Royal Australian Chemical Institute

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc. (The RACI) is both the qualifying body in Australia for professional chemists and a learned society promoting the science and practice of chemistry in all its branches. [ [http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/asaw/biogs/A000234b.htm Australian Science at Work RACI entry] ] The RACI hosts conferences, seminars and workshops. It is the professional body for chemistry in Australia, with the ability to award the status of Chartered Chemist (CChem) to suitably qualified candidates.

It was formed as the Australian Chemical Institute in Sydney in September 1917. The driving force was David Orme Masson, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne. It was incorporated under the Companies Act in New South Wales in 1923. It was given a Royal Charter in 1932, but it was not until a supplementary Royal Charter in 1953, that "Royal" was added to the title of the Institute. It moved to Melbourne in 1934. It was incorporated in Victoria in 2000. The Institute has its office since 1993 at 21 Vale Street, North Melbourne, VIC 3051, Australia. cite journal | last = Hügel | first =Helmut
title = Royal by name, real by nature: RACI at 90 | journal = Chemistry in Australia
volume = 74 | issue = 10 | pages = 24–25 | publisher = Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Inc
location = Melbourne | date = 2007 ]

It is a member of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies] (FASTS) [ [http://www.fasts.org/ Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies] ] and the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS). [ [http://www.facs-as.org/index-member-societies.htm Federation of Asian Chemical Societies] ]

It has Branches in all States and Territories in Australia and Divisions for the following areas of chemistry:-
*Analytical chemistry
*Biomolecular chemistry
*Cereal chemistry
*Chemical education
*Colloid and Surface science
*Electrochemistry
*Environment
*Industrial chemistry
*Inorganic chemistry
*Materials
*Organic chemistry
*Physical chemistry
*Polymer

In addition to conferences organised by the Divisions, they have cooperated in running occasional National Conventions since 1953.

Publications

"Chemistry in Australia" is a magazine sent to all members of the RACI monthly. It contains news, reviews of books and chemical software, reports and reviews aimed at a broad chemical audience. It was established in 1934 as the "Journal and Proceedings of the Australian Chemical Institute".

The Chemical Education Division publishes the "Australian Journal of Education in Chemistry" (ISSN: 1445-9698). [ [http://www.raci.org.au/division/chemicaleducation/RACI_ChemEd/AJEC/info.html Australian Journal of Education in Chemistry] ] It was formally called "Chemeda: The Australian Journal of Chemical Education". It includes articles on chemical education at all levels in schools and universities, including experiments from the ACELL Project.

Awards

The institute awards the Cornforth Medal annually for the most outstanding PhD thesis submitted by a member. [ [http://www.cirs-tm.org/prix/awards.php?id=1042 Cornforth Medal] ] It is named after the Australian Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Sir John Cornforth.

ee also

*Australian Journal of Chemistry
*Environmental Chemistry - a Journal

References

External links

* [http://www.raci.org.au/ Official website]