The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc .has taken a bold and positive initiative to promote chemistry in Australia by organising annually, the Australian National Chemistry Week. The status of chemistry in the community has deteriorated and the aim is to reverse this trend. The attitude that chemistry is responsible for the ills of the world has become widely accepted. Unfortunately chemists are often perceived as being responsible for environmental problems. Chemistry and chemists in particular are often seen as enemies of the environment without any appreciation of the enormous benefits which have come to the human race through chemistry. There is insufficient realisation by the community that improvement in our physical and social environment requires the application of chemical knowledge.

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc. has been aware and concerned about this situation for many years and has implemented measures to counteract it. One such measure is the Australian National Chemistry Week. The principal aim of Australian National Chemistry Week is to promote chemistry. Aspects which are given particular emphasis are:

• the importance of chemistry in the community;
• chemistry as a profession;
• the role of The RACI as the professional society for chemistry, and
• chemistry and careers.

The objectives of Australian National Chemistry Week are to reach as many members of the community as possible - from primary school children to secondary school children to tertiary students and the general public and the scientific world. The activities of Australian National Chemistry Week provides a means of communication between The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc. and the community.

The major activities of Australian National Chemistry Week include:

• The Australian National Chemistry Quiz to be held on Thursday 24 July 2008
• a Chemistry Resource Book produced annually
• Chemical Analysis Competition
• Cryptic Chemical Crossword Competition
• Feature Article Competition
• Short Story Competition
• Bookshop and Library Display
• displays in Shopping Malls
• visits by Chemists to Primary Schools
• Youth Lectures
• National Radio Interviews
• Television Interviews
• Newspaper Feature Articles
• Public Lectures and Debates
• Functions to Welcome New Graduates
• Crystal Growing Competitions
• Chemistry Week Dinners
• a special feature in the CSIRO 'Double Helix'.

For more information about National Chemistry Week, please contact:

Associate Professor C.L. Fogliani, AM
Australian National Chemistry Quiz, Chair
Phone (02) 6331 5125
Fax (02) 6332-6035
email: cfogliani@ancq.com

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