Society of Chemical Industry

The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) is a learned society set up in 1881 "to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit".[2]

For the related organization in the United States, see Society of Chemical Industry (American Section).
Society of Chemical Industry
Formation1881 (1881)
TypeLearned society
HeadquartersLondon
Location
  • United Kingdom
Official language
English
President
Paul Drechsler[1]
Websitewww.soci.org

Offices

The society's headquarters is in Belgrave Square, London. There are semi-independent branches in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Aims

The society aims to accelerate the rate of scientific innovations being commercialised by industry to benefit society. It does this through promoting collaborations between scientists and industrialists, running technical and innovation conferences, building communities across academia and industry and publishing scientific content through its journals and digital platforms.

It also promotes science education.[3]

History

On 21 November 1879, Lancashire chemist John Hargreaves canvassed a meeting of chemists and managers in Widnes, St Helens and Runcorn to consider the formation of a chemical society. Modelled on the successful Tyne Chemical Society already operating in Newcastle, the newly proposed South Lancashire Chemical Society held its first meeting on 29 January 1880 in Liverpool, with the eminent industrial chemist and soda manufacturer Ludwig Mond presiding.

It was quickly decided that the society should not be limited to just the local region and the title 'the Society of Chemical Industry’ was finally settled upon at a meeting in London on 4 April 1881, as being 'more inclusive'. Held at the offices of the Chemical Society, now the headquarters of the Royal Society of Chemistry, in Burlington House, this meeting was presided over by Henry Roscoe, appointed first president of SCI,[4] and attended by Eustace Carey, Ludwig Mond, FA Abel, Lowthian Bell, William H Perkin, Walter Weldon, Edward Rider Cook, Thomas Tyrer and George E Davis; all prominent scientists, industrialists and MPs of the time.

The society grew rapidly, launching international and regional sections. In 1881 Ivan Levinstein was a founder of the Manchester Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, later following Sir Henry Roscoe as chair of the Section. Levinstein also served as President of the Society of Chemical Industry between 1901 and 1903.[5]

Prominent early members included William Lever, George Matthey, Ludwig Mond, Henry Armstrong, Leo Baekeland, Rudolph Messel, Charles Tennant, Richard Seligman, Ferdinand Hurter and Marie Stopes.

Membership

The original membership fee was very steep for the time: The first subscription fee was set at one guinea, which would be equivalent to nearly £400 today. Four grades of membership were agreed at the time: member, associate, student and honorary, with most appointments made on the basis of a review of their 'eligibility' by the SCI council. Despite the high fee, by the time of the first official meeting of the Society of Chemical Industry in June 1881, it had attracted over 300 members.

Incorporation

An Extraordinary General Meeting was held on 27 March 1906, under the direction of president Edward Divers and secretary C. G. Cresswell, to discuss a motion to apply for incorporation under a royal charter. The resolution was formally proposed by Sir (Thomas) Boverton Redwood. After some discussion, the motion was unanimously supported.[6] The society was formally incorporated, by Royal Charter, as of 17 June 1907, and its bylaws were published in the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry. By that time, it had expanded to include a number of satellite chapters, including Canada, New South Wales, New York and New England as well as locations within Great Britain.[7]

Headquarters

The first headquarters of the newly fledged Society of Chemical Industry was established in 1881 at Palace Chambers,[8] Bridge Street, Westminster, London. After a series of changes of address, the society finally moved to its fifth and present location at 14/15 – and initially 16 – Belgrave Square in 1955. Owned by the Duke of Westminster, along with the rest of Belgravia, the building was and still is part of the Grosvenor Estate and had recently been commandeered by the Ministry of Defence during World War II. The former Nazi commander Rudolf Hess is believed to have been interrogated in the building after he flew to Britain late in the war.

Activities and events

SCI organises over 100 conferences and events per year which are focused on cutting edge scientific and special interest subjects. These are primarily organised through SCI member-led technical, international and regional interest groups.

SCI runs free Public Evening Lectures,[9] both at its headquarters as well as online, through its SCITalks! programme.

The society has an extensive awards programmes designed to raise awareness of the benefits of the practical application of chemistry and related sciences across scientific disciplines and industrial sectors. The SCI also confers scholarships and travel bursaries to student members, and celebrates accomplished scientists, educators and business people through a number of international awards, medals, and lectureships.

International groups

International groups include:

Journals
1907–1910 bound volumes of the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry

The society publishes a number of peer-reviewed scientific journals in conjunction with John Wiley & Sons:

Chemistry & Industry

SCI also publishes the well-established magazine Chemistry & Industry (C&I).[10]

Chemistry & Industry was launched by the society in 1923. From 1923 it has documented the advancements in chemistry and related science and the inventions being developed by large companies and start ups. It covers a diverse set of technologies and application areas and it is widely read across the community and is circulated internationally.

Awards and honours

The society has an extensive awards and honours programme.

The Honours programme was established in 1996 and is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of the practical application of chemistry and related sciences across scientific disciplines and industrial sectors and to celebrate accomplished scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs through a number of international awards, medals, and lectureships.

The most prestigious honours are the Society Medals, of which there are around 12, and these recognise those who exhibit leadership in promoting the objectives and values of the society. The Society Medals are awarded to persons who have made significant contributions in the field of chemical sciences, innovation and entrepreneurship.[11][12]

References
  1. "SCI President Paul Drechsler CBE sets out why science and innovation is important for the new Prime Minister". Society of Chemical Industry. Retrieved 14 Sep 2022.
  2. "About SCI". Society of Chemical Industry. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  3. MacLeod, Donald (2006-03-13). "Concern over chemistry course closure". Guardian Unlimited.
  4. Bowden, Mary Ellen; Smith, John Kenly (1994). American chemical enterprise : a perspective on 100 years of innovation to commemorate the centennial of the Society of Chemical Industry (American Section). Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation. ISBN 9780941901130.
  5. Manchester Faces & Places (Vol X, No 2 ed.). London & Manchester: JG Hammond & Co Ltd. November 1898. pp. 21–23.
  6. "Proceedings of the extraordinary general meeting, March 27, 1906". Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry. 25: 343–347. April 30, 1906. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  7. "Official Notice". Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry. 27 (14): 721–731. July 31, 1908. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  8. "Parliament Street". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  9. "Public Evening Lectures". Society of Chemical Industry. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  10. "Chemistry & Industry". Society of Chemical Industry. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  11. "Levinstein Memorial Award, 2009". Society of Chemical Industry. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  12. "Awards List". Society of Chemical Industry. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
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