CHEMEX History

The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, the successor to the Chemical Society of Ceylon (founded in 1941) and established in the year 1971 for the general advancement of science and practice of chemistry is a learned society catering to chemical sciences as well as professional, qualifying and examining body looking after and responsible for the maintenance and enhancement of the profession of chemistry in Sri Lanka has organized the CHEMEX, a signature series of chemical educational exhibitions as a means of creating an awareness in the general public towards the importance of the chemical sciences as well as a means of popularizing the subject amongst school children. Since its inception in 2011 the Institute has successfully held 4 CHEMEX exhibitions thus far.

CHEMEX I was held in order to celebrate the global recognition given to Chemistry by the United Nations Organization in 2011 when the year was declared as the International Year of Chemistry. A grand exhibition CHEMEX 2011 along with a trade fair was organized by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon under the theme “Wonders of Chemistry”. The exhibition was held over a span of four days, i.e. 27th – 30th of January 2011 at the BMICH, Colombo.

Due to the massive success of CHEMEX I the project the Institute continued it and conducted the CHEMEX II exhibition in November 2011. This was a miniature version of the CHEMEX I which was held at the Adamantane House in Rajagiriya, which is the headquarters of the Institute, as a conclusion of the International Year of Chemistry. Even though this event was smaller in scale compared to its predecessor it too drew a great crowd and concluded as a roaring success.

CHEMEX III was held in January 2014 in order to celebrate the Ruby Anniversary of the initiation of the academic activities of the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon as well as the completion of the new five-storied wing of the Adamantane House. This event too was held at the Institute premises, Adamantane House, at Rajagiriya. Even though it was not at the scale of the initial CHEMEX exhibition this event concluded as another roaring success with a massive turnover of crowds from all four corners of the Island.

The most recent in the series which is CHEMEX IV a Mega Exhibition was held in 26th to 28th January 2017 at Sri Lanka Exhibition and Conventional Centre (SLECC), with the intention of popularizing chemistry and chemical sciences among the young generation. The exhibition was composed of stalls from different areas of Chemistry and related sciences; the Universities and higher education institutions, research and allied institutes, industrialists and many others had played a major in adding variety to the exhibition. Further, seminars, chemistry magic shows and competitions for young visitors were carried on several selected locations.

  1. Virtual CHEMEX is a new beginning to the legendary Chemex series aims to increase public appreciation towards Chemistry in meeting the World’s need by educating the public on how Chemistry influences their day today life especially dedicated to achieving the sustainable development goals of the IYBSSD year 2022 mainly.
  2. To create a single standing single platform to all the industries and sectors which is inter related with their connection to the basic sciences.
  3. To economically enhance the state of the Sri Lankan economy.
  4. To encourage interest in Chemistry among young generation, industrially working staff, parents and etc.
  5. To generate enthusiasm for the creative feature of chemistry.
  6. To emphasize that Chemistry is the central science, essential for sustainability and improvements to our way of life. Activities, such as lectures, exhibits and hands on experiments, will explore how chemical research is critical for solving our most vexing global problems involving food, water, health, energy, transportation and more.
  7. This will also give an exposure to the local industries related to Chemistry and benefit them with new knowledge and technology that can be gained at the event.

Sustainable Development Goals, the Role of Chemists and Chemical Sciences

Background

On September 25, 2015, the United Nations (UN) declared 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of the most significant and remarkable events in the UN’s 70-year history. Through this declaration, 193 United Nations member states, including Sri Lanka, agreed on a collective global mission to morph the planet to achieve a sustainable future by 2030. The SDGs’ progress will be measured against 169 specific indicators.

While the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2000 focused on specific problems confronting the world’s poor and shaped the development aid policies of the world’s richest countries, the new SDGs envision a global outlook of progression for all based on the principle of sustainability. The responsibility is shared by all the countries. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and induce economic growth while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

In general, the majority of practicing chemists and their professional bodies are unaware of the SDGs and their critical importance. The most likely reason is that chemists are too often preoccupied with short-term problems and research interests, failing to see the big picture. With deep concern for the future of both the planet and the chemical sciences, the International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD) has issued a call to all their chemists to adopt the SDGs, as have their governments, and to use this platform to reposition chemistry in a broader context and to guarantee that chemistry plays its specific role as the central science.