Our aims
The aims of the Faraday Community for Physical Chemistry are:
- To advise on and support scientific developments both in research and training in the general field of physical chemistry
- To support the next generation of scientists in the important field of physical chemistry in its broadest context
- To act as an advocate for the field of physical chemistry to the scientific community and society as a whole
- To promote excellence and sustainability in the field of physical chemistry
- To promote inclusion and diversity in its broadest possible sense across the physical chemistry community
Meet the members of the Council who are responsible for ensuring that the Community fulfils its purpose.
In 1902 the Faraday Society, named in honour of Michael Faraday, to "promote the study of Electrochemistry, Electrometallurgy, Chemical Physics, Metallurgy and kindred subjects" was formed. The first council meeting of the Society occurred in February 1903.
In 1972, the Faraday Society merged with the Chemical Society, and then later in 1982 merged with the Society for Analytical Chemistry and the Royal Institute of Chemistry to form the Royal Society of Chemistry as we know it today.
The Faraday Society thus became the Faraday Division, one of the key pillars of the Royal Society of Chemistry, with the aim to advance scientific developments and support scientists working in the field of physical chemistry.
In 2020, the RSC commissioned a review of the Divisions. One of the key recommendations of the Review was that the Divisions be reorganised into Subject Communities to better support the communities and members they represented, and to allow for better integration and collaboration with interest groups and other Communities.
Concurrently, the Faraday Division reviewed its name - members of the Division felt that it was important to continue to remember and honour the legacy of those scientists that came before us, such as Michael Faraday, but also to be mindful of inclusion, accessibility and the scope and breadth of the community.
The Faraday Division Council therefore decided that the best way to respect the diverse viewpoint of its members was to adopt the name "Faraday Community for Physical Chemistry" from July 2022.
Physical chemistry is the study of the underlying science behind atoms and molecules and their physical and chemical interactions. It is both experimental and theoretical.
Physical chemistry is the sub-discipline of chemistry that establishes, defines, and develops the principles of chemistry. It sits at the overlap of chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine. As a result, it is closely related to, and operates at, the interfaces with all other chemistry sub-disciplines.
Physical chemistry seeks to measure, correlate, and explain chemical reactions, dealing with concepts such as motion, energy, force, time, thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, dynamics, and equilibria.
Physical chemistry also seeks to understand the underlying properties of atoms and molecules, to better define and explain their behaviours and how these shape the universe around us.
Important sub-topics within physical chemistry include:
- Quantum chemistry
- Spectroscopy
- Thermodynamics
- Kinetics
- Statistical mechanics
- Electrochemistry
- Thermochemistry
- Photochemistry
- Surface chemistry
- Solid-state chemistry
- Metrology
- Computational chemistry
- Theoretical chemistry
- Colloids and formulation chemistry
The badge was designed by the eminent goldsmith Mr Leslie Durbin in 1956. It is in 9 ct gold and silver gilt, representing the head of Michael Faraday surrounded by a wreath of strawberry leaves and surmounted by a magnet and benzene ring. It is worn by the President of the Faraday Community for Physical Science on formal occasions and particularly at Faraday Discussions.
Explore the Faraday Community for Physical Chemistry
Contact and further information
- Tel:
- +44 1223 432131
- Email:
- send Philip an email