the first year to this scholarship and the support it has given me.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>If you could say something to the donor who gave you this gift, what would it be?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am so very grateful. Your generosity has lightened my financial load and empowered me to pursue my academic goals with focus and determination. Thank you for your commitment to helping students like me succeed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We wish Benjamin every success for the future!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The scholarship</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Norman Lloyd scholarship</a> was set up by RSC Belgium in collaboration with Norman’s family and Cardiff University in memory of our old friend and supporter Norman Lloyd. Norman was himself a student at an institution that is now part of the university. The funds raised provide an annual scholarship of £1,000 for an undergraduate student, usually in their first year of study, at the Cardiff School of Chemistry.</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-56652626909947364702024-02-22T16:36:00.004+01:002024-02-22T16:36:57.443+01:00 The Tenth Norman Lloyd Scholar is announced!<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Zarah Ahmed (pictured below) is the latest recipient of the <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Dr. Norman Lloyd RSC Belgium scholarship at Cardiff University</a>. Zarah is in her first year at Cardiff on a MCheM degree course. The Norman Lloyd Scholarship is given to a new student in the <a href="https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/chemistry" target="_blank">Cardiff School of Chemistry</a> who is of high academic standing and resident in Wales.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdd6Eq_AwtxEjiuoquZ7fG-5116lvpMl_iygiujgabYUOObxLJAQBm_C8qpSGDFT8jsh3ZlRtJqu3PzUPAJvlhPnd-PUeUWpj60JBgYW3Y7trvqDbihQJebhltkgynvL761qK5qc7yRqBF01nbpWCoA1sOAc8rJPjoEjx8CbqV78h1SG9ybS7m2_YmdA/s2944/%2310%20Zarah%20Ahmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdd6Eq_AwtxEjiuoquZ7fG-5116lvpMl_iygiujgabYUOObxLJAQBm_C8qpSGDFT8jsh3ZlRtJqu3PzUPAJvlhPnd-PUeUWpj60JBgYW3Y7trvqDbihQJebhltkgynvL761qK5qc7yRqBF01nbpWCoA1sOAc8rJPjoEjx8CbqV78h1SG9ybS7m2_YmdA/w300-h400/%2310%20Zarah%20Ahmed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Zarah wrote to the section following her award:</p><p></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">“Prior to starting at Cardiff University, I did a lot of research in the different career paths a degree in Chemistry could give me. I was amazed to discover the range of industries that Chemistry can take a key role in. For example, I am particularly enjoying my year 1 optional module in environmental chemistry at the moment. I am also quite interested in forensics and toxicology which is what sparked my interest in chemistry and analytics in the first place. I was going to pursue a degree in this however, through experiences like <a href="https://www.gov.wales/seren-network-overview" target="_blank">the Seren Award</a> and other wider reading, I came to the conclusion that I would like to keep my options open for the future and that Chemistry would be the most versatile course for this.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As an MChem student, I have the opportunity to go abroad or do a year in industry in my third year. I’m hoping this will help narrow down my interests and ideas for my fourth and final year where I will complete my Masters. I would like to thank the RSC for awarding me the Dr Norman Lloyd Scholarship which I am hoping to put towards resources like textbooks, my third year, as well as any other opportunities like summer programmes/internships. I am so grateful for your support and the opportunities that this scholarship will provide.”</p></blockquote><p>We wish Zarah every success during her studies at Cardiff! </p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The scholarship</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Norman Lloyd scholarship</a> was set up by RSC Belgium in collaboration with Norman’s family and Cardiff University in memory of our old friend and supporter Norman Lloyd. Norman was himself a student at an institution that is now part of the university. The funds raised provide an annual scholarship of £1,000 for an undergraduate student, usually in their first year of study, at the Cardiff School of Chemistry.</p><div><br /></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-49774629021765902372024-01-30T15:52:00.001+01:002024-01-30T15:52:26.474+01:002024 RSC Belgium AGM and Dinner<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual Dinner of the RSC Belgium International section took place on the evening of Friday 19 January 2024 at the <a href="https://www.lesamisdinent.be/" target="_blank">Les Amis Dinent restaurant</a> in Wezembeek-Oppem. </b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The AGM commenced at 19h35 with eleven section members present. In addition nine section members who were unable to attend the AGM sent
their apologies and had asked the Chair to act as their proxy at the meeting.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The meeting first approved the minutes of the 2023 AGM that took place on 20 January 2023. No corrections were suggested, and the meeting moved (Julie
Tuppeny), seconded (Rita Woodward) and unanimously adopted.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>2023 activities</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The section secretary, Tim Reynolds, then presented the 2023 report on teh section's activities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“During 2023 RSC Belgium organised a Café Chimique event and
six public lectures that were all face-to-face events with most recorded and
then posted on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdvy3MV5UcBHE8aZfHuesSA">@RoySocChemBelgium
YouTube channel</a><u>.</u> In addition, we held our 2023 AGM, a summer social
trip to Ghent, our two annual school outreach events: the Chemistry Challenge
and the Top of the Bench ‘Eliminator’, which was an in-person event again, plus
four schools’ chemistry workshops with John O’Donoghue from Trinity College
Dublin. Our ninth Norman Lloyd scholarship recipient enjoyed his first year at
Cardiff University and we hope to hear the name of the tenth recipient very
soon.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/02/2023-section-agm-and-annual-dinner.html">2023
AGM and Annual Dinner</a> was held on the evening of Friday 20 January at Les
Amis Dinent restaurant in Wezembeek-Oppem. At the AGM Bob Crichton was
re-elected as Chair, Tim Reynolds was re-elected as Secretary and Fabio
Lucaccioni was elected as Treasurer. Three members were elected to the
committee: Rita Woodward, Susan Schamp, and Julie Tuppeny. All positions are
for a two-year term. Two committee members are in mid-term: Dr David Terrell
and Dr Dharmjeet Madhav.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During the year, your section committee met just three times
on 17 January (hybrid), 27 June (hybrid), and 5 September (hybrid) with one
meeting scheduled for 14 November postponed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our 2023 programme kicked off on 9 February with a <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/02/how-to-make-urban-transport-more.html">Café
Chimique event at BSB on the topic of Sustainable Transport</a>. This was
followed on 23 March with a talk on <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/04/catalyzing-road-to-sustainable-e-fuels.html">sustainable
e-fuels from Damien Debecker of UCLouvain</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/06/new-horizons-in-synthesis-click.html">Professor
Ari Koskinen described new horizons in synthesis</a> on the evening of 20 April
and on 22 May Professor David Dexter, Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK,
talked to us about ‘<a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/11/therapeutic-strategies-for-preventing.html">Therapeutic
strategies for preventing Parkinson's Disease</a>’.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Activities resumed on 9 September with <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-wonderful-walking-tour-of-ghent.html">a
wonderful walking tour in late summer sunshine around Ghent</a> led by Dr Paul
Snell and including a (re)visit to our RSC Chemical Landmark for Kekule at the
University.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">September also saw <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/10/current-chemistry-investigates-movies.html">a
visit to Belgium by Dr John O’Donoghue of Trinity College Dublin</a> and
colleagues Dr Fiona McArdle of the
Atlantic Technological University Sligo and Dr Natalia Garcia Domenech from
TCD. John gave us an updated talk on ‘Chemistry in the Movies’ on 28 September
and he and the team also conducted four Current Chemistry Investigators
schools’ workshops (two at BSB and two at St. Johns) on electrochemistry and
electroanalytical concepts. This was the first time these workshops had been
given outside Ireland and were a remarkable success. The idea of a workshop
tour with John had been in the RSC Belgium planning for a few years now, but
various interruptions - not least the COVID pandemic - had got in the way.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">John’s Chemistry in the Movies talk was also the
prize-giving ceremony for our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/10/chemistry-challenge-2023-results.html">2023
Chemistry Challenge initiative</a> undertaken over the early summer with the
students working remotely at their schools. For the 2023 Challenge, seven
schools took part (four European Schools and three International Schools) with
a total of 74 students participating.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our lecture programme continued with a talk from <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2024/01/chemistry-with-potential.html">Prof
Kevin Lam of the University of Greenwich</a> on 12 October on Chemistry with
Potential and concluded with a presentation on Hydrogen as an Energy Vector by <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2024/01/hydrogen-as-energy-vector.html">Alexandra
Kostereva of the European Gas Research Group</a> on 22 November.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On Saturday 18 November we held our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2024/01/bsb-win-rsc-belgiums-totb-2023.html">2023
Top of the Bench (TOTB) regional heat at BSB</a>. This year six teams from
three different schools (BSB, ISF and St Johns) participated and after a very
tight contest team Baekeland from BSB were declared winners and will represent
Belgium at the UK National finals on 16 March 2024. Team Sodium our 2022
winners, also from BSB, had represented Belgium section at the <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/04/bsb-at-top-of-bench-final.html">London
finals in March 2023</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Thanks as ever to Rita and Susan for developing the content
for our educational activities and all the teachers and students who
participated.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During the year, our ninth recipient of a Norman Lloyd
scholarship at Cardiff University, <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/ninth-norman-lloyd-scholar-announced.html">Benjamin
Condon</a> , worked hard. The 2023-2024 academic year sees the tenth recipient
of the award – whose name we hope to announce soon – and we also <a name="_Hlk92899064">hope to organise a celebration of this milestone during
2024.</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Youtube </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As mentioned earlier
we now have a YouTube channel where you can find our videoed webinars. Some of
our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdvy3MV5UcBHE8aZfHuesSA">@RoySocChemBelgium</a> ‘content’ is proving to be very popular. Our
Top Three videos (as of noon yesterday - 18 January 2024) are at #3 <a href="https://youtu.be/0-9s7qCGBew">Philip
Ball</a> with 1,181 views,
second spot goes to <a href="https://youtu.be/_J2H7xN66GU">Plasma-based CO2 conversion</a> with 5,705 views, while <a href="https://youtu.be/QmvS7tgvy6U">Nick
Lane</a> remains top of the pops
with a remarkable 19,891 views.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On a sad note, I’d
like to mark the passing of one of our most enthusiastic and active supporter
of the section’s activities Brian Sutcliffe. We will miss him and hope to mark
his passing with an appropriate event during 2024.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We aim to run a full programme of events during 2024 and
look forward to seeing many members and friends during the year. <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/rsc-belgium-forthcoming-events.html">Details
of forthcoming events can always be found on the RSC Belgium blog</a>.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There were no questions on the report, and the meeting moved
(David Terrell), seconded (Andrew Dunn) and unanimously approved its adoption.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Finances</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The section treasurer, Fabio Lucaccioni, presented the 2023 financial report and
accounts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“<span lang="EN">The 2023 balance
sheet is presented by listing revenues and payments allocated to a series of
categories pre-assigned by the RSC.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The overall
balance at the end of 2023 on the current account is €5,799.05 and the global
expenses (receipts minus payments) were -€5,915.49. The saving account overall
balance is €4,503,27.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During the year, the total income amounted to <span lang="EN">€</span>3,941.06, mainly from a grant from RSC
headquarters (<span lang="EN">€</span>2,999.60) but
also from the AGM and the annual dinner, as well as fees relating to the visit
to Ghent in August.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Expenses for the year amount to <span lang="EN">€</span>9,856.55 €. The main expenses concern: th<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">e six lectures and the “Café Chimique” organised
during the year (</span><span lang="EN" style="text-indent: -18pt;">€</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">3,897.47),
with a total audience of 177 people; o</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">ur annual Top of the Bench and Chemistry
Challenge activities and also in 2023 some Chemistry Workshops for an amount of
</span><span lang="EN" style="text-indent: -18pt;">€</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">677.70 (involving 160
students); s</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">ocial events, which are the AGM and its dinner
as well as the visit to Ghent (</span><span lang="EN" style="text-indent: -18pt;">€</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2,130.45); and a t</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">ransfer of money to the savings account (</span><span lang="EN" style="text-indent: -18pt;">€</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">2,400.00).</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This year, and following an email from headquarter dated
January 11, 2024, we do not need to have our accounts audited as our entries
are less than £10,000.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The meeting unanimously adopted the Treasurer’s report.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b><b>Chair’s Remarks (Bob
Crichton)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The section chair, Bob Crichton, thanked all members of the committee for their continuing
hard work and support and looked forward to continuing success in the new year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During the Annual Dinner the Chair presented Rita and Peter
Woodward with some tokens of the committee’s appreciation for their efforts in
providing refreshments for our evening talks over many years.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Elections</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Two nominations for committee members had been received: </span>Dr David Terrell and Prof Ari Koskinen. Committee membership is for
a two-year term. As the number of nominations equalled the number of vacant
positions, both candidates were duly elected.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Other current committee
members in mid-term are Bob Crichton (Chair), Tim Reynolds (Secretary), Fabio
Lucaccioni (Treasurer), Rita Woodward, Julie Tuppeny and Susan Schamp.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The committee
thanked Dharmjeet Madhav for his contribution to the committee over the last
two years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At the first committee meeting of 2024 Bo Dahlqvist and
Jonathan Norris will also be co-opted onto the committee.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The meeting adjourned at 19h52. The first meeting of the new
2024 committee will be arranged soon.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WI8pC7rVkH3cFCVlf0_vcshb5-pusT5o/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117570684004356367975&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank">A copy of the draft minutes of the 2024 AGM can be downloaded here</a>. These minutes will be submitted to the 2025 AGM for approval.</div></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-33310971039293548292024-01-03T17:13:00.001+01:002024-01-03T17:14:16.688+01:00BSB win RSC Belgium's TOTB 2023<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On Saturday
18 November, the 2023 RSC Belgium Top of the Bench (TOTB) regional heat was
held at the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels</a> (BSB). Teams from BSB, the <a href="https://www.isfwaterloo.org/" target="_blank">International School of Flanders</a> (ISF) and <a href="https://www.stjohns.be/" target="_blank">St. Johns International School</a> (St Johns) participated
in the competition to represent Belgium at the UK final.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The TOTB
heat 'kicked off' at 13h30. This year the contest was in three parts and was
devised by RSC committee members Susan Schamp and Rita Woodward. The initial
task was a group challenge involving a 30-minute written Chemistry Quiz
involving creative thinking exercises. All group members worked together on this
activity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6WyxWJgr1VA9YFCkq4rNNO7rHn92wNrYVmj-y2hMNhwB6T9usuB81mhGQlACrK2PVGgpAsUsDhd51bS4LkA2JDsEmweVbTiYfU8dKeRfzx4SJnIWNKogZovgzxQ0Gehe_5qMLPp3tFv0WP-qVdRrm7cl0zX2cJOh2DixJHeQJa1K5cinz5boWgMkwGw/s4032/PXL_20231118_124212662.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6WyxWJgr1VA9YFCkq4rNNO7rHn92wNrYVmj-y2hMNhwB6T9usuB81mhGQlACrK2PVGgpAsUsDhd51bS4LkA2JDsEmweVbTiYfU8dKeRfzx4SJnIWNKogZovgzxQ0Gehe_5qMLPp3tFv0WP-qVdRrm7cl0zX2cJOh2DixJHeQJa1K5cinz5boWgMkwGw/w400-h225/PXL_20231118_124212662.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>After a
short break the main group practical activity took place. This was a 90-minute hands-on
Chemistry Investigation.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dgcHfyqfWXiJAuWwIUdL416OSdwxLEvF7Q1B_az3Gcd1fAcOPrnZYQd_a40-uM9KwdKAt0utSD_2kl3fsbToMvFAInxLFxiVXL4CVUn7ZVZm8-R1n0zLKdOvlrSbEKRckA4ooipPgY5OGeudqOTdPz28iDLyfc4GwJ07f2MFbbYhjCkl0fZCgm5DYRw/s4032/PXL_20231118_132650955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dgcHfyqfWXiJAuWwIUdL416OSdwxLEvF7Q1B_az3Gcd1fAcOPrnZYQd_a40-uM9KwdKAt0utSD_2kl3fsbToMvFAInxLFxiVXL4CVUn7ZVZm8-R1n0zLKdOvlrSbEKRckA4ooipPgY5OGeudqOTdPz28iDLyfc4GwJ07f2MFbbYhjCkl0fZCgm5DYRw/w400-h225/PXL_20231118_132650955.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US">Finally,
after a longer break with some refreshments, the individual team members
undertook a further 30-minute, multiple choice, age-appropriate written
Chemistry Quiz. Each four-person TOTB team consists of </span>two students from
Year 9 (Grade 8), one student from Year 10 (Grade 9) and one student from Year
11 (Grade 10). <span lang="EN-US">The Year 9 students
completed one quiz and the Year 10 and 11 students completed a second quiz.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Joining
Rita and Susan in observing and judging the event were Olivier Schamp and RSC
Belgium Chair Bob Crichton with section secretary, Tim Reynolds, also there to take the photos.
Also present throughout the day were RSC committee member and Head of Chemistry
at BSB, Jonathan Norris, RSC committee member and Head of Chemistry at St. Johns, Julie Tuppeny, and chemistry teacher Beatriz Rocha from ISF.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A close
result<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
competition was extremely keen and it was a very tight contest. </span>In terms
of determining the final winner of the event, the weightings for the three
components were: Group Challenge – 20%, Practical Activity – 50%, and Multiple
Choice – 30%.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After an
extensive consultation by the judging panel, Team </span>Baekeland from <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BSB were declared the winners and received the coveted
<a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/the-keith-price-cup-and-keith-price.html" target="_blank">Keith Price Cup</a> (see below - the team are pictured with, from left to right, Rita Woodward, Susan Schamp, Bob Crichton and Olivier Schamp).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgh62oLEobKP77DOnqZ-K-vFGPrIZUVGDq8AoWyyVwYfxA9nkDrdYWb1XL_f7ttSicase9wefMemkk_UgI-_fhVwej-ZszRWzn1HOzZyA4rF6ajownVLebMaYeeDOMlqvJAyXXaL7-uQS5Sg8Y5fTTlmrW2jBjYOYMEJq6ZR25To3PC_RNSHSrsRg510/s4032/PXL_20231118_162653386.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgh62oLEobKP77DOnqZ-K-vFGPrIZUVGDq8AoWyyVwYfxA9nkDrdYWb1XL_f7ttSicase9wefMemkk_UgI-_fhVwej-ZszRWzn1HOzZyA4rF6ajownVLebMaYeeDOMlqvJAyXXaL7-uQS5Sg8Y5fTTlmrW2jBjYOYMEJq6ZR25To3PC_RNSHSrsRg510/w400-h225/PXL_20231118_162653386.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Baekeland team will now represent the Belgium section
at the UK National finals of TOTB that will be held on Saturday 16 March 2024
at <a href="https://www.napier.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Edinburgh Napier University</a>. We wish them the best!<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Our thanks
as ever to Susan and Rita for developing the written and practical tasks for
our Top of the Bench event and all the teams for their enthusiasm and hard
work. Congratulations to the winners and everyone who took part.<o:p></o:p></span></p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-48782118411929859712024-01-03T15:43:00.003+01:002024-01-03T15:43:29.019+01:00Chemistry with Potential<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of Thursday 12 October RSC Belgium welcomed Prof. Kevin Lam from The <a href="https://www.gre.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of Greenwich</a> back to Belgium to give a talk
entitled: ‘Electrifying the Pharmaceutical Industry without the BANG! When
Your Chemistry has got Potential’. Professor Lam was
awarded his PhD at the <a href="https://uclouvain.be/fr/index.html" target="_blank">Universite Catholique de Louvain</a> under the supervision
of our old friend Istvan Marko and explored the use of electrochemistry and photochemistry as green
alternatives to activate organic molecules. This work resulted in the
development of a new radical-based deoxygenation reaction (the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark%C3%B3%E2%80%93Lam_deoxygen" target="_blank">Lam-Marko reaction</a>).</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtwG9jAUOF45EMqBifp0WWDmp6mJ2WVViFIrzRRTrFYT-SaXAwADWLjRMLD8suQtCYQuZGLP8FgVXx0JmjK4mc0_h_lL_wJKMemgXd_jrAyEZeEfnnajh862iR5-7tSv6opF-vglZGTz-339xXYe6IQextt2roIHsyDFjzQr9g8ilrJn_n6ZviOm1xA8/s315/KL%20electro%20image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtwG9jAUOF45EMqBifp0WWDmp6mJ2WVViFIrzRRTrFYT-SaXAwADWLjRMLD8suQtCYQuZGLP8FgVXx0JmjK4mc0_h_lL_wJKMemgXd_jrAyEZeEfnnajh862iR5-7tSv6opF-vglZGTz-339xXYe6IQextt2roIHsyDFjzQr9g8ilrJn_n6ZviOm1xA8/s16000/KL%20electro%20image.png" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Synthetic organic electrochemistry has its roots in the
classic work of Faraday and Kolbe on the electrolysis of aliphatic carboxylic
acids. Although numerous transformations have been developed since then, many
of which have been successfully applied in various industrial processes, the
potential of preparative organic electrochemistry remains underestimated.
However, the growing impetus to find greener and more cost-effective
alternatives to traditional synthetic methods has recently led to the
development of novel electrosynthetic methods.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In his talk Kevin presented new, safe, green, affordable
and efficient ways to generate highly reactive organic intermediates such as
iso(thio)cyanates, isocyanides, orthoesters or even diazo compounds. He also discussed the scale-up of these processes using flow electrosynthesis to demonstrate their
real-world application in the pharmaceutical industry by reviewing case studies
carried out with pharma giants including GSK, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The venue for this event was the Brel Theatre at the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/">British School of Brussels (BSB)</a> in
Tervuren.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Youtube video</b></p><div>Kevin's talk was recorded and can be found on our dedicated Youtube channel or as an embedded video below. Enjoy!</div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Video to be added when available!</div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-43391994020719660602024-01-03T15:28:00.002+01:002024-01-03T15:28:38.942+01:00Hydrogen as an Energy Vector<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of Wednesday 22 November 2024 the section welcomed Alexandra Kostereva from the <a href="https://www.gerg.eu/">European Gas Research Group (GERG)</a> to talk to us about the use of ‘Hydrogen as an Energy Vector'. As usual the talk was hosted by the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels</a> in Tervuren.</b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDnQxPu1Uld0Vz_2OqTeHDmj-6PtADjvRHK8UgGRN4Qr7A9LjW7uB0Hw_IiDl3MlVZZruPQECvgGRYY8x2SEwfR-g7D33oVjR39tFiv0sHrp1F8WXe9VYlCnHOBgrO9JEI5L6sRo_Mf_PvLOPbobAtTI42PVDesp-4jCB9I_1FEk2DPJkyX_DHHFfQPY/s910/AlexK%20logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="910" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDnQxPu1Uld0Vz_2OqTeHDmj-6PtADjvRHK8UgGRN4Qr7A9LjW7uB0Hw_IiDl3MlVZZruPQECvgGRYY8x2SEwfR-g7D33oVjR39tFiv0sHrp1F8WXe9VYlCnHOBgrO9JEI5L6sRo_Mf_PvLOPbobAtTI42PVDesp-4jCB9I_1FEk2DPJkyX_DHHFfQPY/w400-h225/AlexK%20logo.png" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Alexandra is Operations Manager at GERG based in Brussels and her talk introduced the relevance of hydrogen as an energy vector, and present a major project that GERG and partners have finalised this year: <a href="https://thyga-project.eu/" target="_blank">THyGA (Testing Hydrogen admixture for Gas Applications)</a>. This project looked at the impact of hydrogen/ natural gas blends on commercial and domestic appliances. It included a large testing programme with end-use appliances, and provided conclusions for future regulation and standardisation of this sector. Alexandra also outlined other aspects of the work of the European Gas Research Group in the energy sector.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Biography</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Alexandra joined the European Gas Research Group (GERG) team in 2019 and has been actively involved in the full portfolio of its research activities including work on hydrogen, LNG, biomethane, and methane emissions topics. She has worked on several European-funded projects. In 2020, Alexandra completed a Blue Book internship at the European Commission’s DG Energy working on the European Methane Emissions Strategy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Alexandra has a Master’s degree in Engineering from the French Grande Ecole Centrale Lille, with a specialisation in Energy, and a Master’s degree in Economics of Energy from Université Paris-Saclay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="text-align: justify;">YouTube Video</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Alexandra's talk was recorded and can be found on <a href="https://youtu.be/ttqeSd0EXrY" target="_blank">our dedicated Youtube channel</a> or as an embedded video below. Enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ttqeSd0EXrY" width="320" youtube-src-id="ttqeSd0EXrY"></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-66450168304739580052023-11-02T17:34:00.003+01:002024-01-03T15:29:37.917+01:00Therapeutic strategies for preventing Parkinson's Disease<p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="text-align: justify;">On the evening of </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Monday 22 May</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> RSC Belgium welcomed </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Professor David Dexter, Director of Research at <a href="https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/">Parkinson’s UK</a> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">to talk to us about ‘Therapeutic strategies for preventing Parkinson's Disease’. The event was held at the </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/page/edit/3639368255698553260/7449651565621269281" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">British School of Brussels in Tervuren</a>.</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Parkinson's disease is the fastest growing neurodegenerative condition with some 10 million people affected worldwide. Classically, Parkinson's is defined by the presence of motor symptoms such as tremor, limb stiffness and slowness of movement but there are many other non-motor symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, cognitive decline which greatly impact on quality of life. Whilst there are drugs which treat the motor features of Parkinson's, these drugs lose effectiveness with time, are associated with significant side effects and importantly they cannot slow the progression of the condition. </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Over the last 20 years there has been a revolution in our understanding of what causes Parkinson's and this has translated into a growing pipeline of novel therapeutic approaches to slow/stop the condition. In addition, biomarkers have recently been discovered that can accurately predict who will develop Parkinson's and prevention trials are on the horizon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC8FvzZwH-n13v-ByFD5ufweD6fWaAZyTdnwLfrTLnlIGs6C_rqb8LcWaquNtnzRVI1seRu7hmuyATMPpA8v1VESxN0znKKmcMLZSLxYLWbYRhcuwEtN3Cg49wSGHfO8_aKSOSSjkI99V7NDE6OmMRVX9OJUoFeADYaVoNFnSK4aJn6YZiMevRA6uxLs/s2016/354264494_122199577574917_122038206664737292_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC8FvzZwH-n13v-ByFD5ufweD6fWaAZyTdnwLfrTLnlIGs6C_rqb8LcWaquNtnzRVI1seRu7hmuyATMPpA8v1VESxN0znKKmcMLZSLxYLWbYRhcuwEtN3Cg49wSGHfO8_aKSOSSjkI99V7NDE6OmMRVX9OJUoFeADYaVoNFnSK4aJn6YZiMevRA6uxLs/w300-h400/354264494_122199577574917_122038206664737292_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Professor Dexter's talk covered the role of biomarkers for early detection and what treatment strategies are being trialled in Parkinson's.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Biography</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Professor Dexter joined Parkinson’s UK as Associate Research Director, overseeing scientific programmes, in March 2017. In April 2023 David was promoted to Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK. As Director, he is responsible for the charities grants programmes, strategic partnerships, research communications and patient involvement programmes. He is also the biology lead for Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, the drug discovery arm of Parkinson’s UK. David has 38 years research experience in Parkinson’s disease research, 23 years of which was spent at Imperial College London where he was Professor of Neuropharmacology and Deputy Head of The Division of Brain Sciences.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>YouTube Video</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Professor Dexter's talk was recorded and can be found on <a href="https://youtu.be/teN5YHlMq7Q" target="_blank">our dedicated Youtube channel</a> or as an embedded video below. Enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/teN5YHlMq7Q" width="320" youtube-src-id="teN5YHlMq7Q"></iframe></div></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-43230739000851215282023-10-03T11:53:00.004+02:002023-10-03T11:56:17.320+02:00Current Chemistry investigates the Movies<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On 28 and 29 September RSC Belgium welcomed Dr <span style="text-align: justify;">John O'Donoghue of <a href="https://www.tcd.ie/" target="_blank">Trinity College Dublin</a> and colleagues to Brussels to deliver some <a href="https://currentchemistryinvestigators.com/" target="_blank">Current Chemistry Investigators school workshops</a> and give a reprise of his '<a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2021/09/chemistry-in-movies.html" target="_blank">Chemistry in the Movies</a>' talk at <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/10/chemistry-challenge-2023-results.html" target="_blank">our 2023 Chemistry Challenge prize giving event</a> on the evening of 28 September.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The idea of a workshop tour with John had been in the RSC Belgium planning for a few years now, but various interruptions - not least due to the COVID pandemic - had got in the way. However, despite the last minute intervention of Storm Agnes, we eventually were able get him, along with colleagues Dr </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Fiona McArdle of the </span><a href="https://www.itsligo.ie/" target="_blank">Atlantic Technological University Sligo</a> and Dr <span style="text-align: justify;">Natalia Garcia Domenech from Trinity, </span><span style="text-align: justify;">to Brussels in 2023.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Current Chemistry Investigators</b> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.96px; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: justify;">John (pictured below) and the team conducted four workshops during their time in Belgium: two at the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels (BSB)</a> in Tervuren on 28 September and two at <a href="https://www.stjohns.be/" target="_blank">St. Johns International School </a>in Waterloo on 29 September.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsa6A1AKBrrFHbvdBfpGWjHpMCk4L1M8hNybbwD8ovW1DyjM9wcREF7m9E90ZzmI5eHET72DNU3BW2uZHLKIIcQ6uyJoIcZBHwEU6C9Irk89OC9H-TV1wyGZ7eMZ2lUQiigDg-ZI-T2Maai2AGeEYZ7bVnD4rIDmLUlJYwvkC3gLS_eCd-KqVq09AT8o/s4032/PXL_20230928_072608069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsa6A1AKBrrFHbvdBfpGWjHpMCk4L1M8hNybbwD8ovW1DyjM9wcREF7m9E90ZzmI5eHET72DNU3BW2uZHLKIIcQ6uyJoIcZBHwEU6C9Irk89OC9H-TV1wyGZ7eMZ2lUQiigDg-ZI-T2Maai2AGeEYZ7bVnD4rIDmLUlJYwvkC3gLS_eCd-KqVq09AT8o/w400-h225/PXL_20230928_072608069.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.96px; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: justify;">The workshops provided the students with hands-on activities based on simple electrochemistry and electroanalytical concepts through tangible scientific role models. It also provides researchers with valuable and beneficial experience in science communication, to help them develop skills to share their research to wider audiences. The project looks to create an appreciation for the role of chemistry research in everyday life, increasing interest in this vital area for the benefit of everyone’s future.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczGlI17yDYgnSwrvUv3_qhxpjvuXT6qDkBwkwSE6VNI_PiQNKMaNYxGj-9_Ztz8Z9QW2CEVP-NXoBUPX6IpYpoQPChE6XaZxyVZE-wtD_0m2uY2knUGrCJvgo1YH-WKLtBqYoxuXfpeieRMf_9Qs_YFnKmjavm9KuR-F23JS4fkVfH-aye0gx_ML-w78/s4032/PXL_20230929_073330690.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczGlI17yDYgnSwrvUv3_qhxpjvuXT6qDkBwkwSE6VNI_PiQNKMaNYxGj-9_Ztz8Z9QW2CEVP-NXoBUPX6IpYpoQPChE6XaZxyVZE-wtD_0m2uY2knUGrCJvgo1YH-WKLtBqYoxuXfpeieRMf_9Qs_YFnKmjavm9KuR-F23JS4fkVfH-aye0gx_ML-w78/w400-h225/PXL_20230929_073330690.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.96px; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span>The Current Chemistry Investigators initiative is an informal education and public engagement project developed by Trinity College Dublin and the Atlantic Technological University Sligo to spark conversations with schools and community groups about the science of energy storage and chemical analysis. </span>The project was developed through funding provided by the <a href="https://www.sfi.ie/" target="_blank">Science Foundation Ireland</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Cinematic science</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">On the evening of 28 September John gave us an updated and in-person version of his 'Chemistry in the Movies' lecture in the Brel Theatre at BSB.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi_eJgJat8Dx9XnrpGP91aNIpeySjmFGtkWBVE8oFIMIXeGK96Z85nAu7WzbIRxJjD-6SERxUvXlbJms9aVFQnvRut6ZT4-TIYVOasMlC4sl7m53vtlNxpCLZJQLrGQYp4uFGqnnRvvQO-BNx4ycjI5v1vwegN391lbMKw0vL5WMggBdXRGWvXmY248k/s4032/PXL_20230928_174601731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi_eJgJat8Dx9XnrpGP91aNIpeySjmFGtkWBVE8oFIMIXeGK96Z85nAu7WzbIRxJjD-6SERxUvXlbJms9aVFQnvRut6ZT4-TIYVOasMlC4sl7m53vtlNxpCLZJQLrGQYp4uFGqnnRvvQO-BNx4ycjI5v1vwegN391lbMKw0vL5WMggBdXRGWvXmY248k/w400-h225/PXL_20230928_174601731.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">This mixed media talk will took a scientific and filmographic look at how chemists and chemistry have been portrayed in the movies and on TV. Short clips and graphics were used to talk about the topic in an engaging and light-hearted format. The movies chosen for this discussion are based around a number of themes like problem solving, plot devices, chemical companies and people. Details about where and how to access the relevant movies were also be provided (Netflix, Disney, Amazon, Youtube, Apple etc).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>About John</b></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.96px; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.96px; margin-bottom: 8pt; text-align: justify;">John is the RSC Education Coordinator in the School of Chemistry at Trinity College Dublin. He coordinates the education and public engagement course for PhD researchers and teaches a “chemistry in society” module for undergraduate students. On behalf of the Royal Society of Chemistry he also supports trainee and established science teachers through the provision of continuous professional development workshops and the development of new teaching resources.</p></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-17282101903897463132023-10-02T18:15:00.002+02:002023-10-03T11:55:18.804+02:00Chemistry Challenge 2023 results announced<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The results of the RSC Belgium Chemistry Challenge 2023
were announced at <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/10/current-chemistry-investigates-movies.html" target="_blank">o</a><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/10/current-chemistry-investigates-movies.html" target="_blank">ur event on </a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; mso-highlight: yellow;"><a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/10/current-chemistry-investigates-movies.html" target="_blank">28 September with Dr John O’Donoghue</a> </span>at th</span>e </b><a href="https://www.britishschool.be/"><b>British School of Brussels (BSB)</b></a><b>
in Tervuren. This year the Challenge resumed its usual ‘in-schools’ format
after two years as a virtual event due to the COVID pandemic and BSB students
claimed the majority of the prizes!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For the
2023 Challenge, seven schools took part (four European Schools and three International
Schools) with a total of 74 students participating. This was a most encouraging
number, but still under pre-COVID levels. We look forward to increased numbers
for the 2024 edition of the Challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As ever, the Challenge was designed to test students’
chemical knowledge and initiative.<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> This year most students found Section A questions particularly taxing
apart from some True/False questions.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The RSC Belgium Chemical Challenge has three sections:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">- A
chemistry multiple choice paper (Section A)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">- A
structured questions on chemistry (Section B), and</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">- A
'Thinking Matters' paper that is not chemistry based (Section C)</p><ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The top results were as follows:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Section A - Multiple choice</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">First prize for this section was won by Andrei Vascan from BSB
who received a €50 award.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In joint second place were Hanseo Lee (far left below) and Annette Liflander (right below) also from BSB who each won €25 and, making a clean sweep for BSB, the third
prize of €10 went to Kerem Teker (left below) from BSB.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMbjqcaCt1eKjvtYX4ogo-OGfYimLkYiA7bHxgjmRMx6wq1reGIEsppK1T9EPpRHDd_bu9GF2Ga1PDGctEKl3PwEFngOr8KznZ5GJedAw8ChYnqMH4Px_Q26Xw3LgTA7Whn4utDntZkuQrEDuQua1OT5-Gdj9PU31rDa8JkjHsLmELgQH1lkTsHRd9Ks/s4032/PXL_20230928_173811196.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMbjqcaCt1eKjvtYX4ogo-OGfYimLkYiA7bHxgjmRMx6wq1reGIEsppK1T9EPpRHDd_bu9GF2Ga1PDGctEKl3PwEFngOr8KznZ5GJedAw8ChYnqMH4Px_Q26Xw3LgTA7Whn4utDntZkuQrEDuQua1OT5-Gdj9PU31rDa8JkjHsLmELgQH1lkTsHRd9Ks/w400-h225/PXL_20230928_173811196.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Section B - Structured questions</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In this section the first prize of €50 was awarded also won
by Andrei Vascan of BSB with Laura Bartelloni (pictured right below) and Marianne Moody from BSB both
picking up second prizes of €25. A third prize of €10 were awarded to Fanziska
Vogel (left below) also of BSB.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvEzByfUSK4rwhz3geyYjKI4geaIeUYcD7Msi5rQiAEW0l0vN3oE4kIpeOV-j8JfnugAkYvEGVtbYaFFcI4lWpyVuoz_i5FFar_ttmnzQxD_yOswfYbAjB5vjj7xq0n8-73pqtGIZTyBODtwGMMtCpaSvksgRNL_ti4uxX1sipJvH1t-Ka1T5vS_UTNk/s4032/PXL_20230928_173919475.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvEzByfUSK4rwhz3geyYjKI4geaIeUYcD7Msi5rQiAEW0l0vN3oE4kIpeOV-j8JfnugAkYvEGVtbYaFFcI4lWpyVuoz_i5FFar_ttmnzQxD_yOswfYbAjB5vjj7xq0n8-73pqtGIZTyBODtwGMMtCpaSvksgRNL_ti4uxX1sipJvH1t-Ka1T5vS_UTNk/w400-h225/PXL_20230928_173919475.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Section C - Thinking Matters</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Breaking the trend in this section, the top prize of €50 went
to Melinda Koch of <a href="http://www.euroschool.lu/site/">European School 1
in Luxembourg (ESL1)</a> with Marianne Moody also claiming a €50 prize for BSB.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjToLNA4iaTyaKim02sW_jc96100p6th11HwjO0GUNtZ5KeD8OPhDzBGj8qaP-By8gBbMd4GQD9_DJ7Gvh1ck5Cg8SUPhcrsje7BxpOsZTqWDZhJj-Ik_fbdC-iiJv1QHzAqenvsFrF5lIQXzJEaY7BrIETiqLkCvDAIr04ghSHYFMPTBAFvMfPnkxptk/s4032/PXL_20230928_174018229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjToLNA4iaTyaKim02sW_jc96100p6th11HwjO0GUNtZ5KeD8OPhDzBGj8qaP-By8gBbMd4GQD9_DJ7Gvh1ck5Cg8SUPhcrsje7BxpOsZTqWDZhJj-Ik_fbdC-iiJv1QHzAqenvsFrF5lIQXzJEaY7BrIETiqLkCvDAIr04ghSHYFMPTBAFvMfPnkxptk/w400-h225/PXL_20230928_174018229.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In second place was Alec Muller (pictured left above) of BSB winning him €25 and
two third prizes worth €10 each were awarded to Annette Liflander and Aimee
Willey (right above) both from BSB.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Keith Price Prize</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">With a first prize in both Section A and Section B, this
year's <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/the-keith-price-cup-and-keith-price.html" target="_blank">Keith Price Prize</a> was claimed by Andrei Vascan (pictured
below with RSC Belgium chair Prof Bob Crichton), who received an additional €100.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eNKTbui2xDHWhkDpwcBJtAK7EgMTz3ATnUzWr5tFJPbTnmBNVHAPhoAE46a2I3AXB5LsFiUAz0AnllNLDmD0M7F-c-ZYmnszG1e7k3v0lkCgMF-ETgslVKObNEqQcVIvO78HYNo4VNTm560heIE2oEAWYCWMkalFI2EH3Hp3tun8ir8AmqQ_P9YXnyg/s4032/PXL_20230928_174127479.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eNKTbui2xDHWhkDpwcBJtAK7EgMTz3ATnUzWr5tFJPbTnmBNVHAPhoAE46a2I3AXB5LsFiUAz0AnllNLDmD0M7F-c-ZYmnszG1e7k3v0lkCgMF-ETgslVKObNEqQcVIvO78HYNo4VNTm560heIE2oEAWYCWMkalFI2EH3Hp3tun8ir8AmqQ_P9YXnyg/w225-h400/PXL_20230928_174127479.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Well done to everyone who took part in this year's Chemistry
Challenge! Every student that entered the competition receives a certificate of
participation. And, of course, we will be running the Challenge again in 2024
and look forward to further widening participation!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-69871027621598268672023-10-02T17:49:00.002+02:002023-10-04T00:19:47.726+02:00A Wonderful Walking Tour of Ghent<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On Saturday 9 September, RSC Belgium members and friends took part in a wonderful walking tour in the late summer sunshine around the Belgian city of Ghent. Our guide, Dr Paul Snell, helped illuminate the history and scientific and industrial heritage of the city often described as the 'Venice of the North'. And we also visited the relocated RSC Chemical Landmark for August Kekulé.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our tour group met up at 10am for coffee and an introductory briefing from Paul at the <a href="https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/limerick" target="_blank">Limerick Bookshop</a> close to Ghent St Pieters station. Then it was 'all aboard' a tram to the centre of Ghent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our first port of call was to visit the <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2011/11/rsc-president-presents-kekule-landmark.html" target="_blank">Kekule Landmark that was presented to Ghent University by then RSC President David Phillips in November 2011</a>. The landmark recognises Kekule's pioneering work on structural and organic aromatic chemistry whilst at Ghent and was originally placed close to the site of his laboratory. The Landmark had been re-sited to be more accessible to the public during weekdays. At the weekend, however, the old town centre campus is not open to the public, but RSC Belgium member Prof. Bruno Linclau from Ghent University was able to get us access.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimt8trCTq4FDKEWH5fEoZTEQzyrTZRENcmm2XOB-0sjter6zRvWGqcjeKILJeTuAxJzUC2yyby2pM2OYaxqPT4VMbvDA19Jm6fC8BJu0WbloAh37Vs07TsJU1csiuOACmeI-cvW5nWPebvaCTcd_fxLd3x-p5IqO51dVRytDHRy1dFOej-M2QTIrWi3HA/s4032/PXL_20230909_092726578.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimt8trCTq4FDKEWH5fEoZTEQzyrTZRENcmm2XOB-0sjter6zRvWGqcjeKILJeTuAxJzUC2yyby2pM2OYaxqPT4VMbvDA19Jm6fC8BJu0WbloAh37Vs07TsJU1csiuOACmeI-cvW5nWPebvaCTcd_fxLd3x-p5IqO51dVRytDHRy1dFOej-M2QTIrWi3HA/w400-h225/PXL_20230909_092726578.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The photo above shows the plaque with, from left to right, Dr Denis Comeyne of the Royal Flemish Chemical Society (KVCV) and <a href="https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/events/kekule/programme/" target="_blank">Chair of the KVCV/ Antwerp University Kekule Cycle seminar series</a>, our section chair Prof Bob Crichton, and Prof. Bruno Linclau.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Of mustard and machines</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Having viewed the plaque Paul then led us around the town centre pointing out buildings of interest and many aspects of the city's past and present glories including the famous <a href="https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/tierenteyn-mustard" target="_blank">Tierenteyn Mustard shop</a>. Some of the party bought a pot of this revered Flemish condiment that has a heat point somewhere between French and English mustard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsP7N4nYYZnEdcbXGL25S4QUIF7I4LReO8a4n_39ewuOHxIwfoeIVpqA_hc56H_hyphenhyphenTzz0etLEpkN88y17Yu4yymIeeTGasyrY6w-H117yOWQqGycZu-6qKkdjYLdnUBNO_Y4r5NCb4hZpmtLeWtpXPUR-SuQLWHAGLTpNZOvX02t06_q6hxRH5mYaD3A/s4032/PXL_20230909_095036647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsP7N4nYYZnEdcbXGL25S4QUIF7I4LReO8a4n_39ewuOHxIwfoeIVpqA_hc56H_hyphenhyphenTzz0etLEpkN88y17Yu4yymIeeTGasyrY6w-H117yOWQqGycZu-6qKkdjYLdnUBNO_Y4r5NCb4hZpmtLeWtpXPUR-SuQLWHAGLTpNZOvX02t06_q6hxRH5mYaD3A/w400-h225/PXL_20230909_095036647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Our tour eventually brought us to Ghent's <a href="https://www.industriemuseum.be/en"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Industrie Museum</span></a> where we learned about an audacious piece of industrial espionage that helped build Ghent's economy in the Industrial Revolution. In 1801, Lieven Bauwens smuggled a spinning mule and steam engine out of the UK to help set up the textile industry in Flanders. At the time such a crime was punishable by death. Bauwens was later elected Mayor of Ghent. The spinning mule that was brought to Ghent is in the Industrial Museum, which also boasts a very fine view over central Ghent.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz0BdP0wRUXTPk7KLW4Q8Og-Y4EtIP3LY6Vi2Y82742QrPZ1pYIyKkmACtOQcJ7WH_Q58A5SofuAWt6CDs4QlKGRXPNOwLZTJsPnKeCDyDjGZPYu5PWYkOavhF1r1_5OZGoBW3QkZhaTdV3DelpR93iCR5ub-F5Fpw5Mvl-T-X8V7FNutm13u_YPlWQU/s4032/PXL_20230909_111002062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiz0BdP0wRUXTPk7KLW4Q8Og-Y4EtIP3LY6Vi2Y82742QrPZ1pYIyKkmACtOQcJ7WH_Q58A5SofuAWt6CDs4QlKGRXPNOwLZTJsPnKeCDyDjGZPYu5PWYkOavhF1r1_5OZGoBW3QkZhaTdV3DelpR93iCR5ub-F5Fpw5Mvl-T-X8V7FNutm13u_YPlWQU/w400-h225/PXL_20230909_111002062.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">After the industry museum, the tour moved onto a leisurely lunch at <a href="https://www.meme-gusta.be/nl"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Meme Gusta</span></a> where home-cooked Flemish fare was on offer including a very fine Stoofvlees (Flemish meat stew) with, of course, frites. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>GUM</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">After a brief pit stop at one of Ghent's many excellent chocolatiers - <a href="https://hildedevolderchocolatier.be/over-ons/" target="_blank">Hilde Devolder</a> - we boarded another tram to head for the new <a href="https://www.gum.gent/en" target="_blank">Ghent University Museum (GUM)</a> situated in the Botanical Gardens in Citadel Park.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">GUM displays an eclectic selection of items from all the University's departmental collections including Kekule's stick and ball models of benzene (see below). GUM is well worth a visit, as is the Botanical Gardens close by.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvoP9Qcsj_phmoiavGiXpj_EOR7_0teGE-DnzeFPRvY9jHjaINv5DWEWAtvTfsNiunzvaiyxcGH2X4ATaY-V4-DC20z6vr6YRgPuOy5jC8p1WGKF9m80IFzBzGPejPlAE0oWGl2ObmGxKOS3jjGc9POFTMx2mLtNhMDCprtx6F4S0nhuVZx6W76GfaGE/s4032/PXL_20230909_143408592.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvoP9Qcsj_phmoiavGiXpj_EOR7_0teGE-DnzeFPRvY9jHjaINv5DWEWAtvTfsNiunzvaiyxcGH2X4ATaY-V4-DC20z6vr6YRgPuOy5jC8p1WGKF9m80IFzBzGPejPlAE0oWGl2ObmGxKOS3jjGc9POFTMx2mLtNhMDCprtx6F4S0nhuVZx6W76GfaGE/w225-h400/PXL_20230909_143408592.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">After a highly entertaining and informative day, our party took a farewell 'apero' in the early evening sunshine close to St Pieters station before heading on our various ways home.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Many thanks to Paul Snell for organising the itinerary - a great time was had by all!</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-51754871857221115962023-06-02T11:59:00.001+02:002023-06-02T11:59:34.955+02:00New Horizons in synthesis: click chemistry and beyond<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of Thursday 20 April from 19h30 RSC Belgium welcomed Professor Ari Koskinen, Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry at <a href="https://www.aalto.fi/en" target="_blank">Aalto University, Finland</a> to talk to us about ‘New Horizons in synthesis: click chemistry and beyond’. The event was held at the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels</a> in Tervuren and was followed by an opportunity for RSC members and friends to network and ask informal questions of the speaker over drinks and snacks.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A central feature of chemistry is to produce novel connections between atoms, in other words chemical synthesis. The state of the art of organic chemical synthesis is defined by the complexity of the target structures one can produce in an efficient manner. Especially during the past two decades, different economies of synthesis have taken a central role in the development of synthetic chemical strategies. Thus atom economy, step economy, redox economy are valid targets for synthesis research.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2XFjMVYfuNlr17GQsKPh2RCF2S_b27YV0m6CWTJ1TYhFqDGxTE7Gk26LfU-y4iQV3M-yz-Aap8H8r71OzZ7yMmKemwnaxOi2JlZk6LkweyAV6_kj6W23VnzPn06ex9nXJTVtJWbK0y-iNi1x5oQTbVjUeOkwyV5cKU1sPr6KSlQ4d10EVdlGgUJ9/s4032/PXL_20230420_181848285.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2XFjMVYfuNlr17GQsKPh2RCF2S_b27YV0m6CWTJ1TYhFqDGxTE7Gk26LfU-y4iQV3M-yz-Aap8H8r71OzZ7yMmKemwnaxOi2JlZk6LkweyAV6_kj6W23VnzPn06ex9nXJTVtJWbK0y-iNi1x5oQTbVjUeOkwyV5cKU1sPr6KSlQ4d10EVdlGgUJ9/w400-h225/PXL_20230420_181848285.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">‘Click chemistry’ and biorthogonal chemistry are timely subjects and Ari took us through a brief history of organic synthesis and introduced us to the latest trends in this important part of chemistry. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2022/summary/">2022 Nobel
Prize in Chemistry</a> was awarded to Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and
Barry Sharpless for the development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal
chemistry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As usual, the session was recorded and you can access it direct via the <a href="https://youtu.be/zXRb7BtfiME" target="_blank">RSC YouTube channel here</a> or via the embedded video below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zXRb7BtfiME" width="320" youtube-src-id="zXRb7BtfiME"></iframe></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Our speaker</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Professor Ari Koskinen (pictured below) received his M.Sc. (Chem. Eng.) in 1979, his Licentiate in Technology in 1982 and his Doctor of Technology in 1983 from the Helsinki University of Technology.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7U9QKTIIBa-T7oSYIrdM234s22D2njbaODu0LWwA0nqSYe4YIZLysuGPn2qh7a-1a3hqQ9aF4mYnvQVBEHke0crvqHKhjYblLRz7NyaPWRQuIuMhCHzYEDjPnRdK-gnXcTXS8hOZ-R_YC_kxjWSxE77XWfBnXbcmQ79K2MH_92quGRgd0yaDdx9R/s4032/PXL_20230420_172930633.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7U9QKTIIBa-T7oSYIrdM234s22D2njbaODu0LWwA0nqSYe4YIZLysuGPn2qh7a-1a3hqQ9aF4mYnvQVBEHke0crvqHKhjYblLRz7NyaPWRQuIuMhCHzYEDjPnRdK-gnXcTXS8hOZ-R_YC_kxjWSxE77XWfBnXbcmQ79K2MH_92quGRgd0yaDdx9R/s320/PXL_20230420_172930633.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>After postdoctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley he accepted an appointment as a Project Leader in New Drug Development at Orion Corporation – Fermion, Finland where his research group was among the first in Scandinavia to adopt computer aided drug design as well as computerized database handling protocols in new lead identification. Returning to academia, he joined the University of Surrey as a lecturer in 1989 and was then appointed as Professor of Chemistry (especially Synthetic Organic Chemistry) at the University of Oulu, Finland in 1992, and transferred to the Helsinki University of Technology in 1999 (Aalto University since 2010) as Professor of Organic Chemistry.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Prof. Koskinen is a member of the Finnish Academy of Sciences and Letters since 2003. He is the author or co-author of some 190 publications, 15 patents and three books. He retired from active academic work in October 2021, but as emeritus professor, he keeps his finger on the pulse of organic chemistry through activities in IUPAC (Division of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry) and EuChemS (secretary, Division of Organic Chemistry).</p><p><br /></p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-7848834043109138812023-04-17T17:54:00.005+02:002023-04-17T17:54:50.001+02:00Catalyzing the road to sustainable e-fuels<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of Thursday 23 March 2023 RSC Belgium welcomed Professor Damien Debecker from UCLouvain to the British School of Brussels in Tervuren to talk about ’CO2 and H2: catalyzing the road to sustainable e-fuels?’ Professor Damien Debecker is a professor within the Faculty of bio-science engineering at UCLouvain and is currently holder of a Francqui Research Professor chair.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As we all know the mitigation of net CO2 emissions is currently an absolute priority challenge for society for which various strategies must be implemented in parallel. One useful technology, which falls under the umbrella of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_capture_and_utilization" target="_blank">Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)</a> concept relies on the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to methane, methanol, or higher hydrocarbons.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">When methane is targeted, this process is called methanation or the Sabatier reaction. Prof Debecker took us through recent developments in the design of highly active methanation catalysts and then placed these developments in a more general context, questioning the sourcing of both CO2 and H2 and highlighting the fundamental role of renewable electricity in so-called sustainable processes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The talk covered a number of issues relating to sustainable chemical processes, future energy production and the sense (or non sense) of certain proposed solutions. A lively Q&A session follwoed teh talk and continued during moe informal networking afterwards.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The session was recorded and you can access it direct via the <a href="https://youtu.be/lbnPhMhgFJc" target="_blank">RSC YouTube channel here</a> or via the embedded video below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lbnPhMhgFJc" width="320" youtube-src-id="lbnPhMhgFJc"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-90094246332036528242023-04-14T16:47:00.001+02:002023-04-14T16:47:54.941+02:00 BSB at Top of the Bench Final<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/top-of-bench-back-in-person-for-2022.html" target="_blank">2022 Belgium Top of the Bench champs</a> – Team Sodium from the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels (BSB)</a> – competed in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2023 Top of the Bench national final on 25 March at the <a href="https://uel.ac.uk/" target="_blank">University of East London (UEL)</a>. The BSB team were the only non-UK team in the 31 competitors. The competition tests the chemistry knowledge of 14–16 year-old students through written and practical exercises.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Students had to complete a 40-minute chemistry knowledge exam in pairs, followed by a 90 minute hour practical team exercise in UEL’s labs. The theme of the final was sustainability with a practical challenge on sustainable energy that included a calorimetry task, density determination and finally an analysis of some possible “future fuels”. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The teams also had a talk from Tony Raynham, the course leader for the University of East London Chemistry department, about the course (a new course only just set-up), his life history and journey about how he got to where he is now and then a talk on apprenticeships from an RSC speaker. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Tony Raynham said that UEL was delighted to host the talented young chemists in the Bioscience department.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCh2AN2XtovbIaI8sVjwWqycARYSSfnHwOgnWP1ziurBvbPvfBKtwJXf7goriIdlG6vltbGaVgpGezM6kREdQ8Kaxzr3ZUwSi6-8ocKWeJwIzxdLuV_8H_7oue2_oz0DPvuwosACzI610H7o1ELSFhNI2GDZoRNddSNUAuPdkLnH1HxN8Mb-v5-9Bk/s780/525411_totb2023128winchestercollege_46352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCh2AN2XtovbIaI8sVjwWqycARYSSfnHwOgnWP1ziurBvbPvfBKtwJXf7goriIdlG6vltbGaVgpGezM6kREdQ8Kaxzr3ZUwSi6-8ocKWeJwIzxdLuV_8H_7oue2_oz0DPvuwosACzI610H7o1ELSFhNI2GDZoRNddSNUAuPdkLnH1HxN8Mb-v5-9Bk/w400-h266/525411_totb2023128winchestercollege_46352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, BSB did not win; Winchester College (winning team pictured above) took top place. The winning team received a trophy and Amazon gift vouchers, and will be sent £500 for their school to spend on science equipment. The first runners-up, four students from Colchester County High School for Girls, received Amazon vouchers. Hannah Addiscott from The Grange School was awarded the Jacqui Clee Award for the most outstanding individual contribution.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">BSB chemistry teacher and RSC Belgium committee member Jonathan Norris escorted the BSB party and commented: “The students really enjoyed themselves, despite a long day.” The BSB team made the trip to and from London in a day.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Despite not winning all the students came away with a free t-shirt and a periodic table and the accompanying teachers got a thermochromic mug, a RSC lanyard, and a fetching RSC tote bag.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Next year’s final will be in Edinburgh and RSC Belgium will be planning to send a team as usual.</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-69425779596233164172023-02-17T17:46:00.003+01:002023-02-17T17:46:58.209+01:00How to make Urban Transport more Sustainable?<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of Thursday 9 February 2023 the section kicked off its 2023 programme of events with a Café Chimique on 'Sustainable Transport' at the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels</a> in Tervuren.</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">For our society, one of the greatest challenges is to plan and invest wisely for sustainable transport. Transport plays a crucial role in economic development by providing access for people to education, markets, employment, recreation, health care and other key services not to mention enabling the movement of goods. Enhancing mobility for all parts of society is one of the most important preconditions for achieving economic, environmental and social goals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINpVhPMpsIvs1LJw5iZF95AVUmF5D2JAbOIdtAC5Ar6DPXlOhHqIGATc-la3a76yhhDZovZc0GtIOLvsCiCxUsXJQRmbdeOBi3flg76pkLm-UF0VnzQw-U-JMBVMFL_KHnkBEuMtm-w6PYsnYpGfzieYbHGplbT9RqIh8682gDCrlcK0c0FcTSy5N/s4032/PXL_20230209_190350778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINpVhPMpsIvs1LJw5iZF95AVUmF5D2JAbOIdtAC5Ar6DPXlOhHqIGATc-la3a76yhhDZovZc0GtIOLvsCiCxUsXJQRmbdeOBi3flg76pkLm-UF0VnzQw-U-JMBVMFL_KHnkBEuMtm-w6PYsnYpGfzieYbHGplbT9RqIh8682gDCrlcK0c0FcTSy5N/w400-h225/PXL_20230209_190350778.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">In reality, transportation systems in most urban areas are far from ideal. Motorised modes still dominate and traffic congestion is ubiquitous making a significant impact on local and national GDP, degrading the urban environment and affecting citizens’ health and quality of life.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What are the solutions? What does a sustainable transport system look like? How can it be achieved? How will it be fuelled? What new or existing technologies are needed to make such systems happen? Where can the chemical sciences help? And what else is needed in terms of cultural or behavioural change by citizens?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For the debate RSC Belgium members and friends were joined by two speakers to (hopefully) find some answers to these questions and more. Section chair Prof Bob Crichton introduced the two speakers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tB4DLVzWdzRLKpTJyWJJUXpeyhcOVIEYmkqOP5CvP0lZXYmKxC0AoQbpelwh_zOOZuIR026sGjJ6__EUF63bjfuG7p-Num4j8JShFzsMgbMeqfLidqggd6r_v-gC_L4zR2XMbFNOTs-cwxsUx-V77V1NwuTRuAX9KHwbzxBjr6P_FbezBYd_L1dA/s4032/PXL_20230209_194117276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tB4DLVzWdzRLKpTJyWJJUXpeyhcOVIEYmkqOP5CvP0lZXYmKxC0AoQbpelwh_zOOZuIR026sGjJ6__EUF63bjfuG7p-Num4j8JShFzsMgbMeqfLidqggd6r_v-gC_L4zR2XMbFNOTs-cwxsUx-V77V1NwuTRuAX9KHwbzxBjr6P_FbezBYd_L1dA/w400-h225/PXL_20230209_194117276.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Prof Samuel Furfari is a recognized authority on energy policy based in Brussels. Following a 36 year career with the European Commission's DG Energy, he was appointed as a professor of geopolitics of energy at various universities including at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He is President of the European Society of Engineers and Industrialists.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">After 21 years at the UK Transport Research Laboratory, Paul Kompfner moved onto the European stage in 1992, to help set up Europe's first multi-sector partnership for deployment of intelligent mobility. Now independent following 25 years at ERTICO-ITS Europe, he is working with various projects to promote sustainable mobility of people and goods in cities</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our two speakers provided short introductory talks that was followed by an audience led Q&A discussion. As with our previous Cafe Chimiques the audience will be seated in a relaxed café-style format and a gratis bar and snacks were throughout the evening. </p><p>The presentations and debate were recorded is now available via our YouTube channel or below. Enjoy!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OQLjsmX9EZc" width="320" youtube-src-id="OQLjsmX9EZc"></iframe></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-67232707296027082682023-02-17T16:58:00.000+01:002023-02-17T16:58:18.299+01:002023 Section AGM and Annual Dinner<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On Friday 20 January 2023 the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual Dinner of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Belgium International Section 023 was held at <a href="https://www.lesamisdinent.be/en/" target="_blank">Les Amis Dinent Restaurant</a>, Chaussee de Malines/ Mechelsesteenweg 113, 1970 Wezembeek-Oppem.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The meeting commenced at 19h35. Seven section members were
present: Bob Crichton, Tim Reynolds, Julie Tuppeny, Fabio Lucaccioni, Rita Woodward,
Susan Schamp, and Ricky Payen. Also in attendance were co-opted Committee members: Bo
Dahlqvist and Jonathan Norris. Seven section members who were unable to attend the AGM sent
their apologies and had asked the Chair to act as their proxy for the meeting
if a vote was required. These members were: David Terrell, Dharmjeet Madhav, Deepak
Pant, Filip du Prez, Steven De Feyter, Richard Green and Catherine Cazin.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>1.</b> <b>Apologies for absence</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Stefaniya Velichkova.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>2. Approval of
Minutes of 2022 AGM</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">No corrections were suggested, and the meeting moved (Rita
Woodward), seconded (Fabio Lucaccioni) and unanimously adopted the minutes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>4. Committee Report
on the Section’s 2022 Activities (Tim Reynolds – Secretary)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Secretary presented the 2022 report.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“2022 saw the section’s activities return to (relatively)
normal operation as the impact of COVID reduced and restrictions were lifted.
During 2022 RSC Belgium managed to organise seven public lectures (either as
webinars or hybrid events), a virtual AGM, a summer social event in Brussels, a
fund raising social for our Norman Lloyd Scholarships, and our two annual
school outreach events: the Chemistry Challenge and the Top of the Bench
‘Eliminator’, which was an in-person event. Our eighth Norman Lloyd scholarship
recipient enjoyed his first year at Cardiff University and we have just got the
name of the next recipient.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/01/">2022
AGM was once again run as a webinar event</a> on the evening of 14 January and
was subsequently made available on our dedicated <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdvy3MV5UcBHE8aZfHuesSA">@RoySocChemBelgium
YouTube channel</a>. Two members were elected to the section committee for a
two-year term: David Terrell and Dharmjeet Madhav. During the year your section
committee met five times on 18 January (virtual), 29 March (hybrid), 19 May
(virtual), 13 September (hybrid) and 22 November (hybrid).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our 2022 programme of talks kicked off on 24 February with a
webinar from RSC President <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/03/green-and-sustainable-chemistry.html">Professor
Tom Welton OBE on Green and Sustainable Chemistry</a>. This was followed on 31
March with a webinar event on <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/04/chemical-recycling-enabling-plastic.html">Chemical
recycling of plastic wastes with Henk Pool of Cefic</a> – the European Chemical
Industries Association.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/04/nuclear-energy-at-eu-level-current.html">outlook
for nuclear energy in Europe</a> was the subject of our third webinar on 28
April with Andrei Goicea from FORATOM, while on 19 May our members and friends
tuned in for a webinar describing a <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/06/">major breakthrough for the
prevention of breast cancer recurrences and metastases with Professor Pierre
Sonveaux</a> of the Universite Catholique de Louvain.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Fortunately during the long summer, we were able to restart
in-person events with two social events. On Saturday 2 July, we were treated to
<a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/07/">a fascinating guided walk
exploring ‘Foreign Bodies’</a> in the centre of Brussels led by Dr Paul Snell
who specialises in art and architectural
tours. Raising funds for our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html">Norman Lloyd Scholarships</a>
was the main aim of <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/08/norman-lloyd-fundraiser-2022.html">a
social event on 20 August hosted by Rita and Peter Woodward</a> in their beautiful
garden in Duisberg. The sunny event raised Eur 920.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On 29 September we welcomed back both a ‘live’ audience and
our good <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/10/extreme-phenomena-in-our-universe-from.html">friend
Professor Vincent Lemaitre from Universite Catholique de Louvain to discuss the
latest thinking in high energy and astrophysics</a>. The event was held the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/">British School of Brussels</a> and we also
attempted to livestream the event – unfortunately the webinar feed cut out
early on. This event was also the prize-giving ceremony for <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/10/chemistry-challenge-2022-results.html">our
2022 Chemistry Challenge initiative</a> undertaken as a virtual event over the
early summer with the students working remotely at their schools. For the 2022
Challenge, we received entries from most of our group of international and
European schools with 65 students participating.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On 20 October we reverted to a webinar format launching into
deepest space with an entertaining and informative talk on <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/exoplanets-quest-for-other-worlds.html">'Exoplanets
or the quest for other worlds beyond our solar system' from Prof Michaël Gillon</a>
of the University of Liege. Our final talk of the year was on 24 November when
we welcomed another old friend, <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-magic-of-miniature-molecular.html">Professor
David Leigh from University of Manchester, to talk about ‘Making the tiniest
Machines</a>’ with some extraordinary chemistry and also some marvellous magic!
This was a ‘live’ event, but we suffered with poor sound quality on the webinar
recording. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On Saturday 17 December we were able to hold our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/top-of-bench-back-in-person-for-2022.html">first
in-person Top of the Bench (TOTB) regional heat for a while</a>. The heat was
held later in the year than normal and just two schools were able to field two
teams each to compete on the day. However, the competition was extremely keen
and a very tight contest was eventually won by Team Sodium from the British
School of Brussels who will represent Belgium section at the London finals in
March. Thanks as ever to Rita and Susan for developing the written and
practical tasks for Top of the Bench and the teams for their enthusiasm.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During the year, our eighth recipient of a Norman Lloyd
scholarship at Cardiff University, <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/eighth-norman-lloyd-scholar-report-is-in.html">Martim
Gouveia Pereira</a>, worked hard despite the issues around studying during
Covid. He says that he has used the scholarship to invest in his soft skills
which has led him to be shortlisted by Oxford Medical School to read Medicine
in 2024. And we have just received news of ninth recipient, <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/ninth-norman-lloyd-scholar-announced.html">Benjamin
Condon</a>, who started his MChem degree course in the Autumn term.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As mentioned earlier
we now have a YouTube channel where you can find our videoed webinars. Some of
our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdvy3MV5UcBHE8aZfHuesSA">@RoySocChemBelgium</a> ‘content’ has proved to be very popular. Our
Top Three videos (as of 17 January 2023) are at #3 <a href="https://youtu.be/0-9s7qCGBew">Philip
Ball</a> with 659 views, second
spot goes to <a href="https://youtu.be/_J2H7xN66GU">Plasma-based CO2 conversion</a> with 3,122 views, while <a href="https://youtu.be/QmvS7tgvy6U">Nick
Lane</a> is top of the pops with
a remarkable 8,272 views.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We hope to again run a full programme of in-person events
during 2023, the majority of which we hope to record and then post on YouTube.
We look forward to seeing many more members and friends face-to-face during the
year. <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/rsc-belgium-forthcoming-events.html">Details
of forthcoming events can always be found on the RSC Belgium blog</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We aim to kick off our 2023 programme with a Café Chimique
at BSB on 9 February 2023 on the topic of 'Sustainable Urban Transport'.
Further details on this and future events will be announced soon.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There were no questions on the report, and the meeting moved
(Susan Schamp), seconded (Julie Tuppeny) and unanimously approved adoption of
it.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>5. Financial Report
of 2022 (Julie Tuppeny – Treasurer)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The treasurer presented the 2022 financial report and
accounts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“At the beginning of 2022 continued restrictions due to
Covid-19 pandemic meant that the first four lectures of the year were online.
However, both Tom Welton and Henk Pool had large registrations of 70 and 108
participants, respectively.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our first in person event was the walking tour of Brussels
on 2 July with sixteen participants. Our first live event was the lecture at
BSB with Vincent Lemaitre with forty people attending in person and ten online.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our two annual competitions for schools, the Chemistry
Challenge Competition had sixty-five students taking part from seven schools
and the Top of the Bench (TOTB) Eliminator Round was in person for the first
time in two years with two schools and four teams taking part.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">On 1 January 2022, the net assets of RSC Belgium Section
were €11,665.28 The Annual Grant for 2022 was received in June 2022 from RSC UK
of € 4,000.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Major items of expenditure are listed below:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Chemistry Challenge of
which €395 was prize money.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">David Leigh lecture due to
hotel costs.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For the Year ending
31 December 2022, the net assets of RSC Belgium Section amount to €11,710.04 in
the current account and €2,103.26 in the Savings account giving a total of
€13,813.30.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This balance will
enable the RSC Belgium Section to offer a broad selection of public lectures
from visiting speakers this coming year.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">However, bearing in mind that Belgian Law, the status of the
RSC Belgium Section holds the three Officers personally liable for debts
arising from the activities of the Belgium Section we will ensure that the bank
balance always remains in good standing.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The meeting unanimously adopted the Treasurer’s report.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>6. Chair’s Remarks (Bob
Crichton)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Chair thanked all members of the committee for their continuing
hard work and support and looked forward to continuing success in this new
year.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t-VcTopdJpfsCGqGp1HzPUO_OcaD2Pw87GV2XXVP6BSOfbiOw-mr4ImJGkBnhjxYCj-U8T7YO-crdXsAcIRblPOtbaf_9kr-QQHOhcj7ojYx3X-4Q7zY_oDoyrwrspjDy8xozW-engov-Jzv3mjBcFztPohzUXs9-cIFapJDvSSXLmd_y-j8YEzd/s2016/IMG-20230121-WA0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t-VcTopdJpfsCGqGp1HzPUO_OcaD2Pw87GV2XXVP6BSOfbiOw-mr4ImJGkBnhjxYCj-U8T7YO-crdXsAcIRblPOtbaf_9kr-QQHOhcj7ojYx3X-4Q7zY_oDoyrwrspjDy8xozW-engov-Jzv3mjBcFztPohzUXs9-cIFapJDvSSXLmd_y-j8YEzd/w400-h300/IMG-20230121-WA0007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In particular he looked forward to a complete return to live
events during 2023. The committee had recently decided to focus on live,
in-person events rather than hybrid. However, the majority of our events would
be recorded for viewing or presentation via our YouTube Channel. The only thing
that could stand in the way of this was a return of COVID, but that was
something that was out of our hands.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The section’s 2023 programme was shaping up and in addition
to the Cafe Chimique on Transport in February, the section hoped to be
welcoming back Hal Sosabowski for demonstration lectures, inviting a talk from
researchers at the John Innes Centre on genetically modified crops and
investigating the role of mRNA in new cancer treatment and other medical
developments.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>7. Election of
committee members and section officers</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The following nominations
had been received for election to the committee.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Chair: Prof Bob Crichton</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Secretary: Mr Tim Reynolds<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Treasurer: Mr Fabio Lucaccioni<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Committee: Mrs Rita Woodward, Dr Susan Schamp, Ms
Julie Tuppeny <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">All positions are for
a two-year term. As the number of nominations equalled the number of vacant
positions, all candidates were duly elected.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Two committee
members are in mid-term: Dr David Terrell and Dr Dharmjeet Madhav.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At the first committee meeting of 2023 Bo Dahlqvist and
Jonathan Norris will also be co-opted onto the committee.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>8. Auditing
arrangements for 2023</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Julie confirmed that accounts must be prepared and submitted
to RSC HQ by 27 January 2023. These
accounts did not require a formal audit prior to submission. If a review/ audit
was required section member Lance Smallshaw had agreed to assist. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>9. Any Other Business</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As noted previously the first event of the 2023 programme
will be on the evening of Thursday 9 February 2023 with a Café Chimique on
Sustainable Urban Transport at the British School of Brussels. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The meeting Adjourned at 20h10. The first
meeting of the 2023 committee has been provisionally scheduled for Tuesday 14
March 2023 from 19h15.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkwlNTeDaKBoBjKSjUCh5ZDljrbhfBG6x6mauac-Z5uwy5dx95Vp0Btyw6e7bWxfe7ANufr4ZbFchmIVaM_WAFxeXSOE9cgvTJn2dzXiozQIKL7i0bfli_Bb2KttoQgv3MKX22StEJrbcpVthxFea4iJgbie5Yn7m3H09gbT-EKlzDnIA9z-Kz74S/s2016/IMG-20230121-WA0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkwlNTeDaKBoBjKSjUCh5ZDljrbhfBG6x6mauac-Z5uwy5dx95Vp0Btyw6e7bWxfe7ANufr4ZbFchmIVaM_WAFxeXSOE9cgvTJn2dzXiozQIKL7i0bfli_Bb2KttoQgv3MKX22StEJrbcpVthxFea4iJgbie5Yn7m3H09gbT-EKlzDnIA9z-Kz74S/w400-h300/IMG-20230121-WA0015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The meeting was followed by the sections Annual Dinner.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-44757664532008947082023-01-23T23:56:00.001+01:002023-01-23T23:56:36.317+01:00Top of the Bench back in-person for 2022<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On Saturday 17 December, RSC Belgium was able to hold our first in-person Top of the Bench (TOTB) regional heat for a few years. The heat was held later in the year than normal, which meant that just two schools were able to take part. But both the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels (BSB)</a> and <a href="https://www.st-georges.lu/" target="_blank">St. Georges International School from Luxembourg</a> were able to field two teams each to compete on the day for a very tight competition.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">BSB were on home 'turf' as the event was held in the chemistry laboratories at the school in Tervuren. St. Georges travelled up from Luxembourg on the day arriving in good time for 'kick off' at 13h30.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This year the first part of the competition was an 'Escape Room Challenge' quiz devised by RSC Belgium Committee member Susan Schamp. This was a bit of an icebreaker and definitely a teambuilding effort. Each team had to solve a chain of clues with the first team to ‘escape’ deemed the winner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGQfeOXfjwY6AsYW7N5HTqyRWD8wZrhxgPIyX1Mr1pbEWzmhsTbOnLUI88iXeh14M9dMPwZWRwTXUl62rpbgm2um6M967TZb7ei_V1x6123-XoDZItw72yLTdcbECm6QGs2g_kDyvEdkfuObFwGTUZT2LCG1I6PLKVM2FlhM07cFniJtd6yTX-OZX/s4032/PXL_20221217_142854312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGQfeOXfjwY6AsYW7N5HTqyRWD8wZrhxgPIyX1Mr1pbEWzmhsTbOnLUI88iXeh14M9dMPwZWRwTXUl62rpbgm2um6M967TZb7ei_V1x6123-XoDZItw72yLTdcbECm6QGs2g_kDyvEdkfuObFwGTUZT2LCG1I6PLKVM2FlhM07cFniJtd6yTX-OZX/w400-h225/PXL_20221217_142854312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">After refreshments the second element of the day was the Practical Activity Challenge in which team members needed to make some strategic choices, carry out experiments, process observations and relate their findings to a potential application of recycling a metal. The practical element was, as ever, devised by RSC Committee member Rita Woodward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRnJyP_yTGnn51l5wn8WS992QSl2ua8xH9_YTEesrjCiyUVrRhHfjOoWu3OE88FmXPoe4veoWkIL5z0O6APodIwYzFaLS9Q9WT2wpLr64bzushewERvvVbF2A_oDoQ8Cmwqv0BMXcZLjz9LeumhRCZMBQ2PQCfoEWmEdjOeNmf0n9R1VyCvFeeWtZ/s4032/PXL_20221217_131629079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrRnJyP_yTGnn51l5wn8WS992QSl2ua8xH9_YTEesrjCiyUVrRhHfjOoWu3OE88FmXPoe4veoWkIL5z0O6APodIwYzFaLS9Q9WT2wpLr64bzushewERvvVbF2A_oDoQ8Cmwqv0BMXcZLjz9LeumhRCZMBQ2PQCfoEWmEdjOeNmf0n9R1VyCvFeeWtZ/w400-h225/PXL_20221217_131629079.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Joining Rita and Susan in observing and judging the event were Tim Reynolds and Olivier Schamp (pictured above). RSC teaching staff was represented by Jonathan Norris and St. Georges teachers present throughout the day were Kayleigh van Dongen and Marco Macedo Foz.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A close result</b></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The competition was extremely keen and a very tight contest was eventually won by Team Sodium from the British School of Brussels. In second place was Team Fluorine from St Georges with their Copper team taking 'bronze' position. Team Iodine from BSB was not far behind in fourth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLPqp83e_C0eHMxwgh02gKyOEgpa3s-XTLJ_06eKYWiTukaXlE9i4CGXModI1ttsypP0scnJf9d-ZaPA3rrjZrOzRqd2lb4xhnkyqsFSxIIxNmWVsdaRIDt8MoHwpSWUE_kZV2IeiavqUC1qt1D7zsr4XRL-RBf8n2mxLr6nSRPUWGRRVuMrUU8Gc/s4032/PXL_20221217_134419892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLPqp83e_C0eHMxwgh02gKyOEgpa3s-XTLJ_06eKYWiTukaXlE9i4CGXModI1ttsypP0scnJf9d-ZaPA3rrjZrOzRqd2lb4xhnkyqsFSxIIxNmWVsdaRIDt8MoHwpSWUE_kZV2IeiavqUC1qt1D7zsr4XRL-RBf8n2mxLr6nSRPUWGRRVuMrUU8Gc/w225-h400/PXL_20221217_134419892.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">BSB's Team Sodium won the coveted <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/the-keith-price-cup-and-keith-price.html" target="_blank">Keith Price Cup</a> (see above) and will now represent Belgium section at the National finals of TOTB that will be held on Saturday 25 March 2023 at the University of East London. The theme of this event will be Sustainable Energy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our thanks as ever to Rita and Susan for developing the written and practical tasks for our Top of the Bench event and all the teams for their enthusiasm and hard work. Congratulation to the winners and everyone who took part.</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-46955439181437508372023-01-23T17:47:00.002+01:002023-01-27T21:02:19.732+01:00Eighth Norman Lloyd Scholar report is in!<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Martim Rodrigo</b></span><b> (pictured below), the eighth recipient of a Dr Norman C. Lloyd Scholarship at Cardiff University has completed the first year of his MCheM degree in Chemistry at the university and he has submitted an end of year report. The <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Norman Lloyd Scholarship</a> is given to a new student in the Cardiff School of Chemistry who is of high academic standing and resident in Wales. The <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2023/01/ninth-norman-lloyd-scholar-announced.html" target="_blank">ninth recipient of the Scholarship at Cardiff has also just been announced</a>.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQIFH087HwakjxmmRlH9RDdEk9t8w4h83iRfMMcFLnowrp8cSZ2-OME7tCdNYc9msgI0dL6xnUku1gNl9cb2UB66pFcVF2BeecBg_EWhd5bZDeHbwJxQcWU0akaPGarIORg6yu9FQocLztTIss9u-H9TSi0slxIM_T5HCcnhDp1HN6MHfz77nf4h4/s1211/20220120%20Martim.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1211" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQIFH087HwakjxmmRlH9RDdEk9t8w4h83iRfMMcFLnowrp8cSZ2-OME7tCdNYc9msgI0dL6xnUku1gNl9cb2UB66pFcVF2BeecBg_EWhd5bZDeHbwJxQcWU0akaPGarIORg6yu9FQocLztTIss9u-H9TSi0slxIM_T5HCcnhDp1HN6MHfz77nf4h4/w400-h400/20220120%20Martim.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /> </b><b>What degree are you undertaking and why did you choose the course here?</b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I am studying BSc Chemistry at Cardiff University. I chose this course due to the excellent reputation of the university, the lecture and laboratory facilities and the opportunities that would be afforded to me once I have completed my degree.</p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What is the best thing about studying at Cardiff and how have you found your experience so far?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The best thing about studying at Cardiff was being able to leave the sixth form bubble. In high school, you are exposed to people living in the same part of town. In college, you are exposed to students from around the city. In university, you have the chance to meet other students from around the country and even abroad! I have had the most fantastic time at university, and I am certain that I am now ready for the next steps after graduation.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do you have a career in mind after you graduate/what are your plans after you graduate?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After graduation, I will be reading Medicine at the University of Oxford. My goal is to pursue a career in Medicine and Education.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Achievements/what you enjoyed most and what have you found most challenging?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The transition from post-lockdown Year 13 to university proved to be difficult at first. I needed to develop healthy, yet effective study habits lost during lockdown and university has enabled me to achieve this. I have also been able to attend enrichment conferences in London which helped me to network with much more experienced professionals from all around the country.</div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Do you do anything extracurricular in your spare time/alongside your degree?</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I tried many societies out during my degree ranging from sports, politics, debating, to religious societies. I was also able to try new sports out and broaden my horizons! I am also attempting to scale up both my business and my outreach work to the whole country.</p><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>What difference has this scholarship made to you? Has it enabled you to achieve anything that you would not have been able to before?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This scholarship was an opportunity that allowed me grow academically and as an individual. I have used the scholarship to invest in my soft skills which has led me to being shortlisted by Oxford Medical School to read Medicine in 2024. I have also contributed to widening access initiatives by running workshops which help students to polish their university applications. In addition to this, I have been able to spend more time studying for my degree as I was fortunate enough to not need to get a part-time job during my studies which I could not be more grateful for.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>If you could say something to the donor who gave you this gift, what would it be?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I want to thank the donor for their generosity. It is so rewarding to be acknowledged for our hard work. The impact of the scholarship will be everlasting. When I started my course, I was less mature and had many goals. I can say that I look forward confidently and that being a scholar has played a major role in my achievements. I wish the donor a Merry Christmas and I would like to thank them for allowing students living in Wales to invest in their future and making the world a better place. I am proud to say that I have contributed to improving social mobility in this country and said volunteering work was done thanks to this scholarship.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We wish Martim every success for the future!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The scholarship</b></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Norman Lloyd scholarship</a> was set up by RSC Belgium in collaboration with Norman’s family and Cardiff University in memory of our old friend and supporter Norman Lloyd. Norman was himself a student at an institution that is now part of the university. The funds raised provide an annual scholarship of £1,000 for an undergraduate student, usually in their first year of study, at the Cardiff School of Chemistry.</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-57310944533069694062023-01-23T17:30:00.000+01:002023-01-23T17:30:22.632+01:00Ninth Norman Lloyd Scholar announced!<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Benjamin Condon (pictured below) is the latest recipient of the <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Dr. Norman Lloyd RSC Belgium scholarship at Cardiff University</a>. Benjamin is in his first year at Cardiff on a MCheM degree course. The Norman Lloyd Scholarship is given to a new student in the Cardiff School of Chemistry who is of high academic standing and resident in Wales.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaCvGm-E3sXz1QPqJd7UdUj-HHFlzTvIJCXoc9mAzlZJsbRgoHBOQ-LlSpy7lFF4e22RK9HpuZRCUTRjsxJnckTAX_jjuyX5rm1IoRCriPDoY9WxFo_bvuucnr6g1Xg0MyvaXyI6lNr2i9lMlSypPFPw8knZuPhDQs-QFRfaLDnq8c9fbnKkytewB/s977/Benjamin%20C%20NL.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="977" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaCvGm-E3sXz1QPqJd7UdUj-HHFlzTvIJCXoc9mAzlZJsbRgoHBOQ-LlSpy7lFF4e22RK9HpuZRCUTRjsxJnckTAX_jjuyX5rm1IoRCriPDoY9WxFo_bvuucnr6g1Xg0MyvaXyI6lNr2i9lMlSypPFPw8knZuPhDQs-QFRfaLDnq8c9fbnKkytewB/w295-h400/Benjamin%20C%20NL.jpeg" width="295" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Benjamin wrote to the section following his award:</p><p></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;">"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Royal Society of Chemistry Belgium and the family of Dr Norman Lloyd for the Chemistry scholarship award which I have received. This generous award has not only provided me with much-needed financial support, but has also given me the confidence and motivation to excel in my studies as a first year MChem student at Cardiff School of Chemistry.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The money provided will allow me to further my chemistry skills by attending workshops and placement opportunities over the summer break period along with additional support for purchasing reading material and technology.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have always considered studying chemistry after gaining a CREST gold award for the Welsh engineering education scheme whilst partaking in a chemical engineering project for Vale Nickel company. When redesigning a hydrogen heater for this company I gathered an interest in chemistry over my other science subjects. Since then, I have become a finalist in the South Wales Chemical Olympiad competition and also received a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seren_Network" target="_blank">Seren Award</a> for a project focussed on using hydrogen to produce energy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Receiving this award has certainly inspired me to work even harder to achieve my goals in this field. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity to help me complete my chemistry degree at Cardiff. After university, I hope to pursue a career in medicine allowing me to help tackle some of the most pressing health challenges using my chemical knowledge.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Thank you again for your support and belief in me. I am truly honoured to be a recipient of this scholarship."</p><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The scholarship</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Norman Lloyd scholarship</a> was set up by RSC Belgium in collaboration with Norman’s family and Cardiff University in memory of our old friend and supporter Norman Lloyd. Norman was himself a student at an institution that is now part of the university. The funds raised provide an annual scholarship of £1,000 for an undergraduate student, usually in their first year of study, at the Cardiff School of Chemistry.</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-31194306346183011682023-01-09T17:40:00.004+01:002023-01-24T10:18:40.733+01:00The Magic of Miniature Molecular Machines<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of Thursday 24 November RSC Belgium welcomed back Professor David Leigh from University of Manchester to talk about ‘Making the tiniest Machines’ with some extraordinary chemistry and also a few marvellous magic tricks! David is not only a skilled research leader and presenter but also a member of his local Magic Circle so we were treated to a highly informative and entertaining evening. The talk was hosted at the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels</a> in Tervuren and was also online.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">According to the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Committee “We are at the dawn of a new industrial revolution of the twenty-first century, and the future will show how molecular machinery can become an integral part of our lives. The advances made have also led to the first steps towards creating truly programmable machines, and it can be envisaged that molecular robotics will be one of the next major scientific areas.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In his highly entertaining talk David took us through much of the research that led to that statement and the award of the <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2016/summary/" target="_blank">Chemistry Nobel Prize in 2016 to Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir Fraser Stoddart and Ben Feringa "for the design and synthesis of molecular machines"</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1zfYB16uiJTbv2B81pwGHtEIGd13GEQu0-4kGFS_5XJ0oggOCSOFwRgk0GkIkQhQJFWKt3LDYsssoIxsf3I6Nt8qeQb6PulGnjKF0oWJbuEcoLEZCkPS2zXvraMlSa3sOnEPN4aLqe9Dd06J3p0Avd_8kqqBwX0udOvK6AqoCaNTk1Rddp4W-wq6/s4032/PXL_20221124_194823302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1zfYB16uiJTbv2B81pwGHtEIGd13GEQu0-4kGFS_5XJ0oggOCSOFwRgk0GkIkQhQJFWKt3LDYsssoIxsf3I6Nt8qeQb6PulGnjKF0oWJbuEcoLEZCkPS2zXvraMlSa3sOnEPN4aLqe9Dd06J3p0Avd_8kqqBwX0udOvK6AqoCaNTk1Rddp4W-wq6/w400-h225/PXL_20221124_194823302.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Molecular motion</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">In recent years, some of the first examples of synthetic molecular level machines and motors—all be they primitive by biological standards—have been developed. These molecules are often best designed to work through statistical mechanisms, rectifying random thermal motion through ratchet mechanisms in a manner reminiscent of Maxwell’s Demon. The first programmable systems have been introduced: the forerunners of a new technological era of molecular robotics.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk3r0mVSnL5sipzyJWPBQcLN8QtTZM_0hFCJtxbwiGLlRre7gNayxBgThTfwcm6MUGPL2MtAiuEl0nehbe2naIdSdmBR2-XPha7-MxrrR9qgVe9MMMJPADLN_U7IqDSfAi-x7GNduhTBuY6u5ROPFgLeIyrLDXFeODcU6ISy4wUJl5lm7HysRmu2u/s4032/PXL_20221124_185115046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFk3r0mVSnL5sipzyJWPBQcLN8QtTZM_0hFCJtxbwiGLlRre7gNayxBgThTfwcm6MUGPL2MtAiuEl0nehbe2naIdSdmBR2-XPha7-MxrrR9qgVe9MMMJPADLN_U7IqDSfAi-x7GNduhTBuY6u5ROPFgLeIyrLDXFeODcU6ISy4wUJl5lm7HysRmu2u/w400-h225/PXL_20221124_185115046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps the best way to appreciate the technological potential of controlled molecular-level motion is to recognise that nanomotors and molecular-level machines lie at the heart of every significant biological process. Over billions of years of evolution Nature has not repeatedly chosen this solution for achieving complex task performance without good reason. In stark contrast to biology, none of mankind’s fantastic myriad of present day technologies exploit controlled molecular-level motion in any way at all: every catalyst, every material, every plastic, every pharmaceutical, every chemical reagent, all function exclusively through their static or equilibrium dynamic properties. When we learn how to build artificial structures that can control and exploit molecular level motion, and interface their effects directly with other molecular-level substructures and the outside world, it will potentially impact on every aspect of functional molecule and materials design. An improved understanding of physics and biology will surely follow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmYT0cdKouNPVOkGz_cLWscElXWD_h7-GszTM9hD5MgQKlpGAQIVjAdDQknyLFKYwh7kUEHDo6k8jRVVn0BV0nQgqoQSlgXAU4pkTE0UJBTo2zNRuecoYKaT3P4C2QNelrfZiVX28Jh-XvOSCGswymRUNc-kG2bCWlOVeMwaK1JHZ3LpeNdLSyaSI/s4032/PXL_20221124_183723232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmYT0cdKouNPVOkGz_cLWscElXWD_h7-GszTM9hD5MgQKlpGAQIVjAdDQknyLFKYwh7kUEHDo6k8jRVVn0BV0nQgqoQSlgXAU4pkTE0UJBTo2zNRuecoYKaT3P4C2QNelrfZiVX28Jh-XvOSCGswymRUNc-kG2bCWlOVeMwaK1JHZ3LpeNdLSyaSI/w400-h225/PXL_20221124_183723232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">You can find out much more about David’s research group and their work (including the recent ‘Tape reading rachet’ paper in Nature and numerous informative video) on <a href="http://www.catenane.net/" target="_blank">their dedicated website</a>. And you can also view a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j6ZtgW4lMUR_OjsAlqtV_oDRLT2Pc9-c/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">pdf version of David's presentation here</a>.</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-89846693307559232102023-01-09T17:12:00.001+01:002023-01-19T10:47:01.617+01:00Exoplanets: the quest for other worlds beyond our solar system<p><b><span style="text-align: justify;">On 20 October 2022 RSC Belgium launched into deepest space with an entertaining and informative talk on 'Exoplanets or the quest for other worlds beyond our solar system' from </span><a href="https://erc.europa.eu/projects-figures/stories/first-images-taken-eu-funded-europa-telescope" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Prof Michaël Gillon </a><span style="text-align: justify;">of the University of Liege. </span>Michaël<span style="text-align: justify;"> led the team that stunned the world with the discovery of seven potentially inhabitable planets orbiting the Trappist-1 star, some 40 light years from Earth.</span></b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>In the talk he described some of the experiments and
missions that have discovered new worlds far, far away – some with potentially
Earth like characteristics. In 2017 Prof Gillon led the <a href="https://www.trappist.uliege.be/cms/c_5006023/en/trappist">TRAPPIST (TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope)</a> project that was the first to detect an extrasolar multi-planetary system and this work continues in the <a href="https://www.speculoos.uliege.be/cms/c_4532838/en/speculoos-the-project">SPECULOOS (Search for habitable Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars)</a> project.</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since the dawn of the Copernican revolution, the existence
of exoplanets, i.e., planets in orbit around other stars than our Sun, has
remained suspected but unconfirmed until very recently. It is only in the last
decade of the 20th century that the first of these extrasolar worlds were
found. These seminal discoveries initiated the development of more and more
ambitious projects that led eventually to the detection of thousands of
exoplanets, including a few dozen potentially habitable ones, i.e., Earth-like
exoplanets that could harbour large amounts of liquid water -and maybe life- on
their surfaces. Our most powerful telescopes will soon be able to probe the
atmospheric compositions of some of these extrasolar worlds, performing maybe
in the process the historical detection of the chemical signs of life many light-years
away. Such a discovery would change our view of the Cosmos forever.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gillon described our own solar system and Earth's unique place in it: in the 'habitable zone' where liquid water can exist on the planet's surface. He mentioned that the search for exoplanets has existed almost since the start of modern astronomy with Huygens making computations on the possibility to see planets orbiting other stars.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlMDJ3GMfs7pQBrTQxe9iFhJVfGBxsEljnslFIoOTL6hJFTPwdkoMT84djWm-_o47ULR-kmdUyElSAd7jUMITmE3_S5TS0p_gfZcC7xySRPFVzkbNEpaxpq3CduTkfbQQ_t9WsaJJ0ndXAUSVZ4nh2K5jJgGnTJ7Vz0tFXWFwaMxHQcDm7JwKG1EW/s1279/%23004crop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1279" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlMDJ3GMfs7pQBrTQxe9iFhJVfGBxsEljnslFIoOTL6hJFTPwdkoMT84djWm-_o47ULR-kmdUyElSAd7jUMITmE3_S5TS0p_gfZcC7xySRPFVzkbNEpaxpq3CduTkfbQQ_t9WsaJJ0ndXAUSVZ4nh2K5jJgGnTJ7Vz0tFXWFwaMxHQcDm7JwKG1EW/w400-h300/%23004crop.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">However it was not until the early 80s that the first imaging of circumstellar protoplanetary disks using the <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html" target="_blank">Hubble Space Telescope (HST)</a> was possible (see above).</p></div><div><div>The first exoplanet detection was in 1992 with the first detection of a planet around a Sun-like system in 1995. This was of a Jupiter-like planet orbiting very close to its 'Sun'. These pioneering observations led to a burst of research and now over 5000 exoplanets have been catalogued.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILxF27FlHLhdpBOSpMaAPGi8-q3e8FN7DDvfbJQmJ3A7VQmuiUz6k490F0R-fCNv4scwB6DpQsvxsBliuqVkU4eYOUILfEUMDQ74vwMzmbuEem95-alvk98ykpOl6PGAQ7O_FAT-u6IzRRKJByd5A16IvpSzxcsTLdG52y3OoybgNTYmKScFsLy3z/s1441/%23006crop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1441" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILxF27FlHLhdpBOSpMaAPGi8-q3e8FN7DDvfbJQmJ3A7VQmuiUz6k490F0R-fCNv4scwB6DpQsvxsBliuqVkU4eYOUILfEUMDQ74vwMzmbuEem95-alvk98ykpOl6PGAQ7O_FAT-u6IzRRKJByd5A16IvpSzxcsTLdG52y3OoybgNTYmKScFsLy3z/w400-h233/%23006crop.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>It is probable that planets are everywhere with nearly all stars in our galaxy surrounded by a system of planets. In fact it is likely that planets are a natural byproduct of the formation of all solar systems but there is huge diversity of systems (see above). Our system format seems to be very rare and in addition to planets in solar systems a few hundred ‘free floating’ planets have been discovered; presumably ejected from their 'mother' system at some point in the distant past.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUFZ0tZKNnlnLkpwNFLhWpJFpwCa6O5n6oVgiR2Emsd3EPKPrdr_qpjFUCEMAEvgSzH1EVTZvaAUEHipnBwTteuZKwdUpjIIozV1aTzhe4e7MYTtZ8yTqOLWBgmNLcHqy_Fzsp4obBWrnAcolGGjxXdnKFvAKfIldZ535M_nsuvjiMx4XjjYhTfI9/s1490/%23008crop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1490" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUFZ0tZKNnlnLkpwNFLhWpJFpwCa6O5n6oVgiR2Emsd3EPKPrdr_qpjFUCEMAEvgSzH1EVTZvaAUEHipnBwTteuZKwdUpjIIozV1aTzhe4e7MYTtZ8yTqOLWBgmNLcHqy_Fzsp4obBWrnAcolGGjxXdnKFvAKfIldZ535M_nsuvjiMx4XjjYhTfI9/w400-h244/%23008crop.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Despite the rarity of Sun-like solar systems plenty of habitable zone planets have been found (see above) and imaging is possible, which also means that spectroscopy of these exoplanets is possible (see below). Life on a planet will alter the composition of the atmosphere on a planet and therefore its spectroscopic signal.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxZRW_V9mjPC02WplQ0TSVq8ashwBMg8LArdWt7_OHfJM0fLs72MORkeFsBPAEbGIwFs_vjpkubF4X_TGXlW8zx2Yr0Xq71Z94Qa5Rb1ZwqV_1fKN8PWLmWUPoLV8t8damU7VH_WfahBj16X_tTzD_-NWIDrLxZheyMpAYKOBTqFGcfawtdXKTDMR/s1462/%23009crop.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1462" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxZRW_V9mjPC02WplQ0TSVq8ashwBMg8LArdWt7_OHfJM0fLs72MORkeFsBPAEbGIwFs_vjpkubF4X_TGXlW8zx2Yr0Xq71Z94Qa5Rb1ZwqV_1fKN8PWLmWUPoLV8t8damU7VH_WfahBj16X_tTzD_-NWIDrLxZheyMpAYKOBTqFGcfawtdXKTDMR/w400-h224/%23009crop.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The new <a href="https://webb.nasa.gov/index.html" target="_blank">James Webb Space Telescope</a> has an infrared detector and so could detect this potential signal of life on distant exoplanets. Gillon is involved with two networks of ground-based robotic telescopes - TOSS (Transient Optical Sky Survey) and SPECULOOS - that are looking for best targets for Webb to further investigate. The TRAPPIST experiment was the prototype for the SPECULOOS robotic telescopes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Further giant telescopes are planned to aid the search for exoplanets. After James Webb, an <a href="https://elt.eso.org/" target="_blank">Extremely Large Telescope (ELT)</a> should be operational from 2030 equipped with a 40 metre mirror that adapts to compensate for varying atmospheric conditions should be capable of directly imaging exoplanets. And then further, larger and smarter space-based systems.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gillon believes that an answer to our search for life beyond our solar system could be close! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Watch again</b></div><div>You can re-watch the webinar on our YouTube Channel or via the video embedded below.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVngZdxDxyc" width="320" youtube-src-id="CVngZdxDxyc"></iframe></div><div><br /></div></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-50203476118756015972022-10-25T10:50:00.000+02:002022-10-25T10:50:33.222+02:00Chemistry Challenge 2022 results announced<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The results of the RSC Belgium Chemistry Challenge 2022
were announced at our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/10/extreme-phenomena-in-our-universe-from.html" target="_blank">e</a><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/10/extreme-phenomena-in-our-universe-from.html" target="_blank">vent on <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">29 September with Prof Vincent Lemaitre</span></a> at</span> the <a href="https://www.britishschool.be/" target="_blank">British School of Brussels (BSB)</a> in
Tervuren. As for the previous two years, this year's Chemistry Challenge was undertaken
as a virtual event in the early summer with the students working remotely at
their schools.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For the 2022 Challenge, we received entries from the
majority of our group of international and European schools in the Brussels
area and beyond and, as ever, the Challenge was designed to test the student's
chemical knowledge and initiative. In total entries for 2022 were significantly
up on 2021.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The RSC Belgium Chemical Challenge has three sections:<o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;">A
chemistry multiple choice paper (Section A)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;">A
structured questions on chemistry (Section B), and<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;">A 'Thinking
Matters' paper that is not chemistry based (Section C)<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The top results were as follows:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Section A - Multiple choice</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">First prize for this section was won by Olivia
Brenninkmeijer from the <a href="https://www.ais-antwerp.be/" target="_blank">Antwerp International School (AIS)</a>, pictured below, who received a €50 award.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcM1WXYD8lRHob3Xg8AJocApNbshlQtpkazr_KDMFCPKU3zW06vvg2PIHQ6JEGchOT_NMDJN1xJh4RjHwYYgErAFbtu3bvNA2z85MP3F6ymYspPMKI6xbTFuMHW4NB5lkNCQieugArReSQEHF5SC0kXm9MjtOTDHftM5Zumi7hiJZ4BM68eSPtBlW/s505/Olivia%20-%20AIS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="505" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcM1WXYD8lRHob3Xg8AJocApNbshlQtpkazr_KDMFCPKU3zW06vvg2PIHQ6JEGchOT_NMDJN1xJh4RjHwYYgErAFbtu3bvNA2z85MP3F6ymYspPMKI6xbTFuMHW4NB5lkNCQieugArReSQEHF5SC0kXm9MjtOTDHftM5Zumi7hiJZ4BM68eSPtBlW/w400-h268/Olivia%20-%20AIS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In second place was Giorgia Lucrezia la Cognata from the <a href="https://www.esmol.be/en" target="_blank">European School in Mol (ESMol)</a> who won €25 and
the third prize of €10 went to Zeynep Ozel of BSB.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Section B - Structured questions</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In this section the first prize of €50 was awarded to Kiara
Kuralla of BSB with Matei Slavnicu <a href="https://www.stjohns.be/" target="_blank">from St.Johns International School (St John’s)</a> picking up the second prize of €25. Two
third prizes of €10 were awarded to Siena Ootes of the <a href="http://www.euroschool.lu/site/" target="_blank">European School 1 in Luxembourg (ESL1)</a>
and Zeynep Ozel of BSB.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Section C - Thinking Matters</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For this section the top prize of €50 went to Kheya Sinha of
BSB, with BSB's Kalvin Biggs picking up a second prize of €25. Four third
places worth €10 were awarded to Simon Guisset and Philipp Weisser of ESL1 and
Kiara Kuralla and Naomi Copner from BSB.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Keith Price Prize</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">With an outstanding performances in Section B, and receiving an additional €100, this
year's <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/the-keith-price-cup-and-keith-price.html" target="_blank">Keith Price Prize</a> was claimed by Kiara Kuralla of BSB
(pictured below on the far right with some other BSB winners - from left to right Kalvin Biggs, Kheya Sinha, Naomi Copner, Zeynep Ozel and Kiara). <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifezGu9cA_RFbQVrdtWZX67stFB-35LVUNyzaGIg4BiZsLQZbNIyIc73rJ5V28olbRmLQ4O5RoiJ8IT_PvEKBe5jENd4tEOXCCL8sTixAPUa_oM1SLKm9252zYFbXuAafOnMs9_vbDoTNZ0i7jNG4laldCoGHUWTdQYUA8R1UKouQeTj0JNgz0M8bR/s4096/BSB%20Chem%20Challenge%20prize%20winners%202022%20-%20Calvin,%20Kheya,%20Naomi,%20Zeynep%20and%20Kiara.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifezGu9cA_RFbQVrdtWZX67stFB-35LVUNyzaGIg4BiZsLQZbNIyIc73rJ5V28olbRmLQ4O5RoiJ8IT_PvEKBe5jENd4tEOXCCL8sTixAPUa_oM1SLKm9252zYFbXuAafOnMs9_vbDoTNZ0i7jNG4laldCoGHUWTdQYUA8R1UKouQeTj0JNgz0M8bR/w400-h300/BSB%20Chem%20Challenge%20prize%20winners%202022%20-%20Calvin,%20Kheya,%20Naomi,%20Zeynep%20and%20Kiara.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Well done to everyone who took part in this year's Chemistry
Challenge! Every student that entered the competition receives a certificate of
participation (see pic from ESL1 below). And, of course, we will be running the Challenge again in 2023
and look forward to further widening participation!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF92fNBYzORSlOFtCf_-A4cWOEFimUCiZ__gr_HpgdgEQPJOrZFOg2PqaNjJO_ZKMAzKRwqJfRilUNcdRnyRuhqa1dnWvmDkuGTFYqXMT9SUwVl-AZU9mY4qX4D3lV3KovUo1SCO7piZuHZ-y0fzxxFM6fYb8Fn-BEavQqWEaDlzvjcDf0uKYUogH/s640/Gruppenfoto%20mit%20K%C3%BCrzel-ESL1-noscribble.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjF92fNBYzORSlOFtCf_-A4cWOEFimUCiZ__gr_HpgdgEQPJOrZFOg2PqaNjJO_ZKMAzKRwqJfRilUNcdRnyRuhqa1dnWvmDkuGTFYqXMT9SUwVl-AZU9mY4qX4D3lV3KovUo1SCO7piZuHZ-y0fzxxFM6fYb8Fn-BEavQqWEaDlzvjcDf0uKYUogH/w400-h300/Gruppenfoto%20mit%20K%C3%BCrzel-ESL1-noscribble.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-48719214820703899302022-10-25T10:48:00.007+02:002022-10-25T10:51:17.265+02:00Extreme phenomena in our universe, from the infinitely small to the infinitely large<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On the evening of 29 September 2022 RSC Belgium welcomed back, once again, Professor Vincent Lemaitre from <a href="https://uclouvain.be/fr/index.html" target="_blank">Universite Catholique de Louvain</a> to <span style="text-align: justify;">discuss the latest thinking in high energy and astrophysics in a talk on ‘Key experiments probing extreme phenomena in the universe from very small to very large scale structures’. His talk was our first in-person talk since the COVID pandemic and was hosted at the British School of Brussels. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">This event was also the <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/2022/10/chemistry-challenge-2022-results.html" target="_blank">prize giving ceremony for our Chemistry Challenge 2022</a> for school students.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV_9-UlDcCJ-IDFr-kYLY2oxv3FfivA_GNdld9RzPo7ZkjON6zuOQKM0NXqTqIt9LCOPSEWozFsqlTIGHvQp3IWSOLILIB7_hGDNWvrEenIAQqEeB4HNMSV6fRTuIGdeuBLH1_Ipunrw9hKLMbMbG2kRkOOR_ZNOce7eMjKFg7JdS834WMMPr9fCw/s4032/PXL_20220929_175841962.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV_9-UlDcCJ-IDFr-kYLY2oxv3FfivA_GNdld9RzPo7ZkjON6zuOQKM0NXqTqIt9LCOPSEWozFsqlTIGHvQp3IWSOLILIB7_hGDNWvrEenIAQqEeB4HNMSV6fRTuIGdeuBLH1_Ipunrw9hKLMbMbG2kRkOOR_ZNOce7eMjKFg7JdS834WMMPr9fCw/w400-h225/PXL_20220929_175841962.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>Scientific knowledge is forged through observation of nature
and the development of scientific theories. The latter must not only explain
observations, but they must also make predictions that can be verified by
experiments! By construction, and contrary to beliefs, scientific theories are
therefore falsifiable by possible observations not predicted or understood by
theories. Present theories are therefore doomed to be replaced by new ones,
more complete and more efficient. The key element for the development of new
theories is therefore our ability to observe nature in its smallest corners and
extreme conditions - at different spatial and temporal scales, and at different
levels of structural complexity.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo3bmESs22q5uHkrNxpaE_df-tXRoTB8MJrJ41xEzoIJ68DumBCkGIKOfQh64EOivv9DauoDsDusA3JYI6C5tv-_1iA1fP8YQVU9RdgWJjBZ8pQtjJjl_eOA9Fmv7Y7AvYuyQljrrax8wz78C2G7mtYGKVpiM7tUdKjx3dcZII0Ot5f1y3DO00O37/s4032/PXL_20220929_175612414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjo3bmESs22q5uHkrNxpaE_df-tXRoTB8MJrJ41xEzoIJ68DumBCkGIKOfQh64EOivv9DauoDsDusA3JYI6C5tv-_1iA1fP8YQVU9RdgWJjBZ8pQtjJjl_eOA9Fmv7Y7AvYuyQljrrax8wz78C2G7mtYGKVpiM7tUdKjx3dcZII0Ot5f1y3DO00O37/w400-h225/PXL_20220929_175612414.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="text-align: justify;">In the talk, Prof Lemaitre took us through three recent experiments
in physics that allow us to observe (or reproduce the conditions of) extreme
phenomena in our universe, from the infinitely small to the infinitely large.</span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">They were: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"></p><ul><li>The <a href="https://www.home.cern/science/experiments/cms">CMS experiment at the LHC</a>
(Particle Physics and the discovery of the Higgs boson)</li><li>The <a href="https://www.ligo.org/">LIGO/VIRGO
experiments</a> (General Relativity and the discovery of gravitational wave),
and</li><li>The <a href="https://www.km3net.org/about-km3net/">ICECUBE/KM3NeT experiments</a>
(Physics of Astroparticles and the first observation of Blazers – a form of
supermassive black hole - with neutrinos).</li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Boq8okTpsN2vZiur2N8lcl4NCCstI1y9EOGc0U3VKUkFDpoORHxmPPIVQ5dy9GI6Kp8NBJg0uPeto-y03wMvp4kmdHl_ujcCcAyPm2YuP3XopKHZdKTji2EJFBqwHY6zPXm8pqFgRg_iXI_QMIa1dKY2doxEL6vvOj77ypAfS4gN2YYWva1dbKAc/s4032/PXL_20220929_184520060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Boq8okTpsN2vZiur2N8lcl4NCCstI1y9EOGc0U3VKUkFDpoORHxmPPIVQ5dy9GI6Kp8NBJg0uPeto-y03wMvp4kmdHl_ujcCcAyPm2YuP3XopKHZdKTji2EJFBqwHY6zPXm8pqFgRg_iXI_QMIa1dKY2doxEL6vvOj77ypAfS4gN2YYWva1dbKAc/w400-h225/PXL_20220929_184520060.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">After presenting the main result(s) obtained by these significant projects, Vincent briefly discussed some future experimental projects
in each of these research fields.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The talk was followed by a networking reception where the discussion continued.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We had hoped to combine the live 'in-person' event with a webinar version but a few technical hitches prevented this and we also were unable to record a video version of the event. Our apologies for this.</p></div>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-86313937330288512522022-08-22T18:57:00.000+02:002022-08-22T18:57:30.666+02:00Norman Lloyd Fundraiser 2022<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>RSC Belgium members and friends were treated to a sunny afternoon on Saturday 20 August to raise funds for our <a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank">Dr. Norman Lloyd Scholarships</a> at Cardiff University.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtttb0xa3DAMfs18FvCZG6FNv7B-z9j2GJd4Vtr_SleMoHTQid4ggvLO9zXVeHZm-wdrfbwUDLUHiS6gERzeaY2I2VdQ3VfyzBbzNtAu4alO6qEzvl6p-tewiCYAatH2Wro3Opq3dhpPmJisNKIUiZb90GY1I5MX9NTLfgQQnXi-KTSS1g-g4HzNLL/s1920/Photo%20from%20Trim%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtttb0xa3DAMfs18FvCZG6FNv7B-z9j2GJd4Vtr_SleMoHTQid4ggvLO9zXVeHZm-wdrfbwUDLUHiS6gERzeaY2I2VdQ3VfyzBbzNtAu4alO6qEzvl6p-tewiCYAatH2Wro3Opq3dhpPmJisNKIUiZb90GY1I5MX9NTLfgQQnXi-KTSS1g-g4HzNLL/w400-h300/Photo%20from%20Trim%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Our hosts for the afternoon were Rita and Peter Woodward and the venue was their beautiful garden in Duisberg.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj33HGcsPQfsoYMbbds9FIPOOp6ofML5wJQFSE_MqXiMIdua9reRZ4DSFh9ftUE2jgIvk7LuOIakunWv3qHoIpTgSvPf2V_5q_Q5qLJNIXYCdgO9gi661f9BufSAUrRoj41Ct1SsKWacVNhzYC1MNg-YX_5UuRH9e2nAvVbPYsAObujSDAqb0zDIBn/s4032/PXL_20220820_160637865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj33HGcsPQfsoYMbbds9FIPOOp6ofML5wJQFSE_MqXiMIdua9reRZ4DSFh9ftUE2jgIvk7LuOIakunWv3qHoIpTgSvPf2V_5q_Q5qLJNIXYCdgO9gi661f9BufSAUrRoj41Ct1SsKWacVNhzYC1MNg-YX_5UuRH9e2nAvVbPYsAObujSDAqb0zDIBn/w400-h225/PXL_20220820_160637865.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Assisting with proceedings were are Nina (Nostra Nina Lions from D’Es) and Treeze (Treeze Lions from D’Es) - Rita and Peter's two pedigree Leonbergers. Leonbergers are rather large but very friendly canines, but if they decide to lean on you you know about it! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHperSoHa5kk_1pne5ewRmeRQSKTCBXjUeQlreoxo0ii4RQcZy1yKf_AmZHdLGrbzdhjkvK4nQaf6f_AnDSHDKwI58JzZTQoN8wx-r0HZ7Mz0GV4ALypPFaawsFuOALqkgBwDpVxaTl28YsNgsJmeNS6NFcdl6nZvKFsdv-3a6wOfsq7Ebw_fQOuj4/s1920/Photo%20from%20Trim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHperSoHa5kk_1pne5ewRmeRQSKTCBXjUeQlreoxo0ii4RQcZy1yKf_AmZHdLGrbzdhjkvK4nQaf6f_AnDSHDKwI58JzZTQoN8wx-r0HZ7Mz0GV4ALypPFaawsFuOALqkgBwDpVxaTl28YsNgsJmeNS6NFcdl6nZvKFsdv-3a6wOfsq7Ebw_fQOuj4/w400-h300/Photo%20from%20Trim.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Rita and Peter provided a sumptuous spread for their guests including drinks. Tim Reynolds brought along Timm's Pimm's and blackberry sherbet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o7bZj0-Jsqc5RoYqaLa-VUK3Gt_YBj0vFLhZOVSzPLLrLxD2S8gBZA3aphR91zjknrce20SUf00BzYKzGixTHmRg2Tq7QD0RVHZ20UDZZTytPMVGkJZW_2P1Np3nNlUhIhvOKj0MoxqI6n7RR_EZsijCZ-0Exz4VnAfpNGt4jeTlZdVRCLtAOOTv/s4032/PXL_20220820_160614875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5o7bZj0-Jsqc5RoYqaLa-VUK3Gt_YBj0vFLhZOVSzPLLrLxD2S8gBZA3aphR91zjknrce20SUf00BzYKzGixTHmRg2Tq7QD0RVHZ20UDZZTytPMVGkJZW_2P1Np3nNlUhIhvOKj0MoxqI6n7RR_EZsijCZ-0Exz4VnAfpNGt4jeTlZdVRCLtAOOTv/w400-h225/PXL_20220820_160614875.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">A tombola was held with some fine prizes and in total, including donations from people unable to attend, over 900 euros were raised for our Norman Lloyd scholarships.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7UKs-JGG2VRXITZbEA44fhgLS-aeM6xV7izRuD7IjXO29wtwyASfT8TqeRQyrERK9gZCfoUsrUNHMRAFc5W2S3I_8PXX8tnUV6xLGLk3zJuEukkfgISCrp4cbJjdj2DAdxjgj_FtYVBrcykFUjYqd1IfYnU5Xp1wnIUaoIck8wgdbEtK5DOLjfmI/s1920/Photo%20from%20Trim%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7UKs-JGG2VRXITZbEA44fhgLS-aeM6xV7izRuD7IjXO29wtwyASfT8TqeRQyrERK9gZCfoUsrUNHMRAFc5W2S3I_8PXX8tnUV6xLGLk3zJuEukkfgISCrp4cbJjdj2DAdxjgj_FtYVBrcykFUjYqd1IfYnU5Xp1wnIUaoIck8wgdbEtK5DOLjfmI/w400-h300/Photo%20from%20Trim%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Scholarships</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Norman Lloyd scholarship was established by RSC Belgium in cooperation with Cardiff University in memory of our long-term friend and supporter Norman Lloyd. The Dr Norman C. Lloyd Scholarship provides an annual scholarship of £1,000 for an undergraduate student, usually in their first year of study, at the Cardiff School of Chemistry. So far eight undergraduates have been recipients of the award.<a href="https://rscbelgium.blogspot.com/p/httpwww.html" target="_blank"> Find out more here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you would like to make a donation to the Scholarship fund, you can transfer your contribution to the RSC Belgium ING account BE 91 3630 8144 4876 making sure to include the reference 'Norman Lloyd Scholarship Fund'.</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3639368255698553260.post-34075927295632727762022-07-05T09:37:00.000+02:002022-07-05T09:37:26.665+02:00Foreign bodies uncovered<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>On Saturday 2 July, RSC Belgium members and friends were treated to a fascinating guided walk
around the lower town in Brussels led by Dr Paul Snell. Paul specialises
in art and architectural tours usually with a particular theme or geographical
focus and for our walk he took us on a tour of ‘Foreign Bodies’.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The walk started with a coffee at <a href="https://lecirio.be/en">Le Cirio
café</a> in central Brussels. We learnt that this grand and venerable Brussels establishment was originally set up as a canned vegetable store in the 1880s by Italian Francesco Cirio as part of a chain of stores across Europe. You can still spot Cirio tomatoes on the shelves of your local store. The cafe has also been a regular backdrop for films.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNBfAHWcX9vl2S0DmJAEfS__SYhPzxtN7yyrLackHhrdRDjgVrlNF51hkEGf9ZeFVoyo4qaF9rGx-q_wvwtGHnPRzxyn-DEPFvXF6nJO_JZr8gn3SPqJhuToaPxqy7fWcTa8pxMNy4rokADR3u9N-V548ZrGB_aonUaNRIUHuCAg44VeL6W_vZKK2/s4032/PXL_20220702_102404347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNBfAHWcX9vl2S0DmJAEfS__SYhPzxtN7yyrLackHhrdRDjgVrlNF51hkEGf9ZeFVoyo4qaF9rGx-q_wvwtGHnPRzxyn-DEPFvXF6nJO_JZr8gn3SPqJhuToaPxqy7fWcTa8pxMNy4rokADR3u9N-V548ZrGB_aonUaNRIUHuCAg44VeL6W_vZKK2/w400-h225/PXL_20220702_102404347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The tour then moved on to the Metropole hotel to learn about the Solvay Conferences via the Rodin reliefs on the Bourse and eventually ended at Mont des Arts. Here many of the party enjoyed an optional lunch on the terrace of the <a href="https://www.kbr.be/en/food-and-drink/">Restaurant Albert</a> on the fifth floor of the Belgian <a href="https://www.kbr.be/en/">Royal Library (KBR).</a> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Our thanks to Paul for a truly informative and entertaining walk packed with facts and anecdotes: it would be true to say 'we all learned something - in fact several new things' during the excursion! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_g6Tw5vHUyTdnRfZNY_raGgRW0u4bWjPSvEexp5YzpGX2qMb1n3gLa_Ybup2bNw-U-F_8Rvltz0wzVDll5GW6CixA4ALanyvtG2Z_zky7DfJtjpbf08gUcV7sLGsZLr4ZIv2IdBT0VngysNY4V9aV-aUB6IodQWx7rcfpa_dyi-x6sGJAL2ZBP3-/s4032/PXL_20220702_094359719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_g6Tw5vHUyTdnRfZNY_raGgRW0u4bWjPSvEexp5YzpGX2qMb1n3gLa_Ybup2bNw-U-F_8Rvltz0wzVDll5GW6CixA4ALanyvtG2Z_zky7DfJtjpbf08gUcV7sLGsZLr4ZIv2IdBT0VngysNY4V9aV-aUB6IodQWx7rcfpa_dyi-x6sGJAL2ZBP3-/w400-h225/PXL_20220702_094359719.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">My personal favourite was that Jean Neuhaus, inventor (or was it his wife?) of the praline and ballotin box, was another Italian visitor to Belgium (original family name Casanova!) and was a pharmacist. His first pharmacy shop was in Galeries St. Hubert and he started coating his medical pills with chocolate to make them more palatable.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Paul's Foreign Bodies walks explore places associated with various guests, visitors, exiles, invaders and liberators in the capital. Our tour also included historical characters like Jacques-Louis David, Victor Hugo, Karl Marx, Verlaine, and Baudelaire (not a big fan of Brussels).</p>RSC Belgiumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16071856573705766153noreply@blogger.com0