Slovenian Chemical Society celebrates its 70th anniversary

In 2021, the Slovenian Chemical Society is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its existence. The beginning of the Society dates back to 1951, when Slovenian chemists decided to establish a professional association. The Slovenian Chemical Society was founded on 15 February 1951. The aims and objectives of the Society are set out in its statute, which states its mission to promote the advancement of chemistry, chemical technology and chemical engineering in the broadest sense, to take care about the growth of the expertise of its membership and to work with all organizations involved in the chemical profession, share experiences and provide help. Today, the Slovenian Chemical Society operates locally, nationally and globally in the spirit of the slogan "When chemistry is life".

The Slovenian Chemical Society has developed from a narrow group of experts and around 200 members into an organization that unites over 900 members. Throughout the period, a large number of eminent Slovenian chemists, scientists, professors from academic and research institutions, as well as experts from companies and public organizations worked in the society. It is thanks to them that the Society has been maintained all these years, also through many political and social changes that have always had an impact on the functioning of professional associations.

In order to ensure the progress of the profession, the Slovenian Chemical Society organizes lectures, seminars, congresses, symposia and summer schools, which have developed from local to internationally acclaimed events. The main annual event of the Slovenian Chemical Society is the scientific conference "Slovenian Chemical Days", which the association has traditionally organized as a conference with international participation since 1995. The conference is designed to contribute to the career development of young researchers. It should be emphasized that several members of the Society are also involved in obtaining and organizing international scientific events in Slovenia, with the great help of the Slovenian Convention Bureau.

Slovenian Chemical Days 2018.

As one of its main activities, the Slovenian Chemical Society has been publishing the scientific journal Acta Chimica Slovenica throughout its existence, in which domestic and foreign researchers and experts publish their works. Over the years, the journal has developed and gained an international reputation and an exemplary level of citation.

The Slovenian Chemical Society is also active in the field of international cooperation. Special mention should be made of the association's membership in IUPAC, EuChemS, IUCr, ECA, EFCE, EURACHEM, ECTN, EPF and EFCATS.

Although we like to look into the past, evaluate our work and reminisce, it is also important to look to the future, which, in the Slovenian Chemical Society, is full of planned paths, tasks and work enthusiasm.

There is a very active section for crystallography in the Slovenian Chemical Society, which has been headed by Anton Meden. Members of the section participate in activities promoted by the IUCr and ECA, and the main activities are focused on the organization of scientific meetings. Above all, it is worth mentioning the traditional crystallographic conference with international participation that has been organized together with the Croatian Crystallographic Society from Zagreb for almost 30 years.