The Periodic Table and us: its history, meaning, and element scarcity

Join us on Tuesday 22 January 2019, from 14:30 – 16:30 in the European Parliament in Brussels, Room ASP 5G305 for the launching of the EuChemS Periodic Table depicting element scarcity, and to listen to a series of talks on the history of the periodic table, its meaning, and what lies ahead in the future. The event is chaired by Member of the European Parliament Catherine Stihler.

Indeed, the phone you may be using right now to read this is made up of some 30 elements – over half of which may give cause for concern in the years to come because of increasing scarcity. With some 10 million smartphones being discarded or replaced every month in the European Union alone, serious actions to tackle the challenges ahead are needed. Element scarcity is intrinsically linked with discussions on the Circular Economy, more efficient recycling practices, innovative alternatives, consumer behaviour, and more besides. Unless solutions are provided, we risk seeing many of the natural elements that make up the world around us run out or become unusable – whether because of limited supplies, their location in conflict areas, or our incapacity to fully recycle them.

Registration deadline: 15 January 2019

Programme

13:45 – 14:25 Meet-up and registration (meet-up location to be confirmed)

14:30 – 14:40 Welcome Remarks

Catherine Stihler, MEP

Pilar Goya, EuChemS President

14:40 – 14:55 The International Year of the Periodic Table 2019

Natalia Tarasova, IUPAC Past President

14:55 – 15:10 A history of the Periodic Table

Brigitte Van Tiggelen, Chair of EuChemS Working Party on the History of Chemistry

15:10 – 15:25 Discovering the oldest known wallchart of the Periodic Table

M. Pilar Gil, University of St Andrews

15:25 – 15:40 EuChemS Periodic Table & Element Scarcity

David Cole-Hamilton, EuChemS Vice-President

15:40 – 15:55 [topic to be confirmed]

Speaker from chemical industry [to be confirmed]

15:55 – 16:10 [topic to be confirmed]

Speaker from the European Commission [to be confirmed]

16:10 – 16:15 Closing remarks

Clare Moody, MEP

16:15 – 16:30 Q&A

More information and registration via https://www.euchems.eu/periodic-table-and-us/