Federation of African Societies of Chemistry (FASC)
FASC and other African nations and Chemistry Societies played a critical role in obtaining UNESCO and UN support for the declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry (IYC).
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The Federation was founded with the mission of promoting the advancement of the chemical sciences and the practice of chemistry that could be directly instrumental in the development, aspirational achievement, and objectives of the people of Africa.
FASC seeks to achieve its aims both through networking their seven national member Chemistry Societies and one regional Society (with eight national members) amongst themselves and also with sister international and regional societies; and by creating, supporting, and sustaining international and regional sustainable development initiatives. The Federation’s specific objectives are to:
- promote and maintain effective communication throughout the community of chemists and chemical scientists in Africa
- promote collaborative activity among member societies and among the individual members of these societies
- maintain and promote high professional, educational, and ethical standards
- disseminate chemical knowledge
- act in an advisory, consultative, and representative capacity in relation to African institutions and regional initiatives
- promote cooperation with other international organizations and similar regional and international networks
On the occasion of their third FASC international Congress, in celebration of the IYC, and in support of their strategic plan, the Federation was pleased to announce the publication of their first issue of the biannual African Journal of Chemical Education (AJCE) at the start of 2011. The journal is intended to provide a mechanism to enable colleagues conducting research into and holding an interest in chemical education—the study of how best to teach the topic of chemistry to students—to more effectively communicate on developments in their field.
For more information on FASC, its conferences, and its African Journal of Chemical Education please visit their website at www.faschem.org.