South Australian Branch

Welcome to the SA branch of the RACI. Our committee meets on a monthly basis to collaborate and establish regular activities and events for our local members and the wider community.

Our groups

Within our Branch we have established a range of specialist interest groups. They have been formed to encourage networking and other events between members who have a particular area of interest, and to encourage the wider chemistry community to participate. We'd love you to be involved.

These groups comprise:

• Analytical Chemistry Group
  • The Analytical Chemistry Group organises networking activities for chemists from industry, government, and academia with interests not only in the fields of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry but also other disciplines.
  • Examples of recent events

    The “Future of Material Science Festival” was a joint venture with the Polymer and Physical Chemistry Groups held at UniSA in September 2021. It was a day of activities highlighting the work of both established and emerging scientific leaders in polymer science in South Australia. It provided opportunities for networking and to learn more about Australian material science.

• Chemical Education Group 
  • The RACI Chemical Education Group consists of Chemistry teachers (past and present), academics and laboratory technical staff from South Australian Secondary Schools and Universities.
    
    The group's primary focus is the delivery of high-quality professional development activities for chemistry educators and opportunities for students to engage in activities related to the study of chemistry such as competitions and presentations.
    
    The Chemical Education Group also supports SA Science education through sponsorship and judging of the Oliphant Science Awards.
  • Examples of recent events
    Events for students include the Stranks Memorial Lecture and the RACI National Titration Competition. The Stranks annual lecture, usually held in May – June, invites local and international chemists to present aspects of their own research that are aligned to chemical concepts studied by students in Year 11 and 12. The topic for 2023 was ‘How Realistic is the Hydrogen Economy?’ presented by Prof Greg Metha from the University of Adelaide.
    

   

  

  Stranks Lecture 2023

  • The Titration Competition is a hands-on team event where students can pit their skills against expert titrators from their school, and other schools both in SA and interstate. The first round is held in May in the students’ school. Successful teams can then participate in the State Final in August and then perhaps in the National Final In September. Schools can register via the Schools section of the website.
    

   

  • Events for teachers include industry visits and annual hands-on Teachers Workshops that provide opportunities for teachers to try out new activities for engaging demonstrations and the deconstruction and design of investigations for Year 11 and 12 Chemistry.

Early Career Chemists 
• The Early Career Chemists Group is a special interest group for students of chemistry, early-career professionals working in the chemical sciences industry and research sectors and others interested in chemistry. The group provides specialised support and resources to new members and hosts events to extend the reach of the organisation to the next generation of chemists in South Australia.
• Examples of upcoming events

  The Pub Quiz night, a night of fun and frivolity, will be held on May 4th 2023 at the Cathedral Hotel, North Adelaide.

• Industrial Chemistry Group 
  • The Industrial Chemistry Group serves a broad collection of chemists in the community who typically work in commercial settings, including formulating/compounding, contract testing, and commercial services. The industrial group hopes to deliver more events to RACI members and expand the network of Industrial Chemists in SA.
  • Examples of recent events

    In November 2022, the Industrial Chemistry Group held a casual networking event at the fully renovated historic venue Beltana House Gallery. Guest talks about how chemistry can support smart manufacturing were followed by networking and a tour of the venue.

• Pharmaceutical Sciences Group 
  • The Pharmaceutical Sciences group activities endeavour to encompass all aspects of the pharmaceutical industry, including research and development, formulation science, manufacturing, quality control, clinical trials and regulatory affairs. Our events are often career-focused and give younger scientists the opportunity to hear from experts in the industry as well as enabling established professionals to engage in networking opportunities and professional development.
  • Examples of recent events

    A seminar took place on Friday 5 November 2021 entitled “Women in Pharmaceutical Science”. All were welcome.

• Physical Chemistry Group 
  • The Physical Chemistry Group work on activities ranging from fundamental physical chemistry to material chemistries, with a particular focus on structure-dictated physical properties and applications of materials in energy and health.
  • Examples of recent events

    The “Future of Material Science Festival” was a joint venture with the Polymer and Analytic Chemistry Groups held at UniSA in September 2021. The one-day activities highlighted the work of both established and emerging scientific leaders in polymer science in South Australia. It provided opportunities for young scientists to communicate with colleagues and industries and learn more about material science in South Australia.

• Polymer Chemistry Group 
  • The Polymer Group represents polymer and material scientists, engineers, and technologists in South Australia. This group aims to promote professional activities such as workshops, and scientific and educational meetings, both in-person and online. We are committed to supporting equity, diversity and inclusion in a range of networking activities.
  • Examples of recent events

    The “Future of Material Science Festival” was a joint venture with the Polymer and Physical Chemistry Groups held at UniSA in September 2021. It was a day of activities highlighting the work of both established and emerging scientific leaders in polymer science in South Australia. It provided opportunities for networking and to learn more about Australian material science.

• Synthetic Chemistry Group 
  • The Synthetic Group is interested in the synthesis, isolation and characterisation of molecular entities using inorganic or organic chemistry.
  • Examples of recent events

    The group holds an annual one-day symposium, typically held in early December which is usually bookended by international speakers followed by ECRs and PhD student presentations. It attracts around 50 attendees from academic and industry circles.

• Women in Chemistry Group 
  • Women in Chemistry - SA aims to encourage diversity and inclusion in the chemical sciences by providing opportunities for people with a chemistry background to build their networks, discuss leadership and career pathways that can lead from chemistry. The group welcomes all members, not just women, to its events. For more information, please contact Chairperson Dr Ula Alexander or Secretary, Dr Sue Pyke.
  • Examples of recent events

    2021

    Feb 9 – Networking event with speakers for IUPAC Global Breakfast.

    Sept 14 - RACI Margaret Sheil Leadership Award Lecture – Assoc. Prof Danielle Skropeta

    A seminar took place on Friday 5 November 2021 entitled “Women in Pharmaceutical Science”.

    2020

    Feb 12 – Networking event with speakers for IUPAC Global Breakfast

    Aug 24 - RACI National Women’s Awards speakers – Prof Frances Separovic and Dr Ellen Moon (via Zoom) for RACI Margaret Sheil Leadership Award and Rita Cornforth Lectureship.

    2019

    Feb 12 – Networking event with speakers for IUPAC Global Breakfast

    July 19 - RACI Margaret Sheil Leadership Award Lecture - Prof Amanda Ellis

    2018

    April 9 -Launch event, Flinders University at Victoria Square

    June 21 - Inaugural RACI Margaret Sheil Leadership Award Lecture – Prof Mary Garson

    Sept 27 - Careers Night in conjunction with SA RACI Young Chemists Group

    Nov 21 - "Chemists in Conversation" - panel discussion and networking event

    
    

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