International Year of Chemistry

International Year of Chemistry
Name	International Year of Chemistry
Year	2011
Proclaimed by	United Nations General Assembly
Organized by	IUPAC
Partner	UNESCO
Theme	"Chemistry—Our Life, Our Future"

International Year of Chemistry The International Year of Chemistry was a global observance held in 2011 to celebrate the centenary of Marie Curie's Nobel laureates and to highlight the role of chemistry in addressing societal challenges. The initiative involved a coalition of scientific bodies including the IUPAC, UNESCO, national academies such as the Royal Society, and professional societies like the American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Activities spanned conferences, exhibitions, and outreach campaigns across continents including events in Paris, New York City, Tokyo, Berlin, and Cape Town.

Background and designation

The designation originated from proposals by IUPAC and UNESCO and was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly through a resolution sponsored by member states including France, Japan, South Africa, and United States. The campaign commemorated the 100th anniversary of Marie Curie's second Nobel Prize in Chemistry and echoed historical milestones such as the founding of the Chemical Society (London), later the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the establishment of institutions like the Max Planck Society and the National Academy of Sciences. National proclamations and parliamentary motions in countries such as Canada, Germany, India, and Australia reinforced the global mandate.

Objectives and themes

Planners articulated objectives to promote international cooperation among bodies like IUPAC, UNESCO, the ICSU, and the European Commission; to celebrate pioneers including Dmitri Mendeleev, Antoine Lavoisier, and Linus Pauling; and to communicate chemistry’s contributions to health through links to institutions like the World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The official theme, "Chemistry—Our Life, Our Future", targeted sustainable development priorities reflected in forums such as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and aligned with awards like the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the Wolf Prize in Chemistry to showcase innovation in fields represented by DuPont, AkzoNobel, and academic centers such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Oxford.

Global events and activities

Major events included international symposia hosted by IUPAC in collaboration with organizations like the American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry, and centenary exhibitions at museums such as the Science Museum (London), the Smithsonian Institution, and the Musée Curie. Regional congresses were organized by entities such as the European Chemical Societies Council, the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies, and the African Academy of Sciences, with satellite meetings at universities including University of Tokyo, University of Cape Town, and Peking University. Commemorative lectures featured speakers affiliated with institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, ETH Zurich, and corporate research centers at BASF, Bayer, and Roche.

Educational and public outreach initiatives

Outreach programs partnered with foundations and museums including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the American Chemical Society’s local sections to produce curriculum materials for schools affiliated with boards such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (India) and the College Board. Public demonstrations, chemistry roadshows, and hands-on experiments were staged at venues like the World Expo pavilions, city science festivals in São Paulo, Seoul, and Moscow, and community centers supported by organizations such as UNICEF and national science museums. Publications and multimedia resources were developed with editorial contributions from journals and publishers including Nature, Science, Chemical & Engineering News, and Royal Society Publishing.

Impact and legacy

The observance elevated profiles of research networks spanning institutes such as the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, the Pasteur Institute, and the Weizmann Institute of Science, and influenced policy dialogues at multilateral forums including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the World Economic Forum. Follow-on initiatives inspired by the Year included expanded funding programs at agencies like the National Science Foundation, the European Research Council, and national ministries of science in Brazil, China, and South Korea. Awards, prizes, and fellowships administered by bodies such as the Royal Society, American Chemical Society, and IUPAC cited outreach and interdisciplinary collaborations initiated during 2011 as part of their selection narratives.

Participating organizations and sponsorship

Primary organizers and sponsors comprised IUPAC and UNESCO with financial and in-kind support from multinational corporations including Dow Chemical Company, Shell plc, ExxonMobil, and Johnson & Johnson, philanthropic foundations like the Gates Foundation, and scientific societies such as the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Deutsche Chemische Gesellschaft, and the Chemical Society of Japan. National partners included academies and research councils such as the National Academy of Sciences (United States), the Indian National Science Academy, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Academia Sinica, along with regional consortia like the European Chemical Industry Council and the African Union.

Category:2011 in science