RSC and SACI

The RSC signed the International Cooperation Agreement with the South Africa Chemical Institute (SACI) on the 8 March 2007.

The ceremony took place at Hofmeyr House at the University of Witwatersrand and was signed by Tony Ford (President of SACI) and Neville Reed (RSC Director of Communication and Member Services), and was attended by members of the SACI council and representatives from the RSC South Africa International Sections.

As with previous agreements signed, the SACI agreement is envisaged as mutually beneficial to both parties.

SACI members will have access to a selection of services previously available only to RSC members, and RSC members visiting South Africa will enjoy similar reciprocal benefits

As Tony Ford describes in more detail:

'this agreement will allow SACI members greater tangible benefits such as access to the RSC library and information centre, online access to a number of databases and discounts on RSC books, products and conferences".

The concept arose out of discussion with younger SACI members who began to question their membership, and appealed directly to the SACI council to initiate a dialogue with the RSC to secure benefits in some sort of collaborative arrangement.

"RSC members have access to a large number of world class chemistry journals and books, a comprehensive library service, and on-line access to a number of chemistry-related databases" he said, "this initiative, culminating in the present international cooperation agreement aims to benefit members of the chemical communities in both countries".