Press Releases

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNION

The Pancyprian Union of Chemists (PUC) is the chemical society for Cypriot chemists. It has over 550 members. The society was founded in 1960, at the time when the Republic of Cyprus was established. The most important goals of the society are:

• To provide communication and information exchange between Cypriot chemists.

• To protect the chemical profession in Cyprus via the Chemists’ Registration Law.

• To participate in different committees and organizations of the public sector as an advisory body.

• To provide expert opinion in educational, environmental and other issues related to the chemical profession.

• To organize educational seminars and workshops, as well as local, regional and international conferences.

• To organize the local Chemical Olympiads in collaboration with the Union of Chemistry Teachers in Secondary Education.

PUC publishes the quarterly magazine “Chemica Nea” (Chemical News Magazine) in Greek, which is distributed to all registered members of the PUC and to 100 additional subscribers in Cyprus and Greece.

The Executive Committee of the PUC has 9 members and is elected every two years by the member's general assembly.

PUC  MEMBERS

The Pancyprian Union of Chemists has about 500 registered members. Professional, overseas, honorary and sponsor memberships exist. About 30% of the registered members are employed in the public sector, 30% in education (secondary education, private institutions and University), 30% in the private sector (industries, consultants, chemical product promotion) and 10% in clinical laboratories. About 30% of the registered members are holders of postgraduate degree.

Scientists who meet the Admission Requirements and are interested in being admitted as members of the Pancyprian Union of Chemists should apply to the members of the Executive Committee, fill-in the Application Form and submit the Subscription Fees. The Application Form can be downloaded from the website.

ADMISSION  REQUIREMENTS

Professional members can be those who possess a university degree or equivalent certificate issued by a university or other equivalent faculty in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Chemistry, Clinical Chemistry, Food Technology or other Chemical Technology, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry and Technology, or other relevant science approved by the executive committee.

SUBSCRIPTION FEES

The registration fees are €10. The annual fees for the professional members of the Pancyprian Union of Chemists, including the subscription to the Chemical News Magazine, are €25. Members who are registered postgraduate students pay a fee of €10 per annum. Members over 65 years of age pay no fees.
Subscription fees can be paid directly to the members of the Executive Committee, with bank cheques payable to the Pancyprian Union of Chemists and mailed to the PUC addresses, or via postal cheque payable to the PUC's bank account.

PUC ADDRESS

Postal Address: P. O. Box 28361, CY-2093 Nicosia, Cyprus.

E-mail: info@puc-cy.org
 

PUC BANK ACCOUNT

Bank Account:  0125-01-001420 Bank of Cyprus.

PUC ACTIVITIES

PUC organises different activities in order to communicate with members and achieve its aims in the best possible way. Among these activities is the organisation of Conferences and Symposia, Lectures and Seminars and the publication of the Chemical News Magazine. PUC contributes to chemical education, public health and environmental protection through activities carried out by the Executive Committee or by special interest groups from its members. PUC serves the public interest by acting as an Advisory Body in matters relating to the science and practice of chemistry. For this purpose, the society maintains constructive relations with governmental bodies, Parliament, Industry, other professional societies and the Media. PUC is, in general, committed to promoting the public understanding of chemistry.

PUC AS AN ADVISORY BODY

The Pancyprian Union of Chemists is a permanent member of the:

• Food Council

• Cosmetics council

• Drug and Poisons Committee

• Cyprus Organisation for Quality Promotion

• National Committee for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol

• Council for the Environment

• Health and Safety Committee

PUC is invited to meetings of Parliamentary Committees as a source of advice and information on the science and profession of chemistry.

BENEFITS TO MEMBERS

All PUC members are duly informed on the different activities of the society which are scheduled by the executive committee. They can participate in activities organised by the society. All members are subscribers to the Chemical News Magazine which is mailed twice a year to their postal addresses. Interaction and communication between the members is now easier through the website of PUC, where members address questions, express opinions and participate in discussion groups. In addition, they can enjoy the Employment Services that PUC offers, thus improving their professional situation.

SERVICES TO MEMBERS

PUC acts as the professional body which represents all its members in the different forums and decision-making centres. The members' opinions and views are made known to the executive committee via the members' general assembly which is held at least once a year. The friendly environment cultivated by the society, encourages all PUC Members to communicate directly with all the members of the executive committee.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Young chemists can apply to the society for employment services. The society has a portfolio of employment requests from companies or organisations which quite often address the society for this purpose. Furthermore, PUC is making every endeavour to increase the number of chemists in education. This is one of the activities of PUC concerning chemical education.

CHEMICAL NEWS MAGAZINE

All regular members and about 100 additional subscribers receive the news magazine “Chemica Nea”. The magazine is one of the society's principal means of communication with members, although the website currently offers the vehicle for immediate communication and news updates. The magazine contains scientific articles of general interest and keeps the chemist up to date on science, social and environmental issues related to the chemical profession.

The publication is directed by the editorial board which is assigned by the society's executive committee. Dr Costas Fournaris is the current head of the editorial board. Subscription is automatic when the membership is approved and the membership fee is paid.

Printing is done by Aristos Filis LTD in Limassol. Mr Michalis Ktistis edits the material and undertakes the whole responsibility for the advertisements in the magazine. “Chemica Nea” magazine enjoys a high level of advertising support. However, effort is still needed to increase the advertisers' portfolio as this is the only economic support for the publication.

THE CHEMISTS REGISTRATION LAW

As the professional body of chemists, the Pancyprian Union of Chemists acts as the power to promote the benefits of chemists and protect their profession. As a result of many years' endeavours, PUC succeeded in passing legislation for the Chemists’ Registration Law 157/88, which came into force in 1988. According to this law, all chemists, graduates of specified universities and having specified qualifications, can be entered in the Chemists’ Register according to their qualifications or experience.

All applications are examined by the Chemists’ Registration Committee, which consists of 3 members appointed by the Council of Ministers, and 4 elected by the PUC's General Assembly. According to the law, "no one can perform a chemical analysis if not registered, except in the cases defined by the law". Applications for entrance to the Chemists’ Register can be made on special application forms available through the members of the Chemists’ Registration Committee.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS

In Cyprus, PUC is in close co-operation with the Cyprus Standard Organisation (CYS), the State Chemical Laboratory, the Association of Cypriot Laboratories (CYPRUS LAB), and the Union of Chemistry Teachers in Secondary Education. The Pancyprian Union of Chemists is a full member of the Association of European Laboratories (Eurachem), member of the European Association of Chemical and Molecular Scientists (EuCheMS), member of the World Federation of Scientific Workers (WFSW) and associate member of IUPAC. The two representatives of PUC to Eurachem are Dr Kyriacos Tsimillis and Mr Evis Hadjicostas. Prof. Epameinondas Leontidis represents PUC in EuCheMS. Prof Leontidis also serves in the executive committee of EuCheMS for a period of 3 years (2004-2007).

A close relationship exists between PUC and the Greek Union of Chemists, and also with the chemical societies of many of the Balkan and regional countries. With these countries, PUC co-organizes Conferences and Symposia and exchanges scientific information.

CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIA

The Pancyprian Union of Chemists, together with the Association of Greek Chemists, organises the Greek-Cyprus Chemistry Conference every other year. The conference is held once in Greece and once in Cyprus. The eighth conference in the series was held in Thessaloniki in December 2004, and the ninth took place recently in Larnaca with very considerable success (27-30/4/2007). The members of the Executive Committee of the PUC are always available for further information. PUC is a permanent member of the organisation committee of the Regional Symposium “Chemistry and the Environment”, which takes place biannually in a Balkan or regional member state. The first regional symposium was held in 1995 in Belgrade and PUC participated actively in its organisation. The latest conference in this series took place in June 2007 in Montenegro. For further information contact Mr Elias Elia.

PUC participates to the annual meetings of EuCheMS. In 2005 PUC had the great honour of hosting the annual EuCheMS meeting in Cyprus, an event which was a highlight for PUC and coincided with the celebration of its 45th year.

Finally, in the last few years PUC is a permanent member of the organizing committee of the biannual “International Conference of Southeastern European Chemical Societies (ICOSECS)”. The latest such conference was held in Ochrid (FYROM) in September 2006. The next will take place in July 2008 in Sofia, Bulgaria. For further information about the ICOSECS conferences please contact Mr. Elias Elia.

LECTURES AND SEMINARS

The Pancyprian Union of Chemists organises lectures and seminars according to the current scientific needs. These activities are held by different scientists from Cyprus, Greece, Europe or other countries. All PUC members are duly informed in order to participate according to their special needs. The University of Cyprus is actively involved and supports PUC in all such activities.

OLYMPIC COMPETITION OF CHEMISTRY

Concerning education, Cyprus participates in the Chemistry Olympiads and has showed significant success in recent years, especially since the National Chemistry Competitions and the training of the Olympic Team for the International Chemistry Olympiad were undertaken by the Chemistry Teachers Union. Together with the Union the Pancyprian Union of Chemists organises the national Olympic competition for chemistry among the students of secondary education to select the best who will participate in the International Olympic Competition of chemistry which is held in different countries every year. Several Cypriot participants have recently won bronze medals and commendations. For more information contact the coordinator of the Cypriot Chemical Olympics Team and member of PUC’s council, Mr Anaxagoras Hadjiiosif.

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