3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress

Commonwealth Chemistry, the Federation of Commonwealth Chemical Sciences Societies, is delighted to announce that the third Commonwealth Chemistry Congress (CCC2025) will take place at the Protea by Marriott Hotel Stellenbosch, South Africa, 11-14 May 2025.

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 South Africa.

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.

The Congress is being hosted by Commonwealth Chemistry Society Member the South African Chemical Institute (SACI). More detailed information about the event is included on the local 3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress website hosted by SACI.

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 have been selected as an Early Career Chemist or senior national representative of your country, invited speaker or panellist, or you are a member of our Organising Committees, you are now invited to register to attend the Congress. Registration and abstract submission is being managed by the South African Chemical Institute (SACI), the host Chemical Society of this Congress. You can access further information about the Congress, Registration form and Abstract submission process on the local SACI Congress website.

Invited delegates – Register here

If you would like to support the Congress, download our sponsorship prospectus available below and please do to contact the Commonwealth Chemistry Secretariat with any questions.

3rd CCC Sponsorship Prospectus (ZAR)

PROGRAMME

The 3rd Commonwealth Chemistry Congress will offer 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:

Transformation of the Commonwealth Chemical Industry (SDG 9)
Perspectives on the changing global landscape and challenges faced by chemical industry

Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10)
Identifying, sharing and providing an understanding of the issues and barriers to equality and diversity in the chemical sciences

Machine Learning and AI in the Chemical Sciences
Raising awareness for how ML & AI are revolutionising the chemical sciences and addressing all UN SDGs

Additionally, the programme will feature a plenary speaker in the area of Quality and Effective Education (SDG 4), a session especially for early career chemists which is being coordinated by the Commonwealth Chemistry Early Career Network (ECN) and a number of other activities and sessions to support, educate and connect chemists across the Commonwealth.

speakerS AND PANELLISTs

The Congress will feature an inclusive and diverse group of eminent speakers and panellists from across the Commonwealth.

Professor Dame Margaret Brimble, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
Dr Nasim Amiralian, The University of Queensland, Australia
Professor Anshu Bhardwaj, Institute of Microbial Technology CSIR, India
Professor Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
Professor Kelly Chibale, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Professor Patricia Forbes, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Professor Helen Hailes, University College London, United Kingdom
Professor Saiful Islam, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Professor Kim Jelfs, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Professor Francesca Kerton, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Professor Justus Kwetegyeka, Kyambogo University, Uganda
Professor Lee Hwei Voon, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
Professor Hyleen Mariaye, Mauritius Institute of Education, Mauritius
Dr Theo Mudzunga, Sasol, South Africa
Ms Preshanthie Naicker, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa
Professor Priyani Paranagama, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Professor Vivek Polshettiwar, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), India
Dr Sandip Patil, E-Spin Nanotech Pvt Ltd, India
Ms Nelcia Robinson, Commonwealth Women’s Network Chair, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Professor Abdus Salam, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Professor Veikko Uahengo, University of Namibia, Namibia
Professor Richard Webster, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Professor Karen Wilson, Griffith University, Australia
Professor Mark Wuddivira, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Further speakers and panellists coming soon…

Information for delegates

Early career chemists from over 30 Commonwealth countries have been selected to attend and present their research at CCC2025. Each country has also nominated senior representatives to attend the Congress and join the 5th Annual General Meeting of Commonwealth Chemistry on the afternoon of Wednesday 14 May 2025.

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.

Registration and abstract submission
If you have been selected as an Early Career Chemist or senior national representative of your country, invited speaker or panellist, or you are a member of our Organising Committees, you are now invited to register to attend the Congress. If you are a poster presenter (Early Career Chemist) or invited Plenary or Keynote speaker, you are additionally invited to submit your abstract. Registration and abstract submission is being managed by the South African Chemical Institute (SACI), the host Chemical Society of this Congress. You can access further information about the Congress, Registration form and Abstract submission process on their local Congress website here: https://www.saci.co.za/CCC2025/

If you have any questions about Registration or abstract submission, please contact the Commonwealth Chemistry Secretariat ([email protected]) in the first instance.

Venue
The primary venue for the conference is the Protea Hotel by Marriot In Stellenbosch. The hotel is roughly 37 Km from Cape Town International Airport, and 50 Km form the Cape Town city centre. This venue provides an extensive array of conference and exhibition facilities as well as comfortable accommodation for all delegates.

Travel
The closest airport to the Congress is Cape Town International Airport (CPT). A desk at the airport is being arranged by the Congress organisers which will provide a regular shuttle service to transport delegates from the airport to the Congress venue. Shuttle services to other Congress venues throughout the Congress, as well as from the Congress venue back to the airport, will also be offered and arranged for all delegates by the Congress organisers.

Visa support
All delegates who require a visa for entry to South Africa or to support travel to the Congress can request a visa support letter during registration or directly from SACI. Please note delegates are responsible for ensuring they have a valid and appropriate visa, travel documents, have met vaccination requirements and have completed any other necessary travel requirements prior to the event.

Accommodation
All invited and selected delegates will be staying at the Protea Hotel by Marriott in Stellenbosch, which is also the primary venue for the Congress. Accommodation at the Protea Hotel will be arranged by the Congress organisers for all invited delegates for the duration of the Congress.