Host of events to mark International Year of Chemistry

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (ICC) will mark International Year of Chemistry (IYC) next year with a host of events to popularize Chemistry in Sri Lanka, ICC president Prof. M.D.P. de Costa said at ICC office in Rajagiriya yesterday.

Prof Costa addressing a media briefing said the UN declared 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry to increase the public appreciation of Chemistry in meeting world needs and increase interest of young people in Chemistry.

He said the centenary birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate scientist Marie Curie and 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies would also be celebrated during the IYS.

He said the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) approved the resolution and UNESCO recommended the adoption of it to proclaim 2011 as the international year of Chemistry, since both organizations believed that "it is time to celebrate the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of the human kind."

Prof Costa said the ICC had been appointed to organize the event at national level.

"Sri Lanka will inaugurate the IYS 2011 with the ceremonial opening of The Chemex 2011, exhibition and trade fair at the BMICH from January 27 to 30, 2011 to coincide with the official opening of the event at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris," he said.

"UN has so far declared only two years dedicating to the science, five years before UN declared 2005 as the international year of Physics," ICC's Chemical Science College Dean Prof J.N.O. Fernando said.

Prof Fernando said the ICC, which was established in 1971, is the successor to the Chemical Society of Ceylon founded in 1941 for the advancement of science in practice of chemistry. He said that the ICC was later incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1972.

Prof Fernando said the College of Chemical Science attached to the ICC produced nearly 700 graduates since 1983. He said the college conducts a number of other courses in relation to Chemistry. There are around 1,750 professional chemists, who are members of the ICC, he said. National Secretariat IYC Steering Committee Chairman N.M.S. Hettigedara pointed out that Chemistry is indispensable. "Even BTI bacteria to fight Dengue was the product of the molecular biology has its base in the chemistry. So is Nano Technology, which is widely used today which has its roots in chemistry," he said.

He said ICC has planned a host of activities throughout next year including issuing of a commemorative stamp and a coin, seminars, workshops and training sessions, publications of guides on the use of Chemistry in day-to-day life. He also pointed out that the ICC has planned to train science teachers to teach chemistry and enrol science teachers to the ICC's graduate program.

Prof S. Sotheeswaran and ICC Registrar N.I.S. Nandarasa also participated.