The international year of chemistry 2011 will be a yearlong celebration for the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well being of humankind. Yanbu Industrial College celebrates International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011 as ‘Chemfest'. The Chemical giant Dow and prominent member from the industrial fraternity, the European Petro Chemical Association (EPCA), enthusiastically joined this venture as their global partners. Many other reputed establishments and organizations like BASF, Cefic, DuPont, Solvay, Evonik, Phosagro, Elsevier, Agilent technologies, Waters, American Chemical Society, Pfizer, GSK are sponsors of major events of the Yanbu Industrial College celebrations at local, national and regional levels. In 2008, UN passed a resolution in its 63rd General Assembly declaring 2011 as the international Year of Chemistry and entrusting the responsibilities of the event jointly with IUPAC and UNESCO. Yanbu Industrial College having realized the importance of the objectives of the IYC 2011 celebrations decides to grab this opportunity to attract the young generation of the Kingdom through a yearlong programs of seminars, contests, exhibitions, chemical education movie shows, webinars towards chemical education and to make the public at large aware of and appreciate the benefits chemical sciences brought to the humankind. YIC is one among the few educational establishments in the Kingdom who joined the IYC network and received the approval from IYC panel of IUPAC, for the proposed activities This enables YIC to use the IYC logo and to post its activities and events on the IYC web which can give a fillip to its growth at national and international scenario. Chemiluminescence 2011 takes birth imbibing these spirits and envisaging a leadership role for YIC in the field of science and technology education and community outreach programs for sustainable development. Programs at Chemfest The ‘chemfest' will be launched with a “hydrogen balloon raise” ceremony by the end of April followed by a series of educative and mind-blowing programs pertaining to the subject of chemical sciences and their contribution to modern life. Keeping in view of the theme of IYC 2011 and the current scenario of the Kingdom in the field of science and technology, Chemiluminescence 2011 carries the slogan “Chemistry & Life – Made for each other” and its logo depicts the following essential objectives. n Chemiluminescence is the light produced during a chemical reaction and the rays of light emerging represents the light of knowledge disseminated through the activities at the ‘YIC Chemfest'. The Round Bottom flask and the YIC in it depicts the participation of YIC in the global event. The flare forming the middle letter of YIC illustrates the industrial collaboration and participation of the industrial establishments. n The green colored luminescence reiterates the need and spreads the message of sustainable development and green manufacturing process. The various programs are expected to be conducted by the collaborative efforts of our major stakeholders from the chemical industry and educational institutes. A dedicated website for Chemiluminescence will be hosted by the YIC server and the podcasts of the seminars organized at the college, webinars delivered by reputed scientists across the globe, online contests for school children, students of colleges and universities and the general public and informative articles on subjects of general interest related to chemical elements, toxicity, safe usage and disposal of chemicals, green chemistry, energy, pollution etc. will be made available to all. An exhibition highlighting the influence of chemistry and the allied fields on our modern life will be organized with the participation of YIC students, students from other educational institutes and collaborating chemical industries. The yearlong celebrations will be concluded in the month of December 2011, with very colorful programs including a webinar by Prof. Paul Anastas, the father of green chemistry and Science Advisor to USEPA. Dr. Jagdish, convener of the Chemfest, said that the winners of various contests will be awarded suitably with certificates, trophies and prizes. Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Head of Chemical Engineering Technology, believes that the programs will create an awakening among the YIC students and the young generation at large in the KSA, towards learning chemical sciences and realizing its various potentials. Also it will strengthen the ties with industry and create more job, research and consultancy opportunities. It is hoped that the events will initiate more of such activities strengthening the bond between community and the academic institutes and universities.
