At the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) held last December 2008, the decision was taken to declare 2011 as the International Year of the Chemistry to promote public awareness on the contributions this science has made to humankind.
This initiative had previously been supported by the Executive Board of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). 2011 also commemorates the centenary of Marie Curie’s Nobel Prize (1911).The main arguments for this initiative show the benefits and quality of life improvement provided by this discipline of science. It allows us to produce medicines, fuel and practically all products present in everyday life.
Chemistry is an essential science in the sustainable development of our world and civilization. Indeed, the research in the field of chemistry is essential in order to solve the food production problems, energy generation, health preservation, transport and general improvement in our quality of life.