CHEMTECH 2007 attracts renowned chemists

The international conference-CHEMTECH 2007, organised by the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon scheduled from June 20 – 23 at the BMICH has attracted a host of renowned scientists from all over the globe, organizers said this week.

The conference under the its theme “Chemistry, Technology and Innovation for Greater Safety and Economic Growth,” will focus on chemistry and its contributions to the economy, environment and social well-being.

CHEMTECH 2007 has received support from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) and the National Science Foundation Sri Lanka (NSF). The Ministry of Science and Technology and several local industries have also pledged their support on account of the contribution the conference would make to society at large, organizers said. Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Minister of Science and Technology who will be the Chief Guest will inaugurate the conference on June 20. The keynote address titled “Chemistry For The Post Genomic era – New Directions In Natural Products Chemistry for the 21st Century” would be delivered by Prof. Leslie Gunatilaka, Director SW Centre for Natural Products Research and Commercialization of the University of Arizona, USA.

Prof. Gunatilaka a Sri Lankan chemist who has attained high international repute has received many scholastic honours and awards and is an outstanding researcher with 170 peer reviewed publications. The conference coincides with the Annual Sessions of the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon founded in 1972 as the successor to the Chemical Society of Ceylon founded in 1941. Chairman/CEO Hayleys Ltd, N. G. Wickremaratne, will be the chief guest at the inauguration of the annual sessions and will speak on June 20 while Mevan Pieris, President of the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon, will deliver the Presidential address.

titled “Chemistry, Technology and Innovation for Greater Safety and Economic Growth in the Rubber Industry of Sri Lanka.”
Twenty invited plenary speakers from Australia, India, USA, Pakistan, Kenya, Ireland, UK, Ukraine, France and Sri Lanka are billed to address more than 200 participants from Universities, Research institutes and industry. In addition there will be sixty oral and poster research presentations from both local and overseas scientists.