C   O   N   T   E   N   T   S

 

 International Currents

 

World Chemical Outlook.  When we took a look at the future of the chemical industry at this time last year, we were optimistic that 2005 would be a year of growth in most major chemical-producing regions of the world. For 2006, C&EN sees another year of growth. Read the C&EN regional reports at:

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/84/8402wco.html

 

DGRweb, the searchable, online version of the Directory of Graduate Research is now available free of charge.  The Directory of Graduate Research is the most comprehensive source of information on chemical research and researchers at universities in the U.S. and Canada. DGRweb allows searches by faculty or institution, and includes the 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2005 issues. 

http://dgr.rints.com/

 

Planning on attending the ACS National Meeting in Atlanta?  Find information on the US visa process and answers to your visa related questions in the ACS report Coming to the USA.   

http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/feature_acs.html?id=c373e90368c001388f6a17245d830100 

 

 

Regional News and Resources

 

Africa

 

Southern Africa adopts a regional approach to science.  Southern African nations have agreed to co-ordinate their science policies to develop the region's science and technology infrastructure.

http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2538&language=1

 

Southern African women 'must study maths, science'.  Women in southern Africa are being encouraged to study math and science to contribute to their region's socio-economic development.

http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2529&language=1

 

Asia

 

Chemists Forge New Bonds in India.  The American Chemical Society and India's Council on Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) wrapped up their inaugural joint meeting in India last week. 

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/84/i03/8403notw6.html

 

Attend an ACS Short Course at the National Meeting and Receive Entry into the ACS Exposition At No Extra Cost.  The ACS is launching four new short courses in the area of pharmaceutical chemistry at the national meeting in Atlanta this March. 

http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/acsdisplay.html?DOC=education%5cprofessional%5cscnational.html

 

Japanese Firms Keep Improving.  First-half profits for the fiscal year that will end March 31, 2006, improved at most large Japanese chemical companies; they enjoyed strong demand from Japan and the rest of Asia and performed fewer balance-sheet adjustments.

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/83/i47/8347notw5.html

 

Latin America and the Caribbean

 

Chemical Metrology in the Americas.  The Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) is a broad agreement among national metrology institutes (NMIs) from all 34 member nations of the Organization of American States.  Read more about Chemical Metrology in the Americas at:

http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/feature_tea.html?id=c373e9079e2d2f368f6a17245d830100

 

Brazil and Argentina Launch Joint Nanotech Center.   Argentina and Brazil have launched a new virtual nanotechnology center to pool their research efforts.

http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2537&language=1

 

Venezuela Launches US$150 Million Science Initiative.  Venezuela has launched a US$150 million science program to develop innovative research that contributes to economic growth and development.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1847

 

Europe and the Near East

 

Fresher Air for Europe?  Learn about the European Commission's (EC's) Clean Air Strategy, a plan to reduce the number of people dying prematurely from air-pollution-related diseases by almost 40% from the 2000 level by 2020.

http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/feature_pol.html?id=c373e907e65a23a78f6a17245d830100

 

Science for Peace in the Middle East.  Malta conferences encourage stronger scientific ties to counter political strife in troubled region.  Read more about the Malta conferences:

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/science/83/8351sci2.html

 

European leaders endorse role of science in Africa.  European Union leaders have issued a statement urging the recognition of science and technology as key to sustainable development in Africa.

http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2549&language=1

 

 

New Links 

 

ACS Spanish Language Resources.  Find all the Spanish language resources of the ACS, including text books, experiments, National Chemistry Week guides and more, in one place.  Visit the new site: 

www.chemistry.org/quimica.html

 

 

Funding Opportunities

 

IUPAC-Richter Prize in Medicinal Chemistry Established and Call for Nominations Open.  The IUPAC-Richter Prize in Medicinal Chemistry was established by a gift from the Chemical Works of Gedeon Richter, Ltd., Budapest, Hungary, to acknowledge the key role that medicinal chemistry plays in improving human health. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2006.  Learn about the Richter prize at: 

http://www.iupac.org/news/Richter_prize.html

 

Equipment Donation.  One way to supplement the resources of your research institution or organization is through equipment donation programs. It is possible to receive donated scientific instrumentation and supplies and computers via several different channels. Read more at: 

http://www.sigmaxi.org/programs/international/news.042004.shtml#equip

The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program helps developing countries strengthen sustainable agricultural practices by providing short-term scientific training and collaborative research opportunities to visiting researchers, policymakers and university faculty while they work with a mentor. The program targets developing countries and places participants at land-grant universities and 1890's colleges, government agencies, international research centers and other nonprofit institutions and private companies.  Learn about the program at: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/borlaug/borlaug.htm