The first in a series of ChemComm International Symposia was held, with great success, in China in December 2007. The meeting, on Polymers and Polymer Science, featured a mix of speakers from the UK, The Netherlands, the US and China and was held in three different venues: The Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; Fudan University, Shanghai; and Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou. 

ChemComm editor Sarah Thomas explained the aim of the symposium: "The purpose of this event was to bring together scientists in a stimulating and friendly environment that will foster collaborations between the researchers and the universities involved. This was successfully achieved with the first symposium, which was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from all who took part." 

ChemComm Editorial Board member, and speaker at the symposium, David Haddleton was extremely impressed by the event and what it represents for advancing the chemical sciences. "The RSC is right to focus efforts on China," he said, "my impression is that the Chinese are on the whole very receptive of the UK and the RSC." 

Building on the success of the first symposium, two more ChemComm international symposia are planned over the next eighteen months; both likely to be held in Asia. Watch the website for details of these events and other exciting ChemComm developments.