realtimechem

Announcing #RealTimeChem Week 2022 – #Inclusivechem (7th November-13th November 2022)

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hi Real Time Chemists,

We’re back! It’s #RealTimeChem‘s 10th Anniversary and we’ve teamed up with C&EN magazine once again to bring you another Week of chemistry-related fun.

The #RealTimeChem Week 2022 logo for the theme #Inclusivechem
The #RealTimeChem Week 2022 logo – #Inclusivechem

For those not already in the know, #RealTimeChem Week is a 7 day themed event to help raise awareness of the #RealTimeChem chemistry community on Twitter and encourage as many chemists as possible to connect with each other by tweeting about their chemistry as they are doing it. During the week there are events to take part in with prizes on offer, so it’s the perfect week to jump in and share some chemistry with your fellow chemists.

If you are completely new to the community 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.

I’m sure you have questions, you are scientists. Here’s some common questions and the related answers below, including details on this year’s theme, events and prizes:

When is it?

7th November to 13th November 2022
7th November to 13th November 2022

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. You should also use this year’s theme hashtag #Inclusivechem. That hashtag will also be monitored by me (& our sponsors at C&EN) during the event. We also have a series of other hashtag based daily roll calls during the week to highlight different communities that you can be involved in, so check those out below.

What is this year’s theme?

#Inclusivechem
#Inclusivechem

#RealTimeChem has a global community with Tweeters from all over the world. They come from a diverse range of cultures and with a huge variety of backgrounds and experiences.

This year we have chosen to both recognise and celebrate this diversity using the hashtag #Inclusivechem. It is so important that we value every member of this community and show that all are welcome. It is our greatest strength. For chemistry to prosper and help the world, it must be inclusive and accessible to all.

Chemistry is for everybody. Let’s celebrate what makes it great. All of you.

Image by Andy Brunning showing different chemists walking across the LGBTQ+ progress pride flag in the style of The Beatles Abbey Road cover.
Image: Andy Brunning/Compound Interest

Throughout the week we and our friends at C&EN magazine will be asking:

  1. What does #InclusiveChem mean for you?
  2. Show us your #RealTimeChem! Where do you find chemistry around you?
  3. Give a shout out to a mentor, teacher, or colleague who has opened doors in your #InclusiveChem journey
  4. What are your #FlagsOfChem?
  5. What is your favorite queer molecule and why?
  6. What languages do you use to communicate your science?
  7. How have you changed in the last 10 years of #RealTimeChem? – how did it start and how is it going?
A how it started how it's going meme showing the logos for RealTimeChem in 2012 and 2022.
How #RealTimeChem started (yes 24 was vaguely culturally relevant back then) and how it’s going!

What are the Daily Events?

In addition to above we will be celebrating #InclusiveChem throughout the week with the following daily roll calls to highlight diversity in our chemistry community:

Nov. 7: #InclusiveChem kick off and Fly your #FlagsOfChem – this can be any flag that you feel is important to who you are – you don’t need to just chose one there are lots! You’ll find quite a few on our banner this year.

Nov. 8: #BlackInChem in partnership with @BlackInChem & @NOBCChE

Nov. 9: #DisabledInChem in partnership with @DisabledInSTEM

Nov. 10: #LatinXinChem in partnership with @LatinXchem

Nov. 11: #QueerInChem in partnership with @PrideinSTEM

To take part in a roll call all you need to do is introduce yourself and/or your chemistry using the relevant hashtag. You can just tweet hello, include photos or video. It’s up to you. We’d love for you to take part and help showcase the wonderful diversity in our community. We’ll also be making shout outs all week to chemists in these communities via @RealTimeChem – we’d love to hear yours too. Do also check out our partners and the great I&D work that they are doing within chemistry.

What are the prizes during #RealTimeChem Week 2022?  

Like in previous years there will be prizes for #RealTimeChem Week tweets. However, this year to celebrate 10 years of #RealTimeChem and Inclusion and Diversity in the chemical science, we will be giving away 100 limited edition mugs (yes folks the mugs are baaaaack) featuring the #Inclusivechem art by Andy Brunning.

Winners this year will be selected at random from those who tweet during the week using #InclusiveChem, so everyone has an equal chance of winning!

C&EN Nameplate logo red

C&EN magazine will also be running a story online highlighting some of their favourite Tweets during the event, so make it a good one.

Winners will be asked to provide name and address details via DM or email after the event.

#RealTimeChem Week Adverts

Below you will find banners to help you share the word about #RealTimeChem Week 2022. Our graphics whizz Andy Brunning (www.compoundchem.com) is back this year with some fantastic new banners to promote and celebrate #inclusivechem.

Feel free to share these adverts far and wide.

A banner for #RealTimeChem Week 2022 showing a variety of flags for Inclusion and Diversity including the hashtag #Inclusivechem and the date 7th-13th November 2022.
#flagsofchem banner
Latinx in Stem banner
#disabledinchem banner
#blackinchem banner
LBGQT #queerinstem banner

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, then please get in touch with me via realtimechem@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to chat about the possibilities.

See you all during the week! 

-Doctor Galactic-

Advertisement

Announcing #RealTimeChem Week 2021 – #GlobalChem (28 Nov 2021 – 4 Dec 2021)

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Greetings everyone,

I’ve finally managed to get the ball rolling on things for #RealTimeChem Week; better late than never right? Im afraid this year is going to be another slimmed down event due to a variety of circumstances, however, there will be bigger things ahead for the hashtag’s 10th anniversary in 2022 (yes it has been that long).

For those not already in the know, #RealTimeChem Week is a 7 day themed event to help raise awareness of the #RealTimeChem chemistry community on Twitter and encourage as many chemists as possible to tweet about their chemistry as they are doing it. During the week there are usually events to take part in, competitions and prizes are on offer, so it’s the perfect week to jump in and share some chemistry with your fellow chemists.

If you are completely new to the community 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.

So, why not take some time during #RealTimeChem Week to share some chemistry and connect to other chemists in the world and have some fun while you’re at it?

I’m sure you have questions, you’re scientists. Here’s some common questions and the related answers below, including details on this year’s theme, events and competitions:

When is it?

28th November- 4th December.

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. You can also use this year’s theme hashtag #GlobalChem. That hashtag will also be monitored by me (& our sponsors at C&EN) during the event. Hell use both. Go wild. Just use one of these hashtags or you’ll be lonely.

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

This community exists all around the world and this year we’ve decided to celebrate that using the hashtag #GlobalChem!

It’s time to go global! Chemistry is everywhere and the people who make it happen are too! Did you know that #RealTimeChem has been Tweeted about in over 100 countries around the world? This year #RealTimeChem Week is celebrating all that international flavour using the hashtag #GlobalChem.

Use the #GlobalChem roll call to let us know where you are from and what makes it so special to you? What’s the chemistry history of your country? Tell us all about your fantastic international colleagues and collaborators. Have you embarked on any worldwide adventures in your chemical journey? We’d love to hear all about it.

#RealTimeChem Week 2021 – Tweets of the week prizes  

Like in previous years there will be prizes for the best #RealTimeChem Week tweets. The format this year has been made super simple without any of the previous categories.

All you have to do is Tweet about your chemistry using the #GlobalChem hashtag (along with #RealTimeChem) to be considered. However, you’ll need to do something a little unique and eye catching to win, extra bonus points if you can use this years theme in a creative way!

As before, C&EN have again kindly provided prizes for the winners. Below are some details about the prizes*

*Please note some details may be subject to change.

C&ENNameplate logo red

There will be 7 Tweets of the Week selected over the course of the event (they may not come from separate days). Tweets will be shortlisted by the folks at CEN and selections made in consultation with myself & #RealTimeChem’s ambassadors.

The prize for a Tweet of the Week will be:

  • A $50 Amazon Gift Card Prize (or equivalent for non-US locations) courtesy of C&EN.

Tweets posted on all seven days of the event (28th November – 4th December) are eligible for the awards.

We will be keeping an eye on the hashtag and gathering up the best tweets with a summary of winners, published in C&EN in December.

Prizes winners will be announced by C&EN after the event.

Winners will be asked to provide name and address details via DM or email.

#RealTimeChem Week Adverts

Below you will find banners to help you share the word about #RealTimeChem Week 2021. Our usual graphic wonder dude Andy Brunning (www.compoundchem.com) Is taking a break this year spend time with his newborn second child, so this snazzy years graphics have been provided by Dorea Reeser (@drdorea) of C&EN (I’m sure Ultraviolet helped).

Feel free to share this banner far and wide and definitely internationally!

#GlobalChem Roll Call

Information coming soon…

Other events?

There are some plans in progress for other events for the week that may (or may not) happen. Like a lot of people we’ve experienced a lot of disruption due to the pandemic and so the original larger plans have had to be scaled back a bit. If other events do happen we’ll write them up 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, then please get in touch with me via realtimechem@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to chat about the possibilities.

-Doctor Galactic-

Introducing #RealTimeChem Ambassador (N. America) – Gabriele Laudadio

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hi everybody,

Back in February we opened up applications to become a #RealTimeChem Ambassador and we are very pleased to be able to announce the first set of newly appointed Ambassadors. This is the last member of that first set. We’re still looking at new applications though!

So without further ado please meet our 5th #RealTimeChem Ambassador (again based in North America):

Gabriele Laudadio (@g_laudadio) – https://twitter.com/g_laudadio

Gabriele Laudadio was born in 1991 in Italy. He received his M.Sc. degree in Organic Chemistry at the University of Pisa. In 2020, he obtained his Ph.D. degree with Cum Laude under the supervision of Prof. Timothy Noël. Currently, Dr. Laudadio joined Prof. Baran group at the Scripps Research Institute in California. His research is focused on solving synthetic problems in Organic Chemistry embracing new technology, like photochemistry, electrochemistry and flow chemistry. Gabriele has previously worked with #RealTimeChem team on the #Chem4Life theme for #RealTimeChem Week in 2018.

Please join us in saying a big hello to Gabriele either in the comments below or, more likely, on Twitter (you should follow him)! We’ll be working with Gabriele and all of our other new Ambassadors to generate new and exciting content for #RealTimeChem in the coming weeks, months and years ahead!

If you’d like to apply to be a #RealTimeChem Ambassador check out how here.

Signing off.

@doctor_galactic
@lauraksmith2015

Introducing #RealTimeChem Ambassador (N. America) – Soren Lipman

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hi everybody,

Back in February we opened up applications to become a #RealTimeChem Ambassador and we are very pleased to be able to announce the first set of newly appointed Ambassadors.

So without further ado please meet our 4th #RealTimeChem Ambassador (this time based in North America!):

Soren Lipman (@sorenlipman) – https://twitter.com/sorenlipman

Hello, my name is Soren (@sorenlipman) and I am a first-year graduate student in the chemical biology program at UC Berkeley. I am an advocate for academic mental health. In my free time, I love to explore new music (especially alternative rock), cross-stitch, and bake! 

Please join us in saying a big hello to Soren either in the comments below or, more likely, on Twitter (you should follow her)! We’ll be working with Soren and all of our other new Ambassadors to generate new and exciting content for #RealTimeChem in the coming weeks, months and years ahead! More ambassadors to be announced soon!

If you’d like to apply to be a #RealTimeChem Ambassador check out how here.

Signing off.

@doctor_galactic
@lauraksmith2015

Introducing #RealTimeChem Ambassador (Europe) – Henry Powell-Davies

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hi everybody,

Back in February we opened up applications to become a #RealTimeChem Ambassador and we are very pleased to be able to announce the first set of newly appointed Ambassadors.

So without further ado please meet our third #RealTimeChem Ambassador (still focusing on Europe):

Henry Powell-Davies (@hpowelldavies) – https://twitter.com/hpowelldavies

Hi, I’m Henry, currently a graduate researcher in the Cronin Group at the University of Glasgow. My research is focused on developing 3D-printable reactionware devices which are capable of, in theory, performing any chemical synthesis in a series of simple steps. I have a real interest in automated approaches to doing chemistry, especially those which seek to make practical work more accessible for those of us with disabilities. As a RealTimeChem Ambassador, I will look to encourage even more people to takepart in events such as #RealTimeChem Week, as I view this as a great chance not only to build a global network of scientists with varied interests who can interact with each other in this global space, but also break down barriers to communication and ensure everyone has a place they can freely express their interests in chemistry and the associated sciences, ultimately allowing the community to grow and learn together!

Please join us in saying a big hello to Henry either in the comments below or, more likely, on Twitter (you should follow him)! We’ll be working with Henry and all of our other new Ambassadors to generate new and exciting content for #RealTimeChem in the coming weeks, months and years ahead! More ambassadors to be announced soon!

If you’d like to apply to be a #RealTimeChem Ambassador check out how here.

Signing off.

@doctor_galactic
@lauraksmith2015

Introducing #RealTimeChem Ambassador (Europe) – Charlotte Pugsley

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hi everybody,

Back in February we opened up applications to become a #RealTimeChem Ambassador and we are very pleased to be able to announce the first set of newly appointed Ambassadors.

So without further ado please meet our second #RealTimeChem Ambassador:

Charlotte Pugsley (@cepugsley)
https://twitter.com/cepugsley

Hi, my name is Charlotte, and I am a PhD student at the University of Leeds in the UK. My research is in the field of soft matter, and I spend most of my time in the lab synthesising polymers by RAFT polymerisation. However, at heart, I’m a physical chemist who is fascinated by colloids! As a woman in chemistry I have often felt like an impostor. Being able to connect with other women through #RealTimeChem has made me more confident within a scientific community that reflects my own experiences.

Please join us in saying a big hello to Charlotte either in the comments below or, more likely, on Twitter (you should follow her)! We’ll be working with Charlotte and all of our other new Ambassadors to generate new and exciting content for #RealTimeChem in the coming weeks, months and years ahead! More ambassadors to be announced soon!

If you’d like to apply to be a #RealTimeChem Ambassador check out how here.

Signing off.

@doctor_galactic
@lauraksmith2015

Introducing #RealTimeChem Ambassador (Europe) – Andryj Borys

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hi everybody,

Back in February we opened up applications to become a #RealTimeChem Ambassador and we are very pleased to be able to announce the first set of newly appointed Ambassadors.

So without further ado please meet our first #RealTimeChem Ambassador:

Andryj Borys

I’m Andryj, and I’m a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Bern in Switzerland. My current research explores heterobimetallic s- and d-block complexes, but main-group chemistry, particularly phophorus, is my true passion. I love sharing and seeing cool photos or crazy NMR spectra through the #RealTimeChem hashtag on Twitter, and enjoy interacting with the active and diverse chemistry community.

Please join us in saying a big hello to Andryj either in the comments below or, more likely, on Twitter! We’ll be working with Andryj and all of our other new Ambassadors to generate new and exciting content for #RealTimeChem in the coming weeks, months and years ahead! More ambassadors to be announced soon!

If you’d like to apply to be a #RealTimeChem Ambassador check out how here.

Signing off.

@doctor_galactic
@lauraksmith2015

Announcing #RealTimeChem Week 2020 – #ChemAtHome (30 Nov 2020 – 6 Dec 2020)

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Greetings everyone,

Well…2020’s been a bit of a mare hasn’t it? I’d joke about it in my usual off the cuff way, but to be honest… it’s not funny. These have been difficult times for many of you. Best wishes to you all.

What I can do is try to lighten the mood a little with the announcement that #RealTimeChem Week is baaaack!

For those not already in the know, #RealTimeChem Week is a 7 day themed event to help raise awareness of the #RealTimeChem chemistry community on Twitter and encourage as many chemists as possible to tweet about their chemistry as they are doing it. During the week there will hopefully be various events to take part in, competitions and prizes are on offer, so it’s the perfect week to jump in and share some socially distanced chemistry with your fellow chemists.

If you are completely new to the community 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.

So, why not take some time during #RealTimeChem Week to share some chemistry and connect to other chemists in the world and have some fun while you’re at it? I think right now we could use some fun. 

I’m sure you have questions, you’re scientists. Here’s some common questions and the related answers below, including details on this year’s theme, events and competitions:

When is it?

30th November- 6th December.

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. You can also use this year’s theme hashtag #ChemAtHome. That hashtag will also be monitored by me and co-curator Laura during the event. Hell use both. Go wild. Just use one of these hashtags or you’ll be lonely.

Please note that there are there are other hashtags you should use to enter the related competitions, more details on these are below.

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

Being that many people in the word have spent more time than usual at home this year due to it’s perhaps not surprising that the theme is  #ChemAtHome!

Chemistry doesn’t just happen in the laboratory or the office, it happens at home too (particularly in 2020).

It’s all here folks: pets on your keyboard! kids in your zoom calls! Chemistry in the kitchen! Chemistry on the kitchen floor! Facemasks! Social distancing! Online conferences! Experiments in your shed!

So time to take off your lab coat, put on your most comfortable clothes and then do some #RealTimeChem! *

* Okay Lab work is perfectly fine too, but make sure you’re COVID secure.

#RealTimeChem Week Awards 2020 

Just like all previous years, the main event of #RealTimeChem Week is the Awards. These are given to our favourite tweets during #RealTimeChem Week. The format this year is pretty much the same as previous years with some funky new categories based on this year’s theme.  

As before, C&EN have again kindly sponsored all the award categories with a prize. Below are some details about the awards*

*Please note some details may be subject to change.

C&ENNameplate logo red

The winners for each category will have their tweets featured in a news story by C&EN, to be published online in December. In addition to this, the 7 winners will receive:

  • A $50 Amazon Gift Card Prize (or equivalent for non-US locations) courtesy of C&EN.

Tweets posted on all seven days of the event (30th November – 6th December) are eligible for the awards. They must, however, fall into one of the following “best of” categories (summarized here excellently by Andy):

  • #ReadingChem (lectures, writing theses, homeschooling, reading literature)
  • #ChemHomeOffice (show off your home setup and how you are #RealTimeChem-ing from home)
  • #ChemCoWorkers (show off your chemistry collaborators and they don’t need to be humans!)
  • #EverydayFluorescence (just like #FluorescenceFriday, but better. Obviously.)
  • #KitchenChem (Chemistry and cooking are the same thing, a chance to show off your total synthesis of a baked product!)
  • #ChemAt2m (show us how you are carrying out #RealTimeChem at an appropriate social distance)
  • #BackyardChem (can’t go to the lab, not enough space in the house, why not try the great outdoors. Safely show off some #RealTimeChem in your backyard)

Therefore, to potentially win a prize in the awards all you have to do is tweet something within these categories using #RealTimeChem (or #ChemAtHome) using the appropriate hashtag during the week.

There will also be a Reader’s choice award this year! This will have a prize of a $100 Amazon Gift Card Prize (or equivalent for non-US locations) courtesy of C&EN. More details on how this award will be run coming soon.

We will be keeping an eye on the hashtag and gathering up the best tweets with a summary of winners, published in C&EN. As mentioned there will be one winner per category and two honorable mentions as runners up (sadly no additional prizes are available for runners up).

Prizes winners will be announced by C&EN after the event.

Winners will be asked to provide name and address details via DM or email.

#RealTimeChem Week Adverts

Below you will find banners to help you share the word about #RealTimeChem Week 2020. Designed again by the awesome Andy Brunning of @compoundinterest as usual! (www.compoundchem.com) Feel free to print out and put them around your house even.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is chemathome.png

Other events?

There are some plans in progress for other events for the week that may (or may not) happen. Like a lot of people we’ve experienced a lot of disruption due to the pandemic and so the original larger plans have had to be scaled back a bit. If other events do happen we’ll write them up 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, then please get in touch with me via realtimechem@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to chat about the possibilities.

-Doctor Galactic-

Thank yous & prize winners for the Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off & Outreach Competition

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Hello RealTimeChemists,

2018. My how the years fly by. This year’s #RealTimeChem Week was all about #Chem4Life, a theme chosen by community member Gabriele Laudadio (@g_laudadio) who wrote an excellent summary here that is far more poetic than I can possibly be. Suffice to say, it was another fun week of all things chemistry and thanks have to go out to everyone who joined in and tweeted. 

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.

As ever, this event doesn’t happen without a variety of people behind the scenes to whom I must offer a shout out:

  • As every year since 2015, I have to thank Andy Brunning of @compoundchem. Somehow Andy manages to surpass himself with each passing year. His artwork is as much #RealTimeChem at this stage as this blog is. We’ve still never met in person (one of these days!!)
  • Big, big thanks to Dorea Reeser and colleagues at C&EN this year for sponsoring the main awards and hosting them over on their website and also in print. The magazine has always supported #RealTimeChem since its early days back in the mists of 2012. 
  • Thank you again to David Peralta, Managing editor of @ChemMedChem and everyone at WileyVCH who continue to enthusiastically support The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off with prizes and their expertise in selecting the best cooking and cakes. 
  • Big thanks to Alex (@bythewayalex) for reaching out this year with his Outreach Competition idea and doing all the legwork on designing it. I look forward to his future SciComm endeavours. Additional thanks go out to the University of York for their support of Alex’s idea and #RealTimeChem Week this year in particular. 
  • Huge thanks to Fani and everyone at Open Access publisher Hindawi for being so enthusiastic and wanting to get involved with #RealTimeChem and the Outreach competition this year (plus providing the prize – more about that below). 
  • Finally, to my wife for her love, understanding and endless patience with me. Also to my little boy Noah, for being a bundle of energy and joy and life. 

 

FYI, if you are looking for the main #RealTimeChem Awards these are being posted by C&EN magazine today – here’s a link to the post: https://cen.acs.org/people/awards/2018-RealTimeChem-Week-Awards/96/web/2018/11 

 

Now, Cook Off prizes time. Below I will announce the winners of The Great #RealTimeChem Cook Off 2018:

As mentioned above this year’s contest was sponsored again 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 (everybody wants one of these. Hell, I want one.)
-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!

This selection process gets harder every year so it’s a good thing that its not just down to me or you’d probably get this post at some point in 2019! David Peralta and the folks at WileyVCH made the final choices here and they are excellent as usual. Thanks to everyone who took part. I won’t blather on here while you sit there with baited breath, so without further ado:

*drum roll*

  • @Teachforaliving continues to be one of my favourite #chemed folks and she has won in this competition previously, but this year she knocked it out of the park again with some excellent cake designs! Seriously impressive stuff. 

 

  • @teodorolaino. As this tweet says: PIZZA! Delicious-looking product, and good pictures too as a demo of fermentation in action.

 

  • @honestlyruss. These are so cuuuuute. Plus bees are cool. My toddler has so, so it must be true. Also macarons are tough, and these look perfect and well decorated in addition to the fun (and chemistry related) theme too!

 

  • @JeffreyYWMak. Have I ever mention that lamb is my favourite meat? No. Well, it is. I’d go around Jeff’s house any day. I love this tweet too, reading like your average chemistry paper experimental. 

 

  • @dumblyd0re. As David P put it: “Nice curry and cake combo!” The #RealTimeChem theme was obviously well received and it was a very well made (plus tasty – disclaimer: this is the first Cook Off entry I have had the option of tasting as they work at the RSC) 

 

Congratulations everybody! To claim your prize pack please send the below details via email to chemmedchem@wiley.com. Plus cc in realtimechem@gmail.com. 

1) Full name

2) E-mail address

3) Shipping address

4) Institute/affiliation

5) Lab/Professor/Division, if any.

 

 

The final winner to mention today. The winner of the #Chem4Life Outreach Competition sponsored by open access publisher Hindawi. 

Thanks to everyone who entered this competition. After careful consideration of all the tweets that fulfilled the entry requirements for the competition (i.e those that used a public hashtag in combination with #Chem4Life), the judging panel (comprised of myself, Alex & the folks at Hindawi) have decided that the winner of the prize (a Samsung Galaxy Tab A) is:

  • @howitt_julia –  an environmental and analytical chemist for her tweets on carbon and nutrient dyanmics in rivers/floodplains.  

 

Congratulations Julia! To claim your prize please send me a DM on Twitter with the below details. Alternatively, email me at realtimechem@gmail.com. 

1) Full name

2) E-mail address

3) Shipping address

4) Institute/affiliation

 

Once again thank you a million times to everyone who took part in #RealTimeChem week 2018. Here’s to all of you and to next year. 

 

mischief managed

-Doctor Galactic-

 

 

The meaning of #Chem4Life: Chemistry for Life and Life in Chemistry

Posted on by doctorgalactic

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to the 2018 #RealTimeChem week! My suggestion for this year’s theme was the most voted on Twitter and it’s now time to explain to all of you why I proposed this hashtag.

Chem4Life

First of all, my name is Gabriele Laudadio, and I am currently pursuing my PhD at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the group of Dr. Timothy Noël. Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by chemistry and how the interaction between different molecules originated life as we know it. For this reason, as soon as I graduated high school student, I decided to go for it: I wanted to be a chemist!

From the very beginning, I realized how tough studying chemistry can be. So many different disciplines, so many different courses to attend. None of this scared me though, quite the opposite happened: the more I got into the field, the more I knew that it was worth all my time.

Learning the basics of chemistry felt like learning a new language. Atoms make up the alphabet, molecules can be used to form sentences and drawing reaction mechanisms pretty much compares to grammar: the rules are clear but there’s always an exception! The amazing thing about the chemical language? It’s universal! Chemistry can be used to communicate with any other fellow chemist around the world and to unravel the mystery of our universe.

Looking back to the last couple centuries, it’s so clear that chemistry not only serves the purposes of the chemical community, but affects society as a whole. From the understanding of microbiology to new approaches in the synthesis of bioactive compounds, from the production of polymers to the relevance of transition metal complexes in drug discovery…this list could be so long! What’s certain is that the Chemistry in all these discoveries radically changed the Life of every human being on this planet.

And that’s where the theme I suggested comes from: a reminder that Chemistry and Life are indissolubly linked together. What’s left to us chemists, scientists, and curious tweeps around the world is the task to learn the language of chemistry to interact with Nature. Have you had the chance in your career to glimpse into the bond between Chemistry and Nature? How did your research contribute to bring us one step further as society? Tell us all about it this week! This will be an awesome discussion I am certainly looking forward to!

But there’s also a second meaning for this #Chem4Life RealTimeChem week, one for all the insiders of the chemistry world. Nothing in life binds people together like common passions and interests, so this week we want to know how Chemistry impacted your own life. Which people/places/adventures changed your life as a chemist? Myself, I had the chance to meet fantastic people during my studies: many of my lab mates are among my best friends and I even had the luck to find love over chemistry books (My wife probably knew I liked her the moment I enthusiastically offered her my jealously guarded Org Chem notes during our masters ☺)

So let’s use the great platform of Twitter to talk about Life in Chemistry!

And don’t get me wrong: I know life as a chemists is not all sunshine and rainbows. There’s many challenges all of us face when devoting our time to Chemistry, both as scientists and as human beings. So don’t hold back and feel free to start any discussions on “the dark side” of chemistry as well… (what about working-life balance, funding situation, preprint papers, issues with the peer-reviewing systems, diversity in science, intercultural awareness in international labs…)

I certainly hope that this #Chem4Life will be a great opportunity for all chemists to remind ourselves of how lucky we are to work in this great field, to inspire and support each other through real-life examples and to reflect as a community on what we hope to achieve/improve in the future.

 

Chemistry for Life and Life in Chemistry, one for all, all for one!

 

Enjoy this lovely week, and don’t’ forget the hashtag! #Chem4Life.

 

–Gabriele–

Gabriele_Laudadio_ST_PO_VH_3555_PhD

Author Biography: 

Gabriele Laudadio received his masters degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Pisa in 2016. 
He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the group of Dr Timothy Noël at the Eindhoven University of Technology. 
His research focuses on the application of Green Chemistry to improve Organic Chemistry methodologies, 
combining continuous-flow microreactor technology with electrochemistry and photochemistry.