2011 Is the International Year of Chemistry

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 the “International Year of Chemistry,” a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of people everywhere. With the unifying theme “Chemistry—our life, our future,” the goals of the International Year of Chemistry are to increase public appreciation of chemistry in meeting the world’s needs, encourage interest in chemistry and chemical engineering among young people, generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry and chemical engineering, and celebrate the achievements of Marie Curie (the year marks the centennial of her Nobel Prize) and the contributions of women to chemistry and chemical engineering. The major themes focus on meeting the global challenges of clean air, safe water, dependable medicines, advanced materials and sustainable energy.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are leading the world-wide celebration.

AIChE, the American Chemical Society, the American Chemistry Council, and the Chemical Heritage Foundation are working together to plan the US celebration of 2011 as the “International Year of Chemistry” (IYC). And, IYC is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for outreach.

What’s the special chemistry of your city or your region? We’ve created special materials to support local media and student outreach, including “how to” tools for school labs, science cafes and book clubs, writing press releases and getting proclamations from political and community leaders to recognize your IYC events.  Many activities can be tailored to spotlight the special role that chemistry has played in your area’s history, economy, and quality of life.

The four organizations are also planning a special event in Philadelphia in February 2011 to kick off US observance of this special year.  And, both AIChE and ACS plan to feature special events in conjunction with their major 2011 meetings.