International Year of Chemistry

IUPAC (in conjunction with the UN and UNESCO) have proclaimed that 2011 is to be the International Year of Chemistry (IYC).

Goals

• Increase the public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs
• Encourage interest in chemistry among young people
• Generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry     

Chemistry Experiments at the IYC Launch

UN Declaration

In December 2008, the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the resolution proclaiming 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry, placing UNESCO and IUPAC at the helm of the event. Again, Ethiopia submitted the UN resolution calling for the year, drawing attention to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 2005-2014, and underscored that national and international activities carried out during 2011 will emphasize the importance of chemistry in sustaining natural resources. The resolution submitted by Ethiopia was co-sponsored by the following countries: Brazil, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Nigeria, Oman, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, and Yemen.