萝莉社

The excitement began with the 萝莉社 President's Reception on 10 April in Chongqing, right before the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS) 2026 Congress. This reception was a celebration for not only the two decades since the opening of our first China office but also a 20-year partnership with the CCS.

Our President Dr Annette Doherty hosted the gathering with Dr Helen Pain, our Chief Executive; Liz Woods, our Director of Marketing and Customer Experience; and Huili Chen, our Managing Director of China and East Asia.

This reception welcomed our Honorary Fellows, representatives from our key partners, long-time members and esteemed journal editorial board members in China for a stellar celebration of scientific collaboration between the two countries.

---

Celebrating two decades of partnership: RSC and CCS renew commitment to international cooperation 

A long-standing cooperation agreement was renewed following a high-level bilateral meeting in Chongqing during the CCS' 35th Congress.

The renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed on 10 April, with Drs Doherty and Pain both signing the agreement on behalf of the RSC, while President Lijun Wan and Vice President and Secretary-General Qinghua Fan did so for the CCS.

Both sides discussed plans to strengthen cooperation in journal publishing, talent development and joint academic events. They also agreed to work more closely on supporting the global sustainability of chemistry. The MoU renewal extends a partnership first agreed in 2006. It has been updated several times since, most recently in 2021.

Chinese Chemical Society

RSC President Dr Annette Doherty and CEO Dr Helen Pain celebrate the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding with CCS President Professor Lijun Wan and Vice President and Secretary-General Professor Qinghua Fan

Dr Doherty expressed her gratitude to her CCS colleagues for the warm welcome and emphasised the deep value the RSC places on this long-term partnership. She noted that the collaboration not only benefits the chemical communities in both countries but also contributes meaningfully to the advancement of chemistry worldwide.

Dr Pain highlighted the strength of China鈥檚 research resources and talent, expressing our eagerness to deepen cooperation further, facilitate two-way sharing of academic resources, and build a stronger platform for UK-China engagement in chemistry. 

Professor Wan also noted the partnership had delivered strong results over the past two decades. He pointed to progress in publishing, talent development and joint conferences, and said he hoped to expand cooperation further in the years ahead.

The two organisations have worked together on scientific symposia in China and have supported research links between the UK and China. Both sides said they expected the renewed agreement to strengthen those ties and support chemists at all stages of their careers.

Through this enduring partnership, the two societies have co-organised scientific symposia in China, helping to build lasting UK-China research connections. Both sides said they expected the renewed agreement to strengthen those ties and support chemists at all stages of their careers.

---

20th anniversary celebration highlights value of international collaboration

In recognition of two decades of partnership and progress, leading figures from across the chemical sciences in China recorded special messages collated into a special video.

Contributors ranged from esteemed journal editors and regional figureheads to long鈥憈erm members and representatives of our partner organisations, paying tribute to our commitment to both supporting science in China and advancing the cause of chemistry more broadly.

Huili Chen, Managing Director RSC China & East Asia, said: "This video reflects the trust placed in science, in collaboration, and in the role of the RSC. Thank you so much to members of our community for these thoughtful and heartfelt messages. We have also received many other warm wishes privately, which we are equally grateful for."

---

Celebrating 20 years of CCS-RSC Young Chemist Award

We also held a special event during the CCS Congress to mark 20 years of the CCS鈥揜SC Young Chemist Award.

Dr Pain and Prof Fan delivered addresses at the glitzy gathering on 11 April, while Drs Doherty and Pain presented commemorative gifts to past award recipients in recognition of their achievements.

The celebrations continued with an expert panel discussion featuring several award recipients alongside Dr Doherty and Dr Pain. Drawing on personal experience, the researchers opened up about the lasting influence of prizes and recognition on career development, offering thoughtful and practical insights to the audience.

---

Milestone marked as journal reaches major anniversary

Authors, editors and reviewers celebrated the 10th anniversary of Materials Chemistry Frontiers, a high-impact journal co-published with the Chinese Chemical Society and the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Editor-in-Chief Professor Shu-Hong Yu presented awards to highly cited authors, outstanding reviewers, and emerging scientists, while the event also fostered lively exchanges among attendees and received widespread acclaim from the community. 

---

Reviewers receive recognition as editors engage in special session 

A dedicated 'Meet the Editors' session, held alongside the Outstanding Reviewers Awards ceremony, further underscored the importance of collaboration in scholarly publishing. Editors from RSC journals including Nanoscale Horizons, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B and C, and RSC Applied Interfaces presented certificates and gifts to reviewers recognised for their contributions in 2025.

The session encouraged in鈥慸epth discussion between editors, authors and reviewers on the future direction of journals, creating a lively and constructive atmosphere that was warmly received by participants.

---

Art meets science in cover competition

Creativity also took centre stage at the award ceremony for the 2026 RSC China Journal Cover Competition. The contest drew enthusiastic participation, with submissions noted for their combination of scientific rigour and artistic flair.

Following public voting and expert assessment, 10 outstanding covers and 30 excellent entries were selected, with Dr Doherty and Dr Pain presenting certificates and commemorative gifts to the winners.

---

New award and fund aims to support next generation

Looking to the future, we launched our 2026 Certificate of Student Excellence Award and RSC Student Club Fund, initiatives designed to support and inspire the next generation of chemists.

Dr Doherty and Dr Pain inaugurated the programmes alongside past beneficiaries of RSC support, whose reflections on their own development offered a compelling testament to the impact of early encouragement.

Together, the initiatives reinforced our long鈥憇tanding commitment to nurturing talent, strengthening student communities and fostering a confident, connected and internationally minded generation of chemical scientists.

---

Hundreds flock to university campus for scientific sessions

More than 300 students and academics from Sichuan and Chongqing combined scientific discussion with career guidance and networking at the inaugural 2026 Southwest China Campus Show.

Held at Chongqing University鈥檚 Huxi Campus, the event exemplifies the RSC鈥檚 broader effort to connect early鈥慶areer researchers in China with international scientific communities.

Ahead of the main programme, Dr Doherty and Dr Pain met with senior regional figures, including Academician Fusheng Pan, President of the Chongqing Association for Science and Technology, and Professor Jun Yang, Vice President of Chongqing University.

Discussions focused on expanding international collaboration, strengthening talent development and exploring future jointly organised academic activities between the RSC and leading institutions in Southwest China.

The main session featured a series of presentations from senior figures in academia and publishing. Dr Pain opened with an overview of the RSC鈥檚 global role and its commitment to supporting chemical scientists at all career stages.

Scientific talks followed from Professor Hua Zhang of City University of Hong Kong and Professor Junwang Tang of Tsinghua University, while Dr Xiaoqian Yu, Deputy Editor of the Chemistry Frontiers journals, offered practical guidance on publishing strategies for early鈥慶areer researchers.

The event was organised jointly by the RSC and the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Chongqing University, with operational support from the RSC China Southwest Regional Student Club.

Established at the university in 2023, the club has since developed into a regional platform for student development, supporting academic lectures, research training and collaboration across institutions.

The successful Chongqing University session marked a strong start to our 2026 Southwest China Campus Show, reinforcing the organisation鈥檚 role in linking emerging chemical scientists with global networks, expertise and opportunities.

---

Sparking scientific wonder in a Chongqing classroom 

Reinforcing our commitment to science education in China, we launched a new outreach initiative in Chongqing, aimed at bringing high鈥憅uality international scientific resources directly into the classroom.

The RSC鈥揝outhwest China Student Club Popular Science Experiment Base was formally inaugurated on 12 April, marking a deepened partnership between our society and the Chongqing Nankai Educational Consortium.

The initiative, unveiled at Nanyu Secondary School and jointly organised with Nankai No.3 Middle School of University Town, drew senior figures from both education and science.

Dr Doherty and Dr Pain attended alongside Professor David Evans, Chair of the RSC Beijing Local Section, as well as officials from Chongqing鈥檚 Shapingba District, leaders of the Nankai Educational Consortium and hundreds of students.

Addressing the audience, Dr Doherty outlined the essential foundations of effective chemistry education: well鈥憈rained teachers, properly equipped laboratories and teaching that encourages curiosity and critical thinking. Her remarks underscored the RSC鈥檚 belief that sustained investment in education is central to nurturing future scientific talent.

A key moment in the ceremony saw Professor Evans appointed Science Education Consultant for Shapingba District by Mr Liu Jianhua, Director of the District Education Commission. The new outreach base was then formally unveiled by Dr Doherty, Dr Pain, Ms Chen and senior representatives from the participating schools.

The base will serve as a permanent hub for science outreach in Southwest China, supporting regular engagement with international expertise and introducing innovative programmes designed to strengthen science education across the region.

Proceedings concluded with a popular science lecture entitled 'What is a Chemical Reaction?', delivered by Prof Evans. Through a series of striking demonstrations and interactive experiments, he illustrated the role of chemistry in everyday life, challenging the perception of the subject as abstract and distant and inspiring curiosity among the students.

Prof Evans, an academic at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, is widely recognised for his contribution to public engagement with science. Over several decades, he has worked to make chemistry more accessible across China, delivering more than 100 public lectures each year and reaching wider audiences through his online platform, Dr Dai鈥檚 Lab.

---

Connecting global expertise with Jiangxi's science and technology development 

More than 200 researchers and scholars from the chemistry and chemical engineering sectors came together for our Fellow Forum to celebrate our sustained commitment to fostering deep, impactful collaboration within China.

The FRSC Forum is always a big event in our calendar in China, with this year's iteration in Nanchang proving no exception. Each edition of the annual event is dedicated to a different big-picture topic, with previous editions focusing on materials, health, energy, water security, and industry-academia integration. 

Organised alongside the Jiangxi Association for Science and Technology (JXAST), the 14 April event started with speeches from leaders of the two organisations as part of an opening ceremony that was chaired by Ms Chen.

The welcome addresses from Dr Doherty and JXAST Chair Professor Jingkun Xu highlighted the shared vision for leveraging international scientific cooperation to drive regional innovation and high-quality development.

Later, Dr Pain also took to the stage to give a keynote talk that showcased our institutional impact across the globe. 

The forum featured a rich agenda of keynote and invited lectures to share cutting-edge research, key technological breakthroughs, and industry application trends. 

Thematic sessions were held focusing on the critical areas, including food, pharmaceuticals, and new materials and energy, which all facilitated in-depth exchanges on the latest scientific advancements. 

Two dedicated roundtable discussion sessions formed a core component of this year鈥檚 forum, bringing together our experts and local academic and industry leaders.

The discussions centred on tackling key challenges in moving from the lab to pilot stages and ultimately to full-scale industrial manufacturing. They also explored how emerging technologies like AI can be integrated into research and development to drive innovation and efficiency. 

Backed by several leading academic institutions across Jiangxi, the forum has greatly deepened our collaboration with partners throughout the province.

It has helped to accelerate progress in Jiangxi鈥檚 priority sector, which include new energy, advanced materials, rare earth processing and refining, food, and pharmaceuticals. At the same time, it brings fresh, innovative momentum to Jiangxi鈥檚 ambition of achieving high-quality development.

---