Commonwealth Chemistry: celebrating the diversity of our community
The first online Commonwealth Chemistry poster conference, entitled “Building the Partnership”, was held in August 2020.
The Commonwealth is a uniquely diverse group of nations with shared values and a powerful voice. It represents all corners of the globe and is home to 12% of the world’s researchers. With an estimated 60% of its population under the age of 30, the Commonwealth is set to play an ever more important role in the world’s future – a future that will present many challenges where science can identify solutions.
To this end, Commonwealth Chemistry – the Federation of Commonwealth Chemical Sciences Societies – aims to bring together chemists from across the Commonwealth under the banner of equality for all.
The first ever Commonwealth Chemistry Congress was due to be held in May this year, and was to take place in Trinidad and Tobago. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, it has been postponed to May 2021.
Dr Robert Parker, Commonwealth Chemistry Executive Board member, said: "We were really sad to have to postpone the first Congress, especially as so much preparation had been done by the local organizing committee led by Michael Forde from the University of the West Indies. We look forward to the time when we will be able to celebrate in person."
In place of the Congress this year Commonwealth Chemistry invited all the delegates to a three-day online poster conference.
Rachel Thompson, Programme Manager for Commonwealth Chemistry at the Royal Society of Chemistry explains:
"The Congress is intended to give equal representation to all Commonwealth countries – however large or small. So each country selected three early career chemists to represent them at the poster conference. The chemists presented their posters in a virtual format, as well as networking with members of the community from across the Commonwealth. We invited all the original Congress delegates, as well as the plenary speakers, meaning that the conference brought together chemists at all career stages from around the globe, to share ideas and make new contacts.
"The list of poster prize winners is a real celebration of the diversity of our community, with our winners coming from a total of 18 different countries."
Dr Yalinu Poya, from Papua New Guinea, has recently received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Glasgow. She won one of the 20 poster prizes available for her poster describing her research on synthesising novel catalysts for small-scale sustainable ammonia synthesis using renewable energy sources such as water and wind.
"Attending the Commonwealth Chemistry Poster Competition was a great experience", said Yalinu. "It was wonderful to be selected to represent my country Papua New Guinea in this inaugural event, which was a great honour. During the competition I got to see the amazing research done by other brilliant scientists across the Commonwealth.
"This was the first poster event that I have attended virtually. It was a new experience, but I enjoyed it as I was able to still do my presentation how it would be like if it were face-to-face. The organisers did a fantastic job planning the virtual event, all our needs were met and there were no difficulties.
"My favourite thing about the event was meeting other scientists from across the Commonwealth of Nations. It's amazing how we were united not only as Commonwealth citizens but as chemists trying to solve problems facing the world.
"I was absolutely over the moon when I received the news that I was a Poster Prize Winner in the Green Chemistry and Catalysis Category. Not only was this award a personal achievement, but it was for my country Papua New Guinea as I represented my country in this event. I felt highly honoured that my poster for my ammonia synthesis research was selected by the judges for this award."
Poster prize winners
Poster presenter |
Country |
| Amanda Bongers |
Canada |
| Anna Garden | New Zealand |
| Cynthia Ibeto | Nigeria |
| Geeta Devi Somaroo | Mauritius |
| Ireshika De Silva | Sri Lanka |
| Jermaine Smith | Jamaica |
| Juma Mmongoyo | Tanzania |
| Kessy Kilulya | Tanzania |
| Krishna Kumar Kotra | Vanuatu |
| Madina Mohamed Adia | Uganda |
| Mutenta Nsokolo Nyambe | Zambia |
| Natalia Shakela | Namibia |
| Ngonye Keroletswe | Botswana |
| Nikolai Holder | Barbados |
| Nur Hidayah Azeman | Malaysia |
| Sadhna Mathura | South Africa |
| Siu Yee New | Malaysia |
| Thimmaiah Govindaraju | India |
| Yalinu Poya | Papua New Guinea |
| Zeyar Min | Trinidad and Tobago |