Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Encyclopedia
The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc. (The RACI) is both the qualifying body in Australia
for professional chemists and a learned society
promoting the science and practice of chemistry
in all its branches. The RACI hosts conferences, seminars and workshops. It is the professional body for chemistry in Australia, with the ability to award the status of Chartered Chemist
(CChem) to suitably qualified candidates.
It was formed as the Australian Chemical Institute in Sydney in September 1917. The driving force was David Orme Masson
, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne
. It was incorporated under the Companies Act in New South Wales
in 1923. It was given a Royal Charter in 1932, but it was not until a supplementary Royal Charter in 1953, that "Royal" was added to the title of the Institute. It moved to Melbourne in 1934. It was incorporated in Victoria
in 2000. The Institute has its office since 1993 at 21 Vale Street, North Melbourne, VIC 3051, Australia
.
It is a member of the [Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies] (FASTS) and the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS).
It has Branches in all States and Territories in Australia
and Divisions for the following areas of chemistry
:-
In addition to conferences organised by the Divisions, they have cooperated in running occasional National Conventions since 1953.
The Chemical Education Division publishes the Australian Journal of Education in Chemistry (ISSN: 1445-9698). It was formally called Chemeda: The Australian Journal of Chemical Education. It includes articles on chemical education at all levels in schools and universities, including experiments from the Australasian Chemistry Enhanced Laboratory Learning (ACELL) Project.
The Cornforth Medal for the most outstanding PhD thesis submitted by a member. It is named after the Australian Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Sir John Cornforth
.
The Rennie Memorial Medal
for the member of less than 8 years of professional experience since completing their most recent relevant qualification who has contributed most towards the development of some branch of chemical science.
The Ollé Prize
for a member of the Institute who submits the "best treatise, writing or paper" on any subject relevant to the Institute's interests.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for professional chemists and a learned society
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...
promoting the science and practice of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in all its branches. The RACI hosts conferences, seminars and workshops. It is the professional body for chemistry in Australia, with the ability to award the status of Chartered Chemist
Chartered Chemist
Chartered Chemist is a chartered status awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom and by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute in Australia....
(CChem) to suitably qualified candidates.
It was formed as the Australian Chemical Institute in Sydney in September 1917. The driving force was David Orme Masson
David Orme Masson
Sir David Orme Masson KBE FRS was a scientist born in England who emigrated to Australia to become Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne.-Early life:...
, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. It was incorporated under the Companies Act in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1923. It was given a Royal Charter in 1932, but it was not until a supplementary Royal Charter in 1953, that "Royal" was added to the title of the Institute. It moved to Melbourne in 1934. It was incorporated in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 2000. The Institute has its office since 1993 at 21 Vale Street, North Melbourne, VIC 3051, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
It is a member of the [Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies] (FASTS) and the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS).
It has Branches in all States and Territories in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Divisions for the following areas of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
:-
- Analytical chemistryAnalytical chemistryAnalytical chemistry is the study of the separation, identification, and quantification of the chemical components of natural and artificial materials. Qualitative analysis gives an indication of the identity of the chemical species in the sample and quantitative analysis determines the amount of...
- Biomolecular chemistry
- CerealCerealCereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
chemistry - Chemical education
- ColloidColloidA colloid is a substance microscopically dispersed evenly throughout another substance.A colloidal system consists of two separate phases: a dispersed phase and a continuous phase . A colloidal system may be solid, liquid, or gaseous.Many familiar substances are colloids, as shown in the chart below...
and Surface scienceSurface scienceSurface science is the study of physical and chemical phenomena that occur at the interface of two phases, including solid–liquid interfaces, solid–gas interfaces, solid–vacuum interfaces, and liquid-gas interfaces. It includes the fields of surface chemistry and surface physics. Some related... - ElectrochemistryElectrochemistryElectrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies chemical reactions which take place in a solution at the interface of an electron conductor and an ionic conductor , and which involve electron transfer between the electrode and the electrolyte or species in solution.If a chemical reaction is...
- EnvironmentEnvironmental chemistryEnvironmental chemistry is the scientific study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in natural places. It should not be confused with green chemistry, which seeks to reduce potential pollution at its source...
- Industrial chemistryChemical industryThe chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
- Inorganic chemistryInorganic chemistryInorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...
- MaterialsMaterials scienceMaterials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. This scientific field investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It incorporates...
- Organic chemistryOrganic chemistryOrganic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
- Physical chemistryPhysical chemistryPhysical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
- PolymerPolymerA polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
In addition to conferences organised by the Divisions, they have cooperated in running occasional National Conventions since 1953.
Publications
Chemistry in Australia is a magazine sent to all members of the RACI monthly. It contains news, reviews of books and chemical software, reports and reviews aimed at a broad chemical audience. It was established in 1934 as the Journal and Proceedings of the Australian Chemical Institute.The Chemical Education Division publishes the Australian Journal of Education in Chemistry (ISSN: 1445-9698). It was formally called Chemeda: The Australian Journal of Chemical Education. It includes articles on chemical education at all levels in schools and universities, including experiments from the Australasian Chemistry Enhanced Laboratory Learning (ACELL) Project.
Awards
The Institute makes several annual awards including:The Cornforth Medal for the most outstanding PhD thesis submitted by a member. It is named after the Australian Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Sir John Cornforth
John Cornforth
Sir John Warcup 'Kappa' Cornforth, AC, CBE, FRS , is an Australian scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions....
.
The Rennie Memorial Medal
Rennie Memorial Medal
The Rennie Memorial Medal is an Australian National Award that is awarded annually to a financial member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute with less than 8 years of professional experience since completing their most recent relevant qualification of a BSc, BSc , MSc or PhD, or the...
for the member of less than 8 years of professional experience since completing their most recent relevant qualification who has contributed most towards the development of some branch of chemical science.
The Ollé Prize
Ollé Prize
The Ollé Prize is an Australian chemistry award administered by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Archibald Ollé was very active in the chemical and scientific life of NSW in the first 40 years of the twentieth century, and his wife left a bequest to The RACI NSW Branch to his name with an...
for a member of the Institute who submits the "best treatise, writing or paper" on any subject relevant to the Institute's interests.
See also
- Australian Journal of ChemistryAustralian Journal of ChemistryThe Australian Journal of Chemistry, an international, multidisciplinary journal for the chemical sciences, is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original, primary research and review articles on all aspects of chemistry...
- Environmental ChemistryEnvironmental Chemistry (journal)Environmental Chemistry - Environmental problems, chemical approaches - is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original research and review articles on all aspects of environmental chemistry...
- a Journal