#RealTimeChem Week 2017 – Awards

Posted on by doctorgalactic

BannerAwards

Hello everyone, welcome to the #RealTimeChem Week Awards!

First of all, thank you to every one who took part this year and tweeted using #RealTimeChem or #ChemTogether. This community is nothing without the people that are part of it. I’d give everyone of you a prize, but sadly, I’m not clinically insane.

This year the awards are divided in 8 categories. The first 5 are below. Welcome to the best of #RealTimeChem:

chemfail

Sometimes chemistry doesn’t work as intended, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful.

Runners up. 

Phil seems to have accidentally made one of those glass baubles that you use as a paper weight.

Giorgia seems to have made everybody’s favourite: black tar.

Winner  

I think we can all feel Conrad’s pain here. Good save by all accounts afterwards!

 

chemjoke

Chemists are funny people. Witness the funny.

Runners up

Speaks for itself. Cheesy, but funny.

I was born in the 80s, I endorse this joke.

Winner

Michelle found this gem waiting for her. Sometimes the jokes come to you.

 

selfie

The OED says a “selfie” is “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media”. Or something. I’m not down with the kids.

Runners up

Suze has the best job. Plus she’s #ChemTogether themed!

As Lab Daily points out Chemistry isn’t all about explosions! We also have glowing stuff. Look! Ooooh!

Winner

Safety first from Richard. We can only wonder what hazards await.

glassware

Fancy glassware is one of the things that stands out about chemistry. Beakers, flasks, test tubes, pipettes, condensers…so much glassware, so little time.

Runners up

As I was saying above. Andryj speaks the truth.

The humble test tube elevated to art by Bram.

Winner

Tiny glassware is the best glassware. It’s the cutest. I like the inclusion of a pen for scale.

video

Sometimes a still image is not enough, sometimes you gotta get out the video! This was very hotly contested.

 

Runners up

Who ya gonna call? Tom that’s who! Fantastic slow mo action here. This was only one of several video’s by Tom during the week. You should also check out his rendition of The Periodic Table from memory, whilst also sounding like a chipmunk.

Mike’s video of crystals growing in a vial is beautiful to behold.

Winner

Sometimes a transparent oil’s dreams *do* come true! *cue emotional music*. The sudden switch in Cecilia’s video also keeps you on your toes.

 

The overall winning tweet in each of the five categories above will be awarded this year’s #RealTimeChem Week mug with the #ChemTogether logo (sadly runners up don’t get a prize, except massive kudos this year). 

RTCW2017Mug

Winners: to claim your prize please send me the below details, either via DM on Twitter or to realtimechem@gmail.com

-FULL NAME
-Affiliation (Uni/Company/Department) and position/role
-Email account
-Shipping Address (if at an institution, please indicate the Lab/Division/department and/or Room numbers)

 

CENNameplateblack (1)

 

The following three categories were sponsored by C&EN. The winning tweet will receive the above mug like all the other winners, but also there are additional cash/gift card prizes. You will also have your tweet featured in C&EN’s Chemistry in Pictures (see example here)!  Prizes as follows:

  • $100 for the 3 winners in each category (3 prizes in total)
  • $25 for each runner up (6 prizes in total)

Please note that cash prizes are only for US-based competitors. International winners will receive an Amazon gift card.

 

Without further ado:

reactpic

Runners up

Henry has got the traditional #ReaTimeChem Week balloon party down. Plus in keeping with the colourful theme of this year’s week.

 

A stylish shot from the Townsend Lab. I hope you’ll pass the prize onto Jamin!

Winner

Frankly I think defying gravity is a pretty worthy achievement that’ll let you win most prizes. Fran also produced a great video later too (see here).

 

crystalpic.png

Runners up

Some fantastic luminescence crystals from Amie!  They almost seem to be on fire.

Like all true artists, Tracy has named her art. Beautiful crystals and very seasonal!

Winner

I should probably say something super insightful about these brilliant crystals… they’re so fluffy!

 

colourfulchem

Runners up

Madison gets some #RealTimeBio in her #RealTimeChem, along with some striking colours.

Andres putting red cabbages to good use.

Winner

This was the single most favourited tweet of the week. The ever reliable Brian. This time showing off all your daily fluorescent objects in one colorful arrangement.

To claim your prizes please send me your details above, either via DM on Twitter or to realtimechem@gmail.com

So, congratulations to everyone who won an award and thank you for taking part in #RealTimeChem Week.

If you’re waiting for the Cook Off prizes, those will be announced later in the week!

 

-Doctor Galactic-

 

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#ChemTogether Blog Carnival Round up

Posted on by doctorgalactic

img_1650-1

Hello bloggers and blog readers!

Welcome to the blog carnival round up for #RealTimeChem week. As noted above this year blog posts are all about the hashtag theme, #ChemTogether. There’s been some really interesting stuff written so far, which you can find in the round up below:

Thanks to everyone above for blogging this week. I’ll update this round up at the end of the week if there are any further blog posts.

-Doctor Galactic- 

About #RealTimeChem Week 2017 – #ChemTogether

Posted on by doctorgalactic

RTCW2017

Hello again everybody,

It’s almost that time again, time for #RealTimeChem Week! For those not in the know, #RealTimeChem Week is a 7 day event to help raise awareness of the #RealTimeChem chemistry community on Twitter and encourage as many chemists as possible to tweet about their chemistry. During the week various events, competitions and prizes are on offer, just to make it all the more fun and exciting.

If you are completely new and want to know more about #RealTimeChem in general, then follow this link to the regular “About…” page, where you can learn all about the project and the community.

If you don’t use #RealTimeChem all that regularly, this is the week to give it a go. Why not take some time during #RealTimeChem to share some chemistry and connect to other chemists in the world and have some fun while you’re at it?

When is it?

6th November- 12th November.

It runs all day, for all 7 days.

 

How do I take part again?

Just tweet about chemistry using the hashtag #RealTimeChem. Simple as that. Well you can also use this year’s theme hashtag #ChemTogether. That will also be monitored by me during the event. Hell use both. Go wild. Just use one of these hashtags.

So what’s the theme during this year’s event?

The theme this year has, like in previous years, it’s own hashtag #ChemTogether – as chosen via poll by the community itself.

To me, this is what it is about. Other may have their own interpretation:

Recent 21st Century history has made it feel like the world is tearing itself apart. Old wounds are being reopened. New ones are being cut. And those cuts, old and new, run deep. At times like this it can be difficult not to dwell on the negatives with so much hate, anger and fear in the world. 

Yet there is always positives and hope. It reminds me of a short passage one of my favourite reads: 

“‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo.

‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.’

–Gandalf, J. R. R. Tolkein, The Shadow of the past, The Fellowship of the Ring. 

What we have chosen to do with the time given to us, is study Chemistry. The central science.  Molecules and their reactions. We are united in a common purpose to push the bounds of human knowledge and we’re going to have some fun while doing it. None of us can do this alone, we have our chemistry friends and colleagues, our fellowship, if you will.

This #RealTimeChem Week is about bringing that fellowship closer together. To do chemistry together.

To #ChemTogether.  

#RealTimeChem Week Adverts

Below you will find some banners to help you share the word about #RealTimeChem Week 2017. Designed again by the awesome Andy Brunning of @compoundinterest (www.compoundchem.com).

#RealTimeChem Awards 2017 

BannerAwards

Just like previous years, I will be offering awards for the best tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format has radically changed this time.

Awards will be given out for tweets posted on all seven days of the event, however, this year the old daily award system has been retired and replaced by new “best of” categories.  These are as follows:

  • Selfie 
  • Video 
  • Chem Joke
  • Glassware
  • Chem Fail
  • Colorful Chem (sponsored by C&EN – see below)
  • Reaction Pic  (sponsored by C&EN – see below)
  • Crystal Pic (sponsored by C&EN – see below)

Most of these categories are intentionally broad and they hopefully cover the majority of areas that #RealTimeChem encompasses. So… to potentially win a prize in the awards all you have to do is tweet something within these categories using #RealTimeChem during the week. I’ll be keeping an eye on the hashtag and gathering up the best tweets with a summary of winners at the end of the week. There will be one winner per category and two honorable mentions as runners up (no prizes for these I’m afraid, except in the C&EN sponsored categories).

Each winner (i.e. 8 of you) will receive the traditional, #RealTimeChem Week mug with this years #ChemTogether theme on it.

RTCW2017Mug

This years snazzy mug (my favourite design so far!)

 

Prizes winners will be announced on  Wednesday 15th November. Winners will be asked to provide address details and then mug prizes will be sent out late November/early December.

Update: New prizes from C&EN. 

CENNameplateblack (1)

Copyright ©2017 American Chemical Society

After talks with the wonderful folks at C&EN, the following three categories:

  • Colorful Chem 
  • Reaction Pic  
  • Crystal Pic 

have been sponsored for additional cash/gift card prizes. You will also have your tweet featured in C&EN’s Chemistry in Pictures (see example here)! So the very best Reaction Pic, Crystal Pic and Colorful Chem tweets of the week will receive the following (in addition to the winners receiving a mug):

  • $100 for the 3 winners in each category (3 prizes in total)
  • $25 for each runner up (6 prizes in total)

Please note that cash prizes are only for US-based competitors. However, international entries are also eligible. Instead of a cash prize you will receive an Amazon gift card.

Reminder that to enter in for a prize you simply need to tweet using the hashtag #RealTimeChem during the week and make sure that your tweet fits one of the categories. Best of luck!

The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off (11th– 12th November) 

Now on its third year, The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off celebrates the perfect combination that is chemistry and cooking.

This year’s contest is again sponsored by the @ChemPubSoc_Euro journals.*

Five winners will receive a ChemPubSoc Europe package containing

–A copy of What’s Cooking in Chemistry: How Leading Chemists Succeed in the Kitchen
-An exclusive #chemquackers scientist rubber duck (which you can use for all your #RealTimeChem posts and personal travels!)
-Other Wiley-VCH goodies!

cpse-realtimechem-whatscooking-2016-prizes

This years goodies to be won!

The competition only takes place on the weekend of #RealTimeChem Week. Feel free to cook something during the week, but the tweet must be shared on the weekend of November 11th-12th to count.

All you have to do to enter the competition is to tweet your culinary creation (anything cooking, baking or food related) and include #RealTimeChem #whatscooking & @ChemPubSoc_Euro at the end of your tweet. Your tweet should include a picture or video of your creation and ideally have a short description (the description can even talk about the chemistry in your cooking! It’s up to you). Alternatively, you can write/link a recipe for others to try.

Everyone who tweets a cooking-related post using these hashtags will be entered into the competition, and 5 favourites will win a prize.

Hopefully with a bit more notice this time, you’ll all have time to get some ingredients in and post a tweet. I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

—
*@ChemEurJ, @ChemistrySelect, @ChemistryOpen, @ChemBioChem, @ChemCatChem, @ChemMedChem, @ChemElectroChem, @ChemPhysChem, @ChemPlusChem, @ChemSusChem,@ChemPhotoChem, @EurJIC, and Eur. J. Org. Chem (all journals of @ChemPubSoc_Euro); @ChemAsianJ, @AsianJOrgChem, and @ChemNanoMat (all journals of the Asian Chemical Editorial Society); and @angew_chem (a journal of @GDCh_aktuell).

Update: Additional prize! Matt Hartings (@sciencegeist) has kindly offered one winner a signed copy of his book “Chemistry In Your Kitchen” as a prize. This will be awarded to the very best Cook Off tweet of the weekend. 

The #RealTimeChem Week Blog Carnival – #ChemTogether (6th-12th November)

While the primary action for #RealTimeChem Week takes place on Twitter, there is also a blog carnival that runs alongside it. Chemistry bloggers are part of a thriving community and there are some excellent writers out there just waiting for readers.

Previously, #RealTimeChem Week 2015 had a “Back to the Future” theme, resulting in some fantastic posts on #OldTimeChem and #FutureTimeChem (highlights are available here at SciTechConnect).

#RealTimeChem Week 2016 was focused on “New elements in chemistry” (#NewElemChem) which focused on a range of topics about new experiences in the blogger’s chemical lives (round ups here and here at SciTechConnect).

This year, it’s all about #ChemTogether:

Write a blog post telling a story in your life as a chemist where you have collaborated with another chemist (or chemists!). This could be the story of how a recent research paper came into being,  a daring tale of an adventure you had attending a chemistry conference or a personal narrative about how chemists are the most fun people at parties. You could answer that long standing question; what should a group of chemists be called anyway? You could blog about how chemists do things together periodically – like we haven’t heard that joke before. This is your story. Let us know how you #ChemTogether.

So, if you are a blogger, write a post and share it during the Week on Twitter using the hastag #ChemTogether. The carnival this year is being hosted here on Doctor Galactic & The Labcoat Cowboy. I will be looking out for this hashtag and will collect your blog post into round ups (2-3 times in the week depending on numbers) so they are all in one place for easy access.

Please note, if you don’t use the hashtag, then your post won’t be included in the carnival, so please make sure you remember to add it. I’ll also be retweeting these via @RealTimeChem to draw attention to them during the week. Happy writing!

 

Other events/competitions

#Ozchem competition by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)

raci-logo

Logo © 2017 The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Incorporated.

 

For all you chemists in the community based in the land down under, RACI (who are behind the excellent #ozchem hashtag) are running a series of competitions during #RealTimeChem Week. There are three participation prizes on offer for Australian Chemists:

  • Best #ChemTogether photograph (you don’t even need Twitter for this one)
  • Twitter adoption prize
  • Outstanding contribution

For the full details on how to enter these competition, please see the RACI website post: https://www.raci.org.au/raci-news/realtimechem-week

 

Kit Chapman’s Signed Periodic Table Auction in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH)

A fantastic opportunity to own a piece of history and also help raise money for an amazing charity in East Anglia. To learn more about the vital work of EACH please click here.

More information can be found in Kit’s Tweets below. Also check out the auction page on eBay itself here.

Want to run a competition or event?

 

There is always room for more chemistry-based fun. If you would like to run an event or competition during #RealTimeChem Week or to sponsor one of the above events, then please get in touch with me via realtimechem@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to chat about the possibilities.

-Doctor Galactic-

Thank you and The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off Winners

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hello RealTimeChemists,

 

2016 has been “interesting” times, but throughout all the upheaval #RealTimeChem has kept on going. Big thank you to every single chemist out there who took part in this year’s #RealTimeChem week. As I’ve said previously, this community is only here because of you and its also pretty darn unique in both the science world of social media.

While the week event is over for yet another year, don’t forget that #RealTimeChem is a 24/7 project, so feel free to keep sharing chemistry whenever you want and engage with your fellow chemists around the world.

Some thank yous go out again to the following for their help this year:

  • Andy Brunning of @compoundchem. Once again, Andy designed all of the graphics for the event and ran another fantastic infographic competition. Plus he also took part too (more on that later).
  • Katey Birtcher, Stephen Fiedler, Neil MacLeod and all the folks at Elsevier’s SciTechConnect for running the Blog Carnival once again, this time on “New Elements in Chemistry”. Your enthusiasm for the project has really kept me going and I loved the round ups.
  • Great work from Nadine Borduas for inventing this years theme and also writing a blog post all about #RealTimeChem and the #NewElemChem event. Plus also enthusiastically taking part as always!
  • The fine folks at the Royal Society of Chemistry, especially Geri, James and Lizzie who got the blog post mentioned above together.
  • Finally, thanks to David Peralta, Managing editor of @ChemMedChem & the folks at WileyVCH who have again supported The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off with more prizes .

Now, speaking of prizes, time to announce the winners of The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off 2016:

rtcw-cook-off

As mentioned above this year’s contest was again sponsored by @WileyVCH‘s society chemistry journals.* The five winners below all receive a ChemPubSoc Europe package containing:

–A copy of What’s Cooking in Chemistry: How Leading Chemists Succeed in the Kitchen
-An exclusive #chemquackers scientist rubber duck (which you can use for all your #RealTimeChem posts!)
-Other Wiley-VCH goodies!

cpse-realtimechem-whatscooking-2016-prizes

The prizes for this year’s Cook off in all their glory.

—
*@ChemEurJ, @ChemistrySelect, @ChemistryOpen, @ChemBioChem, @ChemCatChem, @ChemMedChem, @ChemElectroChem, @ChemPhysChem, @ChemPlusChem, @ChemSusChem,@ChemPhotoChem, @EurJIC, and Eur. J. Org. Chem (all journals of @ChemPubSoc_Euro); @ChemAsianJ, @AsianJOrgChem, and @ChemNanoMat (all journals of the Asian Chemical Editorial Society); and @angew_chem (a journal of @GDCh_aktuell).

WINNERS BELOW!

This was not a straightforward decision. A lot of fantastic entries this year and so a decision had to be made based on a number of factors; invention, chemistry content, popularity (via retweets and favourites), general looks of the cook, humour, etc.

After much deliberation on my part and consultation with my partners at Wiley, here are the chosen winners:

This was rather rather popular. While a #tbt, it was not one I’d ever seen before (I’d remember this). It was certainly the most chemistry-focused cook off entry of the weekend. Plus people really seemed to love it. Philippa also shared some other excellent bakes too (See also: https://twitter.com/PhilippaOwens/status/795348760981360640)

Nadine made some rather tasty dumplings (see here for results: https://twitter.com/nadineborduas/status/794960071977529344), but the process of making them we felt was the most fun with excellent use of PPE.

Andy shared this pumpkin pie (very topical for a week starting on Halloween!) twice and it was highly popular on both occasions. The shot is great, also very neat sugar dusting on the top.

Partha’s great looking dishes won out here not just for their scrumptious looks, but also we love a good bit of spice. Can just imagine the heat right now!

Molecular Dreams is the final winner for some orbital like bread. Bread is tricky (well for me anyway!) and I think these look fantastic.

Congratulations everybody! To claim your prize please send me the below details, either via DM on Twitter or to realtimechem@gmail.com

-FULL NAME
-Affiliation (Uni/Company/Department) and position/role
-Email account
-Shipping Address (if at an institution, please indicate the Lab/Division/department and/or Room numbers)

 

Once again thank you a million times to everyone who took part in #RealTimeChem week 2016.

mischief managed

-Doctor Galactic-

 

 

#RealTimeChem Week 2016 Awards – Friday

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Friday – 4th November

Welcome to the 4th #RealTimeChem Week awards!

 

Just like previous years, I will be offering awards for the best tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format has, again, changed a little due to circumstances and budget. This year, after noting that tweets are often quite slim on the weekend portion of #RealTimeChem week, I’ve decided to focus the awards on the 5 days of the working week, with The Great #RealTimeChem Cook off taking up the weekend slot.

 

There are still three different awards available: Ag, Au and Pt. 10 awards will be given each of the five days (6 Ag, 3 Au, 1 Pt). Those winning the coveted Platinum award (5 total) will each win a prize, which is, as usual, a #RealTimeChem mug with this year’s snazzy logo emblazoned on it.

 

So without further ado, onto the 2016 awards.

 

friday

Friday! This is it folks, the last working day of the week and also the last day of the awards for this year. It’s been great fun as usual. Here’s the my favourite tweets of the day.

 

silveraward

Alyssa’s student grow some crystals. Despite the frustration, I’m sure they had some fun!

These are some eager looking young chemists. They look happy to wait Chris!

https://twitter.com/AMI__92/status/794539331256025088

Alex proves that nobody can resist the cuteness of tiny glassware. Awww look at it!

Rachel gets to have fun with some dust? I hope you found gold in there for your trouble!

https://twitter.com/cotangy/status/794581935653879808

Connie’s chemistry is sitting pretty in pink and bubbling away quite merrily 🙂

Some old school chemistry from Lab Daily while thinking about refreshment. Not sure I’d drink that Mountain Dew…

goldaward

 

Danny shows that sometimes all it takes is a little spin and you’re on your way!

Laura revisits some old porphyrin friends in a series of popular tweets, but this video was my favourite. It’s soooo shiny!

https://twitter.com/NeuroticChemist/status/794420146362167296

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha….Terrible. But so good from the Neurotic Chemist.

plataward

Friday’s overall winner was:

Lab accidents are part and parcel of the risks of experimental chemistry, but it seems that even physical chemists can have them too! Darwin’s strangely beautiful mangle caused by some data in the wrong column was the most popular tweet of the whole day and pretty darn weird/cool lookin’.

Darwin, you win a much coveted #RealTimeChem week mug. I hope that data straightened out right in the end:

mug-preview

Last one!

 

Congratulations to all winners and thanks to everyone for taking part in #RealTimeChem week! The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off took place this weekend and had plenty of tasty entries. The winners for that will be up later in the week.

 

-Doctor Galactic-

 

 

#RealTimeChem Week 2016 Awards – Thursday

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Thursday – 3rd November

Welcome to the 4th #RealTimeChem Week awards!

 

Just like previous years, I will be offering awards for the best tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format has, again, changed a little due to circumstances and budget. This year, after noting that tweets are often quite slim on the weekend portion of #RealTimeChem week, I’ve decided to focus the awards on the 5 days of the working week, with The Great #RealTimeChem Cook off taking up the weekend slot.

 

There are still three different awards available: Ag, Au and Pt. 10 awards will be given each of the five days (6 Ag, 3 Au, 1 Pt). Those winning the coveted Platinum award (5 total) will each win a prize, which is, as usual, a #RealTimeChem mug with this year’s snazzy logo emblazoned on it.

 

So without further ado, onto the 2016 awards.

 

thursday

Thursday. Thor’s day. Thou shall go hit thine chemistry with a hammer…or something. Another busy #RealTimeChem day this one with some excellent tweets. Decisions, decisions decisions. Here’s the my favourite tweets of the day.

 

silveraward

Lab Daily shows off the best thing about NMR tubes: customizing your caps! There’s nothing better than knowing your tubes are happy to see you right?

I don’t think there is a single chemist that doesn’t see a word and misread as a chemistry term instead as Izzy demonstrates. Far too easy indeed. However, you can never have too much chemistry!

In keeping with yesterdays bringing of folks to the yard/lab, Mark is using alluring ketyl radicals. They certainly are blue.

https://twitter.com/reneewebs/status/793974166030405632

Chemistry isn’t all pretty colours. Sometimes you have to sit there and pump colourless liquids through a chromatography machine. All day. We’re with you Renée, we’re with you.

More pretty colours from Kalamazoo Chemistry, this time involving quantum dots.

@CompoundChem’s very own Andy Bruning gets in on the act with a fun looking demo that shows off diffusion.

 

goldaward

Let’s be honest, this year fluorescence has been insanely popular and Thursday was no different. Christine made her first ever fluorescent product, just in time for #RealTimeChem Week. That’s organisation.

You know that thing I mentioned above. Well…case in point. I think Brian really laid down the gauntlet this year (see special mention below this post) and Andy totally picked it up, with interesting results!

Go home #chemquackers, you’re drunk. The folks at Chemistry: A European Journal sure are giving that rubber duck a good time. Wait, maybe they are really all rubber ducks *dramatic music*.

plataward

 

Thursday’s overall winner was:

Speaking of music, Emily Rose just squeaks the victory here. I think its the combination of a portrait that resonates with so many of us and lyrics from R.E.M. That awful moment when it all goes horribly wrong. A lot of these moments involve rotary evaporators…. damn them, damn them all to hell. Sing it with me now:

 

Emily, you win a much coveted #RealTimeChem week mug. I think you need it after that:

mug-preview

Come up with another word for “shiny” folks. Suffice to say, they are nice. 

 

Congratulations to all winners and thanks to everyone for taking part in #RealTimeChem week! The final awards for Friday will be announced later today, then it’s on to The #RealTimeChem Cook Off this weekend.

 

-Doctor Galactic-

 

 

 

P.S. Special Achievement mention.

Brian Wagner has already won a Platinum Award this week, but could probably have won everyday so far! (I have a self imposed rule of not giving out two to the same person). This “fireworks” demonstration, for instance,  which Andy also tried above is spectacular and also the single most loved Tweet of the week so far (and unlikely to be beaten I reckon!). Just wanted to give an extra thank you to Brian for adding so much fun chemistry to this week.

 

 

 

 

#RealTimeChem Week 2016 Awards – Wednesday

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Wednesday – 2nd November

Welcome to the 4th #RealTimeChem Week awards!

 

Just like previous years, I will be offering awards for the best tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format has, again, changed a little due to circumstances and budget. This year, after noting that tweets are often quite slim on the weekend portion of #RealTimeChem week, I’ve decided to focus the awards on the 5 days of the working week, with The Great #RealTimeChem Cook off taking up the weekend slot.

 

There are still three different awards available: Ag, Au and Pt. 10 awards will be given each of the five days (6 Ag, 3 Au, 1 Pt). Those winning the coveted Platinum award (5 total) will each win a prize, which is, as usual, a #RealTimeChem mug with this year’s snazzy logo emblazoned on it.

 

So without further ado, onto the 2016 awards.

 

keep-calm-its-already-wednesday

Wednesday. #RealTimeChem week is always busiest in the middle and this year has been no exception. Insert clever witticisms, etc etc…I’m getting behind on these Awards posts, so on with business! Favourite tweets of the day below!

 

silveraward

 

 

https://twitter.com/come_in_burned/status/793709217467146240

Jess looks pretty happy with her milkshake. I don’t know what her plans might be with all those German exchange students that have turned up in her lab, but damn right, her chemistry is better than yours.

Harrison was sleepy by the end of Wednesday and rightly so, a hard day of #RealTimeChem-ing right here.

 

 

Nadine shares all the important facts about that most terrible of “chemicals” dihydrogen monoxide. Lock up your kids! This is real wrath of God stuff. Cats and Dogs living together. Mass hysteria. You know the chemophobia drill right?

Dreamygirl brings lots of love to her colourful chemistry!

https://twitter.com/TrueStarKH/status/793898253746044928

Kristina gets down to business with some sample prep.

https://twitter.com/Berivan_Esen/status/793871809263403008

Another day, another tweet about coffee. This is chemistry. This time Berivan gets curious about her “natural” coffee. Nice analysis work!

goldaward

Andryj might be waiting for some good results, but he sure as heck can draw in the meantime!

There’s nothing more pleasing than getting pure product like Christine here and looking like tinsel is a massive bonus!

Brian could probably win *all* the prizes this week. Fluorescence is so darn pretty and such fun experiments when taking your kid to work!

 

 

plataward

 

Wednesday’s overall winner was:

This simple, but great looking video demo of Soxhlet apparatus from Shira was one of the most popular tweets of the day. It’s great seeing chemistry in action and this is about as loved as beet extract has ever been.

Shira, you win a much coveted #RealTimeChem week mug:

mug-preview

Super shiny.

 

Congratulations to all winners and thanks to everyone for taking part in #RealTimeChem week! Thursday and Friday’s award winners will be announced tomorrow.

 

-Doctor Galactic-

 

 

 

 

 

#RealTimeChem Week 2016 Awards – Tuesday

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Tuesday – 1st November

Welcome to the 4th #RealTimeChem Week awards!

 

Just like previous years, I will be offering awards for the best tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format has, again, changed a little due to circumstances and budget. This year, after noting that tweets are often quite slim on the weekend portion of #RealTimeChem week, I’ve decided to focus the awards on the 5 days of the working week, with The Great #RealTimeChem Cook off taking up the weekend slot.

 

There are still three different awards available: Ag, Au and Pt. 10 awards will be given each of the five days (6 Ag, 3 Au, 1 Pt). Those winning the coveted Platinum award (5 total) will each win a prize, which is, as usual, a #RealTimeChem mug with this year’s snazzy logo emblazoned on it.

 

So without further ado, onto the 2016 awards.

keep-calm-its-terrific-tuesday

 

Tuesday. Pinch-punch first of the month. Day 2 of #RealTimeChem week moves into November with a much less spooky day of chemistry (unless you are afraid of rubber ducks – in which case, you have been warned). Favourite tweets of the day below!

 

silveraward

Crystals are always a winner and Praveen seems to have cut his off a passing yeti. Or he found them at Donald Trump’s barber. See, I do topical analysis.

David’s stylish shot of “purple” looks great. He also made “green” later. Sequels are never as good as the original. Unless it’s the Empire Strikes Back. Obviously.

Chistine shares the best thing about yellow compounds: easy columns. It’s the little things that matter in chemistry sometimes and this visually pleasing column makes us organic chemists all feel so content with the happy-happy.

https://twitter.com/AnneJMcNeil/status/793455343070277632

Loving the enthusiasm shown in this tweet from Anne, new chemists starting out on their #RealTimeChem journey. *sniff* I’ve got something in my eye.

The folks at “Chemistry: A European Journal” sure do love a good pun. Who can blame them when #chemquackers is about. This isn’t the last time our favourite rubber duck (sorry @chemjobber) will appear today.

I bet Aaron didn’t think his hangover would lead to #RealTimeChem fame did he? Well thanks to Suze, Aaron, your stylish hangover will be immortalised forevermore!  Of course you only get a silver for being late though…

 

goldaward

 

 

The Nortcliffe Group shared a lot of great tweets on Tuesday. This one has to take the award though for encapsulating part of chemistry that we all know so well: the pain. Oh god, the pain. Let’s all give Edward a hug.

Nano dropping with a duck, that’s totally normal right? Fraser had a lot of fun with #chemquackers all day. Many, many tweets, but this is my favourite one.

Nadine shows us a little insight into the mind of most chemists I’ve ever known. First comes Chemistry. Second? Coffee. Sometimes these switch over. 2nd most popular tweet of the day for an inventive use of an old hot plate.

 

 

plataward

 

Tuesday’s overall, most popular tweet, and winner was:

Susan! If the previous tweet by Nadine said something about chemist’s priorities (at least in choice of beverage), I think this tells us something about chemist’s personalities. The most popular tweet of the day was a pun combining two coinciding themed weeks. Good old “Polar” bears. Of course, only chemists could find this hilarious. I love you chemists.

Susan, you win a much coveted #RealTimeChem week mug:

mug-preview

Super shiny.

 

Congratulations to all winners and thanks to everyone for taking part in #RealTimeChem week so far! Wednesday’s award winners will be announced tomorrow.

 

-Doctor Galactic-

 

 

 

 

 

#RealTimeChem Week 2016 Awards – Monday

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Monday – 31st October

Welcome to the 4th #RealTimeChem Week awards!

 

Just like previous years, I will be offering awards for the best tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format has, again, changed a little due to circumstances and budget. This year, after noting that tweets are often quite slim on the weekend portion of #RealTimeChem week, I’ve decided to focus the awards on the 5 days of the working week, with The Great #RealTimeChem Cook off taking up the weekend slot.

 

There are still three different awards available: Ag, Au and Pt. 10 awards will be given each of the five days (6 Ag, 3 Au, 1 Pt). Those winning the coveted Platinum award (5 total) will each win a prize, which is, as usual, a #RealTimeChem mug with this year’s snazzy logo emblazoned on it.

 

So without further ado, onto the 2016 awards.

 

monday-quotes-5

Monday. A fairly slow #RealTimeChem day to start the week, but also one filled with cool spooky stuff courtesy of Halloween! Favourite tweets of the day below…

 

silveraward

Partha gets Monday off to an annoying start, dropping stuff. Like a boss.

 

 

[Tweet https://twitter.com/J_Ting1/status/793067935933734913%5D

Jeff’s all in a spin with some polymer chemistry!

 

 

[Tweet https://twitter.com/MMGaschler/status/793193020208349184]

Chemistry goes Halloween well by virtue of many things being orange as shown off by Michael here.

 

 

https://twitter.com/EmmaDurhamChem/status/793147891133145088

Emma shows the best way to have a spooky time in the lab just throw something cyrogenic in your water bath. Instant hubble bubble toil and trouble *cackle*

 

Andres had a few spooky tweets, my favourite being this one with Dr Bones having some fun #RealTimeChem-ing away.

 

https://twitter.com/oleh_vybornyi/status/793103521679831040

Oleh shows off the spoooooky #RealTimeChem powers of UV light.

 

Marcela gives a sneak peak of Tuesday’s upcoming #RealTimeChem fun.

 

goldaward

Nadine gets super excited for #RealTimeChem week with chemistry themed skis. The life of an atmospheric chemist is far from dull!

 

 

https://twitter.com/JonAPorras/status/793168150393188352

Jon here goes that little bit further in the orange by turning his flask into a pumpkin with simple use of a bit of pen. Makeshift Halloween FTW.

 

Tom sure loves his chemistry with a burning passion as illustrated by this mesmerizing tweet!

plataward

Monday’s overall winner was:

Brian! With the most popular tweet of the day by some measure. Fantastic shot of a spooky glowing skull that would be perfect for any chemistry Halloween celebration. You win a much coveted #RealTimeChem week mug:

mug-preview

Shiny.

Congratulations to all winners and thanks to everyone for taking part in #RealTimeChem week so far! Tuesdays award winners will be announced tomorrow.

 

-Doctor Galactic-

 

 

 

 

 

#RealTimeChem Week 2016 – FAQ

Posted on by doctorgalactic

rtc-week-2016

Hello everybody,

It’s almost that time again, time for #RealTimeChem Week! For those not in the know, #RealTimeChem Week is a 7 day event to help raise awareness of the #RealTimeChem chemistry community on Twitter and encourage as many chemists to tweet about their chemistry as possible. During the week various events, competitions and prizes are on offer, just to make it all the more fun and exciting.

If you are completely new and want to know more about #RealTimeChem in general, then following this link to the regular FAQ, where you can learn all about the project and the community.

If you don’t use #RealTimeChem all that regularly, this is the week to give it a go. Why not take some time during #RealTimeChem to share some chemistry and connect to other chemists in the world and have some fun while you’re at it?

 

When is it?

31st October-6th November. It runs all day for all 7 days.

 

How do I take part again?

Just tweet about chemistry using the hashtag #RealTimeChem. Simple as that.

 

So what’s going on during this year’s event?

This year has seen the proposed addition of four brand new elements to the periodic table: nihonium, moscovium, tennessine and oganesson (due to be ratified in November). And with these additions the periodic table is now full. Row 7 is done folks! Such a big change doesn’t happen all that often and it’s been just one of a number of big changes that have occurred, and not just in chemistry, in chemistry during 2016.

From a personal perspective, I became a father for the first time this year and while asking about the community for ideas for #RealTimeChem Week this year, a theme that resonated with me was a suggestion from @nadineborduas:

As such, this year’s overall event theme is “New Elements in Chemistry” i.e. #NewElemChem – but this is not just about the periodic table’s new additions, it’s all about you. What new elements have been introduced in your life as a chemist or to your chemistry this year? Perhaps you’ve just started your life as a chemist? Maybe you’ve made some new, ground breaking discoveries? Had to learn new skills? Got new equipment or glass ware?  All the new things.

Of course the event isn’t limited to the theme, but this is just a few suggestions to think upon and will also be the subject of all #RealTimeChem Blog Carnival posts (more on that below).

 

#RealTimeChem Week Advert

Below you can find some banners to help you share the word about #RealTimeChem Week 2016. Designed again by the awesome Andy Brunning of @compoundinterest (www.compoundchem.com)

rtcw-about-poster

Plus in a few different colours:

rtcw-about-poster_bluertcw-about-poster_redrtcw-about-poster_purple

#RealTimeChem Awards 2016 (31st October – 4th November)

Just like previous years, I will be offering awards for the best tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format has, again, changed a little due to circumstances and budget. This year, after noting that tweets are often quite slim on the weekend portion of #RealTimeChem week, I’ve decided to focus the awards on the 5 days of the working week, with The Great #RealTimeChem Cook off taking up the weekend slot.

So, all you have to do to potentially win a prize in the awards is tweet using #RealTimeChem on the Monday-Friday. There are three different awards available: Ag, Au and Pt. 10 awards will be given each of the five days (6 Ag, 3 Au, 1 Pt). Those winning the coveted Platinum award (5 total) will each win a prize, which is, as usual, a #RealTimeChem mug with this year’s snazzy logo emblazoned on it:

mug-preview

This years mug prize.

Sadly, due to severe budget restrictions this year, Gold and Silver award winners don’t get a prize unfortunately, except recognition that you are, completely awesome.

 

The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off (5th– 6th November) 

 

It’s back! Introduced last year, The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off celebrates the perfect combination that is chemistry and cooking.

This year’s contest is sponsored by @WileyVCH‘s society chemistry journals.* Five winners will receive a ChemPubSoc Europe package containing

–A copy of What’s Cooking in Chemistry: How Leading Chemists Succeed in the Kitchen
-An exclusive #chemquackers scientist rubber duck (which you can use for all your #RealTimeChem posts!)
-Other Wiley-VCH goodies!

cpse-realtimechem-whatscooking-2016-prizes

This year’s cook off prizes

The competition only takes place on the weekend of #RealTimeChem Week. Feel free to cook something during the week, but the tweet must be shared on the weekend of November 5th-6th to count.

All you have to do to enter the competition is to tweet your culinary creation (anything cooking, baking or food related) and include #RealTimeChem #whatscooking & @ChemPubSoc_Euro at the end of your tweet. Your tweet should include a picture or video of your creation and ideally have a short description (the description can even talk about the chemistry in your cooking! It’s up to you). Alternatively, you can write/link a recipe for others to try.

Everyone who tweets a cooking-related post using these hashtags will be entered into the competition, and 5 favourites will win a prize.

Hopefully with a bit more notice this time, you’ll all have time to get some ingredients in and post a tweet. I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

—
*@ChemEurJ, @ChemistrySelect, @ChemistryOpen, @ChemBioChem, @ChemCatChem, @ChemMedChem, @ChemElectroChem, @ChemPhysChem, @ChemPlusChem, @ChemSusChem,@ChemPhotoChem, @EurJIC, and Eur. J. Org. Chem (all journals of @ChemPubSoc_Euro); @ChemAsianJ, @AsianJOrgChem, and @ChemNanoMat (all journals of the Asian Chemical Editorial Society); and @angew_chem (a journal of @GDCh_aktuell).

 

 

The #RealTimeChem Week Blog Carnival – #NewElemChem (31st October-6th November)

rtcw-new-elements

While the primary action for #RealTimeChem Week takes place on Twitter, there is also a blog carnival that runs alongside it. Chemistry bloggers are part of a thriving community and there are some excellent writers out there just waiting for readers.

Last year, #RealTimeChem Week had a “Back to the Future” theme, resulting in some fantastic posts on #OldTimeChem and #FutureTimeChem (highlights from last year are available here at SciTechConnect).

This year the theme is “New elements in chemistry” (#NewElemChem) and here’s the brief:

Write a blog post about the new chemistry in your life or the new life in your chemistry. The key is the “new” part. Our lives in chemistry are made up of many elements, both chemically and non-chemically speaking, and this is your chance to tell the community all about it. What new reactions have you run this year? Have you had fun with new chemicals? Did you learn something mind-bogglingly for the first time? Are you adapting to a new life situation that’s affecting your chemistry? Have you just started your life as a chemist? You can answer any of these questions and more. Write as little or as much as you like and share it during #RealTimeChem Week with #NewElemChem to be part of the blog carnival.

So, if you are a blogger, write a post and share it during the Week on Twitter using the hastag #NewElemChem. The carnival this year is being kindly hosted again by Elsevier’s SciTechConnect (thanks Katey Birtcher!). They will be looking out for this hashtag and will collect your blog post into a round up each day so they are all in one place for easy access.

Please note, if you don’t use the hashtag, then your post won’t be included in the carnival, so please make sure you remember to add it. I’ll also be retweeting these via @RealTimeChem to draw attention to them during the week. Happy writing!

 

Compound Interest competition

rtcw-chemunicate-competition

Want a graphic made based on your research? For this year’s #RealTimeChem Week, we’re once again after chemistry researchers who want to explain their research in easy-to-understand terms. To enter, all you have to do is write a piece no longer than 500 words, detailing your work and its potential applications. Note that it should be written so it’s understandable for an audience of non-scientists!

From the submitted pieces, three will be chosen to have graphics made based on them, and these graphics will then be featured alongside your written piece on the Compound Interest site during #RealTimeChem Week, which this year runs from 31 October until 6th November.

You can find details on how to enter here.

 

Other events/competitions

There is always room for more chemistry-based fun. If you would like to run an event or competition during #RealTimeChem Week or to sponsor one of the above events, then please get in touch with me via realtimechem@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to chat about the possibilities.

 

-Doctor Galactic-