RSC Heterocyclic and Synthesis Interest Group celebrates its 50th anniversary

The group celebrated its anniversary at its annual Autumn Postgraduate Meeting, held at Burlington House on 20 September. Sharon Rossiter reports.

Our 32nd postgraduate meeting provided a snapshot of the outstanding organic chemistry being carried out by early career researchers from across the UK.

There were two plenary lectures and nine high quality talks from final year postgraduates. The meeting also included 36 posters, with 26 of the poster presenters giving brief but informative flash presentations – a highlight of the day. Congratulations to the three prize winners (see right).

The day ended with a reception to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Several past committee officers were able to attend.

The Heterocyclic Group was formed in 1967 by a group of heterocyclic chemists. It gained approval from the Chemical Society on 5th April 1967 and held its first scientific half-day meeting in September 1967. The first chairman was Alan Katritzky (then at UEA) and the first secretary/treasurer was Gurnos Jones (Keele). In 2001, the group voted to change its name to the Heterocyclic and Synthesis Group, to reflect the wider interests of its membership in synthetic organic chemistry.