5. SCIENTIFIC CORE ACTIVITIES
The scientific core activities of the Union should rest on the principles
of quality, relevance, merging of science and technology, international
dimension, impact on broad fields, openness, communication, and mission-oriented
service. These policy principles are reflected in the recent organization
of some core activities.
The biennial 37th IUPAC Congress, to be held from 14-19 August 1999,
will be the first Congress to be guided fully by the policy decision
approved by the 65th Bureau in 1994, based on the report of Prof.
G. Modena and myself. IUPAC acted to make the Congress a central scientific
international event by fulfilling the following goals: to present
the most outstanding relevant developments in modern chemistry; to
inspire high standards of excellence in pure and applied chemistry
research; to attract outstanding scientists to present central lectures
on modern chemical research; and to inspire the young generation of
chemists in developed and developing countries.
The theme of the 37th Congress: The Molecular Basis of the Life Sciences
has been realized in a program that demonstrates the vitality of the
chemical sciences. The Frontiers of Chemistry refer both to the unexplored
areas where pioneers search for new knowledge, but also to the boundaries
between traditional disciplines where pioneers meet to create new
knowledge by their interaction. Both these uses of the word Frontiers
describe this Congress. The work that will be presented is from pioneers
investigating new aspects of the chemical sciences and is also the
result of the fruitful collaboration of chemists with cell biologists,
neuroscientists, immunologists, geneticists, and others from the ever-expanding
boundaries of chemistry.
Future development of the Chemical Sciences lies largely in the hands
of the younger generation of scientists. It is a central goal of IUPAC
to contribute to the development of human capital in academic and
industrial chemistry. Participation in major scientific events such
as the IUPAC Congress is imperative for young scientists to become
familiar with the developments at the frontiers of chemistry. I am
proud of the program jointly sponsored by the Gesellschaft Deutscher
Chemiker (GDCh), UNESCO, and IUPAC to bring 25 young scientists from
developing countries to the Congress. These young scientists will
participate by presenting posters in addition to attending the Congress
events. This program is part of IUPAC's contribution to building capacity
and strengthening the human capital of developing countries. On behalf
of the entire world Chemistry community and myself, it is a privilege
to extend deep thanks and appreciation to the GDCh, its Board of Directors,
President, Director General, and enthusiastic staff for the superb
organization of the Congress, and to the International Advisory Board
and its Chairman, Professor Dr. R. Huber, for shaping the outstanding
scientific program.
The 38th IUPAC Congress will be held in Brisbane, Australia in 2001.
The International Advisory Board (IAB) has been appointed and has
started, together with the National Committee, to shape the scientific
program. I am indebted to the Chairman of the IAB, Professor Y. T.
Lee for this important contribution.
New research fields, where the activity is truly international, are
expected to contribute to high-quality, significant scientific developments
and to constitute the cutting edge for new technologies. The identification
of such new research fields is of considerable significance for the
international research community, for chemical industry, and for national
and regional bodies interested in the enhancement of international
collaboration of their members. IUPAC became involved in the identification,
characterization, and recommendation of novel research directions
by the organization of Conferences, with the involvement of the scientific
leadership, on New Directions in Chemistry. The first "Workshop
on Advanced Materials: Nanostructured Systems" took place in July
1999 in Hong Kong, China. This workshop brought together about 150
leading scientists to discuss recent developments and future directions
in this new field at the frontiers of chemistry. The proceedings of
this workshop, supplemented with invited review articles, will be
published as a special issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Extensive disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientific and mission-oriented
work conducted by the Divisions is presented in the Division Presidents'
reports, which appear later in the Agenda.
The central issue of science education in general, and education
in chemistry in particular, pertains to the preservation and advancement
of global human capital. Meaningful contributions to this endeavor
constitute a major challenge for the Union. IUPAC, as an international
worldwide organization, must consider in this context the diversity
of cultural approaches and the different conditions and needs in distant
parts of the world. It should be emphasized that chemistry, due to
its interdisciplinary nature, provides the basis for scientific training
in the natural sciences.
The problems facing the global chemistry education system involve
the erosion of scope and quality of science education, resulting in
science illiteracy in the developed countries and the need for qualified
scientific manpower in less developed countries. The Committee on
Teaching of Chemistry (CTC) is involved in aspects of chemistry teaching
on the secondary and undergraduate levels. A major focus of the Committee's
activities for the past few years has been the development and distribution
of information about low-cost laboratory equipment for secondary schools
in developing countries.