Thames Valley

Section No. 62

The Thames Valley Section has about 2000 members in an area which stretches from Banbury to Basingstoke and includes the Universities in Oxford and Reading as well as numerous industrial organizations.   The aim of the Section is to provide these members with a point of contact for the RSC, to organize informative meetings for them and to run events for schools and the public to increase awareness of Science and in particular Chemistry. 

Schools events include 'Science at Work' presentations run with Oxfordshire EBP, and various competitions such as growing a Crystal Garden for the 2010 award of the Phil Smith Trophy, and the regional heat for the Chemistry Challenge Competition.

To broaden the range of our meetings the RSC Thames Valley Section co-operates with other local scientific organizations, for example the Thames Valley Branch of the Institute of Biology, to arrange joint events.   The Section also holds social events, such as the Annual Guest Evening and the Annual Dinner, and also events specifically for Younger Members and Retired Members.  

Guests are welcome at all the Section’s meetings, including the lecture which follows the AGM although, of course, they may not take part in the AGM.   Many of the Section’s meetings are in university lecture theatres where members can normally attend without prior registration.   However when meetings are held at other venues, the security rules of the organization concerned generally require a list of those attending to be provided so those interested should notify the contact listed.   This does not commit members to attend but should ensure entry if they do.   It is also recommended that members bring their RSC Membership Cards to these meetings.

While our Secretary, Bryan Pierce, is in hospital, please contact Chairman John White or our Acting Secretary John Oversby for further information on the Section and its events.