Year of Chemistry 2011 launched in New Zealand
10 February 2011
Year of Chemistry 2011 launched in New Zealand
New Zealand’s involvement in the Year of Chemistry 2011 was officially launched on Wednesday 9 February in Wellington by Dr Di McCarthy, chief executive of the Royal Society of New Zealand. The year is being celebrated worldwide.
The New Zealand launch was part of an evening hosted by the MacDiarmid Institute at the Michael Fowler Centre which included a talk by Sir Richard Friend from the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, UK, where Ernest Rutherford studied. A fashion show during the evening featured merino wool coloured with gold nanoparticles.
Dr McCarthy said that chemistry touches every part of people’s daily lives, yet in many cases it is invisible and goes unnoticed.
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“The Year of Chemistry is a perfect opportunity to celebrate all things chemical and draw attention to the amazing role that chemistry plays in our lives.
“Chemistry can unlock the secrets to so many things that we take for granted. It is also at the heart of some very complex processes that have a major impact on our lives. For example, the development of new medicines which could extend our lives, new products to help our farmers cope with pests and diseases, and water purification methods that help developing countries have clean drinking water.”
The Year of Chemistry 2011 is designed to be a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.
Dr McCarthy said 2011 was chosen because it marks the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in chemistry being awarded to Madame Marie Curie.
“In New Zealand we have two Nobel Prize winners in chemistry, Ernest Rutherford and Alan MacDiarmid. In fact, this year is the centenary of the publication of Lord Rutherford’s winning paper, giving the year a distinct New Zealand connection.”
She said the Royal Society of New Zealand has teamed up with the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry to promote the Year of Chemistry. A new website is acting as the hub for local activities, news and events at www.yearofchemistry.org.nz. A feature of the events programme is a public lecture series by New Zealand women chemists running throughout the year.
ENDS