Dr Vicki Gardiner elected as Commonwealth Chemistry’s first president

Commonwealth Chemistry is the result of international collaborative work the Royal Society of Chemistry took part in throughout 2019.

With the countries of the Commonwealth being home to 12% of the world’s researchers and an estimated 60% of its population being under the age of 30, we expect it to play an ever more important role in finding scientific solutions for the world’s future benefit.

Under its guiding principles of equality and inclusivity, Commonwealth Chemistry will have representation from all Commonwealth nations, with recognition that those with greater resources will contribute more in order to assist those with fewer resources.

At its first meeting, the executive board agreed that the federation’s annual general meeting and inaugural chemistry congress, scheduled for May 2020, should be postponed due to COVID-19. New dates will be confirmed for both events.

Activities that will take place this year include an online poster competition for early career chemists. there will also be an online survey, so the Commonwealth community can say what activities, roles and support it wants to see from the federation to promote the importance of the chemical sciences on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr Vicki Gardiner, President Elect of Commonwealth Chemistry, said: "Commonwealth Chemistry is a federation of Commonwealth chemical sciences societies that aims to strengthen scientific capacity, inspire and elevate the role of the chemical sciences to society and policy makers, and celebrate achievements in chemistry.

“In so doing, it will combine the shared strengths, values and similarities of its members, align closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and uphold the core values of the Commonwealth. Most notable among these values is that of equality, which is why we have chosen as our vision One Community, One Voice, Catalysing Equality for All.

“It was the sense of shared values and one community that inspired chemistry societies from across the Commonwealth to join together in 2018 to discuss forming a Commonwealth Chemistry Federation. Two years on, with the Federation now a reality, that sense of community is more important than ever before.

“I am very proud to be part of an international chemistry community that is playing its part, like so many others, in the fight against COVID-19, developing potential vaccines, producing sanitisers and volunteering to assist with testing and other frontline support. These key workers and volunteers – no matter who they are or what they are doing – deserve our deep gratitude in these unprecedented times.”

Executive board members

1. Professor James Darkwa, Ghana
2. Dr Michael Forde, Trinidad and Tobago 
3. Dr Vicki Gardiner, Australia (Chair)
4. Professor Peter Mallon, South Africa
5. Professor Ishmael Masesane, Botswana
6. Professor Sarah Masters, New Zealand
7. Dr Deborah Nicoll-Griffith, Canada
8. Professor Sourav Pal, India
9. Dr Robert Parker, UK
10. Professor Priyani Paranagama, Sri Lanka
11. Mr Roger Stapleford, Australia
12. Professor Choon Hong Tan, Singapore