Cooperation among Chemical Societies: a European Perspective

The Federation of European Chemical Societies (FECS) will hold a meeting of presidents of member societies in Rimini, Italy, on October 5, 2000. Stepping up cooperation among European chemical societies will be one major topic for discussion. In preparation for this meeting, we have asked representatives of a number of European national chemical societies to contribute their thoughts on this issue. The first set of replies follows here.     

Institute Feature: CIRCC Italy

The CIRCC, Interuniversity Consortium on Chemical Reactivity and Catalysis, includes 17 universities and over 75 research units in Italy, with the aim to develop new chemical reactions, new catalytic systems, and their possible industrial applications. This Guest Editorial presents the consortium to EurJIC readers and summarizes the scientific articles that are showcased in the Institute Feature dedicated to CIRCC.     

Ethical guidelines for publication in journals and reviews

EuCheMS—The European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences is a nonprofit association. Its objective is to promote cooperation in Europe between those nonprofit scientific and technical societies and professional institutions in the field of chemistry/chemical sciences whose membership consists largely of individual qualified chemists/chemical scientists and whose interests include the science and/or practice of chemistry/chemical sciences. It was founded in 1970 and currently has 50 member societies in 36 countries. Published in Russian Zhurnal in Analiticheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 62, No. 4, pp. 441–444. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Proper use of certified reference materials?

Certified reference materials (CRMs) are important quality assurance tools in the laboratory. It is, however, not certain they are always used properly. Several guidelines are available on the use of CRMs, but appear to be mostly unknown. The users thus get very little help on the way to proper use. Many of the problems with CRMs are well known, but that does not mean they have disappeared. Better use of CRMs will require the involvement of producers and analytical societies, e.g. the AOAC. Editors of international analytical journals could have a great influence on how CRM results and other QA data are treated in publications.     

Promotion of Chemical Research Transcends National Boundaries

In the autumn of 1999, nine European national research promotion organisations took the unprecedented step of soliciting joint, transnational applications for chemical research grants. The nine also agreed upon joint evaluation of the applications, while maintaining national financing of the research. The role of this initiative by the Chairmen of European Research Councils' Chemistry Committees (CERC 3) is specifically to supplement – and not to challenge – existing programmes of the European Union (EU), the European Science Foundation (ESF) and the European Committee on Science and Technology (COST). Thirteen transnational application packages have been submitted so far by 50 working groups from eight European countries. The research is to be conducted in the highly topical fields „Topological Stereochemistry, Topological Chirality”︁ and „Molecules at Complex Surfaces: Bond Forming, Bond Breaking and Dynamics”︁.     

2012年毛细管电泳技术年度回顾

本文为2012年毛细管电泳(CE)技术的年度回顾。文中介绍了2012年涉及CE技术的国际会议4个,国内会议3个,对各会议的研究报道进行了总结。文中还归纳了ISI Web of Science中检索的2012年度发表的CE论文,并对这些CE论文在生物医药研究和检测器使用以及重要分析化学杂志发表的情况进行了分类说明。     

2013年毛细管电泳技术年度回顾

本文为2013年毛细管电泳(CE)技术的年度回顾。介绍了2013年涉及CE技术的国际会议6个,国内会议2个,对各会议的研究报道进行了总结。归纳了在ISI Web of Science中检索的2013年度发表的与CE技术相关的论文,并对这些论文在生物医药研究和检测器使用以及重要分析化学杂志发表的情况进行了分类说明。     

The development of a National Accreditation System in South and Southern Africa

 In South African industry there is a strong appreciation of Quality Assurance. More than 1400 companies have been certified as complying with ISO 9000, and this, of course, has resulted in a strong demand for accredited calibration and test facilities. Work on the development of a national calibration service started in 1976, and the South African National Calibration Service (SANCS) was inaugurated in 1980 with 13 calibration laboratories. The early maturity of the SANCS can be judged by the fact that by 1984 it had the technical capability to establish a mutual recognition agreement with a European country. It now has a total of some 191 accredited laboratories, 139 calibration laboratories and 52 testing laboratories. In 1993, the SANCS signed mutual recognition agreements with the CNLA (Taiwan) and the European Co-operation for the Accreditation of Laboratories (EAL). In 1994 it entered the field of testing laboratory accreditation and is already experiencing a strong influence therefrom, and in 1997 it changed its name to National Laboratory Accreditation Service (NLA). In May 1995, the NLA was appointed by the Department of Trade and Industry to establish a South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). Progress with this work up to the present time has been substantial.     

2014年毛细管电泳技术年度回顾

本文为2014年毛细管电泳(CE)技术的年度回顾.介绍了2014年涉及CE技术的国际会议5个,国内会议2个,总结了各会议的研究报道情况;归纳了在ISI Web of Science中检索到的2014年度发表的与CE技术相关的论文,并对以上论文在生物医药研究、检测器使用以及重要分析化学杂志发表的情况进行了分类说明.最后,回顾和比较了2012-2014年的CE进展.     

中国化学从大国走向强国：一个计量学分析

中国在国际出版物上发表的论文数量已经赶超了美国，成为世界第一大S&E出版物产出国。化学及其有关学科论文的发表为中国科技出版物增长做出了重大贡献，中国发表的化学论文占了全球化学论文总数的27%,远远高于其他国家，并且中国化学在顶级期刊发表的论文数量、被引用次数均超过了美国成为第一，化学领域发表文章质量逐步提高，中国正在大步迈向化学强国的征途中。本文从国家政策、财政投入和社会发展等方面分析了中国化学学科实力快速增长的原因，主要包括：国家政策的支持、研发经费快速增长、社会整体的快速发展等；同时指出中国化学学科面临后劲不足、基础研究薄弱、原创研究不足等问题；并给出了中国化学学科后续发展的建议，主要包括完善人才和科学评价及鼓励研究特色和基础工作、加大对基础研究工作的经费投入和项目设置、立“唯原创性”评价标准并高度重视原创性成果保护、支持化学的新兴交叉学科建设等几方面。     

The “entente cordiale” of Formulation Chemists

Chemical and technical societies - GDCh, SFC, RSC, Dechema, GVC – join forces for the next European Conference on Formulation, FORMULA V, to be held in Potsdam, 2007.     

Needs for improvement of the measurement infrastructure in Europe

Whereas the concept of quality control and quality assurance is well understood by modern laboratories (either commercial or with national responsibilities) which are accredited in various analytical sectors, there is an enormous gap in the transfer of knowledge to smaller laboratories. A strong and urgent need has been highlighted for improving the measurement infrastructure in Europe, particularly in less favoured regions or countries. This article gives a summary of needs expressed in the course of five workshops funded by the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (European Commission) and held, respectively, in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain.     

Letter to the Editor Industrial Mixed Acid Nitration

Abstract

Biochemistry — including molecular biology — constituted a major part of Dutch chemical research over the period from 1940 to 1980. However, the Netherlands did not occupy a strong position in that field of research after the Second World War. The present paper seeks to explain the successful development of biochemistry in the Netherlands into an independent discipline of international standing. Formulating the goal of biochemistry as “science for its own sake” played an important role in this development. Post-doctoral positions, senior fellowships and editorships of journals were crucial for biochemistry in the Netherlands in building a network of international contacts that could keep researchers informed about current developments. Westenbrink and Slater were key participants in the development of these networks. These two scientists developed international contacts via fellowships and as editors of major biochemical journals. It was through these forms of communication that the hitherto peripheral Dutch biochemical research community gained a more central position.     

Grand European Chemical Conferences: The Whole is More than the Sum of the Parts

National chemical society conferences are major platforms for communication and the exchange of ideas among the various chemical communities. However, in light of increasing efforts to create a true European research area in chemistry, there is an obvious need to establish such a platform on the European level. The GDCh has recently come up with a concept for achieving this goal.     

Experience of the National Institute of Metrology (INM) in development and certification of reference materials used in the metrological assurance of clinical laboratory measurements

In order to provide quality assurance in the field of clinical chemistry, required by European Standards, the Romanian national metrological infrastructure has to be improved. The main objectives of this important activity are metrological assurance of concentration measurements, the assessment of the uncertainty, and the traceability of measurements. Within this framework, reference materials play an important role. The experience of INM in the preparation, certification and use of reference materials and in metrological assurance of clinical laboratory measurements (especially when absorption photometric devices are used) is described. The combined uncertainty associated with chemical preparation of these reference materials is estimated. Received: 25 April 1997 / Revised: 8 July 1997 / Accepted: 12 July 1997     

Regional cooperation in proficiency testing: strategy planning and practical experiences in Western Balkan countries

The article describes the project of regional cooperation in proficiency testing within CARDS 2006 (assistance programme to the Western Balkans), which was coordinated by European Committee for Standardization, European Commission and European Free Trade Association and conducted by the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Laboratory of Metrology and Quality. The later is the holder of the national standard for thermodynamic temperature as well as an accredited proficiency testing provider and also accredited as a calibration, testing and inspection laboratory. It is also responsible for graduate study programme Quality Engineering. Proficiency testing was considered as a core activity of the entire project, but additionally as a very appropriate platform for knowledge transfer of EU technical legislation in selected sectors, metrology, testing and quality assurance in general. The project had a high added value for participating laboratories in countries of Western Balkans, because it required an active role of all participating laboratories, assured participation of staff from national metrology institutions, all national accreditation bodies, and was supported by national quality infrastructures, such as standardization, governmental institutions etc. in the entire Western Balkans region. The activities stimulated progress in the area of conformity assessment, added knowledge to the implementation of technical directives and development of the technical part of national legislation and therefore facilitated the process toward the accession to the European Union. The main objective was therefore to organize proficiency testing in those sectors (construction, consumer protection and environment) that were vital in the pre-accession process of countries seeking full implementation of EU technical legislation.     

An Industry in Transition: The Chemical Industry and the Megatrends Driving Its Forthcoming Transformation

Significant product and process innovation is taking place in the chemical industry. Rather than making bold predictions, this Essay emphasizes that this change, due to impact both main segments of the industry, is driven by societal megatrends concerning the environment, health, and energy which permeate societies on a global scale.     

IMEP in support of the comparability of measurement results across the Romanian chemical metrology infrastructure

On the basis of quantitative chemical measurements many important decisions are made in support of legislation or in industrial processes or social aspects. For this reason it is important to improve the quality of chemical measurement results and thus make them comparable and acceptable everywhere. The measurement quality is important to enable an equivalent implementation of the European Union regulations and directives across an enlarged EU. In this context, the European Commission–Joint Research Centre–Institute for Reference Materials and Measurement (EC-JRC-IRMM) set up a programme to improve the scientific basis for metrology in chemistry (MiC) in EU candidate countries in the framework of EU enlargement. Several activities were initiated, such as training, fellowships, sponsoring of seminars, conferences and participation in interlaboratory comparisons. To disseminate measurement traceability, IRMM provides through its International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP) an interlaboratory tool to enable the benchmarking of laboratory performance. IMEP emphasizes the metrological aspects of measurement results, such as traceability and measurement uncertainty. In this way it has become a publicly available European tool for MiC. The Romanian Bureau of Legal Metrology – National Institute of Metrology (BRML-INM) actively supports the participation of Romanian authorized and field laboratories in IMEP interlaboratory comparisons. This paper describes the interest of Romanian laboratories participating in this programme, the analytical and metrological problems that became relevant during these exercises and some actions for improvement. The results from Romanian laboratories participating in IMEP-12 (water), IMEP-16 (wine), IMEP-17 (human serum) and IMEP-20 (tuna fish) are presented. To conclude, the educational and training activities at national level organized jointly by the Romanian National Institute of Metrology (INM) and IRMM are also mentioned.     

A national traceability system for chemical measurements

Current developments in Germany for establishing a traceability system for chemical measurements are reported. The focus is on a dissemination mechanism which employs chemical calibration laboratories accredited within the framework of the German Calibration Service (DKD) and acting as "multipliers" between the national standards level and the user level by providing the user with calibration means which are traceable to the SI via national standards. At the national standards level, a network of high-level chemistry institutes coordinated by the national metrology institute, PTB, provides the primary references for chemical measurements.The use of the metrological dissemination system provided by the DKD also for chemical measurements is a logical extension of a traceability mechanism, successful for more than two decades in general metrology, to metrology in chemistry. In detail, traceability structures in clinical chemistry, electrochemistry, elemental analysis and gas analysis are described. This system has become an important part of the efforts made in Germany to support chemical laboratories in meeting the traceability requirements of the market and of legal regulations.