3. INTERDISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES AND HORIZONTAL PROGRAMS
The response of IUPAC to important developments in modern chemical
sciences requires promotion of interdisciplinary activities and closing
of gaps in the scientific activities of the Union, particularly in
the areas of Material Sciences and of Biological Chemistry. Three
interdisciplinary, interdivisional programs were established in the
areas of biomolecular chemistry, materials, and environmental chemistry.
For each of these horizontal programs, one or two Divisions assume
the primary responsibility for planning and execution of projects.
The Division of Organic Chemistry (III) has taken the lead in organizing
work on biomolecular chemistry. The first product of this interdisciplinary
effort is a microsymposium at the IUPAC Congress: Novel
Porphyrinoids and their metal complexes. The lectures cover a
broad range of subjects, from synthesis to biomimetic models to new
materials to biomedical applications.
The Macromolecular Division and the Inorganic Chemistry Division
have commenced a Strategic
Initiative in Materials, to coordinate new and existing projects
on materials science that require expertise from more than one IUPAC
Division, and to act as a worldwide point of reference for issues
related to materials science and IUPAC. An extensive outreach program
has been undertaken, with an appeal for comments on what topics should
be included in a future program of work in this area being published
in a large number of national chemical magazines as well as in Chemistry
International and on the IUPAC web site.
The Division of Chemistry and the Environment has taken the lead
in coordinating the environmentally related activities of IUPAC. One
example of this coordination effort is the organization of two
special satellite meetings of the Congress jointly with the Gesellschaft
Deutscher Chemiker: "Contributions of Chemistry to Ameliorating Environmental
Contamination" and "Contributions of Chemistry to Sustainable Food
Production". These seminars will be held on Wednesday afternoon and
Thursday morning, 11-12 August, at the Freie Universit�t of Berlin.