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70th Harden conference – Synthetic Biology

70th Harden Conference
Synthetic biology: design and engineering through understanding
Keele University, UK
22-26 August 2011 

Application is still available!

Synthetic Biology is the design and construction of new biological systems not found in that configuration in nature. The overarching aims of Synthetic Biology are to develop a firm basis for the design and engineering of new biological and biologically inspired molecules and collections of molecules (so-called systems), and to put these to useful purposes.  By applying engineering principles to biology, scientists hope to generate new molecular systems, and perhaps even new basic life forms, that are radically different from those that can be generated by more-traditional chemical synthesis and genetic engineering.

Despite much hype in the scientific and popular press, major obstacles towards these goals remain, however. The potential of Synthetic Biology will not be limited by the imagination of the researcher but rather by the suitability, quality, variability and compatibility of the ‘parts’ (genes, promoters, proteins and other biomolecular components) that they choose to engineer; the complex and often unwieldy circuitry of complex biological systems; the incompatibility of new parts with a new or existing biological contexts (so-called chassis); and the noise, variability and uncertainty, or emergent properties, inherent in biology.  Furthermore, the problems are not only scientific but also sociological, ethical and cultural: just because we can do this type of biological engineering, should we open this particular Pandora’s box?

The 70th Harden Conference will illustrate the potential of this emerging cross-disciplinary area; showcase current successes; and present the underpinning biology, engineering and systems understanding necessary to design synthetic biological systems reliably and predictably.

 

You may also be interested to know that conference organiser Dek Woolfson (The University of Bristol, UK) has guest edited a themed issue (alongisde Rein Ulijn, The University of Strathclyde, UK) on “Peptide- and protein-based materials” for ChemSocRev, in issue 9, 2010. 

 This is a nice themed issue that covers the design, synthesis, engineering, characterisation and functionalisation of materials composed of peptides or protein components. It features some top reviews from researchers including Molly Stevens, Alison Rodger, Jan van Hest, Bing Xu, Anthony Weiss, Joel Collier, Alexander Kros, both guest editors and more…

So, if you’re interested in peptides or proteins take a look at the peptide- and protein-based materials themed issue today!

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Another successful year for the general chemistry journals

          Another year, another impact factor and the RSC general chemistry journals, Chem Soc Rev and Chem Comm, are still going strong.    The 2010 impact factors were announced by ISI (Thomson Reuters) this week, which showed Chem Soc Rev increase by a whopping 32% to 26.583, and ChemComm continuing to do well at 5.787.

The Cambridge Editorial Office would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and dedication to both journals over the years. In particular, we would like to thank all of our Associate Editors, Editorial and Advisory Board members, authors and referees, without whom none of this would have been possible.

With another successful year in the bag, I’m already looking forward to what the future brings…

If you are interested in how the RSC performed overall then please visit the RSC publishing blog post for the full round up.

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Nomination reminder for Emerging Investigator and Lecture Awards

Time is running out for those of you who wish to nominate a colleague for the 2011 Chem Soc Rev Emerging Investigator Award and/or Lecture Award.  

Stephen Loeb presents Gerard Parkin with his Chem Soc Rev Lecture Award certificate (2010)

 

The deadline is fast approaching –  all nominations must be received before the 31st January. Why not submit your nominations to the Chem Soc Rev Editorial Office today? All we need are the nominee’s details, a brief C.V. and covering letter supporting your nomination choice. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

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Calling all Emerging Investigators for Chem Soc Rev award

Nominations are coming in thick and fast, so don’t forget to nominate your colleagues for the Chem Soc Rev 2011 Emerging Investigator Award before the end of January. This annual award is given to recognise an emerging scientist who has made a significant contribution to their research field.

Previous winners include:-

 

2010 – Shu-Hong Yu from the University of Science and Technology of China, in Hefei
2009 – Matt Gaunt from the University of Cambridge in the UK
2008 – Kazuya Kikuchi from Osaka University in Japan

 

 

Qualifying details

To be eligible for the Chem Soc Rev Emerging Investigator Award, the candidate should be within the first eight years of completing their PhD.

Award details

The recipient of the award will be asked to present a lecture at an international meeting. The Chem Soc Rev Editorial Office will provide the sum of £500 to the recipient for travel and accommodation costs. The award recipient will be presented with a certificate and will also be asked to contribute a review to the journal.

Selection

The recipient of the award will be selected and endorsed by the Chem Soc Rev  Editorial Board.

Nominations

Those wishing to make a nomination should send details of the nominee, including a brief C.V. together with a letter supporting the nomination, to the Chem Soc Rev  Editorial Office by 31st January 2011. Please note that self nomination is not permissible.

Following the close of nominations, nominees will be contacted and asked to summarise their key achievements and identify up to their top 5 independent publications. They will also be asked to highlight the impact of their work and discuss how their research has evolved from their previous supervisor’s.

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Emerging Investigator Award: Call for Nominations

Chem Soc Rev is pleased to invite nominations for the 2011 Emerging Investigator Award. This annual award is given to recognise an emerging scientist who has made a significant contribution to their research field.

 

 Previous winners include:-

2010 – Shu-Hong Yu from the University of Science and Technology of China, in Hefei
2009 – Matt Gaunt from the University of Cambridge in the UK
2008 – Kazuya Kikuchi from Osaka University in Japan

 

Qualifying details

To be eligible for the Chem Soc Rev Emerging Investigator Award, the candidate should be within the first eight years of completing their PhD.

Award details

The recipient of the award will be asked to present a lecture at an international meeting. The Chem Soc Rev Editorial Office will provide the sum of £500 to the recipient for travel and accommodation costs. The award recipient will be presented with a certificate and will also be asked to contribute a review to the journal.

Selection

The recipient of the award will be selected and endorsed by the Chem Soc Rev  Editorial Board.

Nominations

Those wishing to make a nomination should send details of the nominee, including a brief C.V. together with a letter supporting the nomination, to the Chem Soc Rev  Editorial Office by 31st January 2011. Please note that self nomination is not permissible.

Following the close of nominations, nominees will be contacted and asked to summarise their key achievements and identify up to their top 5 independent publications. They will also be asked to highlight the impact of their work and discuss how their research has evolved from their previous supervisor’s.

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Lecture Award: Call for Nominations

Chem Soc Rev is pleased to invite nominations for the 2011 Chem Soc Rev Lecture award. This award is given to honour a scientist who has made a significant contribution to their field over the course of their career.

 

Previous winners include:

2010 – Gerard Parkin from Columbia University, US
2009 – Bernhard Lippert from the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany
2008 – Feliu Maseras from the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Spain
2006 – Jeff Davis from the University of Maryland, USA

 

Qualifying details

To be eligible for the Chem Soc Rev Lecture Award, the candidate should have made a significant contribution to their research discipline.

Award details

The recipient of the award will be asked to present a lecture at an international meeting. The Chem Soc Rev Editorial Office will provide the sum of £500 to the recipient for travel and accommodation costs.

The award recipient will be presented with a certificate and will also be asked to contribute a review to the journal.

Selection process

The recipient of the award will be selected and endorsed by the Chem Soc Rev  Editorial Board.

Nominations

Those wishing to make a nomination should send details of the nominee, including a brief C.V. together with a letter supporting the nomination, to the Chem Soc Rev  Editorial Office by the 31st January 2011. Please note that self nomination is not permissible.

Following the close of nominations, nominees will be contacted and asked to summarise their key achievements and submit their top 3 independent publications. They will also be asked to highlight the impact of their work and discuss how their research has contributed significantly to their research field over the course of their career.

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Peptide and protein based materials

This themed issue reviews the progress in peptide and protein-based materials, guest edited by Rein Ulijn and Derek Woolfson.

The past 10 years have seen enormous progress in the design and engineering of protein- and peptide-based (polypeptide-based) functional nanomaterials. As a result, some of these are now temptingly close to applications in energy, nanotechnology and biomedicine. Given this progress and the promise of applications with real societal benefit now on the horizon, it is perfect timing to publish a themed issue on the topic of peptide and protein-based materials in Chem Soc Rev.

This themed issue can be found in Chem Soc Rev issue 9, 2010, covering the forefront research on design, synthesis, engineering, characterisation and functionalization of materials wholly or partially composed of peptide or protein components.

Why not peruse our other Chem Soc Rev themed issues or let us know what you think to this themed issue by leaving your comments below?

If you would like to see a themed issue in your area of research or write for Chem Soc Rev please contact the editorial office.

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