Second Commonwealth Chemistry Congress

2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress, 23-25 May 2023

Phishing Warning

We are aware that some speakers have been approached by companies claiming to operate on behalf of Commonwealth Chemistry to book their accommodation for the Congress. Please note that whilst we are working with a travel agency to facilitate travel arrangements for some delegates, they would never approach you in the first instance and will not be arranging accommodation for delegates. Details of providers that we are working with are in the ‘Information for Delegates’ section of this webpage. If you are unsure about an e-mail or phone call you receive, please contact us and do not provide any credit card details or personal information.

Commonwealth Chemistry, the Federation of Commonwealth Chemical Sciences Societies, is delighted to announce that the second Commonwealth Chemistry Congress (CCC2023) will take place at the University of West Indies St Augustine campus, 23-25 May 2023.

The Commonwealth is a uniquely diverse group of nations with shared values and a powerful voice. It represents all corners of the globe with a population of 2.5 billion and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. It is home to 12% of the world’s researchers and accounts for around 10% of global research and development expenditure. With 1 in 3 people aged between 15 and 29 living in Commonwealth countries, the Commonwealth is set to play an ever more important role in the world’s future – a future that will present many challenges where science can identify solutions.

Bringing together chemists from across the Commonwealth under the banner of equality for all, the Commonwealth Chemistry Congress will promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthen scientific capacity, inspire and elevate the role of the chemical sciences to society and policy makers, and celebrate achievements in chemistry. Representatives from chemical societies across the Commonwealth will join high level stakeholders from academia, industry and government in Trinidad.

The Congress will have a strong focus on early career chemists across the Commonwealth, with the aim of furthering their career development, enabling joint research and education activities, and providing networking opportunities to share research outputs.

All participants will be expected to abide by the Commonwealth Chemistry Code of Conduct.

Registration and Participation

To ensure equal representation, inclusivity, and participation among all Commonwealth nations, over 30 Commonwealth countries (either through a society member or associate member of Commonwealth Chemistry) have nominated representatives and early career chemists to attend. These specially selected delegates will join our invited speakers and panellists for a programme designed to maximise conversation and networking opportunities, fostering meaningful new international alliances and thus building partnerships for the future.

If you would like to support or attend the Congress then download our sponsorship prospectus – available below in US or TT dollars – and contact the Secretariat.

CCC2023 sponsorship prospectus (USD)

CCC2023 sponsorship prospectus (TTD)

PROGRAMME

The 2nd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress offers a unique programme to engage with a Commonwealth network from across the breadth of the chemical sciences. In addition to career development and networking opportunities for early career chemists, the programme includes scientific sessions featuring eminent researchers in the following themes:

Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
Topics include biodiversity, natural products, food chemistry and security, agriculture, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, and good health and well-being

Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
Topics include sustainable energy solutions, new materials, biofuels, green chemistry, and catalysis

Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)
Topics include water treatment and supply, tackling pollution and contamination, and environmental chemistry

The programme will also bring together high profile researchers, policymakers, and industrialists who can demonstrate the value and role of Commonwealth chemists in three panel discussions:

Chemistry, The Commonwealth, and the SDGs
Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)
Quality and Effective Education (SDG 4)

speakers

Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

Chaired by Professor Dr Md. Iqbal Rouf Mamun and Dr Ainka Brown

Plenary Speakers

Norelle Daly

James Cook University
Australia

Umezuruike Linus Opara

Stellenbosch University
South Africa

Keynote Speakers

Mohammad Shoeb

University of Dhaka
Bangladesh

Ruchi Anand

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
India

Andrea Goldson-Barnaby

The University of the West Indies
Jamaica

Asel Sartbaeva

University of Bath
UK

Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

Chaired by Professor Karen Wilson and Dr Obinna Ofoegbu

Plenary Speakers

Philip Jessop

Queen’s University
Canada

Annamma Anil Odaneth

UPL Ltd
India

Keynote Speakers

Audrey Moores

McGill University
Canada

Sally Gaw

University of Canterbury
New Zealand

Michael Forde

The University of the West Indies
Trinidad and Tobago

Karen Wilson

Griffith University
Australia

Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)

Chaired by Dr Sameera Gunatilake and Dr Cora Young

Plenary Speakers

Opha Pauline Dube

UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
University of Botswana
Botswana

Dinesh Mohan

Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi
India

Keynote Speakers

Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith

The University of the West Indies
Jamaica

Gloria Ukalina Obuzor

University of Port Harcourt
Nigeria

Timothy Biswick

University of Malawi
Malawi

Cora Young

York University
Canada

panellists

Chemistry, The Commonwealth, and the SDGs

Chaired by Professor Sir Richard Catlow and Professor G D Yadav

Bringing together high profile stakeholders and influencers to discuss how Commonwealth chemical scientists can contribute to the UN SDGs.

Panellists

Photo of Professor Verma in front of wooden panelling

Sandeep Verma

Head of Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology (GSMST), Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Photo of Catherine Ngila with white background

J Catherine Ngila

Executive Director,
African Foundation for Women & Youth in Education, Sciences, Technology and Innovation

Karen Salt

Deputy Director for Research Culture and Environment for UK Research and Innovation

Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)

Chaired by Datin Dr Zuriati Zakaria and Dr Genevieve Adukpo

During this session, four speakers will tell the story of equality and diversity in chemistry by:

identifying and understanding the issues and barriers to equality and diversity,
looking at case studies and real examples to provide broader historical context,
sharing lived experiences of women and other under-represented groups in chemistry and STEM, and
examining international data and recent improvements for inclusion on the international stage.

Panellists

Akua Opokua Britwum

University of Cape Coast
Ghana

Photo of Kevin Coutinho in a large exhibition space with wooden pillars in the background

Kevin Coutinho
Windsor Fellowship
UK

Cynthia Ibeto

University of Nigeria Nsukka
Nigeria

Ale Palermo

Royal Society of Chemistry
UK

Quality and Effective Education (SDG 4)

Chaired by Professor Bice Martincigh and Dr Lydia Rhyman

This session will examine how chemistry education has changed over the last four years and identify future directions for education in the chemical sciences.

Panellists

Peter Mahaffy

The King’s University
Canada

Marietjie Potgieter

University of Pretoria
South Africa

Glenn Hurst

University of York
UK

Information for delegates

Early career chemists from over 30 Commonwealth countries have been selected to attend and present their sustainable research at CCC2023. Each country has also nominated senior representatives to attend the Congress and join the third Annual General Meeting of Commonwealth Chemistry on Thursday 25 May.

Travel

The closest airport to the Congress is Piarco International Airport, Port of Spain (POS). Delegates are encouraged to arrange travel to arrive on Monday 22 May and depart Thursday 25 May unless invited to attend the AGM on Thursday afternoon. Dinner and accommodation will be provided for AGM attendees on Thursday night.

The Secretariat and Local Organising Committee are working with Mid-Eastern Travel Services Limited, a travel agency in Trinidad and Tobago, to support booking travel for delegates from low- and middle-income countries. All early career delegates and AGM attendees will have been contacted by the agency on our behalf to offer their services. If you receive an email and are unsure of its origin, please contact the Secretariat and do not provide any credit card details or personal information.

Commonwealth Chemistry is grateful to the Chemists’ Community Fund, the benevolent fund of the Royal Society of Chemistry, for funding for early career researchers to attend the meeting.

Visa support

All delegates who require a visa for entry to Trinidad and Tobago or to support travel to the Congress can request a visa support letter during registration or from the Local Organising Committee via the Secretariat.

Accommodation

All invited and selected delegates will be staying at a hotel in Port of Spain, accommodation will be confirmed by the Secretariat and Local Organising Committee. A discounted rate is available for additional nights or for additional guests upon request.

If you receive an email and are unsure of its origin, please contact the Secretariat and do not provide any credit card details or personal information.