Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS)

  Last updated on 19 Nov., 2003      

The Chemical Society Located in Taipei Celebrated its 70th Anniversity

Professor Tien-Yau Luh
Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica 
25th-27th October, 2002 Taipei, Taiwan

This conference of the Chemical Society Located in Taipei (CCS) in conjunction with celebrations of its 70th anniversary was held on October 25-27, 2002 at the newly constructed building of the Chinese Petroleum Corporation in Taipei. The conference was jointly organized by the Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica; the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Chemistry, Academia Sinica; and the Chinese Petroleum Corporation. 

The Society was founded in 1932 and is supported by a network of about 2500 members and 62 local organizations. It plays a leading role in chemical sciences and communicating through the nationally published journals, "Journal of the Chinese Chemistry" and "Chemistry" in Chinese, and its programs of national conferences, seminars and workshops. In addition, the Society also maintains close contacts with international chemical organizations and the promotion of chemical sciences to the public. 

The conference was attended by more than 2000 participants and over 60 exhibitors also took part in this event. Among foreign participants, there were nine delegates representing their societies from other countries who joined to celebrate the event: 

• Prof. Maureen Chan, Member of Board of Directors of the American Chemical Society;
• Prof. Chee Cheong Ho, President of Institute Kimia, Malaysia;
• Prof. Bong Young Chung, President of the Korean Chemical Society;
• Prof. Benli Huang, President of the Chinese Chemical Society;
• Prof. Alex McAuley, President of National Research Council of Canada;
• Prof. Barry Noller, President of the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies;
• Prof. Ryoji Noyori, President of the the Chemical Society of Japan; 
• Prof. Leiv Sydnes, Vice President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry;
• Prof. Guan-Huah Yeoh, Vice President of the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry.

The conference consisted of two keynote lectures, which were presented by Prof. Royji Noyori (2001 Nobel Laureate, Nagoya University) and Prof. Hideki Shirakawa (2000 Nobel Laureate, Tsukuba University), and four plenary lectures, given by Prof. Roger E. Miller (University of North Carolina), Prof. Jean-Pierre Sauvage (University of Louis Pasteur), Prof. James M. Tour (Rice University) and Prof. Edward S. Yeung (Iowa State University). A special chemical education lecture was offered by Prof. Brain P. Coppola (University of Michigan). 

In additional to these keynote and plenary lectures, there were seven sessions presented in different areas of chemistry, including organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, applied and industrial chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry and chemistry education. In addition to the oral presentations, there was a total of 650 posters, which were divided up to present in two days.

To encourage our graduate students to devote themselves to innovative research, the Society hosted an inaugural contest rewarding the best thesis among graduate students. Achievements in the chemical sciences are recognized by offering endowed lectureships, medals and awards to those scientists who have made significant contributions to the advancement of a field of research. 

During the opening remarks, the Society presented several important awards to outstanding chemists in recognition of their contributions in the chemistry community. These awards with recipients are as follows: 

• Award for Academic Chemistry: Prof. Chung-Yuan Mou (National Taiwan University);
• Award for Service to the Chemistry Community: Prof. Chun-Chen Liao (National Tsing Hua University);
• Award for Chemical Technology: Dr. Kung-Lung Cheng (Union Chemical Laboratories at Industrial Technology Research Institute);
• Outstanding Young Chemists Award: Prof. Shang-Cheng Hung (Academia Sinica), Prof. Chen-Wei Liu (Chung-Yuan Christian University), Prof. Ken-Tsung Wong (National Taiwan University);
• The Best Papers in "Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society": Prof. Pi-Tai Chou (National Taiwan University), Prof. Lian-Pin Hwang (National Taiwan University);
• The Best Paper in "Chemistry": Prof. Fred Chen (National Chiao Tung University).

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