Planning began for future international collaboration between the Environmental Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society and its European colleagues, the Division of Chemistry and the Environment of the European Association for Chemical Molecular Science (EuCheMS), at the 12th EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment (ICCE 2009) held June 14-17, 2009 at the University of Stockholm, Sweden.  Both divisions desire to increase scientific interactions in recognition of the global aspects of many environmental chemistry issues.   Benefits include information exchange on recent and unpublished results; development, cross-fertilization and participation in ongoing and future research activities; development of broader and stronger programs, and establishing long-term joint scientific projects. 

Organizing and sponsoring joint symposia at each other’s conferences was proposed as an initial step for establishing partnerships between the two international divisions.  European members were encouraged to participate in the national ACS meetings starting as early as the 2010 meetings in San Francisco and Boston, while ACS members will need to wait until 2011 for the next ICCE meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, or for the 2013 ICCE to be held in either Amsterdam or Barcelona.  Both Divisions agreed to work with their respective Societies and appropriate agencies to secure resources and funding to attract and nurture these partnerships.

The major focus of the international collaboration between the Divisions is developing a cooperative, rotating workshop series emphasizing emerging environmental issues and innovations that impact global interests.  Tentatively planned to start in 2011 in commemoration of the United Nations International Year of Chemistry, the first workshop will be held at a European site.  Scientists from both Societies will identify key environmental issues common to both, such as nanotechnology, groundwater contamination and use, explosives, water pollution and reuse, emerging contaminants, persistent organic pollutants, arsenic, and environmental chemistry issues related to the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and ecosystems.  It is proposed that workshops will have a “Gordon Conference” type structure and their outcome will be a report highlighting essential environmental components requiring action, along with specific recommendations for further collaboration in the form of international research projects and symposia.  Both Divisions will apply jointly for workshop funding to appropriate agencies.

The EuCheMS ICCE is the biannual European environmental chemistry conference of the Division of Chemistry and the Environment.   ICCE 2009 attracted 503 participants from over 40 countries.  Dr. Jurgen H. Exner (ENVR chair), Dr. Dionysios D. Dionysiou (ENVR fall programming chair), and Dr. Mark A. Nanny (ENVR Alternate Councilor), and Dr. Mary M. Exner (ENVR DIV) met with ICCE officers including Dr. Walter Giger, President of the Division of the Chemistry and Environment, to initiate and plan international collaboration between the two environmental chemistry divisions. Drs Exner, Dionysiou, and Nanny also presented papers on “Non-Incineration Treatment of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) with Iron Oxide Nano-Particles,” “Development and Environmental Application of TiO2 Photoassisted Processes for Water Purification: Degradation of Cyanobacterial Toxins,” and “"Noncovalent Interactions Between Dissolved Humic and Fulvic Acids and Aromatic Compounds: Mechanisms and Impact on Enzymatic Availability," respectively.

Walter Giger, Chair of EuCheMS Division of Environmental Chemistry, leads discussion on Division cooperation, picture by Mary Exner

Discussing History of PCB Analyses,  Philippe Garrigues (University of Bordeaux), Mark Nanny,  Soren Jensen, Jurgen Exner, by Mary Exner

In front of names of Swedish Chemistry Nobel Prize Winners at end of Conference, Mark Nanny, Walter Giger, Ake Bergman (conference Chair), Jurgen Exner, by Mary Exner