IUPAC (in conjunction with the UN and UNESCO) have proclaimed that 2011 is to be the International Year of Chemistry (IYC).

IYC was officially launched by the Cabinet Minister for Universities and Science Rt Hon David Willetts MP. The co-hosts were Mark Lancaster TD MP, Andrew Miller MP and Dr Julian Huppert MP.

Speakers

• Andrew Miller MP, Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee of Science and Technology
• Professor David Phillips, RSC President 
• Professor Temechegn Engida, from Ethiopia, President of the Federation of African Societies of Chemistry, a body which was instrumental in securing the UN resolution that 2011 would be the International Year of Chemistry
• Dr Julian Huppert MP (the Member for Cambridge)
• Rt Hon David Willetts MP (Cabinet Minister for Universities and Science)