2010 Chem Soc Rev Lecture – it was magic!

Chem Soc Rev Advisory Editorial Board member Stephen Loeb reports on Gerard Parkin’s entertaining award lecture

The 2010 Chemical Society Reviews Award Lecture entitled “Bioinorganic Chemistry of Mercury and Approaches to Detoxification” was presented by Professor Gerard Parkin of Columbia University at the 43rd Inorganic Discussion Weekend held Nov 6th and 7th on the campus of the University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Stephen Loeb presents Gerard Parkin with his award certificate
Stephen Loeb presents Gerard Parkin with his award certificate

The 150 graduate students and their supervisors from Ontario and Quebec in Canada and Michigan and Ohio in the USA that attended the lecture were treated to a rousing performance in which Professor Parkin recounted his latest research results on the coordination chemistry of mercury alkyls along with a fascinating historical and environmental perspective of the subject. The audience was thoroughly entertained as Parkin engaged them in vigorous discussions and amazed them with a variety of magic tricks – a real treat!

Gerard Parkin perfoms a magic trick

The Chem Soc Rev 2011 Emerging Investigator Award and 2011 Lecture Award are now open for nominations. Please contact the Editorial Office for more information.

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Top ten most accessed articles in September

This month sees the following articles in ChemSocRev that are in the top ten most accessed:-

Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms: requirements, characteristics and applications  
Daniel Mark, Stefan Haeberle, Günter Roth, Felix von Stetten and Roland Zengerle 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 1153-1182, DOI: 10.1039/B820557B , Critical Review 

Heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting  
Akihiko Kudo and Yugo Miseki 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 253-278, DOI: 10.1039/B800489G , Critical Review 

Anion receptor chemistry: highlights from 2008 and 2009  
Philip A. Gale 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3746-3771, DOI: 10.1039/C001871F , Critical Review 

Gold nanostructures: a class of multifunctional materials for biomedical applications 
Claire M. Cobley, Jingyi Chen, Eun Chul Cho, Lihong V. Wang and Younan Xia 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2011, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/B821763G , Tutorial Review 

Anion recognition by hydrogen bonding: urea-based receptors  
Valeria Amendola, Luigi Fabbrizzi and Lorenzo Mosca 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3889-3915, DOI: 10.1039/B822552B , Critical Review 

Colorimetric and fluorescent anion sensors: an overview of recent developments in the use of 1,8-naphthalimide-based chemosensors 
Rebecca M. Duke, Emma B. Veale, Frederick M. Pfeffer, Paul E. Kruger and Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3936-3953, DOI: 10.1039/B910560N , Critical Review 

Graphene-based materials in electrochemistry 
Da Chen, Longhua Tang and Jinghong Li 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3157-3180, DOI: 10.1039/B923596E , Critical Review 

The chemistry of graphene oxide  
Daniel R. Dreyer, Sungjin Park, Christopher W. Bielawski and Rodney S. Ruoff 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 228-240, DOI: 10.1039/B917103G , Critical Review 

Multifunctional nanostructured materials for multimodal imaging, and simultaneous imaging and therapy 
Jaeyun Kim, Yuanzhe Piao and Taeghwan Hyeon 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 372-390, DOI: 10.1039/B709883A , Tutorial Review 

Single nanowire photovoltaics  
Bozhi Tian, Thomas J. Kempa and Charles M. Lieber 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38, 16-24, DOI: 10.1039/B718703N , Tutorial Review 

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.

Fancy submitting an article to ChemSocRev? Then why not email us today with your suggestions.

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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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Chem Soc Rev Lecture Award at 43rd Inorganic Discussion Weekend

I am pleased to announce that the 2010 Chem Soc Rev Lecture Award will be presented to Professor Gerard Parkin at the 43rd Inorganic Discussion Weekend taking place at University of Windsor, Canada, on 5th-7th November 2010.

The title of Professor Parkin’s lecture will be ‘Biorganometallic Chemistry of Mercury and Approaches to Detoxification’.

Nominations are now open for the 2011 Chem Soc Rev Lecture and Emerging Investigator Awards. Please contact the Editorial Office with your suggestions by 31st January 2011.

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Top ten most accessed articles in August

This month sees the following articles in ChemSocRev that are in the top ten most accessed:-

Graphene-based materials in electrochemistry 
Da Chen, Longhua Tang and Jinghong Li 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3157 – 3180, DOI: 10.1039/b923596e, Critical Review 

Designing multifunctional quantum dots for bioimaging, detection, and drug delivery 
Pavel Zrazhevskiy, Mark Sena and Xiaohu Gao 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, DOI: 10.1039/b915139g, Critical Review 

The uses of supramolecular chemistry in synthetic methodology development: examples of anion and neutral molecular recognition 
Leo A. Joyce, Shagufta H. Shabbir and Eric V. Anslyn 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3621 – 3632, DOI: 10.1039/b926224p, Tutorial Review 

Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms: requirements, characteristics and applications 
Daniel Mark, Stefan Haeberle, Günter Roth, Felix von Stetten and Roland Zengerle 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 1153 – 1182, DOI: 10.1039/b820557b, Critical Review 

Next-generation peptide nanomaterials: molecular networks, interfaces and supramolecular functionality 
Mischa Zelzer and Rein V. Ulijn 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3351 – 3357, DOI: 10.1039/c0cs00035c, Highlight 

Semiconducting polymers: the Third Generation 
Alan J. Heeger 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2354 – 2371, DOI: 10.1039/b914956m, Tutorial Review 

Probing peptide-nanomaterial interactions 
Joseph M. Slocik and Rajesh R. Naik 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3454 – 3463, DOI: 10.1039/b918035b, Tutorial Review 

More than just bare scaffolds: towards multi-component and decorated fibrous biomaterials 
Derek N. Woolfson and Zahra N. Mahmoud 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3464 – 3479, DOI: 10.1039/c0cs00032a, Critical Review 

Aromaticity and photophysical properties of various topology-controlled expanded porphyrins 
Jae-Yoon Shin, Kil Suk Kim, Min-Chul Yoon, Jong Min Lim, Zin Seok Yoon, Atsuhiro Osuka and Dongho Kim 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2751 – 2767, DOI: 10.1039/b925417j, Tutorial Review 

Power struggles in peptide-amphiphile nanostructures 
Frank Versluis, Hana Robson Marsden and Alexander Kros 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3434 – 3444, DOI: 10.1039/b919446k, Tutorial Review 

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.

Fancy submitting an article to ChemSocRev? Then why not email us today with your suggestions. 

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Supramolecular chemistry of anionic species

Anions are key to many processes, both industrial and biological, playing crucial roles in both health and the environment. Their role, function and properties are at the heart of many scientific research programmes within the field of supramolecular chemistry.

Outside front cover

In the latest Chem Soc Rev themed issue, guest editors Phil Gale and Thorri Gunnlaugsson have collected together a series of reviews covering many recent advances in this exciting area of chemistry. Topics include sensing, transmembrane lipid-bilayer transport of anionic species, urea-based receptors and conformational control using anions.

Read the full issue, which includes a preface from the guest editors, 10 tutorial reviews and 14 critical reviews. If you have any comments on this issue or suggestions for future themed issues, or you would like to write a review for the journal, please leave your comments below or contact the Editorial Office.

And if you enjoy this issue, you’ll also enjoy Phil Gale’s ChemComm Highlight in Chemistry entitled ‘Anion Receptor Chemistry’.

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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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Interview: Enthusiastic fantastic

Helma WennemersHelma Wennemers is professor of chemistry at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Her research focuses on the development of peptides as asymmetric catalysts, peptidic scaffolds for applications in the life and materials sciences as well as the use of peptides to control the formation of metal nanoparticles. She is a member of the Chemical Society Reviews editorial board.

 

 

 

Who or what inspired you to become a scientist?
I hadn’t always wanted to be a scientist. At school I majored in history and English and then decided to study food chemistry. Luckily, it involved a lot of chemistry and this is when I discovered how much insight into nature you can get by looking at molecules. It is the molecular view that got me fascinated about chemistry and doing organic chemistry.

Why did you decide to specialise in peptides?
Peptides serve many different and important functions in nature and everyday life that range from hormones to toxins and artificial sweeteners. This is because lots of different tripeptides can be made by combining different variations of any three of the 21 natural amino acids. This large molecular diversity makes peptide chemistry complex but also offers exciting research perspectives. For example, I was curious to find out if peptides could function as asymmetric catalysts, a role that is currently not known from natural peptides.

What is hot in peptide chemistry at the moment?
Peptides have had a revival in medicinal chemistry because companies have started to realise that for certain therapeutic targets small molecules are just not enough. Peptides and peptide mimics are generating a lot of interest as a possible way to tackle these challenges. Aside from the medicinal aspect, the large molecular diversity of peptides has led to their use in other fields, such as nanosciences, materials chemistry, and asymmetric catalysis. 15 years ago, people would have said that there was no way a small peptide could catalyse a reaction. Nowadays, we and others have shown that this is possible. Peptide chemistry has many different facets and that keeps things exciting.

What is the key to running a successful research group?
This is a difficult question – I generally just do, without thinking too much about how I actually do it. Obviously, a certain degree of (social) intelligence is useful on top of picking interesting research projects and being a good teacher. One of the most important aspects is to be able to motivate and inspire your co-workers so that they become independent, self-responsible scientists. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student getting excited about scientific challenges and succeeding in tackling them.

How would your students describe you?
In some theses I get thanked for my ‘contagious enthusiasm’.

As a successful female scientist, what would you say to young women thinking of embarking on a career in science?
If you want something, work hard and you will succeed. Go your own way. Role models are important but everyone has a different path. I never got anything extra because I was female but also I never missed anything. Do what you want to do. Go for it!

You joined the Chem Soc Rev editorial board last year. What do you enjoy most about the role?
Chem Soc Rev is a terrific journal and helping to keep and enhance its quality is a great honour. In addition, I get to meet people that work in different areas of chemistry and I always find crossing such borders fascinating.

Who from the past or present world of science would you invite to a fantasy dinner party?
From my peptide interests, I’d love to invite Emil Fischer or Linus Pauling, both because of interests in the sciences but also for their broader vision on society in general. Meryl Streep would be high on my list too – I love her films. I’d also choose Plato or another hero from Ancient Greece.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my semi-spare time, I try to enthuse the general public, particularly children, about science. 10 year old kids are very happy customers. You see their enthusiasms, their ‘wows!’ Grown up bankers and lawyers are much harder customers but there is some hope. I also try to go as much as possible to art museums and like sports, yoga and reading. My group and I love outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing.

Find out more about Helma’s work on her website.

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Top ten most accessed articles in July

This month sees the following articles in ChemSocRev that are in the top ten most accessed:-

Tutorial Reviews

Semiconducting polymers: the Third Generation 
Alan J. Heeger 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2354-2371, DOI: 10.1039/B914956M

Carbazole-based polymers for organic photovoltaic devices 
Jiaoli Li and Andrew C. Grimsdale 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2399-2410, DOI: 10.1039/B915995A

Water-soluble fluorescent conjugated polymers and their interactions with biomacromolecules for sensitive biosensors 
Xuli Feng, Libing Liu, Shu Wang and Daoben Zhu 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2411-2419, DOI: 10.1039/B909065G

Conducting supramolecular nanofibers and nanorods 
Masashi Hasegawa and Masahiko Iyoda 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2420-2427, DOI: 10.1039/B909347H

Critical Reviews

Electroactive materials for organic electronics: preparation strategies, structural aspects and characterization techniques 
Adam Pron, Pawel Gawrys, Malgorzata Zagorska, David Djurado and Renaud Demadrille 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2577-2632, DOI: 10.1039/B907999H

Graphene-based materials in electrochemistry 
Da Chen, Longhua Tang and Jinghong Li 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3157-3180, DOI: 10.1039/B923596E

Organic thin-film transistors 
Hagen Klauk 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2643-2666, DOI: 10.1039/B909902F

Applications and trends in electrochemiluminescence 
Lianzhe Hu and Guobao Xu 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3275-3304, DOI: 10.1039/B923679C

Click polymerization 
Anjun Qin, Jacky W. Y. Lam and Ben Zhong Tang 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2522-2544, DOI: 10.1039/B909064A

Star-shaped p-conjugated oligomers and their applications in organic electronics and photonics 
Alexander L. Kanibolotsky, Igor F. Perepichka and Peter J. Skabara 
Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 2695-2728, DOI: 10.1039/B918154G

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.

Fancy submitting an article to ChemSocRev? Then why not email us today with your suggestions.

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