The EYCN
Connecting, supporting, and empowering young chemists is essential for the future of chemistry in Europe and beyond. The young chemists of the European Young Chemists’ Network (EYCN), representing 29 societies from 27 European countries (see Fig. 1), are committed to providing a platform for young researchers to connect them and promote chemistry across Europe.
The EYCN is involved in a variety of activities that improve the visibility of chemistry and connect young chemists to partners in academia and industry, as well as professional and governing bodies, while providing support in their careers and development.
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Figure 1. The societies represented in the EYCN. 1: Portuguese Chemical Society; 2: Royal Society of Chemistry of Spain, Spanish Society of Analytical Chemistry; 3: Institute of Chemistry of Ireland; 4: French Chemical Society; 5: Royal Society of Chemistry; 6: Royal Flemish Society of Chemistry; 7: Royal Netherlands Chemical Society; 8: Swiss Chemical Society; 9: Italian Chemical Society; 10: German Chemical Society; 11: Swedish Chemical Society; 12: Czech Chemical Society; 13: Austrian Chemical Society; 14: Polish Chemical Society; 15: Mendeleev Russian Chemical Society; 16: Serbian Chemical Society; 17: Association of Greek Chemists; 18: Romanian Chemical Society; 19: Finnish Chemical Society; 20: Slovenian Chemical Society; 21: Pancyprian Union of Chemists; 22: Slovak Chemical Society; 23: Society of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia; 24: Hungarian Chemical Society; 25: Turkish Chemical Society; 26: Danish Chemical Society; 27: Norwegian Chemical Society. Some societies are part of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS), but do not have representatives in the EYCN (light blue): Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Israel, Luxembourg, Montenegro. |
The Delegate Assembly
The Delegate Assembly (DA) of the EYCN is an annual event that brings together young chemists from all across Europe. This year, young representatives from the national chemical societies gathered in Bremen, Germany, to share an overview of their activities and develop future plans. A new Board was elected and due to the expansion of the EYCN’s scope and future plans, two new positions were introduced: Treasurer and Global Connections Team Leader (see Fig. 2).
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Figure 2. The EYCN Steering Committee (from left to right): Lieke Van Gijzel, The Netherlands, Global Connections Team Leader; Maximilian Menche, Germany, Secretary; Katarina Josifovska, North Macedonia, Science Team Leader; Alice Soldà, Italy, Advisor (EYCN Chair 2017–2019); Antonio M. Rodríguez Garcia, Spain, Chair; Jelena Lazić, Serbia, Treasurer; Miguel Steiner, Austria, Membership Team Leader; Jovana V. Milic, Switzerland, Networks Team Leader; Maxime Rossato, France, Communication Team Leader. |
The agenda of each DA is carefully planned so that the topics encourage the delegates to actively participate and develop new ideas. Ongoing projects and accomplishments of the EYCN across Europe are presented by the Board and presentations are given by the delegates themselves regarding activities within their respective societies. The DA is also a unique occasion for numerous teamwork sessions aimed at setting the stage for future activities (see Fig. 3).
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Figure 3. Participants of the 14th Delegate Assembly in Bremen, Germany. |
Invited speakers provided insights on numerous topics related to science advocacy, such as policy and science communication within Europe (Alex Schiphorst, EuChemS), communicating and advocating for science as well as denouncement of discrimination (Bibiana Campos-Seijo, C&EN), essential skills for the chemical industry (Anni Siltanen, European Chemical Employers Group (ECEG)), or the role and position of chemical business in the digital age (Christian Bürger, Chembid GmbH). Additional lectures provided advice and guidance on the important aspects of preparing a CV (Federico Bella, Politecnico di Torino), as well as opportunities within the chemical industry and the hiring process (Matthias Kleff, Evonik Industries AG).
In addition, Catherine Rawlins, Conference Presence Chair of the International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN), presented a talk on this international network of chemists and its collaborations with the EYCN, whilst Juan Carlos Aponte-Santini from the American Chemical Society (ACS) discussed their projects and activities, including the ACS-YCCB program (Young Chemists Crossing Borders).
The DA has always provided a unique opportunity to meet outstanding European scientists, review and debate ideas, take part in productive social activities, make new friends and build up a community. This is the spirit and the driving force of the DA and the EYCN.
The EYCN gratefully thanks the organizers, GDCh-JCF and EuChemS, and the sponsors: Evonik Industries AG, Chembid GmbH, European Chemistry Partnering, BCNP consultant, and abcr.
A Growing Family on a 13-Year Journey
The EYCN started in 2006 with the dream of providing connections for young chemists across Europe. Just one year later, during the first DA in Berlin, Germany, with twelve societies already involved, the first Board of the EYCN was elected. The 3rd DA in 2009 in Essen, Germany, was the time to give the Board a more efficient structure after an unprecedented increase in members and duties.
The year 2011 was a critical milestone, which saw the creation of the primary EYCN website. In 2012 in Aveiro, Portugal, a new Board organization was introduced. The needs and roles of the ever-expanding EYCN were identified, and the new Board included individual teams to better aid the growing number of objectives of the network. Four teams—Networks, Membership, Communications and Scientific—were defined, each represented on the EYCN Board by a Team Leader. The inclusion of delegates into these teams drastically increased what could be achieved by the network. The success of the new structure was proven during the 4th EuChemS Chemistry Congress in 2012 in Prague, Czech Republic, where the EYCN organized a three-day career event.
The 14th DA in 2019 in Bremen, Germany, ended a period of two years led by Alice Soldà (Chair), Torsten John (Secretary), Hanna Makowska (Science Team Leader), Victor Mougel (Networks Team Leader), Jelena Lazić (Membership Team Leader), and Kseniia Otvagina (Communication Team Leader). They successfully increased the number of delegates joining the EYCN, increased the visibility of the network across Europe, and organized an incredible session for young chemists at the 7th ECC (EuChemS Chemistry Congress) in Liverpool in August 2018. The 14th DA was, therefore, an ideal occasion to acknowledge delegates for their involvement and successes in various projects over the past years (see Fig. 4).
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Figure 4. From left to right: Federico Bella, Italy, Miguel Steiner, Austria, João Borges, Portugal, Antonio M. Rodríguez Garcia, Spain, Sebastian Sobottka, Germany, Sébastien Prévost, France. Also acknowledged (not in the photograph): Yacintha Vermeer, The Netherlands, and Julian Dutzler, Austria. |
The structure of the EYCN was revised during the last DA to consist of eight Board members (see Fig. 5) and an Advisor, the Chair of the previous Board. The five individual Teams—Communication, Membership, Science, Networks, and Global Connections—consist of delegates from a range of national young chemists’ networks and are managed by the corresponding Team Leaders.
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Figure 5. Organization of the EYCN board 2019–2021. |
A New Period for the EYCN
The year 2019 marks the expansion of the Board and its tasks, which is reflected in the creation of two new positions: Treasurer and Global Connections Team Leader. Introducing the Treasurer highlights the ambition of the EYCN to further increase its financial autonomy and global impact. One of the crucial goals in this direction is to strengthen the partnership with Evonik Industries AG, in addition to sourcing new long-term sponsors and partners who want to support talented young chemists and invest in their energy and passion. Furthermore, adding a new Team demonstrates the EYCN’s desire to expand its influence through global connections.
The EYCN will continue to increase its impact while facilitating the dissemination of crucial events and information across Europe and beyond. Let us empower young chemists and collectively contribute to the future of chemistry, while increasing its impact globally!
For more information about EYCN and their activities, please check the website www.eycn.eu, and EYCN on social media. If you want to be a part of the EYCN, do not hesitate to contact us! E-mail correspondence: Dr. Antonio M. Rodriguez Garcia, Chair of the EYCN, Royal Society of Chemistry of Spain, [email protected]
Related Links
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Also of Interest
- EYCN: Ten Years Connecting Young Chemists,
Fernando Gomollón-Bel, Camille Oger, Cristina Todasca,
ChemViews Mag. 2015.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201500500
Founded in 2006, today the European Young Chemists’ Network (EYCN) represents 26 chemical societies from 22 different countries - The Future of Chemistry is Global,
Vera Koester, Paula C. P. Bueno, Sophie Carenco, Christine Dunne, Lori Ferrins, Evijola Llabani, Nnanake-Abasi Offiong, Ilya V. Vorotyntsev,
ChemViews Mag. 2017.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201700099
Members of the newly formed International Younger Chemists Network (IYCN) talk about their ideas, aims, and work - Young Chemists Fearlessly Crossing Borders,
Uzma I. Zakai, Natalie LaFranzo, Christine Dunne, Jens Breffke,
ChemViews Mag. 2015.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201500051
An international exchange program perspective from the American Chemical Society (ACS)’s Younger Chemists Committee (YCC)
